The National Register. — London, England, 1821-06-11 00:00:00

THE BRIDGE-STREET CONSPIRACY.—A Mr King, of Chancery-lane, one of the intended victims of this gang, has published a statement of the means used to entrap him into an offence against the law, from which we extract as follows : " Without wishing to cast any reflection on other venders of political writings, I may be allowed to say, that during the last few years of unprecedented political prosecution, I have been extremely cautious of what publications I retailed. •• On die 16th of May last a respectable looking youth called in at my shop in Chancery Lane, and asked me for a copy of the • Political Dictionary.' I told him that I had not got it; on which he particularly requested that I would procure one, end he would again call for it in the course of the day; which I consented to do, being at that time utterly ignorant of the existence of such a work, except; n:; from the advettisement in the public papers Ile called a second time the haute morning, and I ',mowed to get him a copy in the evening. I accordingly purchased a copy, and at five o'clock lie culled a third tinie and paid fur it. My wife informed me that on the following morning he repeated his vista in my absence, and asked for a second copy, which she told him she could not give him, as she had not one in the shop. •• On Sunday last t received the first intro Mon of the indict ment, and that the Grand Jury had rejected it. I went on Monday to the Clown Office with my solicitor, Mr. Hayward, of Tooke's Court, where, on inspecting the indictment, I discovered it was for the sale of the • Political Dictionary,' with the name of Horatio Orton endorsed on the back of the parchment as the only witness. Being satisfied that this Horatio Orton was the kind customer who purchased of me the only copy of that work which 1 had sold, I went to the office of the mock • Constitutional Society,' in Bridge Street, accompanied by Mr. Hayward; and, after several calls, succeeded in identifying a clerk in the office as the person who had bought the work of me, and who, on my charging him with it, admitted that he did so, and that he was the Horatio Orton whose name was endorsed on the back of the indictment. Mr. Hayward asked Mr. Horatio Orton whether. as his name was the only one in the indictment, he was the pro secutor; to which he answered • Certainly not.' Mr. Hayward then inquired who was the prosecutor, which he refused to answer, saying we might find that out as we could. hereafter. I shall otter no comment on this transaction: it is of a piece with the system which begot Oliver, Castles, Majocchi, and Fletcher, alias Franklin. I need not remark on the irreparable injury which such a prosecution might have entailed on an industrious man, whose large faniil, are dependent on his cha racter and personal exertions for their daily bread. Had the bill been found, the expense and disgrace would have been my ruin, even although a verdict had not been obtained. " That the public may be on the alert against the spies of this political banditti, I beg leave to add a description of the above mentioned Horatio Orton—About h feet 6 inches high ; Ytl ' years of age; moon faced; dark eyebrows; pallid sickly looking somplexion, with a general appearance of great constitutional debility ; effeminate manners; a mincing mode of speaking, and atlitcted negligence of gait." OLD BAILEY SESSIONS. • On Wednesday morning the firssions at the Old Bailey were opened by M r. Juisice Bayley, air. Baron Barrow, the Lord Mayor, Sheriff., and Cu) ()dicers. BURGLARY —henry Williams, a respectable looking snail, stood inifcted fur borglarimisly entering the dwel ling-house of John !Luce, E4q. at Broitipton, and stealing therein a considerable quantity of plate, his propeity. It appeansil ut evideoce, that on the 2d of April a quantity u. plaie Itad been stolen from itie house of the prosecutor u 7 lilt:jut; of a hole made in the panne' of the door of the butler's pantry. Out the 4th of April the prisoner sold pa , t of die properly at the house of .Messrs. Merle and Company, ridineis, in Little Britain. I he prisoner had hero in lute habit of s..lling plate to Messrs. Mci le and Co. fut t 2 thontits. Mr. Justice B.lley . in stinsiiiing up the 'evidetice, stated to the Jury, that It not having been proved that the robbery was committod before daylight, the prisoner should be acquitted of the charge of burglary. The Jury accordingly found hint guilty of stealing in a dwelling-house a suw Ciceeding John Saxton and William liedditig, ttvo well-dressed young men, were capitally indicted for burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house OfJulitißarlow, and stealing Bank times and silver to the amount of 3251. his property. Mr. Barlow deposed, that he keeps the Two Brewers public-house, injGoswell covet; and on the evening of the 26th of March last, as he was sitting in a parlour behind his bar, he heard a noise like a nag of silver falling upoti the pavement in the street. The hack of his house was in Nob.e-street, and the noise appeared to be there.