The National Register. — London, England, 1821-04-16 00:00:00

, • • The two marriages were proved in ...y, as was the present existence of the first wife. The second wife was also called, and related the facts. She is an interesting young woman, and appeared considerably arected. The prisoner, in his defence, said his first wife was already married when he led her to the altar, and that upon the discovery of that fact he left her. He abused his second wife and her father, whom he accused of suborning witnesses against hint. Mr. Broderick for the prisoner, called Edward Lewis a shoemaker, at North Gate, Canterbury, who swore that he knew the prisoner's first wile, Sarah Ockley, and he alma knew one Harry Richards, who was once a private in the Radnorshire militia, in which corps wit ness was a ser.jeant. This was about IG years ago.— Richards and Sarah Ocaley were acquainted, and witness one day lent him xi. to be married, as he understood, to to that young woman. He was not present at the marriage. The witness was severely crow-examined, and preva ricated considerably. Being confronted with the pri soner's first wife, who was in court, he tutrned.pale, and Aid he could not swear positively that she was the the woman he bad been speaking of, it was so long ago, but he believed she was. Being hard pressed, he after wards said he would not swear that he believed her to be the woman. Wm. Sneller, also a shoemaker, swore to the wedding feast, and that Richards and Mary ()chivy had lived to gether afterwards as nian and wife. Some witnesses were called to character. John Ockley, father-in-law to the first wife, was then called by Mr. Adolphus, and he swore that his daughter was never married to Richards. Mr. Baron Wood summed up the evidence, and remarked with much severity upon the evidence for the defence. The Jury without any hesitation found the prisoner Mr. Baron Wood.—" Prisoner, you have set tip a most wicked defence, and I shall recommend that the highest punishment the law awards be inflicted upon you."—The heaviest punishment is tratisportati )))) for 14 years. BANC PROSECUTIoNs.—Twenty-two men and five women pleaded guilty to the minor offeuce of having forged Bank notes in their possession. ATROCIOUS CASE OP ROBBERY —Mathias Gt'Or;lC Disscnll, a fine looking young man, aced ig, was capi tally indicted for assaulting T. Wood on the highway, and taking from his person 81. 101. a coat, and a pair of shoes, his property. This was a case of the most horrid threat, to extort money from the Duke of Norfolk's footman. Some witnesses were called to speak to the former good character of the prisoner; and the prisoner declared his innocence. The Chief Justice (Abbott) summed up the evidence very minutely, and the jury returned a verdict of guilty —death. FRIDAY, APRIL 13. THE FATAL DUEL AT CHALK FARM. The Sessions House at the Old Bailey was this morn ing crowded to excess, at eight o'clock, for the purpose of witnessing the trial of Mr. J. H. Christie, one of the principals in the late duel at Chalk Farm, in which Mr. John Scott was killed ; and of Mr. Trail, his second. Mr. Patmore, the second of Mr. Scott, did not appear. The two unfortunate gentlemen we have mentioned entered the court at au early hour. for the purpose of surrendering to abi.le their trial. They were thesauri in full mourning, and behaved with suitable composure. Many persons of distiuction were on the bench. At half past ten o'clock the Chief Justice, A bbott, and Mr. Justice Park, entered the court, and Nlessrs. Christie and Trail were put to the bar, and the indictment for the wilful murder of John Scott, at Chalk Farm, on the 16tit of February last, was read over to them ; to which they severally pleaded Nut Guilty, and were immediately put upon their trial. Mr. Walforti stated the case to the jury. The first witness was Mr. Thomas Joseph Pettigrew. He had not, he said, been acquainted with the deceased, hut he knew, for many years, Mr. Patinore, who called upon hint on Friday evening, the itith of February, and Stat. d that, in coos, (wetter of something which had arisen out of an affair between Mr. Scott and Mr. Lock hart, Mr. P.Amore requested hint (Mr. Pettigrew) to attend in the neighbourhood of Chalk Farm on the same evening. Ile went th, re accordingly, in a post chaise, accompanied by. his pupil, W. B. Morris. lie got to the lane leading to Chalk Farm about eight o'clock on the same evening. It was moonlight. They proceeded through the lane towards the fields, and at last reached the top of the bill. lie then saw sonic gentlemen in a