Victorian London - Crime - Traffic Offences - 'furious driving'
FURIOUS DRIVING - Two stylishly dressed individuals named Stephens and Shreeve, the former of whom stated himself to be a master tailor, were charged under the following circumstances:
    It appeared from the evidence of a gentleman named Wilkes, that on the evening before he was walking in the green lanes at Stoke Newington, where his country residence is situated, when he perceived the defendants in a gig, which they were driving towards him at a most furious rate, pursued by a policeman on horseback. He had just time to step hastily aside, when the gig passed him so closely that he was within an inch of being run over. The lane was thronged with woman and children, and it appeared almost a miracle that no serious accident occurred.
    Police constable 144 N stated that he was on horseback in the lane when the prisoners drove up to him at full speed. He thought the horse had run away at first, but as they passed him the prisoner, Stephens, who was lying on his back, excessively drunk, gave hmi a cut with his whip. He pursued the gig. and after a hard chase, during which Stephens kept incessantly lashing on the horse, he overtook them, and with the assistance of two other policemen, took them into custody. They both resisted and assaulted the officers, and the prisoner Shreeve said that "he would serve them as Lieut. Bennett had been served."
    In their defence the prisoner Shreeve, who acted as spokesman, pleaded his friend's intoxication, and denied that he had used the language imputed to him.
    Mr. BROUGHTON said that it was a most disgraceful transaction, and might have led to fatal consequences.
    The prisoner Stephens was ordered to pay a fine of 40s.,  and the prisoner Shreeve 20s.

Morning Post 1838

The Victorian Dictionary
compiled by Lee Jackson