The National Register. — London, England, 1821-09-16 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. ...-. These sessions commenced on Monday, before N. Co slant, Esq. chairman, and a full bench of magistrates. CONSPIRACY TO DAIATAIE A SURGISON. John Raseuscroft, Sarah (his wife), Mole! (his son), Hannah Itarenscrat, and Nancy Woodcock (his daugh ters), and another, were indicted for a conspiracy to injure John Roby, in his profession and credit, as a surgeon and apothecary. Mr. Alley stated the case for the prosecution with great force. He said the prosecutor was a young gentle sian properly qualified, and had commenced the practice cm his own account, as a surgeon and apothecary, in Old- Street, in the ',lrish of St. Luke, about two years since, and had exercised these professions with great credit and success. About four months since the defendants had, as it appeared, united together to do him the greatest possible injury, by representing to his customers that he was not qualified to act as surgeon and apothecary, nor entitled by law to make any charge for having so acted, being nothing better than an impostor, and that no one who employed hint need pay him, as lie could not recover by law. Mr. Roby was the first witness called. He stated that he has carried on the business of surgeon and apothecary at Old-street for two years. lie had previously, from the year Is 15, lived as assistant with surgeons atChatham and Plaistow, and at the former place had practised for himself during the former part of the year previous to the passing of the Act of Parliament in that year, which re quired that all persons who had not practised as apothe caries before the Ist of August in that year should obtain a certificate from the A pothecaties' Hall before they should be allowed to do so. He mated that he had several patients, one of whom, of the came of Davis, left hint lately. On his cross•cxanaioation by Mr. Adolphus, he stated, that he served his apprenticeship at Keimilworth, in Warwickshire; that he was articled in the year 1810, and came to town about four years after. Mr. Charles Butler Greatorex, surgeon, stated, that he practises at West Ham, near Plaistow, in Eisex—that the prosecutor lived with him for about a year, as assist ant, about the year 1816—that he conducted himself in every respect with credit, and that he (witness) has ever since thought highly of his abilities and honour. Dr. Forbes, of Argyle-street, deposed, that he knew the prosecutor since the year 1815, arid considered him perfectly competent to carry on the business of an ano theca ry.—Ott his cross-examination, he stated, that his opinion was founded on the knowledge of the prosecutor, in consequence of his having attended two courses of witness's lectures at the Surrey Dispensary, and also from his having attended several other Medical Institu tions. Mr. Charles Hyde, surgeon, stated, that the prosecutor lived with him as assistant in the year 1818, during which time he allowed hint to attend the poor at Lam beth, where he saw 30 or 40 patients daily, and witness considered him a very clever young man. Catherine Collins, a married woman, of Gee -street, St. Luke's, staled, that the prosecutor attended her during an illness early in the summer; that some time after the defendants, Hannah Ravenscroft and Nancy Woodcock, neither of whom she knew at the time, came to her house, and inquired whether the prosecutor attended her. Being answered in the affirmative, they said they name to tell her that he was neither a surgeon nor apo thecary that he might be clever, but could not recover any payment in a court of law, and she should soon get a printed paper front the Apothecaries' Hall to prove it. Collins, the husband of the above witness, confirmed his wife's evidence, and stated, that soon afterwards Da niel Ravenscroft called on him, and brought him to the George public-house, where he found the defendants John Ravenscroft and Thomas Hopley, who asked him whether he had paid the prosecutor. Hopley told him, if he should be pressed for payment, he might defend it in the Marshalsea Court along with two others, and the costs would come light on all. Eliza Davis proved that she had employed the prose cutor, and found great benefit front his prescriptions. Hannah Ravenscroft and Nancy Woodcock, neither of them she knew at the time, called on her and told her the prosecutor was no doctor, nor any thing of the soil, but a good-for-nothing fellow front the country, and that she would never pay him, as he could not recover by law. Davis, husband of the former witness, stated, that Ravenscroft, the Whet, called on him and desired him not