field, two of them walking backwards and forwards, and two others by the side of the hedge. lie then heard the ktiocking of pistols, the priming of them, and flashing of pans. Soon afterwards both pistols were fired. lie heard the sound, and saw the flash. He next heard an exclamation from one of the getitlemen, as if wounded. Witness got over the hedge, and found Mr. Scott on his knees on die ground. tie pointed out to witness his bfing wounded on the right side; the other gentlemen were supporting hint. At that nine there was no con versation. Witness partly undressed Mr. Stant, sod examined the wound. Mr. Scott was fainting. One of them (which of them be does not know)scame up and took him by the hand, as ho expressed a with that lie had hinisell, rather than Mr. Scutt, been in his situation. This was when Mr. Scott was fainting; upon his reco very, he sae'—" Whatever may be the issue of this case, 1 beg you all to bear in remembrance, that every thing has been fair and honourable." During the time wit ness was examining the wound, an altercation took place between Mr.Patinore and another gentleman—he did not distinctly hear the whole of the conversation, except that blr. Patmore said—" Why was it not coin 'animated to me-1 knew nothing of it?" A gentleman, during this altercation, came up to witness, and asked hint if the wooed was mortal? he answered, he feared it was, if it cutercd the cavity of the abtionacn, The say, _ "owls the 11 the first time, he was obliged to fire the second time in his own slefcnce—heappcared, certainly, in great agony, and manifested the most humane solicitude for Mr. Scott. Witness left them in the act of carrying him to the house. William Bovil Morris stated, that he accompanied the last witness to Chalk Farm on the n ght in question. He reached the hedge of the field where the parties wi re rather sooner than Mr. Pettigrew. On his arrival, he, like the last witness, heard a noise like ramming pistols, and saw two gentlemen standing apart on the ground— they were the two that he afterwards observed pointing pistols at each other. At that moment they fired, and the gentleman nearest to him fell, and he (witness) as sisted by Mr. Pettigrew raised Mr. Scott fro m th e ground. A gentlemen , whom he could tint now recog nise, came up to Mr. Scott, and wished himself in his situation. Witness ran to have the chaise brought up, and on his return he saw some persons bringing the de ceased on a shutter towards Chalk KIM'. In the house, when Mr. Scott was brought in, he recognised the pri. sutler, Mr. Christie, by Mr. Scott's side. There were four or five outer gentlemen in the room, but who they were he knew not. Hugh Watson, James Ryan, and Thomas Smith, assisted in removing the wounded gentleman. Dr. George Darling esamined.—He stated, that on the night of the 16th February, between twelve and one o'clock, lie was called oil to attend the deceased, whom he found in great danger, and communicated to him die dangerous nature of his wound. He told 11411 in answer to tits (deceased's) questions, that his wound was lint necessarily mortal, unless the intestines were pert Orated. A similar co ',mini:cation was made by Mr. Guthrie, the surgeon, to the deceased. Mr. Scott said lie was satis fied, but on the following morning he (Mr. Scott) related The Judges here, after a short consultation, decided, that as there was no proof that Mr.ticott, when he made :11 particular communication to Dr. D.irliny, thought he was in a dying st , tte, the court could not receive as legal evidence the declaration of the deceased. _ _ The case was he,e closed for the prosecution, and Mr. Gurney went to the front of the bar, and held a long consultation with the prisoners; after which they were severally called upon for their defence. Mr. Christie, in a faint voice, and evidently labouring under great agitation, said, that he should viii witnesses to prove that he was not such a mall as deserved the imputation of a murderer. Mr. Trail, upon tieing called for his defence, said, he should leave the court to estimate his character from the evidence of those who knew A number of witnesses of the first res?ectability then gave the prisoners an excellent c aracter for mildness and humanity. At half past one o'clock, the Chief Justice rose to charge the jury. lie recapitulated the whole of the evi dence against the prisoners, and laid down the las of the case, as invoked in all the different gradations of charges for murder, ma ',slaughter, and homicide, leaving it, upon the whole, for the jury to see whether snider ally, and which charge, they were prepared to say the evidence was calculated to sustain a conviction against the prisoners at the bar. The jury, alter half an hour's consideration, returned a verdict ol—Not Guilty. The prisoners bowed respectfully to the court and jury, antl were immediately discharged trout custody. instant the verdict was recorded, a number of gentlemen rushed to the bar, and heartily shook hands with the gentlemen who had been acquitted. They appeared deeply sensible of the sympathy manifested for their si tuation, Ly (we may venture to say) every person in the crowded court. Tney immediately withdrew, accom panied by their friends. 