The National Register. — London, England, 1821-09-30 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY SESSIONS. - r em— TEESDAV, SEPT. 25.—EMBEZZLEMENT.—John Wickin was indicted for secreting and embezzliug, on the IC.II of April last, IL, the property of Isis master, John Leslie. The prosecutor gave his evidence in a very peculiar manlier, evidently labouring under some mental embar rassment. He stated, that he was a coalAnerchant, and that the prisoner was in his employ as a elm k. Previous to the Itith el April, a debt was owed to witness from a Mos. Smits'. it was customary for the clerk to enter every night in a book what he had received in the course et the day, and this entry witness was in the eonstant habit of signing every evening when he received the money. On the !Gib of April no entry was made of the receipt of 11. horn Mrs Smith, but on the 7th of Alay there was an entry of 11. 11.;:., which constituted the whole sum which Wit: due from Mrs. Smith. Cross-examined.—He only received 103. on the 7th of May. lie irmeinbeied examining the copy of the cash book. Mrs. Smith proved that she paid the prisoner a 11. note cm the day in question. On the ith May she made a se tom; payment of 10s, to the prisoner, and a third offs. ou the stli June. The whole automated to 11. Ills. which was ail she owed to the prosecutor. A clerk to Mr. Leslie was then called. He corroborated the testimony of the prosecutor. There was an entry of the whole sum of I I. I9s, on the 7th of May, but no entry of 11. on the 16th of Apt il. On the cross-examination of the witness by Mr. Adol• pints relative to his belief in the New Testament, whether lie believed it to be a revelation from God, the winless (who was a very young man) hesitated at first in answer ing the question. Out its being again pressed, he said that he could not say he did not believe iu it ; and bring still fut titer questioned, he replied, " Yes, 1 do believe that it is a revelation from Gel." Being asked why he did not before answer the question, the witness said that he did not exactly understand the question when it was first put to him. In this answer he still persisted, when again asked the question. Mr. Adolphus was proceeding to ask the witness ruttier as to his belief in the Scriptures, when he was interrupted by Mr. Andrews, who took au objection to the question. Mr. Adolphus.—This is the first time I ever heard an infidel defended. The case for the prosecution being conchvled, Mr. Adolphus advised the poisoner to make no defence. There %VIP seven is iiiiesses to the eiaracter of the prisoner, but the leal tied counsel retused to call any of them. '1 he Jury, after a short consideration, foimd the pri soner guilty. Adolphus hoped the Court would, in passing its judgment, consi ler that there were seven witnesses who were ready to have given the prisoner an excellent cha racter. Mr. Andrews win proceeding to open the case against the prisoner upon another indictment, but was inter rupted by the Judge on the bench, who declared it to be unnecessary. Samuel Webb, a very young respectable looking lad, was ind!cted for stealing sonic cotton hanging at the door of a linen-draper's shop. The evidence against the pri soner was vet y clear, and he way Pound guilty. Several witnesses gave the prisoner an excellent character for honesty, and his master undertook to receive him again into his employ. Mr. Arabin, alto presided as the Recorder's deputy, told the prisoner that he bad been convicted upon the clearest evidence, and that he had subjected himself to the punishment of transportation for seven years. The Court, however, in consideration of his tender age, and the good character he had received, would pass a very lenient sentence. It was necessary that some punishment should be inflicted, to deter others front committing such offences. The sentence of the Court therefore was, that he be privately whipped, and then discharged. ellt I.I)STICA Li MG.—Matilda Dowd, aged 25, sins indicted for stealing the female child of Frederick Win. Smith, with intent to deprive him of the possession of the same. F. W. Smith deposed, that on the 19th of August he lived at No. 2, Queen-street, Clerkenwell. Ile had a daughter named Louisa, aged i years. About half.past seven in the evening of the 19th of August, he was told that Ids child had been taken away by a woman who was then in custody. The a itiless immediately nut out, and saw the prisoner and his child is King -street. The prisoner was then in cibtody. lie had seen his child un the same evening ht six o'clock. Aim loskett deposed, that she lived next door to the iast iii Queen-street. About half-past six 1111 the evening of the 19th of August, she saw the prisoner at :qr. Smith's door. beckoning to the child, who ass iu the parlour. The itne,s stein ul doors, hut came out again in about two initiates, a hemp she saw the prisoner leading the child dela it Queele,treet. George Hart deposed, that on Sunday, the 