The National Register. — London, England, 1822-09-15 00:00:00

••1.. MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. NONDAY, ISLPTEMBIR 9. _ . . Tr. Seesions for the co u nty of Middlesex commenced this day, before Mr. Count, the Chairman, and a bench of Magis. Oates. On the Grand Jury being called over, it was found there were so small a number in attendance, that the Chairman said he was afraid they must do what they never did before, that is, adjourn the Grand Jury till to morrow, as there absolutely were not Id in attendance. They were again carefully when it wan found there were IS, I of whom had not some in time. They were then regularly sworn, and informed by the Chairman, they would be expected to be in attendance to day, and te-morrow they would be relieved by another jury, he at the same announced to them that the calendar was very heavy. William here, a stout man, was indicted for assaulting G. Lord. The prosecutor stated that he was coachman to one of the Enfield stages, belonging to Mr. Tucker. There was consider. able opposition on the road, and particularly from Mr. Dwyer, the proprietor of another Eulield coach. Stones bad been fre quently thrown at the coach, and the lives of the passengers thereby greatly endangered. The prosecutor a few days back drew up his ooa. II to the Woolpack public-house, near Enfield, and bad at the time four outside passengers. He had not been there a minute, before the defendant came out of the public house, and went up to the prosecutor, saying iu a threatening manner—'. Vb bat did you lick that boy fort You ought to be ashamed of yourself for licking the hoy. Come doe a, and fight me like a man t " The prosecutor was not exactly in a humour to accept the invitation, and attempted to drive off, telling the defendant that lie bad touched no boy, and to mind his own business. With this, however, Cie defendant was not satisfied, and endeavoured to pull the coachman of his box. Three or four eye-witnesses, who were either by-slanders or passengers, corroborated this evidence. The Jury found a verdict—Guilty, and the Court sentenced the prisoner to a month's hard labour in the House of Correc tion. Philip Todd, a major in his Majesty's service, was indicted for assaulting a man of the name of Cozens. • • The prosecutor and defendant were next door neighboors, living at Kensington, and the former now accused the latter of spitting in his race and giving him some •ery severe blows upon the face and body. It seems that the prosecutor kept some dogs, which were a great annoyance to the defendant, who was a poultry fancier; and the dispute arose out of the prosecutor's son, who attempted to take some bones to feed his father's dogs. The dogs and the poultry used frequent! j to quarrel, and the latter had most probably the worst of the en saunter. The prosecutor also took in washing, and kept pigs. All these were not small annoyances to the defendant, whose ground joined those of his disagreeable neighbour. The Jury found the defendant Guilty, and the Court directed bim to pay a fine of 51. to the prosecutor. Williatn Drake, an elderly man of very decent appearance, was indicted for assaulting Susannah Williams! The defendant was a ;taster carpenter, living near Soho square. The prosecutrlx • few weeks back went to hire lodg logs at his !muse. She had a child and a large bundle in her arms at the time. The defendant looked at her, and said, " I should like to have a buss of you," and put his arms round her seek. She was enable to resist bim, having the child and bun dle in her arms at the moment. The defendant took other indecent liberties with her, and she screamed out loudly. She then succeeded in getting away. The relations of the prosecutrix afterwards called upon the defendant for an explanation of his conchict, and he would give sone. He exclaimed, "Do you want to rob me ? I have done nothing," and used very abusive language. Finding no 'atilt faction could be obtained, this indictment was preferred. For the defence, one witness was called. She was in the house at the time this occurrence took place, and beard no sarcoma whatever. If they bad been uttered, she must have heard them. The Jury found a verdict Cailty.—The Court sentenced the defendant to pay a fine oh 2W. . _ The deferuiaMt said be could not pay it, and that be must go to prison. Eraa Hughes was indicted for king Henrietta Hum• phries. The prosecutrix was a servant girl, and was passing along Orange-street, Red Lion-square, when she was accosted by the defendant. it was about half past 10 at night, and be be gan to use expressions to which she was unaccustomed, and to take indelicate liberties. She pushed him oil, but he persisted in following her, still pursuing tile same improper conduct to wards her. She then endeavoured again to free herself from him, and hit hint on the face with her band. He returned the blow by kicking her on the thigh, and beating her on the face. At that moment Mr. Boultun, an attorney, and another gentle. man, came up, and took the defendant away. The defendant was found guilty, and the prosecutrix agreed to accept a small eompensatioo, besides the payment of the doctor's bill. TeLSDAT, Seer. 10.