The National Register. — London, England, 1820-07-30 00:00:00

, 246 clostg 3ntelltgEnce. KENT. WEDNESDAY, JUL•T 26. CIVIL SIDE. LOCKWOOP, GENT. V. SANDI.). This was an action by an attorney oi Ruchotel against the defendant, for an assault. It appeared in evidence that the defendant had been a client of the plaintiff, and in an action brought by the 1 titer ou hir, behalf a verdict to the amount of 401. • d lunges and costs xvas recovered. The plaintiff not Laying sellte l the business to the satisfaction of the de the letter met him in Rochester an the 19th of July in last year, and taxed him with ropery in the tiatisaction, suggesting that he had not paid riser the .money recovered, an d '. stating that lie was" a d—d old rogue—that he had behaved 40 him worse than a high wayman, and that he ought to he shot." This language was accompanied by a violent shake of the arm, and the defendant thrust his fist in the plaiistiff's face. The Jury found for the plaintiff—Damages 20s. There was no other came on this side worthy of public notice. CRO N SIDE. BANK OF ENGLAND PROSKCUTtONS. Richard Worthing, Samuel May, and Thomas Saunders were severally indicted for uttering forged Bank oi England notes, knowing them to be forged, hut hating pleaded guilty to the minor offence, of knowingly having forged notes in their possession, the capital charge was abandoned. They mete each sentenced to 14 years transportation, pursuant to .the statute. Thomas Ssuuders and Joseph Wilke were then in•. dieted capitally for tittering a forged one-pound Bank of England note, to one Pinlip Chapman, at Chatham, on the 28th of April last. The prisoner Saunders was joined with Wilkes in this indictment as a matter of Inuit, it being a joint oflenee, with au understanding that his plea of guilty to the minor charge as above stated, would exempt him front capital punishment if convicted. The facts being proved, the Jury found the prisoners Guilty—Death. Rachael &thinlph and Elizabeth Usher were indicted for uttering to Eliz:theth, the wife of William Crowe, a forged 1/. Bank of England Dote, on the sth of April, at Greenwich. Baron Wood, upon the evidence of the principal winless, said, in his opinion, there was no case to go to the Jury against either of the prisoners , hut certainly none against Elizabeth Usher. Mr. Gurney said, that this being his Lordship's opinion, he should certainly not press the case tardier.— The Bank of England, in prosecuting this case, had merely discharged their duty to the public, the prisoners having been committed by the local magistracy. .His clients could not be defrauded by such crimes, because they always stopped the forgeries whenever they were presented. The prisoners were therefore acquitted and discharged. Both prisoners appeared simple young women, in the condition of servant maids. CUTTING AND MAIMING. Joshua Ruck was convicted of maliciously cutting off the left hand of John Cook, with a sword, on the 17th of June last in the parish of Chariham. The prisoner received a good character from several witnesses, who, however, said that his temper was very - hasty. When told of the mischief he had done to the prosecutor, he expressed great sorrow for what had hap pelted, and said he wished he could restore the hand to Its place. The J ury found the prisoner Guilty—Death. iltliatDAY, JULY 27. Till aiNG Y. GsuaGC AuGUsTus NYRE, U. This was an indictment against the defendant a half-pay Captain in the Navy, employed in the service of the cuts- Moms for assaulting and wounding with a tuck or dirk, Geo. Pslcher, at Millie, on the 15th April, MS. Mr. Adolphus (with whom was Mr. Abraham) opened the case with his usual eloquence, and introduced it by observing, that the facts he should have to lay before the Jury would disclose au instance of the most gross, wanton, and cruel abuse of office, that ever came before a Court of Justice. The case opened and proved against the defendant was to this effect :—The prosecutor a respectable wine-merchant and dealer in spirits at Hale, had of the 15th of April, purchased 50 gallons of brandy and gin, into casks ' sit a Sale, at New Romney, which coot hint DUI. and having obtained a permit to convey them to his writ stores, lie was returning to Ilithe in the evening, and about nine o'clock, when he had nearly arrived at that toss's, he was hailed by the defendant, by his name, and asked what be had gut in his cart. He replied that he had got spirits; upon which