19th of August, he V/716 pawing through Uosweld net walking toward. Old. street with 14 child in her arms. His intention war. (howl' towards the child by its crying to he taken home. The wit ness addressed the prisoner, and told her to take the child halite. She said the was going home. The w itness then asked her where s he lived, and the sold iu Holborn. The itness told the prisoner she was not going in the direction Inwards Hidhion, She t hen Gilid she lived in Ilattonsgai den. in answer to another question from the witness, the poisoner said the child tai her own. The condo(( of the 'prisoner induced the witness to believe that she had stolen the di and he in consequence took the prisoner into custody. A crowd collected round them, mid among them was a little girl, who stated that he had seen the child in Queen street, whit her it was taken. Samuel Dribble, a constable, who took the prisoner into deposed that the prisoner stated that die (took t h e child from the corner of kid Lion street, Holborn, and that vhr her•eiflivid in lienristreet, Ilatton•garden. The prisoner in her defence said that she found the child in the sheets and that she was endetteous IN to find out ill> The Jury, %% ithout a moment% hebitution, found the pri. i one r—guilty. WEDNE4DAT, SEPT. '2O. Joseph Wince, a person Most respectably connected, was lint to the bar, charged with having stolen on the th of the present mouth an iron stove, value 51. the property of John M'Nally. The principal witness in this case was W. Kelly, a boy about limo teen, alto swine lie saw. the prisoner take the stove and rue up a court with it. Witness followed him and di mantled the property. l'i isoncr threw it down ant. ►eturned with a ittiess to his nester's Clint,, where he was taken into custody. This testimony was attempted to be CUI lag/fah d by the witeof the prosecutor, Mrs. M'Nally. THE NATION4L . REGIS!. s, - on behalf of the prisoner, eross-examin. ed these witnesses, and in so doing elicited from them the most unequivocal proofs of there not being a shadow of pretence for the proseciition. They grossly pres :ideated iii every part of the evidence now given, with that which they stated before the magistrate. Several persons of the greatest respectability, gave the prisoner a most irre proachable character, and the Jury instantly acquitted The Learned Judge (Arrabiu) ordered the boy, Kelly, to be placed in the box, and after commenting at much length on the enormity of the offence he had committed, ordered him into custody; at the same time assuring hint that he would be prosecuted, at the expence of the county, of wilful and corrupt perjury. Mrs. M‘Nally, the wife of the prosecutor, was then or dered to stand up; the court told her that she was less ex cusable than the boy, but she had made the discovery in time to prevent her committal for perjury, but the shut= fling 1113111ln in which she had given her evidence could not be overlooked. The Court would, therefore, commit her for contempt. She was instantly taken into custody, and conveyed to Newgate by the officer of the Court. The Learned Judge said, it was the most disgraceful exhibition he had ever witnessed. The Recorder then passed the dreadful sentence of death upon 22 convicts. Twenty-five were ordered to be transported for life. One for fourteen years. Sixty for seven years. Seveu were or-tiered to be imprisoned in the House of Correction for London, and sixty for iontiiisoinnent in the House of Correction fur Middlesex, several of whom were to be publicly and privately atipped ; several were tined ls. each, two judgments were reviled, and 29 were discharged by proclamation. EXECUTION. At eight o'clock on Tuesday morning the an ful sentence of the law wets carried into execution un George Lee, for ut tering forged 51. lI ink-notes; ; William Thoinsim, for a high way robbery ; and Thomas Pattnore, for cuttiog and maim ing with intent lii kilt. As early as six o'clock many persons had assembled around the fatal drop, and itt a quarter past seven the Sheriffs arrived at New gate. Patmore was the first who ascended the platform. He Wlls,throughout the !pile of the seene,remarkably collected. Daring the night he slept soundly for ;Moot two hours and a half; and awoke in the same state of composure nod self possession, which appears sot to have forsaken him since the awful *ere brat annou n cedo to him. From the time he useoke till the liniment his unhappy existence was termi. noted, he continued either in private prayer, or joining the clergy man in fervent devotion. The last interview lie had with his wife was on Monday: he pressed her much to tell him if there were no grounds for the jealousy which had driven him to the commission of actions that had brought upon him consequences so dreadful. He told her that he should die more happy if he could arrive at the certainly of her fidelity ; or even if his suspicions were ton well founded, he should be more satisfied. Site did net, how ever give him any direct reply, and the isohappy man died with a full con viction of her guilt. On the platform he prayed most heartily that she might he forgiven, and live to see her error.. Ile said that be fully and freely forgave her. Thomson was the next who ascended the fatal seallold.