The National Register. — London, England, 1822-06-02 00:00:00

OLD 'MILEY SES.SIO.4'S. SATUR D AY. I'lA v 25.—Thomas Ramsey, Samuel Green wood, and John Bewer, were capitally indicted for assaulting Thox. Stanghton, in the parish of St. Leonard, Shoreditcb, and 'ebbing him of a watch, value 71., and a gold seal. Thomas Staughton stated, that OR the 15th May, about eight o'clock in the evening, be was going through Long alley, Moorfields, in company with his wife, when he saw a man standing at the end of Angel-alley, who stood still till he tame up to hint, when be received a back-handed blow act OSA the bridge of the more, and at the same time his watch was snatched front his fob, and the guard-chain was broken in several places. He pursued the thief down Angel-alley, and was about to seize him, when three men caught the witness, and said," What's the matter?" NYS!, forced his way through them, and the thief escaped. He had no doubt but that Ramsey was the very man who robbed him. It was Greenwood who caught him by the lady, and Bewer, he believed, was another of them. Ile gave information to an officer, and next night be saw the flu re prisoners in the wateh-house, and immediately knew them to be the men. . _ The case (upon this evidence) went to the Jury, who, after considerable hesitation, returned a verdict of Nut Guilty as to all the prisoners. Motions', NIAV 2i.—The Common Sereeant took his ' seat on the bench this morning, lot the first time since his election. Henry Snellgrove, aged 18, as principal, and Samuel Deighton, Thos. Buck initialer, Joseph Smith, and Francis Boyd, as riders and abettors, were put to the bar, charged on the verdict of a coroner's inquest with killing and slaying William Pratt. Samuel Thompson, a beadle in Mile-end New Town, said, be was at the fight on the 22,i of Arid last, and it appeared to him to have been conducted very fairly. William FIN (Hilmar, headborough, deposed to the sante effect ; and four other witnesses were called, who eon tit inert the testimony of the above. William Black, a surgeon, said he was called in a few bourn before the death of the deceased, who was at the time. in a state of insensibility. After his death, he opened the head, and found an extravasation of the blood upon the brain, which might have been occasioned either by a blow or fall. The prisoner Snellgrove, in his defence, said, that the deceased bad sent him a challenge, which provoked him to fight. The Recorder, in snmnsing up, observed to the Jury, that there did not appear to be aggravated circumstances connected with the tight. The prisoner Snellgrcve, ac cotding to the testimony of one witness, said, before the tight—" lie loved Pratt as his own brother." There was not a certainly that the deceased had come to his death by the blows on that particular day, because the surgeon said a fall on a previous day, viz as tench as three days before the decease, might have occasioned his death. With respect to the other prisoners, there was not suffi cient evidence to convict I hem. _ Verdicb—Suellgrove, Guilty. The other prisoners No' Guilty. TRIAL OF TIIE MAN UNKNOWN. At five o'clock the Common Sergeant again took his seat, and " the man unknown' was pill to the bar. Mr. Clarke read the indictment, wbiclt charged " that lie, a mast whose name to the Jurors is wholly unknown, and who, being brought before the said J tam s in the cus tody of an offii er of his Majesty's gaol of Newente, did wilfully schise to disclose Ida name, did publish a sedi tious and blasphemous Wird, Ste. tic." Pi isoner.—l pleaded to that Iwo sessim s ago. The Common Sergeant.—This imatut the same indict ment as was preferred two sessions ago. You have now to plead guilty or not to this. Ps isoner.—l am not guilty. Mr. Chu ke.—Will you be gird now, or traverse ? Pi isoner.—l will lie hied now. When the Jury were about to be sworn, lie asked if any of tleem were in the box two sessions ago, and being an swered iu the negative, the trial proceeded. Mr. Adolphus then proceeded to read the indicted passages, and concluded by calling upon the Jury to con sign (tic prisoner to the punishment o Well he 'limited. The work was then read by the Clerk of the Court, and the following witnesses were called : Mr. Paine, the etc' k of the Justice Room, Guildhall, proved that the pamphlet was put into his hands by Wm. Smith, who obtained the warrant tit: the pa isoner'a appre hension. William Smith proved purchasing the libel of the pri soner in Carlile's shop. The prisoner, on being called on for his defence, read it front a voluminous collection of papers which he held in his Maul. lie began by requesting the indulgence of the J ory, he being Indy a journeyman mechanic, and there foie, as they might suppose, an unlettered man. lie went taa to justify the whole of the work which he was charged vs him publishing, and boldly avowed a defiance of the law, said he cared nut for punishment, and indulged in lan guage which called forth audible expressions of honor and indignation. The. Common