Transcription
SURREY ASSIZES.
Croydon, August 16.
Goldsmid v. Astley.
Mr. Serjeant Sheppard stated, that this was an action for an assault and false imprisonment. The plaintiff was a respectable linen draper, and the defendant, Mr. John Astley, the Proprietor of the Amphitheatre, near Westminster-bridge. On the night of the 1st of May, the Plaintiff’s wife was at the Theatre, and about ten o’clock he went to fetch her home. As he was at the box-door tendering his money, the box-keeper pushed him very rudely away. He remonstrated with him on his incivility, when Ms. Astley himself came up, and immediately gave him a violent blow on the neck. The plaintiff, instead of attempting to return it, merely said, “I shall deal with you, Mr. Astley, after another manner,” and was about to go away. The defendant, not content with the outrage he had already committed, called a constable, followed him, and insisted that he should take him into custody, and keep until the Monday morning, this being on the Saturday night. The constable did take him; but knowing the plaintiff to be a respectable man, he took his word for his appearance at the Police Office on the Monday morning, when Mr. Astley did not think fit to come to come to [sic] make any charges against him. Perhaps the Jury might some of them know Mr. Astley; if so, they must know that he was a very powerful and active young man, and capable of giving a blow of no small force. The Learned Serjeant said, he would advise him in future to confine his fighting talents to their proper scene of action. He might play the hero and the bravo on the stage when they were in their proper sphere; but he must not descend from thence and deal his blows around the outer door; for, if he did, he would learn by the verdict in this case, that he should have to pay for this dramatic error.
Paul Judin stated, that he was going into the Theatre on the Saturday night, and he saw Mr. Astley strike the defendant a blow in the neck. He was questioned whether it was not a severe blow; but all he could say was, it was a blow.