— This miserable youth was but 17 ye:.rs of age, and was most distressingly stupid mid ignorant. He bad no parents— indeed nu relatives; and if we except a person to whom he wigs for some time an apprentice, we may add, no friends.— With intellects of apparently the lowest possible order, he had not enjoyed the advantage of the first rudiments of learn ing, and judging (ruin his eUedUCt since his conviction, never had even is mural adviser. Soule time since, his master's business falling all, he was obliged to dismiss this wretched boy from his service, and lie was consequently thrown upon the town, exposed to all the temptations of vice, to which he has thus suuu become a victim. The worthy Ordinary took much pains to arouse him from his ripat by, but all ap peared u.eless. 11e had never" be said, " heard any thing 'shout God, and lie did not wish it." lie on Monday night went to sleep at his usual time, a little past tiiue, und it was with dillirully the turnkey awoke him at five o'clock iu the alumni* After, however, joining his fellow isultervrs and the clergyman tit their devotions, he appeared consider ably to reimil, and expressed a desire to partake of the Stier:meet, which, after some conversat hot and advice, Mr. Cotton thought Himself authorized to administer. lie after wards seemed to relapse into his usual stupidity, and during the ceremony of knocking of his iron., end his walking to the fatal ditip, his countenance betrayed the must distressing vac ley. - - Lee was the last ti ho ma-elided the platform, and of the three be exhibited the loot fm titude. Ilein4 it Jew, he was attended during the night by several friends of his own per• suasion, and it Was 11;1,brd ii de,Olioll. 110 was attended to the last moment by his nit brother, whose feelings crruicJ till Overpower Ilia , . When the drop fell he rushed into the lobby, and threw himself down in a state of the most pitiable and violent anguish. Another person of the 1011111 , persunsiun likewise attended, by permission of the Sheriffs, to pi rime' the last duties to the miserable man ; it being contrary to their religious ordinances to allow the body to he touched by a Christian. In conwaitenee of observing This rite, the hangman we. prevented ir 1111 l going throuiili the w hole of his duty; unit the w retched man had his sufferings for some olloutes prolonged. Ratin - cued Thomain appeared to feel hut u 11111 l limitary tuallit. A Iti•r the hoax, had hung the usual time, they were cut and Lee's was delivered to his friends, who had pro• voted a shell to receive it. It was immediately conveyed an ay in ts hearse, which drove up to the felons' door. Just before the bodies were cut down, another proof was given that popular superstition of the 11104 ttrnsek kind is not yet extinct. Four females excluded the platform, and tubbed their faces and wicks with the hands of Patmore and Thomson. This, it is thought, is a cure for writs. A duel was fought in the neighbourhood of South Blythe, in Nottinghamshire, on Friday, between Mr. P—r —r, a gentleman of fortune in Yorkshire, and Capt. S —n, in consequence of a dispute which originated the grand stand at I/uneasier races, on Thursday. The parties fired twice, and the second ball lodged in the Captain's shoulder, which was not extracted at the time, and he continues in a dangerous state.—An exchange of shots, which did uo mischief, also took place on the above 'morning, between a Mr. S'—n and Mr. W-1, arising out of the same dispute. VOltre. i 7=l BOW-STREET. On Thursday morning the eccentric personage who has for some time been seen about the streets of the metropo. lis in the habit of a Quaker, and wearing the tii-eoloured cockade in his broad white hat, made his appearance at the door or this offie, and preseting a large packet to one of the officers d e esired him, in n s tone of authority, to lay it instantly before the Magistrate. The officer, staring first at the packet, and then at this singular visiter, obeyed the command, and presenting it his worship, said it had been given him by a ' queer sort of a gentleman," who was waiting at the door for an au- The Magistrate, Mr. Minshull, opened the packet, and found it to contain a sort of political caricature, in which the Quaker himself was represented riding on a veloti. pede over the necks of certain well-known persons, and distributing, as lie went along, copies of the Spirit of Des potism, and other words of a similar cast. Underneath appealed hi large letters, "The Radical Quaker." Mr. Minslitill desired that the " queer sort of a gentle• mail" might be shown into the office. The "Radical Quaker" entered with a large bundle of papers under his arm; and with an air of intiuite import ance waked up to the table. He kept his hat on his head, Mr. Minshull (taking off his spectacles.)