Sergeant proceeded to charge the Jury, and having read the several passages indicted, said, lie telt i elf bound to state, that, iii his opinion, they could not be regarded in any other view than as most libellous. There was great difference of liptition as to what was, and what was Out, libellous, and it was undoubtedly the pro vince of the Joey to decide finally upon the question. The law of libel was not perhaps defined; it Wits not certainly to be traced to city particular statute, bat it was a part of tire comment law of the land, which existed for the pur pose oh giving protection to the pi opeo ty and the morals of the community at tinge, mot if a man published any thitig to the woo Id by which either was end:lnge' eil, be was undoubtedly a tit object lot pens( clique' and punish ment. It was for the Jury to decide a briber the primmer had, or had not, done so in this instance. With respect to any difficulty which striblet have existed as to his name being Unknown, that had been teuroved by his having pleaded to the indictment its its present above. It was with deep re gret he had heard the prisoner pursue the line of defence o Melt lie had done, and the Jury would judge whether he had dune tiniselt any service in it. In some cases it happened that a Jury might be justified in acquitting a man on the ground that he was the the unwary, or the ignorant nest, nt of publication of libels ; but this could not be togged here, for the prisoner had, in his defence, boldly adopted the titiuciples and k:agoage of the publication, and avowed them to be lie. tr.ati z t Ifittri opted the. pi leaLtr in his deft:bee , THE NATIONAL REGISTER because he considered it of vast importance, that a person accused should be permitted to urge every thing lie thought necessary for his cause; and be Outfight it even better fur the purposes of justice to let a prisoner go nit, though his defence should be injurious to himself, and most painful to Isis hea►ers. 'File Jury, without hesitation, returtml a verdict of— Guilty. . . . . . . . Wlien asked what he bad to say in arrest of judgment, Ise said, " I consider I have done mole than my duty, and I sin proud of my conduct. I shall always be of the same opinions, and will do all I can to publish it." The Common Sergeant said, that after the line of de fence lie had purmed, and what hail fallen from him, it was impossible that any but a very severe sentence could be passed upon hint. He was then sentenced to 18 months Mimi: moment, and at the end of that tone to find sureties, himself in 1001., and two others in 401., for his good beha viour for live years. The prisoner, smiling and putting his hand to his br.-ast, said—" I have a mind, my Lord, which C4ll bear it all with forti!tide." Tu F.SDA Y, MAI( 28.—John Newmhicr and Thomas Crawly) , were indicted capitally for assaulting Edward Ilowethank, on the King's highway, and taking from his person a met al watch, value Si. 7 lie Jury found built the prisoners guilty. The prosecutor begged to ecommend the prisoners to met cy on account of their youth, and the good character they had received. The Jury whited also to join in this reeommendat;on. The two prisoners, who were both extremely young, the one being only 17, and the other 18, were not dismissed from the dock without a suitable admonition from the Recorder. At the conclusion of the sessions, sentence of death would be inevitably passed upon them, and he fettled that there was little hope that in such a case as this La royal merry would be extended. It was, indeed, high time that a stop should be put to these frequent street robberies, and that others should be deterred by the pu nishment of those who were detected. The prosecutor and the Jury had linuianely ree 11111 l nended the prisoners to mercy, and it should be coimuunicated to the proper quarter; but he strongly advised the young men to pre pare seriously for death. WEDNESDAY, MAY 29.—William Young, a young man of rather respectable appearance, was capitally indicted for stealing oue gold snuff-box, value 201— a gold scent box, several spoons ' and other articles of plate, the pro perly of Dr. A. P. Grauville, of Saville-row, Burlington Gardens. Dr. Granville staled, that the prisoner came into his service as footman, some lime in the month of February last, and had been in the 151103 abort six or seven weeks, when one evening he asked fur some wages in advance, and was from that moment missing from the house. This circumstance naturally excited suspicion, and on search ing about the house the 'novelty mentioned in the indict ment was missed. _ John Partona now-street patrol, said, he apprehended • • the pa kinter it Oxford streeCon Thursday last. Ile told him fur what he apprehended him, and he immediately gave sip the pawnbrokers' duplicates fur the whole of the stolen articles, observing. that he had been miserable since he rubbed his master. _ The pawnbrokers pi °Mired the properly, which was identified by Dr. tianvillr, and restored to him, by order