The National Register. — London, England, 1820-10-29 00:00:00

OLDBAILEY SESSIONS. On Wednesday these Sessions commenced before Mr. Baron Wood, nr. Justice Parke, and the usual City Officers. Daniel Gentle and William Reid were capitally in dicted for stealing a great quantity of china plates, orna ments, &c. to a large amount, the property of John Mortlock. The confession of the prisoners was put in and read, and a more extensive system of robbery has been seldom exposed in a Court of Justice. The prisoner Reid, it appeared, had kept a regular :mut for the sale of the most costly articles of china, which he advertised in the punlic papers as the property of a lady gone to France. The Jury Mond them both Guilty—Death. Charles King, a youth 17 years of age, was capitally inducted for teloiliously, wiifully, and maliciously sending a letter to the Rev. W. J. Waiter, demanding money of hint —The prosecutor stated, that he was Alituster of St. Margaret's, Westminster. On the 3d of October he TeptiStli a le , ter signed B. B. B. He never to his know ledge saw the prisoner, nor did. he know any such person as B. B. B. On receiving the letter he consulted with an officer named Pace, and in consequence of his advice, he wrote a letter in answer to the one received. On the 13th he received a second letter, signed with the same initials. Mrs. liodber, whose maiden name was Dunn, was at the time at Weybridge. Thomas Pace, an officer ' sent the letter written by the prosecutor to B. B. B Caledonian coffeeshop, Broadway, WesiniMsler—it was delivered to the prisoner. On the lilt' of October, Lifter the receipt of a second letter, he went to the colleeshop and apprehended the prisoner, and on his person were found two letters, one addressed to a person at Glasgow, and a second to " Mr. William Stewart, 1 in, Upper Thames-street." Prisoner refused to tell witness his name, but said he was a gentleman. One of the letters was then put in and read. Mr. Andrews, fur the prisoner, mooted a legal objec tion, which was over-ruled. Mr. Justice Parke summed up the evidence, and the Juty almost immediately found the prisoner Guilty, but strongly tecommended him to mercy on account of his youth, in which recommendation they were earnestly joined by the prosecutor. Mr. Justice Parke said, their recommendation should be forwarded to the proper authority, but he could not say how far it would he attended to, 23 the, prisoner was a most wicked lad ; for, new that the verdi,:t had (.•ten returned, he was at liberty to slate, that other letters of a similar description had been written—one of them asserting that tie had known anal-practices in a family fur l 8 scars (although he was only 17 years old) and the threatening a reverend divine with having got his house keeeer with child. he prisoner wept bitterly on hearing the verdict, and on being removed from the bar. On Thursday, Thomas Siutmunds, a country lad, acted 19, was indicted capitally fur stealing fifteen sheep, the property of William Harding, Isaac Harding, and Thos. Searle.—Not Guilty. Thomas Hunt, Thomas Eaton, John Hughes. and John Smith, were capitally indicted for assaulting James Perkins Olt the highway, and stealing from his person a watch, value 51. a knife, a comb, three balls of worsted, and other artic!es, his property. Mr Perkins stated, that he was a carpenter residing at Sunbury, Middlesex, and on the evening of the tfili of September, he was returning home on foot along the Narrow-road, he was uvcrtak:n by four men, who came running along in a great hurry, and he wished them a good night. One of them tapped him on the shoulder, and said, " I) your eyes, have you got any money ?" To which he replied nu, that he was only a labouring man, andtmoreover had been some time out of employ mem. lie had scarcely spoken, when they surrounded hint, and rifled his pockets or every thing they contained. He said he hoped they would not use him ill, and one • of them said with an oath, " No, if you do not resist." Samuel Lack, a patrole of Bow -street, stated, that he and three other officers, were stationed on the Harrow road for several nights, by outer of Mr. Birnie, in constr. qiience of several robberies having been committed there. On the evening of Saturday, the 30th of September, as they were waiting on the road, the four prisoners passed and wished them good night. They followed, and wit ness seized Smith