Title: Central Criminal Court. Minutes of Evidence, Taken in Short-hand, by Henry Buckler. Volume VII. Session I. to Session VI., 1837, London, 544-551
Date: 1838
Place: London

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT

ESSEX CASE.

Before Mr. Baron Bolland.

PATRICK HUGHES was indicted for unlawfully, maliciously, and feloniously assaulting Samuel Bush, on the 22nd of October, at West Ham, and cutting and wounding him on the left side of his head, with intent, feloniously, wilfully, and of his malice aforethought, to kill and murder him. - 2nd COUNT, stating it to be with intent to maim and disable him. - 3rd COUNT, to do him some grievous bodily harm.

MESSRS. BODKIN and BALLANTINE conducted the Prosecution.

SAMUEL BUSH. On Sunday, the 22nd of October, I was walking towards Stratford, in Essex, with Mrs. Wood and her two daughters - it was about half-past seven o’clock in the evening - when we came to Maryland-point, near a nursery, I met a man coming towards us - he was running - he had no hat on - I did not notice how he was dressed - I heard him talking as he passed, but did not distinguish what he said - he was in the road, and I was on the footpath - after he had passed I received a blow from some person behind, which made me insensible - I know nothing more of the transaction - the blow was given on the left side of my head - I cannot say exactly how long it was after the man passed that I received the blow - it was not above four or five minutes, I believe, but I cannot say - I have been attended since by Mr. Vallance, a surgeon.

Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS.  Q.   Was it darkish?

A.   Yes, it was dark - I had never seen the person before that inflicted the injury, to my knowledge - I do not know what he had on.
...
GEORGE JONES.   I am a twopenny post-boy. On Sunday, the 22nd of October, I had been to see my father in Essex - I was returning home in the evening with Pluckrose - we got to Maryland-point, near the nursery, about half-past seven o’clock - I saw the prisoner there - he was alone - there was nobody near him - he appeared in a state of intoxication - we bade him “Good night” - he wanted me and Pluckrose to lead him home to Well-street - we said we would not, and he said we should - we had then passed him - when we said we would not lead him home we ran away, and he ran after us.

Q.   How far did he run before he got up to you?

A.   About half way to the nursery-ground - about twice the width of this Court - he then caught hold of Pluckrose, and threw him down - Pluckrose had a small stick in his hand - the prisoner drew it out of his hand, and hit him twice across the face with it, after pushing him down - I went and touched Pluckrose, and the prisoner turned round and hit me over the head with the stick, but I had a pair of spurs in my hat and they saved my head - it was a small hazel stick - we called out for assistance, and a gentleman came up and threw him down away from Pluckrose - he had hold of Pluckrose at the time - the prisoner got up, and the gentleman threw him down a second time - he then turned back towards Laytonstone, and made his escape, and the gentleman walked on along with us - the prisoner ran along, and ran past Mr. Bush as Mr. Bush met him - I cannot say how far Mr. Bush was from me - we were opposite the police-station when he was about half way along the nursery-ground - the police-station is about twice the length of this Court from the nursery-ground - we heard screams of distress, and ran to see what it was, and found two ladies picking up the old gentleman - I did not see Mr. Bush before I heard the screams, but the prisoner ran off, and we heard a scream - when we went up we found Mr. Bush, and the two ladies picking him up .

Q.   Had the prisoner when he parted from you and Pluckrose gone in the direction which would enable him to meet Mr. Bush and the ladies?

A.   Yes - I did not see any other man about at that time, except the gentleman who had assisted us, and he was on forwards.

Cross-examined. Q.   How old are you?

A.   Eighteen next May - I had never seen the prisoner before, to my knowledge - it was not a bright night - it was quite dark, but I had hold of him, and saw him in the face - I was greatly alarmed when I got the blow across the head with the stick, and I was frightened when I saw Pluckrose struck - I began to scream out.

Q.   Did you take notice what kind of dress the man had on?

A.   Yes, he had on a white flannel jacket - I am sure it was flannel, for I had the sleeve of it in my hand, and he had a white hat with a round top to it - he had not his hat on when he ran away from us, but he had when he came up to us - it was knocked off in the scrummage.

Q.   What were you doing out that night?

A.   I had been down to see a friend, and was returning home - I had dined at home - the stick I speak of was about the thickness of my little finger - we had brought it up on purpose for riding - it was a kind of switch.


MR. BODKIN.  Q.   What became of it, did the man take it away, or was it left behind?

A.   I cannot tell - (looking at the hat) - this is something like the hat the prisoner had on - it is exactly like it - it is the same kind of hat - I had hold of his sleeve, and had the opportunity of feeling as well as seeing that it was a flannel jacket he had on, and he had a light pair of trowsers on.


COURT. Q.   Were there any lamps about that spot?

A.   Close by - they are gas lights - I was about two hundred yards from the lamp when I saw him - we were not so near that the light could give us any assistance.

MR. BODKIN. Q.   Was there light enough for you to take notice of his features? A. There was - he is the person - I am quite sure he had not a blue jacket on.

HENRY PLUCKROSE.   I am a twopenny post-boy, and am between fifteen and sixteen years old. I was in company with George Jones on Sunday-night, the 22nd of October - we came up with a man who appeared to be drunk, and wanted us to lead him home - I cannot swear the prisoner is the person - he took hold of me, and gave me two strokes across the cheek with a stick, after he had thrown me down - he took hold of me directly he came up, and threw me down directly - I had not much opportunity of looking at him - he was dressed in light clothes, and had a cap on, like that produced.
...
GUILTY of an Assault only. Aged 22. - Confined Three Years.

There is a lengthier report of this case in The Proceedings of the Old Bailey.

Assuming Henry was telling the truth about his age, I have no record of his birth/baptism.