of the Recoi der, flee ul expellee. The Jury found the prisoner guilty—Death. Aged 2f7. William Norris and Witham Nicholls, Iwo lads, were capitally indicted tor stealing 16 pieces of silk handker chiefs, value 21d., and two pieces of silk and cotton, value 21., the property of George Burch, in his dwelling-house. Mr. Bock is a cativo printer at Upper Chipt on, and on Saturday, the 13th of April, he missed 16 pieces of silk handkerchiefs, and two pieces of silk and cotton, flout his warehouse. They were taken from different parcels, in order to prevent discovery. Nicholls was then, and Morris had been, in the employment of Jir. Burch, and un M or. ris, upon whole suspicion fell, being sent for, and taxed NMI the rubbery, lie strenuously denied it. After the constable bad locked up Morris, he was going in search of Nicholls, when lie met him, and he without hesitation said, " 1 took the handkerchiefs; Morris had nothing to do with it." They then went to the house of Morris's fa ther, and Nicholls asked him for the duplicates which he had got of his. The elder Monis gave up several pawn broker's duplicates, which were found to relate to a por tion of the property which had been stolen (tom Mr. Burch. Mr. Burch identified the handkci chief, and gave the prisoner Nicholls au excellent character. The Recorder directed an acquittal of Morris, who, he said, could oily be ernivie:eil as a receiver, there being no p. out of his having been near the premises at the time of the theft. . . 4. Tile Jury Mond Nicholls guilty of stealing under the value of 4tts. , and acquitted Morris. Tricusowy, Ala% att. Jtiiisii.E I)EPRAVITY.—JUIID Oliver, an no chili nut . e than seven years old, was in dicted for stealing an ass, a bridle, and saddle, the pro perly of William Williams. It appeared that the prosecutor hail tied his Arabian pony to a post bear Swithlicld, while lie made sonic inquiry at a house near the spot, and in his absence the little de predator monated and nabe oil with the animal. Information was given to Westbrook, the officer, who took the prisoner iu the act of selling the ass and equip ments for 20s. The ass was returned to Mr. Williams, who did not appear ; the Jury, theiefore, libeler the di rections of Mt. Common Sergeant, found the prisoner Not Guilty. Julio Mersey was convicted of picking pockets, and ordered to be tiansported for life. Hannah Simpson was capitally indicted for stealing the bUIII 01 . 1.11. in IllUtii timbered, the property of J. Tye. Die prosecutor and witnesses, on being called, did not • answer. The officer who apprehended the labium., said, that lie had ordered theta to be in Court by nine o'clock precisely ; and it hi; Lordship would permit the case to stand over tot a shot t time, lie had every reason to believe they would lie there. The Continuo Sergeant said, " I shall do no such thing ; it was your dilly to liase seen they attended in time. The Court will nut permit its time to be wasted by such blameable neglige•uce. Call them on their recognismees. It they do not appear, let their tecogoiaances be estreated; and you, Geotienten of the Judy, must acquit the pri soner," which they instantly did. Frances Putt' was indicted for stealing a quantity of Limit, the propet v of Charles '1 he p ii. LJUst tutu the tilltbttillol% setViCe 011 the .12d of this mouth, and on the 24th he detected her car• ryiug away the articles in question in a bundle. In her defence she said she had relations who were gone to France, and she stole the articles to enable her to go to them.—She war found John Maloney, aged 14, was convicted of stealing a handkerchief from the person of Thomas Morley. The prosecutor was going along Momnontli-street one evening, when the prisoner, who was in company with about VO young thieves, pulled his hankerchief drum his pocket. He was A eizeil immediately. The Reeurilci instantly ordered him up for jndgment, and desired him if he should ever see any of the young thieves with whom the officers said be lied hitherto asso ciated, in Mt. Giles's, to tell them that the Court would pass the same sentence upon them, if ever they came to that bar. The sentence the Court upon hint was, that be should be traesported fur life. St souLAit A Pl' LICATION.—SztuneI Ballard, a man com mitted to Newgste on st charge of horse stealing, alleged to have taken place in the county of Gloucester, and to which comity lie was to be removed by Habeas Corpus, to take his trial at the ensuing assizes, was put to the has, and a motion was made by Mr. Broderick on his behalf, that his tt ial might take place in this Court at the nest sessions, instead of at Gloucester. The learned Sergeant said, lie moved on an affidavit made by the pristine', which stated, that his prosecutor, one Richard Cooper, had been heard to say that he would bang him (the pri soner) if it could possibly be done; that if he were tried in tiloncester he could tint has e a fair trial, inasmuch AA many of the fames s of that county, who would neeessat ily be summoned to serve as jurors at the assizes, bad lately lost horses, and that they had declared they would do all they could to convict and hang the first man who should be brought before them for horse-stealing. The Recorder said, such an application could not pos sibly be accented to, and Slated, as one of the grounds ter refusal, that the Court could nut possibly believe that the titrisierh (dike county of Gioucester were so wicked as to suffer a feeling of revenge to induce them to violate their oaths. The Corot would not give its sanction to so gross a libel upon suck a respectable body of men.