who immediately pulled out a pistol, but before he could level it, witness seized it by the bar ref, and wrenched it from his hand. lie then took him round the waist, handcuffed him, and turning round seized Eaton, whom he also secured. lie found some money and a pent.ntle upon Eaton. The plater was loaded. Chapman, Limbrick, awl Woodberry, &posed to alt. preliending the two other prisoners. Hunt, when by Chapitiam also pulled out a loaded pistol. Perkins identified the penknife found upon Eaton as his inept' ty. lie could not swear to either of the pri soners. Mr. Justice Parke, in summing up, observed, that there was not a mile of evidence to criminate the pri• loners Hunt, Hughes, and S:isith, in this charge. The Jury rutin(' Eaton (11114—Death, and acquitted the other three. Eaton, Hughes, and Hunt, were tried on a second indictment, charging then► with rubbing Etienne Berlin, Esq. surgeon to the Duke de Cazes, of Es gold watch, value 341.5 gold lancet case, value sl., lbl. this. in notes and silver, a pocket handkerchief, and other property, oti the Ingliwa). Mr. !Jima was stopped in his gig on the Harrow-road by three men, one of whom seized the reins (lithe horse and the other two jumped into the gig. one oit each side, and one of the two presented a pistol to his head. They then rifled hit lincL•cts of she prol•erty mentioned they also tools his box coat, which they begged he would retains, as it was a very cold night, and he had a laug way to 1, , ,0; but toe !nun %%Ito held the reins "ailed out, " !Vow his b— brains if Inc i.n't quit k.' Iney then left him. Eaton was the Walt who prentited tits pistol, THE NATIONAL REGISTER and he believed from the voice of Hunt, that it was he who held the horse. Chapman, the officer, produced a handkerchief which he found upon Hunt, aud which was identified by Mr. Bertin, as the one taken from him on the night in ques tion. The Jury found Hunt Guilty—Death ; and acquitted Eaton and Hughes. The three prisoners were again tried for a highway robbery upon Joel 'Nike. The evidence was perfectly conclusive, and the Jury found all the prisoners Guilty—Daath. Mr. Justice Parke said it was a nos. lorunate circum stance for the public that so desjer:.te a gang had been brought to BANK Pi.OSECUTZONS.—On the sitting of the Court on Friaay, twelve hid and four wool ?II q,r Can tig,nefi, they being cliarp.,td with having their rlsses 10 11 , and with tittering, foreed notes of the BJ1: I of Eltgt and, Liacy well knowing them to be so. They se%:•rally pleaned Guilty to the minor offence of harm; forged lions in their possession, which subjects them to be transported fur fourteen years. Five women and ore man pleaded Not Guilty generally, and will take their trials for the capita; oftener. Mr. Reynolds said, he was instructed on the part of the Bank, whose wish it was always to take the must lenient course, not to offer any evidence in support of the capital ottence against those persons who had pleaded guilty to the minor charge, and they were consequently acquitted. SINGULAR CASE. —Sophia Anderson, a genteel look ing young woman, was c pita Ily indicted fur ste-lhig, in the dwelling house of Francis Bailits, a gold watch, chain, and seals, his property. The prosecutor and his wile keeps a brothel near Fins bury,squirre, and in September last the prisoner came to lodge tnere, paying pretty handsomely for her accommo dation. Sonic time :vier the prosecutor's wife missed her watch, &c. and traced it to a pawnbroker's shop, where the prisoner had pledged it for eight guineas. She absconded at toe sam a time, and %.'aS traced to N (nabob!, Hampshire, where she was apprehended, with smite Bank-notes which she had received for the watch in her possession. The prosecutor, on cross-examination, said his wife often went by differant names. Mr. Broderick, on behalf of the prisoner, caged John Narita), uncle to Mrs. 13ai1ias, who swore, that ill smite cases he would not belies e Mrs. Bailiss on her oath. Mrs. Norton also swore that she considered Mrs. Esther Baths, was not to be believed on her oaths. The Jury found the prison:2r tnti:ty-I)..ath ; hut re commended her strongly to mercy, on amount of the notorious characters of the prosecutors. Mr. Justice P. said, the recommendation should certainly be attended to, and refused to allow Mr. and llrs.Bailiss their expences. Lewis Lazarus was Capitally convicted of taking, by