—As it was known that the trial of the persons charged with conspiring to prosecute Jay, the King's postillion, for attempting to steal a gentleruau's watch, the night his Miejeaty weut to Drury-lane Theatre, would come no this day, the court was crowded to excess long before the chairman took his seat on the bench. About eleven o'clock the three defendants, Thomas Cook, James Harrison, and John Connell were placed at the bar, and given in charge to the jury, on an indictment for conspiring to deprive Thomas Jay of his good name, and to prosecute Lim for haring committed a larceny. Mr. Alley stated the case for the prosecution. The defen dants, be said, were indicted for falsely chargiog the present prosecutor with a robbery, which charge they followed up by a prosecution, at the Old Bailey. The prosecutor was a young Wan about 20 years of age, who at the iiiiie.the charge was made was postilion to his Majesty, possessing an excellent character. The defendant Gook was a parish constable not recognized by the police. The other two appeared to be his unauthorized as sociates. The learned gentleman proceeded to state the farts of the case. as they were afterwards proved in evidence, and concluded by saying that the accounts of the transactions given in the public papers had excited an interest for the unfortunate prosecutor in the minds of many , amongst others Mr. Ex Shirt iff Parkins felt for his suffcrings ; and it was to his benevolence Le was indebted for being able to bring the defendeuts to justice Thomas Jay, the prosecutor, was the first witness examined. In May last lie was postillion to his Majesty, sod on the evening Lis Majesty went to Drury-lane theatre, he and a fellow servant followed alter the state carriage : he was not in welting, and was in undress; lie went about seven o'clock, and staid about the theatre in company with one or two if his fellow sere anis, till the King left the theatre. About ten o'clock he had 6oitie ham and beer at a public house, which he took on the pays- Neat s at die bursas Leads , is company with Samuel Durwood, THE NATIONAL REGISTER sae of the King's servants, who was in waiting. Witness helped to bear up the horses when the King was going away.— As soon as his Majesty bad gone, and while the crowd were passing, the defendant Cook laid hold of him, sad said be had been picking pockets ' • the other two defendants immediately seized him. They took bins to the Bunch of Grapes public public-house, in Bow-street, where he was searched , nothing was found on bim but a pocket handkerchief, a cross, and a half crown, and a small key ; they were all his own property.— He had not that night, nor at any other time in his life, attempted to pick a pocket. The defendants said in the public-house he was a notorious character. He was kept in the watch house that night, and brought before Sir R. Birsie the next morning. He was sent to prison, and tried at the'Old Bailey. The de fendant' gave evidence !waited him, and be was acquitted. Cross-examined by Mr. Adolphus.—He was • year and a half in his Majesty's service in May last ; he is not now in any service ; he lives with his friends. He wrote a letter to the Morning Port, and read it in that paper the morning after ; it might be Satarday morning. The witness hesitated a good deal in answering the questions put to hi... 1 by the leveed counsel about this letter. He at first said be wrote it himself, without consulting with any one, then that it was written by a friend, at his desire ; but at last, that it was written by a per son of the name of Harris, whom he had never seen before nor since, in Mr. Ex-Sherilf Parkins's office, in Bridge-street, Mr. Parkins being present. Mr. Parkins had laid out 121. for him before be wrote the letter; he received some money as a sub scription since the letter was published. He did not offer the defendants money when they took bile to let him go. James Smith, a servant in the King's stables, proved that he went to Drury-lane Theatre with the prosecutor, hut left it about half after eight o'clock, and knew teething of what took place after. Robert Doke, a Bow-street officer, stated, that two or three nights after Jay had been charged, I.e saw the defendant Cook at a public-house, in company with a notorious thief; they talked of Jay, and Gook said he'd lay two to one they'd convict him. Several persons were present. Francis Hilliland stated, that Le was a police-officer four years--oo the first elimination of Jay, at Bow-street, the de fendants Harrison aed Connell were standing together ia the outer room, which was greatly crowded. Witness asked them if they had a case against Jay—they replied, .• We have so strong a case, that if the swells don't come forward and settle with us, we shall lag (transport) him. Witness immediately mentioned what they had said to Mr. Wood, the Justices' clerk. Cross-examined by Mr. Adolphus.—W hen he saw by the public papers that Mr. Parkius had taken up the business, lie mentioned to him what he had heard the two defe .darts say, but did not go before the Grand Jury to tied the bill. James Pike stated, that he was waiter at the Harp Tavern, Russell-street. The night the King was at Drury-laue Theatre, the defendant had a plate of ham at the tavern, which he ate with his fellow-servants, on the pavement, and then went to assist about the horses. The King went off about ten minutes after. Mr. Woods, the clerk at Bow-street, produced the evidence given by Gook against Jay, at the ollice, in which be stated, that he had seen Jay put his band into several pockets ; that when the sing was leaving the Theatre, Jay pealed • gentle man's watedi from his pocket, which he (Gook) took out of his band; the gentleman said his guard chain had saved it, end be did not go to the oilier. The other defendants gave evidence at the same time in corroboration M . Cooks. The case