--Motion re fused., _ _ Thomas Jay, the young man who is charged w ith steal ing a watch, etc. from the pet son of a mail unktiowil, was put to the bar. 111 x. Broderick said, he had to move the Court that the trial of the prisoner might be postponed until the next sessions. He was well known to two persons who had au opportunity of observing his conduct on the night in spit s lim), and could, therefore, give material evidence in his behalf. These pet sous were not now (inflict) ))) ill g, but would be at tlo• next sessions, and it was hoped that the Court would consent to postpone the trial. The trial was accordingly postponed, and the prisoner was !edit lie most be ready with his witnesses by the first day of best sessions. llietauv.—Thomas Sale Denby, a respectable looking young man, was indicted for feloniously iutermarrying with Elizabeth her ne, Mary Acme Reeves, his law Ail wile, !icing at the time alive. in his dritnee, the prisoner said his first wife had eloped with another anus. awl Was how living with him. The Jury found him guilty, and he was • diately sentenced to transportat• for 6eVell years. The trials having ended, the Recorder proceeded to !lass beittence upon the prisoners convicted. Fifteen re- I! , is td NellirllCe of transpire tati 111 l for seven y. aro; • lor 1.1 years ; one tor life •' and the dreadful sentence of death was passed upon 13, who were convicted of capital crimes. The sessions then adjourned to Wednesday, the 1:1th July next. DREADFUL AFFRAY IV WESTMINSTER. On Monday evening last an alarrling riot took place in Co :at Peter-street, Westminster, and the places adjacent. It ori ginated in a quarrel among Rollie Irish people of the lowest rises in a public house, the Duke's Head, in Peter-street. from wile-see they turned into the street ; when in the course of a few minutes, upwards of 200 persons assembled, armed with every description of weapons, and a general affray com menced. The pollee attached to Queen -square office having received information of the outrage. proceeded to the spot, re inforced by a strong party of the Bow-street patrol, and the Thames police, under the direction of Sir R. Birnie. After a very prolonged and determined resistance, after the riot act liad been read, the rioters were driven into the houses, and were lolls wed by the police officers armed with cutlasses and pistols —several of the officers were very severely beaten. and much injured by stones, &c. being thrown on them from the windows. A pistol loaded with ball was fired from one of the windows, it is said, and the contents lodged in the groin of a man Darnell elsh, and lie was carried to the hospital in a tate of insensi bility. By the exertions of the police, and a number of the in habitants, who were sworn in special constables on the occa sion, 34 of the rioters were taken into custody in the course of the evening. Many persons were cut and beat in the most shocking manner, the rioters being armed with long sticks, and supplied with stones by women from the neighbouring streets Such was the consternation of the the inhabitants, the shut ters were almost universally closed ; several of the shops were wantonly attacked, and the windows destroyed. Had not the police promptly arrived, one house would have been completely demolished. Qursti-stattratt —EXAMINATION OF TILE RlOTERS.—Tues day morning this ()Mee was excessively crowded to hear the examination of the prisoners. Several witnesses having identified them, and sworn totho it participation in the riot, they were all comet ittid, tumid !tree nail, who was admonished and discharged. The prisoners in the evening were all conducted, under a proper escort, to Tothill-fields Prison. The examination lasted until late in the evening, and the office was surrounded by thousands of po rsons during the day. Priests have the reputation or being the inventors of many of the g►vatrst pla,tues and instruments 01 torture. The hellish machinery of the Inquisinon was the work of Jesuits. Cron-powder, so efleetite iu human exit r !nitration, wai invented by Berthold , de Schwan', a German Monk. Bonds, by Galles, Bishop of Murder —iron cage?, for roasting or "taming to death bum .n victims, were invented by the Bishop of Ve trims, w hir was the first to sae, the death he invented for others. He was shut up in the first carte that was made dimtig lout teen years, under the adurinntratiust of Cardinal Richelieu. 174