the defendant Paid—" uu have smuggled them, aid 1 must seize them." he proseentor answered, that it wars rather hard he should lose his property, which he had purchased and paid fur, before he got it home, He was asked by the defendant if he had gut a permit, and he replied in the affir mative. The defendant then, with great fury, insisted upon seeing the permit. Mr. Pitcher said, lie haul the permit in his pocket, that lie could nut part with it, as it was his only protection, but added," I'll spew you my permit, with great pleasure, as soots as we get a light." They soon approached the Duke's head public-house, at the entrance of the town of flithe, wheu the prosecutor culled to the landlord to bring a candle. The landlord did so, when the prosecutor produced his permit, and the defendant atttempted to snatch it out of his hand, but he avoided his grasp, and then said, he had no objection to put it into the hands of Mr. Hitachi°, by whom they were immediately joined, saying that be was a respectable man, and he accordingly delivered it to) that gentleman. The defendant, however, insisted upon seizing the cart and its contents, iu the King's name and his own. This was opposed by the prosecutor, who went to his horses' cad, and held it by the bridle, and at the same time threw away his whip into the cart, saying he did nut waut to resist the defendant. The defendaut then pulled out a tuck from his stick, and advancing with great rage towards the pro secutor, apparently with an intention of striking him, the latter held up his arm to ward Mr the blow,and was w uonded severely between the lingers. He then ran round the cart u 'rider to avoid further injury, said at was pursued b) the THE NATIONAL REGISTER.. defendant, to eThom he immediately said—" You puppy, what do you mean by drawing upon a naked man." The by-slandersiutcrpused and prevented further violence, hut the defendant still insisted upon making the seizure, and calling to some soldiers, he placed the horse and cart in their custody. Immediately afterwards au excise officer was seat • for. to whom Mr. Pitcher delivered his permit. The pro- L , ecutor then remonstrated mildly with the defendant, and asked him what could induce him to draw his dirk upon an unarmed man who had given no offence. Ile was answered withgreat violence by the defendant, who said, " t thought it necessary, fur such soinizgling rascals us you always carry arms with you concealed." The prosecutor replied, that he was no smuggler, and that lie was without the means of offence or defence. In a short time afterwards, the permit having heen...samined, the prosecutor's horse and cart and spirits were restored to him without farther übjec . It appeared that the proweutor was well known to the defend ant, and that the latter had previously dealt with him for spirits. Ilia evidence was corroborated by that of Mr. King, the publican, and Mr. Iladdan, a stone-mason. Thu prosecutor's permit was not produced. His cart had no name upon it, but that circumstance was explain ed by the fact, that it had recently been repaired. Mr. Serjearit Onslow (with whom were Mr. Marryatt, Mr. Gurney. Mr. Nolan, and Mr. De i.any) addressed the Jury on behalf of the defendant, without calling wit- nesse'. The Chief Justice charged the Jury, shat, if the &fend' 411 t was hone fide acting under the impression that the pro secutor was conveying smoggled spirits, it would be then duty to find him not guilty, because he appeared to be a legally authorised officer of the Customs. At the same time, however, if they were of opinion that he had IM ground for entertaining that impression, they were hound to find him guilty ; or, if, supposing he had exercised his ditty, or had acted with mote violence than was justifi able, though he conceived himself merely acting in pur suance of his duty, still he would he guilty. His Lord ship dwelt with considerable emphasis upon those cir cumstances of the case which appeared favourable to the supposition that the defendant had acted honestly in the discharge of his duty, and not from wanton seventy to wards the prosecutor. The Jury retired for about half an hour, and returned a verdict of Guilty. YORKSHIRE. CROWN SIDE.