— Witness ran out, but saw no one there, atid lie then went up stairs, and tried his elm a 111 Iser-door, Litt Mond it fastened, and a watchman came and Intake it open —lle then saw that the winnow was shuttling op n, and the wrenched ..e also Liseotercd that fastening was his bureau was broken open, and his cask-box, contain ing bank notes and siker to the amount stated in the tiadictinent was gone —The following uay he cati- , cd hand-bills to be circulated, offering a reward of tool. lor the discovery of the thieves. lie haul known both the prisoners fur sonic time : they lid frequented Ins house two or three nines a day, and f cum the time of the rob bery they hail ceased to come there. Oil the l'jth April lie saw the prisoner Redding in Gorwelbstreet, in company with another mats, and was approaching to seize him, when Redding caught sight of Min, and lie and his companion retreated down Wilderness-row, and he lostsight of them. Its a moment after he saw Saxton looking down Wilderness-row, and took him by the collar, and tool hum he should detain hint on a charge of felony —When lie was seized, and before he was told what the charge against him was, he said, •' 'This is only done to defraud your creditors." Mrs. Amelia Barlow, wife of the last witness, stated, that she heard the hag of silver fall, and at the same moment heard a crush above stairs. Witness went into a passage, at the end of which was a window looking low oble-street, and silt distinctly heard a voice WlllO4 She knew to be Saxton's, call out " Stop 1 ." AbottL half a minute afterwards she the primmer Reilding descend as from her chamber window, aild jump into the street. Mr. Justice Bayley s iiiii med tip, and the Jury, after retiring nearly a quarter of at hour, returned a verdict of not guilty, as to both the prisoners. John Baker, and Robert Jacobs were put to the bit', and indicted fur swa% from the person of Mr. Isaac THE NATIONAL REGISTER, Shantun g a silver watch, chain, and seals, his property. The Jury tumid the prisoners both guilty: - The Common Sergeant assured the prisoners they I I should quit the comity for life. On Thursday, Joseph Blakeney was indicted for as sault rig J. Foote on the Giuti s highway, and stealing from his person a gold chant and 5,..11, value 51. Joseph Foote stated, float 011 Friday, the Stu of he was passing through Brick lame, 111 coin ty mils 111, wife; when die prisoner, who pretended to be intoxi cated, ran eMlently against Mtn, sit.. 'cited at his wateli, and succeeded in detaching the chain and seals; witness collared the prisoner; a struggie ensued; when he was instantly surrounded by several of the prisoner's compa nions, and at the saute moitietit received a violent blow on the buck of his head, which felled him to the ground, and the prisoner escaped. A few days afterwards the prisoner was observed talking with a telltale in Spital. fields, when he was taken into custody. 'foe jury immediately found him Gitilty. Nlr Baron Garrow addressed the prisoner, who, he s.lid, had hero cotivicied upon the clearest ev ideoce of being one of a desperate gang of thieves, and earnestly desired him to employ the short time allotted in prepara tion lior the ate lot late that awaited hltll, as no mercy coold be extended to lino here. Joseph Lilly, 4 lad 15 ;Calf of age, was capitally con victed of stealing in the dwelhog house of Hannah Ilawkshaw, two silver spoo.is, three silver forks, Sac. tier property. David Adams was indicted for stealing in the dwelling house of Sir A. Crook. 451. in batik notes, his property. —Not Guilty. John Smith stood capitally indicted of having stopped and robbed Phclil, Jones mil die King's highway. The prisoner set up in its defence, that Jones was in a Stale oh intoxication. After a few moments consideration, the jury found die prisoner—Not Guilty. William %Vilsou was convicted of feloniously being at large before the period to which he had been sentenced to be transported had expired. Bryan M‘Flielait and Bridget M'L.achlati (die former an infirm old man, who was siipported into court, and allowed to sit during the trill) were indicted for assaiil.- ing James ilogartii in a place near the highway, and taking 11. 