1)R !AWFUL ACCIDENT.—On Friday, a hoat i put off from the terry, near the Wellington public-1 se, at Woolwich, with some passengers to be put on board a Leith smack. There were consisting of a mall belonging to the royal artillery, his wife, and two children, two soldiers, and other passen gers, together with the waterman. Just as they came near the smack, a rope was hove out to the waterman, but unfortunately it by some means got under the bot tom of the boat, which was instantly swamped, and all the persons on board were thrown overboard. The ac cident was seen from the shore, and petrified the spec tators with horror, when i 11111 l edtately, and with great promptitude. two 110,11111CII (Betejamin Portman and D. Burgess) rowed oft to their assistance, and Saved six out of the nine, among whom were two soldiers, a Child, the corporal's wile with her infant under her arm, who clung to the boat, hut the child was it was feared would not survive. Three persona were drowned. Tile two watermen who went to the assiAance of the suf ferers deserve evi ry praise, as, it it letil not beta for their humanity and ac us ity, the whole must hate ',c rushed. 1 hey are objects worthy the attention of the H am. Society, Ind merit its particulti aticntiou. Tuesday week. M`Cart, and Irishman, was commuted to Carlisle gaol for sit a,.sault. lie had been at a sale on the prectding day with Mr. John Clarke, of Priory; and lea% nig Mr. C. on the road, he hastened 11l his house, and went to bed to Mrs. Clarke, tinder cover of darkness, as her husband. In a little time, the villa. nous intruder %vas discos ercd. and he commenced a re treat; but on going out of the door, met with the master of the house, who had just reached home. A scale took place between them, and M'Cart knocked Mr. Clarke down, and infix ted npon in jury, and for this assault he is committed. NV hen hrou3lit to Carlisle he maim' from custody, but Nv.;.: retaken. 1 BOXING. Wednesday was a great day amongst the amateurs the milling fancy, between two as good men as -- wielded a sword or a fist, Hickman the gas-man, George Coopep. This match (although by a chance hit caused much disappointment)•was a real sporting one. Both men were full of confidence, . although Cooper was not so well as his friends could have wished, from Liles on the legs preventing the necessary exercise required for training. This battle was thught on a common, three miles eastward of St. Alban's, in the presence of about fifteen thou sand spectators. Hickman threw his shallow into the ring, and Cooper soon after saluted in the same manner. They shook hands with each other before stripping, and had a welcome at each other. Betting was 6 to 4 on Gas. The seconds were, for Fliciman, Shelton and- Randall, and for Cooper, Belcher and . • Harry Harmer. Round 1. Cooper noada is =fht. ha XesZ: budialrl a broke away bees a wet H went ur wide ma& daessar Ilea. wady stand sualffle swag fans bin bg a Wavy right bit se the side . aPP 3 m II O followed, and eves betting was Abed en eanplettlet there wee • no takers. 2. It is mhos as eictraordhasly ebaimetenee diet ibis roust ' finished a combat. as width eweands apsubsy bed been on- dee stretch, within-Bee atinules. Ililitdoena IrletMlaratt Jaideseal• wilt, and Coopas melded bee et Me had. b allebbeeembet oscillation-of the head. at heeds nur s ed a skims hila settled the figh yt. The bit et wee • * dame of Gas told brat heard up on the the jaw bone. Cooper fal- as steadess as if a through him, and time was called In nib. as be was as as a parish beadle. It was four minutes before isreeireeden task place. although his seconds had remove se every seethed fist brandy and COlll water would afford. While reaseared be put himself again in attitude, and was told " the bode ie last." " How lost," replied the brave fellow " vibeebev• row beanat with me i" The umpires told him diet he bed lbw beat out of time. " But won't you