--111GHWAY -RORBERY• Joseph Pickersgill, aged 27, was charged with having violently assaulted and robbed Squire Ramsdell, near Wakefield, on the evening of the sth of May. Squire Ramsdell said, lie lived at ‘VakefielJOut-wood. On the sth of May he had been at a public-house at ,Biay Lane. He went in at a quarter past in, and stayed an hour and a half. The prisoner was there, and proposed to go home with hint, but declined to go when witness did. Witness proceeded homewards, and was overtaken and passed by Mary Horton. He heard a footstep, and as he turned to look he was knocked down, and some person began kicking him on the head very se verely,and said "D—n thee,wilt thou not give over ?wilt thou not hold thy din 1" at the same time pineking (striking) witness's mouth with his foot. Witness knew the voice to be Pickergill's ; witness lay still, bleeding copiously from his mouth and head. The prisoner then took from him his purse containing Ibis. Witness was at the time turned on his face, and the prisoner held his knct uo site back of his neck, pressing his mouth to the ground. The prisoner next took two small keys out of witness's pocket, and went away. Witness, feeling un able to rise, called for help. The prisoner returned, and said— .. D—n thee, thou art not quiet yet; but if I have not given thee enough, I will do." He then kicked him severely on the other side of the head, on the ribs, and in a particular part of his body. He then took front his inside waistsoat pocket a pocket-book, containing a one pound note and memorand . Witness said, " Thou bast got my money : let me die quietly." The prisoner gave a coarse and savage answer. The witness became insensible. Other witnesses, who came up to the prosecutor and carried him home, deposed to the situation in which they found him.and to Pickergill's having given difkrent and contradictory accounts of the blood on his stockings. They saw him throw away a purse, and drop a pocket-book. The keys were found his pocket. The Jury at once found a verdict of—Guilty. Death. On Friday afternoon, Mr. Justice Park, passed sen tence of death nu the following prisoners :—Jaities Shehnerdine and Richard Cook, convicted of burglary; Patrick Murphy, convicted of highway robbery; and George Graham, convicted of forging a bill of exchange. To the last prisoner the Judge held out strong hopes of obtaining a mitigation of his sentence. Wm. Oltlfield, of Bradford, innkeeper, was found guilty of the murder of his wife, and ordAred for execution. At Preston Sessions, on the 15th instant, William Pucke, the younger, was found guilty of conspiring with ten or twelve others, and committing an unprovoked violent assault nn the Messrs. Frederick Lilly and Joseph Brown, two members of the Manchester and SallOrd Yeomanry.Cavalry,during the corps being on permanent duty, in June last. Alter a painful investigation of six hours, the jury retired for a quarter of an hour, and re turned a verdict of guilty against the defendant. The worthy Chairman, on passing sentence, adverted to the enormity of the crime, and sorry was he to see a person of respectable connexions like Pucke, arraigned before him for so heinous as offence :—" Your sentence is six months imprisonment in his Majesty's Castle at Lan caster, and at the expiration of that term, you enter into your own recognizance of tool., and find two securities of 501. each, for your good behaviour, and to keep the peace for three years to come." The Assizes at Cambride terminated on Thursday, and we are happy to announce, as certainly creditable to the moral state of the country, that only one prisoner was capitally convicted (an old offender, who has been sent twice across the seas at his Majesty s expense, but now destined for life). We understand twat the calen dars throughout the couutry are unusually light. We know not what apology those gentlemen will make to an insulted community, who so stoutly and vociferously insisted that " irreligion and immorality" welt: fright- fully " stalking abroad" throughout the land ; for this must be the surest test which can possibly throw the negative back upon the tongue of the slanderers. SURREY SESSIONS, .1411,y ti. —maw— BrGAML—An old decrepid man, who is so deformed that he has been front his birth unable either to dress, or undress himself, having neither hands nor feet, stood indicted for unlawfully intermarrying with one Mary Staggs, in March last, at Christ Church, in the Borough, his former wife being then alive. Hercules Manning, the parish clerk of Plumstead its Kent, proved the marriage of the prisoner with Mary Johnstone, at Plumstead Church, in June 1808 —The ceremony was perforated by the Comte, the Rev. S. %%Tatum. _ . Johnstone,the prisoner's first wile, came into the witnesses box, and Mr. Manning swore that she was the woman the prisoner married in 1808. Mary Johnstone's appearance excited a great deal of merriment: she was attired in the costume of the last century, and appeared at least 80 years of age. She called to the prisoner, "Oh ! you naughty villain." Order being restored, Mary Staggs, a decently dressed woman, was called. She said she was 70 yearsolage. She was the lawful wife of the prisoner. She was married to him last march, at a church in the Borough. She did not know the carne of it. . . only married her to dress and undress me. Witness—You know better, you left we. Chairman—Was you married . by banns or licence ? Witness—By banns. Prisoner—" My Lord, have mercy—l am a poor help. less old man—quite a cripple—l can do nothing—l was born at Brecknock—the women know I am an inno cent man, and never does any thing to any body." Chairman—" You will be allowed to speak in your defence hereafter." Mary Savage being sworn, stated that she was at the marriage of the prisoner with Mary Stages at Christ Church, in the Borough, on the 2d of March last. Chairmaa—Now prisoner, what have you to say in defence of your conduct. The prisoner then put in a written defence, composed by himself, but written by a fellow prisoner in form of an affidavit, as follows : " 1, Win. Thomas do declare, that lam unable to cut my own victuals , having no hands nor feet nor am 1 able to dress or undress myself without help. I married NI at y Staggs, but she did not long bide with me before she robbed the of every thing only w i Nat I can stand upright in, and she, Mary Johnstone, aided and assisted in it, she living as housekeeper with me; she has since threatened to hang me because I would not give her money. I gets my living by selling tins about the country. Now, I pray you, gentlemen, to do what you can for me, for Johnstone tells me she has hung one and transported two, and will hang me. 1 hope God will forgive all my wrongs and you too, for I decay daily, and must soon die of oid age. (Signed) " WM. THOMAS." Horsemonger Lane, July, 1E120." . - The Chairinau then recapitulated the evidence, and said a more extraordinary charge had not been recently before the Court. The prisoner interrupted the Chairman-- My Lord, I was pressed to marry; I did not want to marry. What could I do? She knew I only wanted her to undress me at night and dress me in the morning? Chairman—The case is completely proved it is an unaccountable transaction; you will consider your verdict. The Jury immediately returned a verdict of Guilty; but strongly recommended the prisoner to mercy. Chairman—Upon what grounds? Juryman—His great age and infirmity. Another Juryman—The prisoner was not able to dress himself ; it was necessary that he should have some person to attend upon him, as he has no hands or feet. We hope the Court will deal mercifully with him. Chairman.—Your recommendation shall be attended to. The Court sentenced the prisoner to three months' imprisonment in the House of Correction. The prisoner is possessed of property in the funds to the amount ul near two thousand pounds. According to letters from Stockholm of the 11th inst., Mr. George, the British Charge d'Af}i►irs at that place, on the arrival of a courier from England, set out to join the King of Sweden on his progress into Norway. Within the last few weeks the prices of corn and all kinds of provisions had materially declined in Stockholm. E=EcuTloN•—On Thursday morning, pursuant to their sentence, James Gardner, Henry Brawn, and Peter Miller, for forgery; Thomas Camber, for sheep stealing, and Wm. Wilkinson, for extorting money on the King's highway, suffered the awful sentence of the law opposite the Debtors' Door, Newgate. The behaviour of the three unfortunate men who had been convicted of forgery was decorous and becoming. They were all well dressed, and were fine respectable looking men. A general opi nion had gone abroad, that the sentence of the law, as far as it regarded these prisoners, would not have been carried into effect. This opinion was founded on the belief that the Capital Felonies' Repeal Bill had received the Royal Assent; and it was hoped that these unfortnatc men would be the first object of clemency.—After hanging the usual time, their bodies were cut down, and deposited in shells, re paratory to their being given to their friends fu► interment.