Title: The Proceedings of the Old Bailey : Ref Number: t18270913-280
Date: 13 September 1827
Place: London

DENNIS GALLAKER was indicted for feloniously assaulting John Pluck, with intent to rob him.


JOHN PLUCK.   I am a carpenter, and live at Ponder's-end. On Saturday night, the 4th of August, about half-past eleven o'clock, I was coming towards Ponder's-end from Waltham-cross, in the road - I saw the prisoner in the footpath, reeling about, as if intoxicated; he was going in the same direction as me - I walked on to get out of his way; he came into the road, and asked how far I was going - I said, not far - I walked on at a good pace; he followed me, and went into the foot-path - I found he got nearer to me - I ran, and he ran, for about half a mile - I then got up to some houses; he came within about a yard of me, off the footpath into the road; he appeared to pull something out of his pocket, and said if I resisted the least, he would blow my brains out in a minute - I saw something black in his hands - I supposed I should be shot; he did not put any thing up to me - I ran up to some houses, about twenty yards off; he followed and asked where I was going; I said to speak to a friend; he went over the bridge - I went a back way to a constable's house, and as I was calling him up, the prisoner came by the door - I do not know whether he saw me; the officer and I followed him, and took him - I did not know him before.

Cross-examined by MR. PHILLIPS. Q.   What was in his hand?

A.   I do not know; he was searched, and a razor was found on him in a sheath.

JOHN WILSON.   I am a constable. Pluck called me up and seemed much frightened - I went about three hundred yards and took the prisoner; he said he had only stood in his own defence, and he told the Magistrate that Pluck had shoved him in a ditch; he had nothing but this razor in a case - a pistol was found by somebody, in a ditch near the spot; the man who found it is not here.

Prisoner's Defence.   I had been drinking pretty fresh; this man shoved me over into the hedge; I saw him running away - I ran after him, and said he ought to be shot.

NOT GUILTY.

I have not been able to identify this John Pluck.