for the prosecution closed here. Mr. Adolphus addressed the Jury for the defendants. He said, hut for the disagreeable observations lie must make on some circumstances connected with the prosecution, be would feel unmixed pleasure in addressing the Jury, in defence of meritorious men, sought to be borne down by an infamous con spiracy of persons wharkimm for notice, who foolishly think that notoriety is popularity. Tlie Preas (and long may Cod continue the mighty blessin;), is a powerful instrument ler the promotion of virtue and suppression of vice, when placed in honest hands; hut when used by shuffling creatures, who write paragraphs for newspapers for the purpose of notoriety, re gardless of consequences, the press becomes the pest of so ciety. The prosecutor bad proved the letter to the Morrie/ Post was written in the odice of Mr. Ex-Sberifl' Parkin—a mere adventurer, who writes letters to newspapers, and takes up , auses he has nothing to do with, for the purpose of pilling himself oil as a lover of justice. The learned geutlemau com mented on the evidence at considerable length, from which he deduced there was no proof of any concert between the de fendanta before they accused Jay ; and that supposing hint to be perfectly innocent, it was still more probable that they might Le mistaken, than that they should conspire to accuse en innocent man, of whom they knew nothing, and against whom it was not pretended they could base any previous malice. Several persons of respectable appearance gave the defen dants good characters. The Chairman recapitulated the evidence to the Jury, who retired for a quarter of an hour, and returned a verdict of ihut Guilty for all the defendants. 'll EDSESDAY, SEPT. IL—Thomas Davis was put on (ins trial on two indictments, for assaulting Evan Evans, ou the 4th, and on the 6th of July. Mr. Charles Phillips stated the case for the prosecution. Evan Event', the prosecutor, stated the facts of the assnolts very circumstantially. On the evening of the 4th of July, he was sitting in his parlour, inside his shop, with his head rest ing on a table, neither asleep nor awake, when the defeiniant came in and struck him violently on the bead, and continued heating hint till the prosecutor's servants, who ran into the room on bearing his cries, turned bins out of the house. The defendant was seen lying in wait about the house for two hours after he had been forced out ; and once during that time be GIMP to the window and swore he would massacrele him saliency er he found hint. On the next day , as It • was going round to serve his customers, with his milk kettles in his hands, some person came be'aind hint and struck him a violent blow on the back of the bead, which staggered him, and was instantly succeeded by another blow that knocked hint on the ground with great violence, And overturned his milk kettles, spilling all 11111 milk. On getting up lie saw the defendant, and no other person near him. The defenevut instantly struck him with the greatest violence on the face, swearing all the time he'd then warmer-de Innt, and continuing to beat him brutally, till the byestanders rescued libn. Two witnesses who saw the last assault, corroborated the prosecutor's atatement. A surgeon, who attended the pro center, proved the injury he had sustained, which was cousiderable; one of his eyes was entirely closed, and not yet quite well. Mr. Curweo add d the jury for the defendant, bet called no witnesses. Ike dcfeudant was found guilty, and sentenced to pay a fine of 51, lot each assault. John French was indicted for assaulting William Johnson. The prosecutor slated that he ►spt Cie Carpenters Arms poblto-house, in Burton -street, Burton Creactot, _and ou rt. 301 turning home on the evening of the 15th of June he found tI.• defendant, who was a neighbour, at his house, settling bia bill with Ids (the prosecutor's wife), with whom he disputed about the amount, and called her some bed names. The defendant then went out of the door, and the proseoutor following, and laying his hand on bin shoulder, said to him, in a friendly man ner, " hickey, Jackey, you should nut say so, she's a very good woman." The defendant instantly knocked him down with such violence that lain shoulder was dislocated by the fall. Several witnesses corroborated the prosecutor's statement ; and one of his servants stated, that, while a surgeon was reducing his shoulder, the defendant came t. the door, and said "Tura Min out, and I'll heat his b -y brains out." Thit defendant was instantly found guilty, and sentenced to pay a fine of 101. FRIDAY, SEPT. IS.—CONSPIRACY.—Thos.Coombi, Thos. Manta, and Elizabeth *witticism-I, were indicted for conspiring to defraud Jacob Russel. Mr. Alley sta.ed the case for the prosecetion at considerahlo length. The defendants, Coombs and Mamiehael, were com mon informers, who were iii the practice of laying informations against pawnbrokers:--the woman was in the habit of putting articles to pawn and releaaing them in a abort time, and if in the hurry of business the pawnbroker, or one of his boys. charged a farthing more than the exact interest. Coombs laid an information, and eke becnne the witness to prove it. By these meao i they had sacceeded in extorting money from many pawnbrokers, and amongst others from the prosecutor, from whom they had receive d the saw of M. Sa. The defendant Manta, who had maimed, and, as be wu prepared to prove. had consptred with the other defendants to defraud Mr. Russel. was • messenger at the police office, %Vorahip•street, who had abused his situation by making use of it for the purposes of fraud. Jacob Russel, the prosecutor, examined by Mr. Arabia.