7s. in silver, one 51. and six 11. notes, front his person. The prosecutor, a respectable looking yoting man, Swore, that as he Was going home to Rite ill highway, on the 10th of April, lie met with a woman of Colour, and was induced to accompany her to a house in Went worth -street, Whitechapel. lie hail beet' but a few mi nutes hi the room when the two prisoners and a Man With a wooden leg cattle in, and, placing themselves be fore the door, insisted upon his givittg them money to get drink. As a pretext fur getting out ol the room, lie acid he would go and get soinetnitig to drink, but the woudeo legged man seized him by the collar, swore he owed him 31. atid that he should not leave the room till it was paid. .1 lie I..inale pitismier joined in declaring it was so, aild the moll with the wooden leg got him down upon the floor, and called to the female prisoner to eet him a ktiiie, which Was t one!' to the male prisoner, who cut 01l his pocket containing the mousy hi question, and Met' and, " shall we cut the b s throat ? " The candle h it beet' extinguished. Some of them said "do so," and immediately three stabs were It at his throat, but he received the cuts at the back of his hand, Which he hail put upon Isis throat upon hearing die exclamations :tbove mentioned. His senses then left him, .inil wileta he covered lie still 10011 d himself lyin g nu his hauls, add alone. Ile gave infolination to some W4,1:1111101, and the prisoners were apprehended scam alter; but mulling was putrid upoo them. The prosecti or admitted, upon cross-examination, that he was rather inioxicated on the iteltit in question, jut i declared that Isis recuilrctio t was perfect, oath lie W:l9 positive as to the identity of the prisoners. They, iii I heir defence, declared their innocence. The jury after a long conversation, returned a verdict, findittg both prisoners tint guilty. Susannah Hyde seas then tridicied for killing tier infant child on the pith of April. It appeared front the evidence of M rs. Taylor, whose sent ice the unfortunate vtoimiti had been at the time mentioned the indieinietit, that tier situation was observed on the previous night, and there were °ern iii app eatances which deilOteit her having beeo delivered in the water-closet, where the lady of the culild was 104111t1. Tioere was nu proof of the child heating been born aloe ; and the jury returned a verdict of—Not Guilty. Capt. Algertion Disney was then pot to the bar, charged with has lug caused the death of Anne Banthig, spinster, by repeated assaults on the Ist of September, the 30th of Ociober, and several °the' days, Hi die parish Mary-le-bonne. Oil calling the williesseaseveral appeared to be absent, and Mr. II non G mow complained strongly of the want of attentlaiwe of those paint 9. Mr. Alley, as couttsel for Capt. Disney, s rid, that notice had been given to all the witnesses tit are I. Mr. Aaron Graham remarked that both justice to the prisoner and the public required a full investigation of this ease, and that he was ready to hear any applica tion for the posnionettient of the trial. Mr. Alley said, that, on the part of Clit. Disney, he had no such anpheation to make. The first Winless was Robert Cones, a constable, who merely proved the fact in the arrest of the prisoner, and the removal of Ann Hawing to an infirmary, where she afterwards died. Mainsail Coles, the midwife of the hospital, proved the reception and death of Anne liatitnig, as she thought, at the him., in cotiseiptei ice of the alter pains of 1111011 r. 51190111411 Dawson deposed lo the 9141eUleill at Ac to he by the deceased, of various br antic% with a stick which she had received from the prisoner; the last time was a lortioght before she was Sent to the hospital. Mr.Gouilyer, the apothecary to the hospii ai, said, that when the deceased was admitted, hr merely cousidered her as labouring under a common cold, and ordered me- 181 dicines for her accordingly. At the time he was not aware that she was pregnant; but she was afterwards delivered, and subsequeutly attacked with fever, inflam mation of die bovt els, Si. Anthoily's fire, which led to a mon ilicatiou and caused tier tleatii. At that Wile St. Aotbolly'i lire was eptilentic. lie had no doubt that her (loath was caused by the disease lie had mentioned, mill not by v ioleoce. There were certainty marks ini the body, but not sufficient to lIIIIIICC 111111 eu supposeshe bad met her drain in any caner manner t h an by disease.-- Verilict—Not Guilty. Peter Ge , rge P.ititiore was then put to 'lie liar,charged upon the coroner's implisitioti, and upon .t bid returned by the grand jury for the county of Middlesex, with the wilful 'mutter of John Scott. Mr. Walffird, in opening the case for the prosecution. said, he appeared to-day as the represeu tame of the family of the late Mr. Scott, but the jury would readily believe that iii brin4ing forward this case they were not actuated by any vindictive motiv. s towards the accused, especially when they learned lie had lowa, been a most ultimate friend of the deceased ; that he had attended hint with the most tender and anxious solicitude while Itiogeriug from the effect of his wound, even to the day of his death, and that he still retained the iriendship of tile relatives of Nit S.