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Robert James Burgar 61, was charged with assaulting Benjamin Burgess. Mr. Platt prosecuted; the prisoner conducted his own defence.
The prosecutor and the prisoner were together on the night of the 32th inst. in the Great Western Arms beer-house, Kensal New-town, and there was some chaffing going on about a donkey which had been impounded. The prisoner lost his temper, and took out of his pocket a loaded pistol, which he pointed at the prosecutor. It was taken from him, and he was given into custody. He made a statement that he had carried the pistol to protect himself against some soldiers who had a grudge against him on account of his having rescued a young lady who was being annoyed by one of them.
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty, and Sir W.H. Bodkin postponed judgment till next session, and directed that in the interval the prisoner, whose manners and appearance were very strange, should be seen by Dr. Smiles, the surgeon to the House of Detention.
Eventually, Robert James was sentenced as follows.
The General Sessions held at Clerkenwell, Middlesex on the 6th November 1871
Robert James Burgar, accused of assault, was sentenced to 6 months in prison.
It is interesting that Robert James behaviour is described as very strange. Nearly all his children suffered mental or physical problems; George was deaf, Alexander Napoleon and Walter were eventually committed to lunatic asylums; Robert Edmond was described by relatives as the 'mad milkman'.