let me fight on." said Cooper, "there is nothing the matter with Inc." This was quite out of the ques tion, as the seconds of Ilickman had taken him away upon the decision of the umpires. Cooper then o ff ered to fight Sampson before lie put on his clothes. The hit soon became visible. We can only add, that a fight is never safe with so heavy a right handed hitter as Gas. It puts courage on the offside. Richmond's Black was there to fight any one, but as no customer appeared, and the amateurs had gone !24 miles to be amused, a second and a merry fight was knocked up between two little ones of no fight ing reputation, and which could afford no amuse ment to our readers by any thing like detail, as half the company left them at it. The fineness of the day was the only thing that could in any manner compensate for the disappointment. PARTICULARS Of AN I NTSRESTING. CASE.—On Tuesday the 20th ult. Miss Fell, a beautiful young lady, 17 or 18 years ofage, of amiable and engaging manners, left her father's house, in I)ottglas (Isle of Man), and after visiting several of her relations, walked out alone • by the sea shore, and about three miles to the south of Douglas-head, where the rocky coast rises very high and abrupt; while absorbed in thought she accidentally slipped, when on the brink of a cliff, down which she was precipitated, and fell upon a shelving pan of the rock a considerable distance below. Her knee was much hurt by the fall, and she was otherwise much bruised; she made several attempts to climb up, but found it in rain; the spot upon which she stood was nearly sur rounded by the sea, the spray of which often dashed over her, and had the wind been in any other direction than from the land, the waves would have swept her into the abyss. On the day after she fell down she saw several. boats boats passing, and vesss•hi at a distance; but as she would appear on those gigan tic clitrs no bigger than a bird, she was not seen by any of their navigators, and. her voice, which had become hoarse with shouting, was Mandible at so great a distance. On Friday, the 23d, she saw a vessel not tar off; her voice was now entirely bro ken, she could only make a slight signal with her hand kerchief, which caught the eyes of the boatman, who rowed towards her. When they ascended the rock they found her on her knees, .with her hands clasped in the attitude of prayer; she arpeared to be somewhat insen sible, but disclosed her name and situation. Having nearly lost the use of her limbs, she was carefully lilted up lay one of the boatmeo, and carried down to the boa, ; having laid her down in the boat, she immediately fell asleep. She was privately placed in a chaise by the side of her father, and taken home, where she continued in a gradual state of recovery; her mother, however, her feelings benne, tort' by the int:tontine of her son, and the loss of her daughter. could not endure the tide of affec tion that rushed upon her when her daughter was brought to her, and a pew days after we have the follow inc passage in a letter to a gentleman in Liverpool:— " We have 'dreadful news at present in Douglas; the tinforturtate faintly cif relfs have now more reason to be pitied than Cl er ; poor Mrs. Fell is ti:a more." From a subsequent letter, it appears that Miss Fell put a period to her existelice in a lit of derangement. A shocking circumstance occurred on Friday week at. Stamford :—A gentleman, a col 1111 l tra. elkr, went to the U orge and AttAel inn, to take a place by the Leicester couch. He booked himself, paid his tare, and desired that the coach, which was to start in a kw int mites, might call for him at the Crown inn as it pas•cd. This was promised, and the ge-tilcuran r e turi t ..d t o t h e inn apparently in the most pet feet health; but ju-t as lie reached the gateway oi the ton, h. dropp d down and died instantly I—Verdic , Died by the v v tatioil of Cisi. On Tuesday, a man having the appearance of a, horse-jockey, sold his wife at Tunbridge-market, fur one-shilling and sixpence and a pbt of beer. She was a very pretty young woman, and declared her husband was such a ;good-fur-nothing ras c al she. could not live with hi in, THE NATIONAL REGISTER - - Pg.•=r Alla gentleman was in great agony, wringing his hand., and I exclaimed, " Good God, why wa4 l'permitted to fire a second time! 1 fired down the field-1 could do no IN more." Nothing more paused on the spot. The wound i n th was the cause of Mr. Scott's death. ever Cross.examiued by Mr. Gurnev.--The gentleman .„ d alluded to did say, that when he fi red down th e field 1