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see also George Cruikshank in the Comic Almanack (Oc. 1838) - click here

see also on riots in 'The Police of London' - click here

SCENE IN GILTSPUR-STREET.

A charge of frightful cruelty to a servant-girl has recently been the subject of a most painful magisterial examination at Guildhall by Mr. Alderman Humphery. The person charged with this revolting conduct is Mr. Sloane, a special pleader, residing in the Middle Temple and the servant, Jane Wil bred, formerly an inmate of the West London Union. The report of this case we have reserved until the trial. The committal of the accused, on Friday last (December 27), gave rise to a burst of popular vengeance, which is here illustrated, for the more emphatically conveying our reprobation of a species of "Lynch Law," which, by acts of terrific violence, would pronounce condemnation before trial, The disgraceful incident represented in the Engraving occurred in the conveyance of Mr. Sloane from the police-office, at Guildhall, to the Compter, in Giltspur-street. The details are as follow:- 
    Great difficulty was experienced as to how Mr. Sloane should ho removed in safety, as the mob seemed rather to be increasing, with the desire to see a man who had rendered himself so singularly notorious. Various expedients were suggested, and a person was despatched to obtain a cab is some part remote from Guildhall, and to drive round by Moorgate-street and Fore-street into Basinghall-street, and then wait at the church and, in the meantime, it was arranged that several policemen were to guard the magistrate's entrance and keep back the crowd from the hall, while Mr. Sloane made a rush into the hall and effected his escape by the back way to where the cab was waiting for him. The cab was kept waiting at the church for a short time, and then Alderman Humphery thought it advisable to have the cab brought close up to the door, which was accordingly done. An officer was sent down to the Compter with instructions to the governor to have the door open, and everything prepared to afford defendant a ready reception on arriving there. The cab door was opened, and Mr. Sloane (who had only about three yards to go), accompanied by Springate, the gaoler, suddenly rushed out, and was endeavouring to force his way into the cab, when the mob closed upon them, and, had it not been for the able exertions of Mr. Superintendent Hodgson, Mr. Roe, and about a dozen constables, Sir. Sloane would have been torn to pieces by the exasperated mob. One old woman, we noticed in particular, was making most furious lunges at him with an immense umbrella. With great difficulty Mr. Sloane got into the cab, but the crowd all pressed forward, and with such violence, that both the windows of the vehicle ware smashed to atoms, and mud, spittle, and all kinds of filth were showered upon him through both windows, so that in less than two minutes he was so bespattered that it was next to impossible to discover which was the gaoler and which Mr. Sloane. About twenty constables surrounded the cab, and the driver lashed his horse to try and escape the rabble, but they impeded his way so much that he was unable to proceed at any but a rapid walking pace. Two policemen endeavoured to block up the windows by standing on the steps of the cab but, in spite of their exertions, the gaoler received a smart blow on the face, which was intended for Mr. Sloane. Through some mistake, the vehicle was directed to the Old Bailey, where a crowd of some thousands awaited its coming, and, by the time the cab arrived opposite the Compter in Giltspur-street. the road and every place where standing-room was to be obtained was crowded with one mass of human heads. The policemen were bespattered with filth. They were obliged to use their slaves very freely on stopping at the door of the prison; and Mr. Sloane, as soon as the cab door was opened, made one bound on to the pavement, three more took him into the middle of the lobby. and the gate closed behind him, much to the disappointment of the people outside. Shouts, yells, groans, and every imaginable expression of disgust and horror were reiterated by the crowd on the way from the court to the Compter ; and even when Sloane was safely inside, they lingered outside, hissing and hooting, and calling upon the turnkeys to turn Sloane out among them, and they would give him what he deserved. Six policemen remained in front of the door for some time, as it was feared that it would not be safe to leave the front door guarded only by the gaoler.

Illustrated London News, January, 1851