to pay the prosecutor any thing. He went to Ra tenseroft's house a few days alter, when be saw all the family, who said the prosecutor was au infernal villain and good-for-nothing scoundrel, in consequence of which witness ceased to employ him. J. W.Bickertort stated, that he called at Ravenscroft's in conic uence of their reports respecting the prosecutor. They UM him the prosecutor was not a professional man, and could not recover payment; and Hannah Ra venteroft said her father and two other gentlemen were dtdernained, when they came from the isle of Wight, to ruin him. The defendant Hopley was there, and oficred witness a n o te to an attorne y in t h e ru l es f the King's Bench, who, he said, would defend him against the pro secutor, should he sue for payment : Hopley at the c refused to tell witness his name. I lere the ca;e I;" ... theprrTsectition closed. Mr. Adolphus made an ingenious address to the Jury for the defendants. He attributed the expressions that bad been used to the too warm resentment of a female, who supposed herself iopired, and the excusable sym pathy of her (ritual: He called no witness. The Chairman slimily charged the Jury. lle said a clvarer case of conspiracy could not he proved, and a more honourable character could not be given to any man than had been given to him who was the object of it. l'h Jury found all the prisoners Guilty. The prosecutor requested that the female prisoners might be allowed to rennin at large on their mulct taking to come up to receive the judgment of the Con t. THE NATIONAL REGISTER The Chairman complimented the prosecutor,and corn plied with his request. James Thompson was indicted for perjury, alleged to have been committed in giving evidence against Burnell, the prosecutor in a case tried in this court. Mr. Andrews stated the case for the prosecution, which he opened by stating, that Thompson was an upholsterer residing in Davies-street, Berkeley-square; that Ite had a female lodger named Harrir.gton, who lived be means not at all creditable, and kit his house in debt. He was recommended to employ the prosecutor, Burnell, to procure payment, and afterwards he had, in confor mity with his instructions, received a part. Thompson met Miss Harrington in the street, and learned from her that she had paid part of the debt to Mr. Burnell, the agent, but instead of preventing payment of the rest by withdrawing the authority he had given, he brought Miss Harrington with him before the Grand Jury, and pre ferred a bill of indictment against Burnell for having obtained money on false pretences. On the joint evi dence of these two the bill had been found, and the present prosecutor was afterwards found guilty of an offence which might be punished by transportation, To prove that the evidence given by the defendant, who swore that he had never said he had employed !ha pro secutor, Burnell, to collect money for hint, was false, the Learned Counsel called a number of witnesses to prove the facts. lktr. Alley made an eloquent speech in defence, and called several witnesses, who gave au excellent character of the defendant. The Jury found a verdict of guilty. LANCASHIRE ASSIZES. CROWN COURT. MANSLAUGIITER.—John Hampson, aged 19, was charged with killing James Naylor, :it Walton, on the 16th of August. The deceased and the prisoner had quarrelled about a sovereign, and at last aareed to fight in regular rounds of pugilism. In the fifth round, the deceased received a blow on the right of the head, which laid him stunned on the ground, but he persisted to fight, saying he should come round again He was at length carried quite ex hausted and speechless of the ground, and died in a few hours aftcrwaid. The surgeon had no doubt that death had been caused by the external violence applied to the head. The fighting had been quite fair, and the deceased had first begun it, and persisted in prolonging it. Mr. Justice Bayley said, that by law no fighting was allowed; and if the blows given by the prisoner caused the death, he must be found guilty.—Guilty. The sentence was imprisonment for 14 days. John Robinson, aged 46, was convicted of manslaugh ter.—He had allowed his cart to drive on before him, and in the middle of the street, in Liverpool, the horses had trampled upon a child of 20 months of age. The prisoner got the highest possible chancter for steadiness, sobriety, and humanity; but Mr. Macdonald, the sur geon, 'hewed in the clearest manner that the bruises given by the horses were the cause of death. His Lordship expressed great regret at sentencing so excellent s character to imprisonment for six months. BURGLARY.