— Witness is a pawohroker in Shoreditch ; he received ■ sum mons on the •ld of May to appear at Worship-street police. office the next morning. Witness went to the nice, and had the time of hearing put off by the magistrate. He told Manta at the otlice he wished to see Machmichael, the informer, whose name was (111 the summons, and desired that she might be sent to Mr. dillingwortit's : hit reason was, that Killingworth was a pawnbroker who bad some time before been informed against, and bad settled with the informer ; and he (the prosecutor) in tended that be should settle for him. Mints asked wiineas did he wish to settle t—Witness said yes, that Killingworth would settle for him. Manta said he'd go to Killingworth and settle with him, and all would be right to that day. Some days after Mints called on him and asked him to go to Killinwortb to settle. Witness said he coal 1 not go at that time. Meats said he'd go and fetch Killingworth ; in a little time be name back and said Killingworth was ill and could not come, and asked witness to settle with him. Witness said if he did Coombs and other in formers might then attack hint. Mauls said they would not it should be right to that illy. Witness was here sbewn a paper, which Mr. Killiogworth proved he had received from Manta to give to witness ; it contained a list of seven pledges and redemptions alleged to have been made at his house ; the first was before the house was his ; the second he conld not find in his books ; on the other live there was an overcharge in the interest of one farthing on each article. Witness gave 111. 55. to Killingworth to settle for hint. On his cross-examination the witness admitted that the pro posal to settle came from hint after he had been satumneed. Mr. Killingworth exatnined.—Witoess went to a public. house on the iltb of May, to meet the defendants, Coombs and Manta, to settle the information against Russel ; they were both theme and some other persons. Witness offered Coombs three sovereigns ; he refused to telt* theta before the company, and said they must go into the yard ; he there gave him 31. Ss. On their return, witness said to Coombs, How do yon know my old hoc but you are done at last t there are many bad sove reigns going, how do you know but I gave you some t wit said so to cause Coombs to acknowledge the receipt of the money. Coombs immediately took out three sovereigns and rung them on the table, and said they were good, and would put an end to every thin:, for twelve mouths. Mr. Alley said that was the case on Vie part of the prosecn tion, and admitted it did not reach the female defendant. Mr. %Vslford and Mr. Pendergast adiltessed the Jury on be half of the defendants, hut called no witnesses. The Chairman recapitulated the evidence to the jury, and charged very much in favour of the prisoners. The jury retired for shout twenty minutes, and returned • verdict of guilty against Coombs and Masts; Machnsichael not guilty.—Judgment was deferred. Mr. Broderip exhibited articles of the peace against a yonng man of the name of Charles Campbell, for threatening to take away the life of a Mr. Wri e ht, in conaequence of sume disputes which had aris n. Mr. Campbell, a very young man, who it seems has been in the army, appeared at the bar, and complained of haling beat unjustly confined for eiAbt days, and his bail refused. Mr. Broderip said the bail turned out to be 5114111. The articles of the peace were read, and the Court ordered defentlaut to lied bad, himself an 1001. and two sureties .1, ;WI. each. An ingenious swindling transaction took place a few days ago at Brighton. A man who keeps a shop in Ironmonger-lane, purchased a shoulder of mutton at Mr. Pal mer's, butcher, and having paid for it, ordered it to be seat to his house. The boy was despatched with the mention, and at the door of the house was accosted by a man whom he supposed to be the master, with—" Well, hotelier, yoo hate brought home the mutton ; carry it in doors, and then run directly for two pounds of beef steaks, and bring hack the change for a one pound note."—The boy hastened house, delivered the order, anal soon returned with the meat and change. The :eau was still waiting at the door, and again said to the boy—" You have been gone a long time, and now you hare nut broiled the suet." The boy replicd—" Yon did not order suet."—" But I insist that I did order half • pound ; have you brought the change r"l'he boy replied Yes." The man theu pulled out nil old pocket book, mid pretenleil to put in • one-pound note, sll4i giving it to the boy, told him to be careful of it, and bring him back the book with the suet. He took the change mid beef-steaks, anal sent the boy hack. On his 'neater examining the pocket .book, nothing but a piece of blank paper was found, resembling a note. The master immediately repaired to th• house, but to Ito purpose ; all traces were lost of man, meat, and motley. SIVOCK ING Aceturvr.—On Monday evening, about eight o'clock, as Mr. Blackburn, jun. master butcher, of Bow, was returning home from • country fair, in coining near Bow Bridge his chaise was shattered to pieces, by drii i ig on a hid of Stones imprudently left on the road, where he was discovered soon after in • state of insensibility, and was conveyed, dreadfully injured, to the Harrow, at Stratford, and from thence home , alter being Auricled by a sorgooo. There aro Lover of hie r covert'. •