force and violence, truu► the person of watch, &c. his property. Tins robbery was committed in open day, in a public street, and was attended with circumstances of great audacity. • Mary Lennard, alias Hopkins, was capitally indicted for stealing one MI. and soli) ii. Baok of England notes, the property of Mary Greets, in her dwoling house. The prosecutrix is a laundress, having a. large family to support, and tote prisoner occasionally washed for her. In February last the prisoner went to Mrs. Green to borrow a 11. note of her, arid the prisoner saw her take the note from several others which s he kept in a stock ing placed in a table drawer. The prisoner subserviently called several times on trifling errands, and at length the money in question was missed, sod she absconded alto gether front the neighbourhood. The notes were clearly traced to her possession. Tne Jury found her Guilty—Death, aged 28. SEDITIOUS PLACARDS. Mr. Pearson, accompanied by Vickery, returned late on Solidity night from Frame, after a SIICCtSbICSI pursuit of Fletcher. Monday Mr. Pearson was 'Misruled by Mr. Bintie at the office, that a letter had been received ' firma ti:e fugitive, ridiculing all attempts to apprehend Inns. Mr. Pearson immediately went to. the lloine Mice, awl requested Sir Robert Baker to spew Inot the letter, that he might be enabled to ascertain whether it was in the hand-writing of the accused. Sir said, that it was in the possession of Mr. liobhouse, the Under Secretary of State, %vim was izolie with it to Lord Sidsnouth, to the House of P:ers, amid that the letter in question contaihed on the part of the accused, a full confession of hat ing I mldiAleil the it:Jean's, and tittered very fully into his i nc ites and reastius for their pubLea tints. Sir Rubel& Baker itdmitted that the reasons ad duced wen: %cry lidietilous, and lintlicr nbstrvcd, !wit the letter was written and sent by Flea her with a view to ',indication. Mr. Pearson, then Wa it ell 1111011 Air. flohhouse, and was treated with a ieW at tilt Sliperxes ip- Jinn and signature of the letter, which tilled three stiles of a sheet of paper closely written, and was dated the loth instant, atad bore tile post mark of Dolikisl, ' There was also produced for the first, note, a !et , fild utter from Mr. Fletcher to Sir Robert Baker, but whence it I had been sent, or what were its contents, Mr. Pedrsoll could not learn. As however, Sir Robert kmdly: formed that gentleman that the letter was winten by Mr. Fletcher, and sent with a view t, intltnwiWn. Fletcher's wish will, al course be g ratified ; and the public may be furnished with some explanatioit of the "motives and reason*" of Mr. Fletcher, not wily in publishing the placards, but also iu thus conflibitti..lly correspond Mg with Sir Robert Baker. If that wormy a,.,:itstrate shoult; be hereafter called before a Committee of the Uouse, it would be a little extraordinary if this letter should contain an entire exculikition of the Mi nisters front anw ^ uilty participation in the transaction ; and muse creectady so, if it should tarn utu oat Ilu lee ter itself was of tome manulatture. In ono of the inlerview6 which 14. Pearson had with Srt Mr. &folic, he was informed by him that, among oche. communications which he had received upon this sub ject, was an anonymous letter, bearing a country post, mark, assuring him that Fletcher was in a place of perfect security, and was laughing at his pursuers. This letter was considered a mere hoax. Volta. BO W-s 1 REL. P. 110 R R ISLE ASIA U notoriona prostitutes, railing theas.elves Mary Baker and Catherine or Kit liakir, were brought up Er, in St. Marrin's watch-house On Thursday, under the logos% ing circumstances appeared by the evidence of a host of witnestes, that betwi..n thr,e and four O'ClGek on Thursday moniing, the whole nei , w'aorOood of Vint -street, Cnandos-street, was alarmed by dreadin: cries of " watch! der I" &c. accompanied by the sounds of windows breaking. These cries continued for nearly a nuarter or an hour, and tin WALCOntall seems to have come near the place during that time. At length a man was seen hanging . from the second floor window of the house N 0.4, Vine street, with his head downwards, and in the next mo ment he fell upon the pavement. Two watchmen had by tins time arrived, and whilst smile persons conveyed the man almost lifeless to the watch-house, they forced the