—Well, Sir, pray who are you I Quaker. —Who am I? that's an odd sort of question; what matters it who I am? Mr. Minslittll.—lf you won't tell me who you are, be kind enough to inform me of your object in coming here with this packet. Quaker.—Why, I merely wished to let you know how things were going on. My object is to convey informa tion to those who may happen to he in need of it. But I had forgotten that I had another motive for coming. I was informed that it I ventured to show my face here, I should be taken iuto custody; and I should have no ob. jection to that, I assure you. Mr. Minslitill.—lncleed! but I shall not indulge you in that particular. Quaker.—As you please. Mr. Minslitill.—Are you aware that you are standing here with your hat on ? Qnaker.—Perkctly so. Mr. Minshull.—You ought to know that it is very inde corous. Quaker.--I think otherwise. Mr. Minsholl.—Perhaps it is in conformity with your scruples as a Quaker that you keep it on. Quaker.—Not exactly. I shall keg) it on unless you can show me any law that compels me to take it off. I wish to be informed on that subject. Mr. Miushull.—My authority is law sufficient in this case, and I desire you to take it off. Quaker.—Excuse me; but I cannot submit to that au thority on this particular occasion. Mr. Minshull.—Then you had better leave the office. Quaker.—That I will do certainly, for I have no desire to occupy your valuable time uunecesaarlly. The Quaker then turned upon his heel, and with head erect stalked nut of the office. CURIOUS As . Fain.—Mr. Haley, a person of gentlemanly exterior, was brought sip on a warrant, charged by a Mr. John Jacobs with an assault. Mr. Jacobs, who appeared wills a black eye, and other marks of violence, stated that some words arose between him and a Mr. Welsh, at a house in Pall-mall the other night, in consequence of a previous quarrel, and in the course of the (baptise the defendant, who was in some measure concerned, struck him with au nusbrella across the face. In his defence, Mr. Haley denied striking the complain ant intentionally. He was merely endeavouring to part trim and Mr. Welsh. Mr. Minitell desired to know what house It was they were at, and what was the nature of the original quarrel. The parties begged to be excused informing his worship upon either of those particulars. A gentleman was then called to corroborate Mr. Ja. cubs's statement, and being hard pressed by Mr. Minsliull as to the original quarrel, he at length admitted, that an unpleasant affair, which could not be settled only in one way, had occurred between Mr. Jacobs and Mr. IVelsli, and a message front one gentleman to the other was the consequence. When, however, the pat tics ;net, it was discovered that one gentleman had come unprepared with the necessary weapons ; and the opposite party being ap plied to, declared he felt extremely unwilling to put an instrument of death into the hand of any man, and nlti mutely the gentlemen separated without any thing being done. Mr. Haley on teat occasion acted as the friend of Mr. Welsh, and a Mr. Smith attended the present complainant, Mr. Jacobs. The whole four met again the oilier night at " the house" in Pall-mall, and Ilse terms " coward, scoundrel," &c. were freely bandied about. The assault upon Mr. Jacobs was the consequence. Mr. alinslinll.—So then the secret is out. Well, gen tlemen, lio a, I have you here I shall do my duty by you. Volt are yet alive, unit I will da all I can to keep you so, and I th ere f ore requ i re eac h o f y ou t o en t er I nto suret i es `of 1001. to keep the peace towards all his Majesty's sub jects, and particular ly towards each other. I desire also that the other two persons may be brought before use for a simila r purpose. The parties seemed astonished at this strange ternilna tion of the affair; but having given the required sureties, they were liberated. nArrON-GARDEN. Edward Bowes, of Church-row, Hampstead-road, was brought up from Hampstead watch-house un Thursday, whet e lie had been contmed all night, charged with shock ing cruelty to his wife. Several neighbours attended and supported the charge, and the prisoner was committed fur want of bail. MARLBOROUGH STREET. HORRID ATTEMPT AT Mullin:H.—On Tuesday, three Prostitutes of the lowest chits, named Hannah Pethick, M. Angel, and Mary Haggirthy, were brought up from St. Giles's watchlionse to this uffiee, charged before the Sitting Magistrate, Mr. Manwaring, with being concern ed iii throwing a man named Sawyers out of a two pair of stairs window, in Charles-street, Drury-lane, on Monday night. It appeared that Sawyers had accompanied the prisoner Pethiek to a house of ill-fame iu Charles-street, on Mon day night, and gave her money to purchase articles for a sapper, which was procured, but the change belonging to Sawyers was kept back. This incensed btm, and lie at- 1 I T i ) SW