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YESTERDAY (Wednesday) Edward Pooley, the well-known Surrey wicket-keeper, appeared at the Lambeth Police court, before Mr Elliott, to answer a summons for using threatening and disgusting language to Mr E. H. Pickering, a reporter on the staff of the Sporting Life, who also required that Pooley should be bound over to keep the peace. Mr D. Straight, instructed by Mr H. Levy, appeared for the complainant, and Mr Mayo for the defendant. In opening the case Mr Straight said that it was the duty of the complainant to criticise and report cricket matches on behalf of the journal on which he was engaged. Probably the magistrate knew that Pooley was a skillful player, and no doubt, from the proficiency he had shown, was entitled to represent his county. But unfortunately for himself he had not yet been taught that adverse criticisms, though unpleasant, were very necessary. Young players who achieved a certain notoriety, and were puffed up a few times, seemed always to expect such treatment, or in default they felt inclined to take the law into their own hands to secure it. In the present case he would show that exception had been taken to the defendant's style, and that in consequence he had behaved in a most blackguardly manner, and used filthy language. It appeared that on July 2 Mr Pickering was standing opposite the refreshment bar at the Oval, when Pooley came up, and asked if he reported for the Sporting Life? On receiving a reply in the affirmative, Pooley said, “What did you mean by writing in your paper that my innings in the Gentlemen and Players match was devoid of that elegance and finish that characterised the batting of Summers and Silcock,” and then used the language before alluded to. Some cricketers, he regretted to say, got to fancy themselves men of very important position, and entitled to the respect of society at large, and of newspaper writers in particular. The magistrate would hear the complainant and his witnesses, and would no doubt feel that men of Pooley's class could not be allowed to use their tongues with such freedom whenever their anger over came them. He would proceed to call the complainant, E. H. Pickering, who said: I am a reporter engaged on the Sporting Life. On July 2 I was standing at the bar of the tavern at the Oval when defendant came up and asked what I meant by saying that his innings was devoid of that elegance and finish that characterised the batting of Summers and Silcock. He threatened to punch my head if I would only put my hands up, and offered to stake a sovereign if I would fight. He also used some very disgusting language [the details are unfit for publication]. He did not seem the worse for liquor. Cross-examined by Mr Mayo.—I reported last season and this for the Sporting Life. Never had any words with Pooley before. There are necessarily often errors in reports of matches. Pooley is a first-rate wicket-keeper. I did not state in a report that Howitt was stumped by Southerton. Mr Straight.—No, no, Mr Mayo, you are running your head against a post, that mistake was in another journal, and was written by a different person altogether. Cross-examined by Mr Mayo.—I do not know whether or not he meant to do me any harm; I only know what he said. I never wrote that Pooley played in a most “fluky" manner, and the match was lost in consequence. I had no bet on it. No other witness was called, and Mr Mayo proceeded, on behalf of Pooley, to answer the charge, which he said was, after all, very trifling. It appeared that certain reports in newspapers during the last two years had reflected very much on Pooley, who, having heard that the complainant had stated that he had lost a match, asked something with regard to it, and said he (Pooley) only wanted a fair chance. He lost his temper and mentioned something about a fight, and “punching” Pickering's head, but of course he never intended to do it. Pooley, he might add, was held in the highest estimation by the Surrey Club, and it was by the instructions of the secretary, who felt very strongly in the matter, that he (Mr Mayo) appeared on the defendant's behalf. He wished to impress on the magistrate that Pooley never meant doing Pickering any harm, and considered that if he expressed a little regret, and paid the costs, the complainant's counsel could have no objection. Mr Straight.—I think Mr Pickering should have an ample apology for an unprovoked attack, and the very gross and disgusting language used by Pooley. Mr Elliott said a full apology must be rendered, and he also bound Pooley over to keep the peace, and required him to find a surety in 10l. and pay the costs. Pooley endeavoured to make a statement of what he considered his grievance, but Mr Elliott suggested that the less he said the more creditable it would be to himself, and by the advice of his attorney Pooley expressed his sorrow for having threatened to punch complainant's head, and apologised for his bad language. A surety having been found, both sides left the court.