—Job Ellison, aged 20, was charged with having burglariously entered the dwelling-house of Thos. Sandiford, a calico printer, at Tottington-higher-end„ on the 18th of July, and with having stolen a watch, four gold rings, four sovereigns, two guineas, a necklace, a ruby, an amethyst, and other trinkets. On the night in question, two men, one with a light in one hand, and a pistol in the other, another with a large bludgeon in his right harul entered the bed-chamber of the prosecutor, at half past twelve. They demanded where h rty was, and he told them, and gave them some k compelled him to get out of bed, and open so . for them. Upon his getting into bed again, they fastened his hands to the posts of the bed. Observing, while in the act of doing so, that he had gold on his fingers, they pulled them off'. They pro cet..,ed next to Miss Sandiford's room: she offered resist ance, but was soon overpowered, and such trinkets as were to be found in her room were carried away. While the robbers were thus occupied, the prosecutor contrived to disengage his hands, and to escape out of the house to alarm the neighbours. The robbers soon discovered this, and fled. They were pursued, but not taken. The prosecutor went afterwards to Blackburn. in order to see whether he could recognize any of the robbers. The prisoner he saw there at his work as a sawyer, but in a light dress. lie was asked if he had a dark coloured dress, ;‘nd was then satisfied that he was one of the men. He was more convinced on hearing him speak, for one of the robbers had repeatedly spoken to him. The prisoner hail been seen near the place on the night of the rot• berg.—Guilty—Death. The prosecutor begged that Lordship would recom mend him to mercy. CAUTION TO PUBLICANS.—A circumstance lately occurred in the neighbouthood of Bethnal-green, which may serve as a caution to the landlords of public•houses, not to refuse, under apprehensions of loss or inconve nience, their ready assistance in cases where human life is endangered by sudden accident. A man was taken out of the Regent's C:111.11 with %nine feeble signs of life, and was conveyed to a public-11(m in the neighbour hood, the landlord of which, notwithstanding the most earnest intreaties and remonstrances, obstinately refused every accommodation and assistance, excepting what a table in the open skittle ground affordeil, where the small remains of vitality in the unfortunate 111311 beCalll9 541011 exhort. The landlord was severely reprimanded by a magistrate, and was 11,111 that his licence might not be renewed. It is perhaps nut sufficiently known that the Royal II ttttt atm Society always rewards landlords and every other person who take in a body tinder cir cumstances, and pledges itself' to 111.1011110 y the par,y affording such humane .I•‘i n;.!aitc - t all reasonalde ebony..., fur burial, in the el t in if &Ali. WARY STEAM Union Steins Boai.—This boat, the most unique, and perhaps the most splendid ferry-boat in the country, was teed on Saturday, and upon Tuesday began to ply regu larly at the Dundee-ferry; and, were the piers such as to admit of her touching them at all times of tide, there is no doubt but the intercourse by the ferry would be rendered inure frequent, iu consequet.ce of the increased comfort and safety of the conveyance. The Unionis a twin-boat, composed of two hulls, each seventy-six feet keel, eleven and a half feet beam, and a eleven and a half feet asunder. They are hand somely and substantially built, and well bound together, by beams fortified with it ; and the mould and execu tion do much credit to the taste and skill of Mr. Brown (of Perth), the builder. The whole length upon deck is ninety-two feet, and the breadth about thirty-four.— Thirty-two feet of the one end is left about two feet lower than the rest of the deck, and railed its for vit. riages and cattle ; and the doors at the middle of this space are so constructed as to serve for platforms in load ing and unloading. Twenty-two feet in the ceptre are occupied by the machinery, an' engine being m each boat, and the paddle-wheel acting in the canal immedi ately between. The engines are of 15 horses' power each; and as they are connected with the same wheel, they act contemporaneously. So smoothly do they work, that even now, when the parts may be supposed to be stiff, there is hardly any tremor in the boat; and, when the doors which inclose the machinery are shut, there is very little noise. The paddle-wheel has wooden floats, and is so divided, that though each half has only eight floats, the whole acts with the same smoothness as if it had sixteen, and yet the power is not diminished. Notwithstanding the immense size of the boat she obeys her helm very easily. There are two helms, each constructed of a rectangular iron plate, four feet and a half in the horizontal direction, and three feet and a half in the perpendicular. The tiller of each is almost ten feet long, and requires two men to manage it properly.