door of the house, and proceeding to the room from whence the man had fallen, they found there the two prisoners in a state of great disorder and agitation, and with their clothes lunch torn. The story these women told was, that he had wilfully . thrown himself from the window .and one of theta asserted, that as he was vetting out she caught hint by • the leg and held him, calling " watch!" with all her might till her strength was exhausted ; and then she was obliged to loose her hold, and he fell. Several of the witnesses, however, deposal that he appeared to be• struggling very much with some person before he was completely out or the window—that all the cries* of " murder" and " watch" were uttered in a man's voice; and that, as he fell, two women looked out after him without uttering any alarm at all. The evidence was heard thus far in the forenoon, and - the prisoners were then remanded till the evening, in order to ohtain front the man himself, if possible, some account of the transaction; and; notwi.hstanding the dreadful fall he experienced, he was able to communi--- cate the following particulars : Ilia name, he stated, is Frederick Wilmns, and he is • • a journeyman shoemaker. He denies all acquaintance with the I)6.i:tiers, but states that he met with them ac cidentallf iu Vine-street that same morning, when, partly by persuasion, and partly by force, they got him into the house, and e.cutuslly into the front euom on the second finor. Ifere they locked the room door, and demanded • somothing to dunk ; and he, becoming al irtned at their• manlier, told theta he.wauld go and letch-sornalhing, tQ the hope of thus making his escape; but they peremp wrily to let him go, and began to search bra pockets for money. He resisted, and their violence increased ; upon which he ran to the window, threw up the sash, and called " Watch l" The women instantly followed, and code:homed to drag hint away from the window, but he clung to the sash, and they pulled at. bun with ?inch shilerice that all the lower part of it gave way, and they all fell backwards into the room. lie now• struggled with them severs! minutes in Mflerent parts of the room, he crying out "Murder I" all the time; and at length, having broke away front them, he again rushed • to the now opened and shattered window, with the in tention of reiterating his cries for assistance, and whilst he was in the act of so doing, they came behind him,. and both together forced him out. The prisoners were again brought hp in the evening, when a certificate from the man's medical attendants was put in, stating that he was in too dangerous a state to be removed, and the prisoners were, in consequence, remanded for a Intone examination. One of the prisoners is a very fine woman, and within these two years was one of the most dashing counezans in London. Exectr•rtox.—On Tuesday morning, soon after sight o'clock, the billowing unhappy men wcrc executed in • from of Ne%vgate, pursuant to their tentenee, viz. H. Marsh, for huitsebreaking, and Isaac Smith and James .Marsden, l'or uttering Haub of England notes, knowing them to be forged. Marsh first ascended the platform, attended by toe Rev. Mr. Colton, Smith next, and Alarulen last, attended by a Dissenting Clergyman They all joined fervently in prayer for a few minutes, and then were launched into eternity. Marsh was about 54 years tit age; the other two were very young. men. Marsden was much con attlstul after being turned oft. Marsh and Smith died apparently without the least struggle. A gentleman of the name of King had his pocket. tricked on Wednesday afternoon in Sweeting's-allcy, Corithill, of his pocket-book, which contained Bank notes lo the amount of 40441. and a Check upon a Ratilling-house for Gut. more. Sunday night, at eight o'clock, a fire broke out at a sugar-baker's (Nasinyth's, we believe) in Old Gravel-lane. It raged with the utmost violence till ten o'clock, when it was so fir subdued as to preeltide any apprehension of further damage.— The },remises were destroyed The loss of property. is very great. Mr. Kean embarked on board the Martha from Liverpool on the 11th inst. bound to New Yort.— Aftc.r the vessel was fairly out at sea, a parson tip.. Feared among the passengers, who had ben until then secreted. He answered the ilescr:ptiion of Franklin, alias. Fletcher, and was believ.:d by all on Want to be the man. I t. i 41 4 , ..Z