— Tile case hail already heel' once the subject of investiga tion, and it had also neon the topic of much conversation —lie entreated, however, that the jury would dismiss from their all that they unguit previously nave heard or read of the matter, and decide only upon site evideoce which should be brought before them. With respect to the law of the case, he would take leave to address to them one or two observations. If men quar relled, and afterwards had 'time to reflect coolly upon the 510i...C1, 41111 still persisted in going out and engaging in mortal combat, and death ensued, he was afraid the crone would amount to murder; for the law recortiised !mite of the distinctions or rules of what we call honour; however, the jury should be of opinion that the par li,'s iu the present case haul not time to reflect, that they went out tit the heat of passion, and death ensued while - they were in that state, the offence could only amount to maitsLugliter. And with reference to this consideration it would be linpOrtallt to theist, to know that the duel took place by moonlight. Mr. Bayley —" By moonlight, you say, NI r-Walford You will ouserve that, itentlemen of the jury." Mr. ‘Valitard comintied.—tle would entreat the jury. once more to dismiss from their minds all previous int pressitain upon the subject, and to conic to the consider ation of it coolly and dispassionately. He then detailed the cireunistaneei of the case as they have already been so (Mei' detailed, and proceeded to call . witnesses. Mr. J. T. Pettigrew, of Spring-gardens, surgeon, was first called, Wilco he hail been sworn, . . Mr. Ju,tlce Bayley said, " Mr. Pettigrew, I wish to suggest something Li, you, before you give any evidence. if you aoprelielid that, by ally evidetice vvliimi you may be called upon to give, you by possibility, subject yourself to a ciimitsal prosectititni, you are at liberty to decline atiswe, lug thequrst el,s pill 111 you." Ai r . p,, t i gre ,,,,,—w v Lord, lam extremely grateful for tile suggestion; but I do ilia apple,lrud that I shall subject myself to a prulectition, as I merely attended, at the request of one of the p.O ace, ill order that I might render itietliCal assistance, if it should be necessary, 1 kiale iltereMie .111 04 , ireliOl1 lO give evidence. " Mr. Justice Bayley.—" 1 will tell you, Mr. Pettigrew, that, you attended with the knowledge that a duel was da t. d ! dace, though it Was only to render medical assistance, it .ISitimid be necessary, you would he liabb da r cululnal pruseCalltiii. " Mt. P.daigrew.—" 'risen, my Lord, I shall beg leave to 11. ciiue answering any questions." 11... B. Morris, assistant to Mr. Pettigrew, was next called, m.l the same caution was given to him by the (.rallied Judge. He also declined, under sucii UII.• • staticcs l 4 give evidence. Dr. Darling was that called, and deposed that the cause of Mr. death was a woulid by a bullet, and said that some time before his decease lie made a con tttttt nicatiun to willieSs Upon the subject of tile duel. Wit .less could not say, that the deceased, at the time he made liiiS cDilllttttttt believed himself io be ns el.- treate danger. lie bail been tH;(1 tile wuuticl was dan gerous, but not necessarily moi.al. Upon this question the Jtrtl4,es decided that the emu mumeation could mi. he received in evideoce. Mr. Watson, ol Chalk Font Tavern, and his servant, were called, and piuved their gusts e , ,, nun the field and seessq Air. Scutt lying on the ground, and Mr. P.unsore and the utiles gentlemen standing near him. They re moved Mr. Scott to the house, %%mere he used souse days alter, bust they could give no evidence how he came by the wound, except that they heard the reports of ponds. Mr. WaKurd haumated gnat tie Uau no more W I IllealeS to call. Mr-Justice Bayley.—" Gentlemen of the Jury, eon. , fitting ourselves only to the facts proved before us, with out reference to any thong we may have have heard else t►herr, we ha►e too evidence even as to how thedeceased cable by his death wound, and it is not in the slightest degree proved to us t h at the person at the bar had any thing to do with the infliction of tha. wound. Ail that nas berm proved is. that Mr. Scott was seen in tile field lying on the ground ; that the accused and inners writ pr sent; and that he was taken to tile house and die.' there. We thereinre are leh.c pletely in the milk upon the subject, and an we cAnoot proceed upon conjecture merely, it is your duty to acquit he prismier. The jury returned a vvrdict of not godly. Mr l'aimore is a tall slight made young man, of gen teel app arance, and was dressed OU hits OCCaSithi in a suit of Mack He appeared owls awl dejecied. U1:011 the verdit.t being returned, he bowed to rile CLI4I and Jury, Anil retired vs (th his fri tios A jury in Richmond (Virginia) not being able to agree on a verdict in a criminal case, have been kept together nearly four weeks, and are likely to remain in durance the court adjourn&