— The machinery is so constructed as that either end may go foremost; and thus the boat can arrive and depart without the lab or space required for turning round. The reversing of the motion is effected by reversing the action of the valves of the engines. These are opened and shut by an alternate rod, moved by an eccentric block on the shaft of the paddle-wheel. This_rod acts upon a double lever, fastened to the rocking shaft of the valves; when it acts on the lower end of the lever, the paddle.wheel moves the one way, and when it acts on the upper end, the wheel snores the other. 'The lever is made broad in the middle, with a flange round it, which retains the stud, on the alternating rod during the time that it is changed from the one end to the other. The rod i 3 raised or lowered by means of a toothed sec tor, into which a pinion works. The two pinions are on the opposite ends of a rod, which passes under the index table, below which it has a bevel wheel, acted on by a similar wheel, connected with the reversing index. By simply turning this index, the boat passes in less than one minute from motion in one direction to motion in that directly opposite. The boat may be steered by either helm ; and by working both helms at the same time, it may be turned round in a very small compass.— Indeed, though the boat seems huge and unwieldy, yet, in consequence of the impelling power being in the centre, it can be tinned in a much smaller compas than a less ()oat with two wheels. Its motion, too, during a breeze, or across the swell, is much snore steady, as a good deal of the disagreeable rolling of a two-wheeled boat arises from the unequal hold which its wheels take of the water. A dreadful fire broke out on Monday morning, a lit tle after twelve o'clock, in a large five-story house in the Cowgate, immediately opposite to the foot of the Par liament-stairs, Edinburgh. The fire originated in an apartment on the second floor, and, burning with great fierceness, soon communicated to the floors above, and the one immediately below. About half an hour alter, the stair, a wooden one, was enveloped in flames; but previous to this, all the inhabitants, except one family, in the third floor, escaped to the street, many of them half naked. The family which remained consisted of a man named Bannerman, his wife, and three children. Bannerman himself leapt over the window, with a child in his arms, and escaped with some slight hurts ; but his wife was less fortunate ; after dropping a child front the window, she leaped over herself with another its her arms. They were all three taken up alive, and the poor woman, who was far advanced in pregnancy, was carried to the infirmary with one of the children, where they soon after expired. The other was taken into a neitshbouring house, and survived but a few minutes. Mr. Joseph Phillipson, farmer of Algakirk Fen, left Horncastle on his return home one evening during the fair, in company with three strangers, all on horseback. When they carne to a part of the road which is much overhung with trees, in the parish of Schrivelshy, one of them called out, " Pull up, don't ride so fast;' another at the same niotnent struck Mr. P. a violent blow over the side of the head, which brought him to the ground, where he remained for sonic time senseless. When he recovered himself he found that his late companions had robbed him of his pocket-book, containing 341. Mr. Phillipson is the person who was robbed of 4001. on his return to Algakirk from Boston fair. FATAL. M ISTA K E.—An unlucky circumstance oc. ..a..ed on Friday evening off Kerry Fend, Ireland His Ma jesty's sloop of war Redwing fell with the Burred revenue e.e•ser. Copt; '44 Tandy, and soopobing it to he a smuggler, fired serer I shots into her, and continued to do Sul for a considerable thTIC: it was not rill the boats of the ir-d a .i ng , were p re p ar i ng to boanl the Harriet, that Ow tale was discovered. One of the crew was killed. The Barri, I has been but very lately coin. missioned, only on her list erWze, and was fornwrly a French lugger, in wl 'di craft site is retained, and which confirmed the eapt,in of the Redwing in his WWI' of her being a stinwgler, having never before seen her on the roast. The tiring was heard distinctly for a eonsiderald time oft' the Rallybiege shore, mat upwww. of for shots were fired, accompanied by Fel rated deers m each vi