The National Register. — London, England, 1820-07-31 00:00:00

46 • goonr :Votelligence. KrsT. WEDNESDAY. JULY 26. CIVIL SIDE. LOCKWOOD, GENT. V. BARDO. was an action by an attorney of Rochester against • the defendant, for an assault. . it appeared in evidence that the defendant had been a • client it the plaintiff, and in all action brought by the 'latter on his behalf a verdict to the aillettot Of 401. damages and costs was recovered. The plaintiff nut having settled the business to the satisfaction of the de fendant, the latter met hiin in Rochester on the ituli of .Itily it. last year, and taxed hist, with roguery in the transaction, sug4esting that he had not paid over the money recovered, and stating that he was " a c!•—d old .1-o:4lw—that he had behaved to him worse than a big,h waytnan, and that he ought to be shot." This language was accompaniethby a violent shake of the arm, and the decent:ant thrust his list in the plaintiff's face. The Jury found for the plaintif f —Damages 20s. There was no other case on this side worthy of public not icc. _ _ _ CROWN SIDE. 'BANK OF ENGLAND PROSECUTIONS. Richard Worthing, Samuel May, and Thomas Satin fers were severally indicted for uttering forgel Bank of England notes;k now ing them to be forged, hot having pleaded guilty to the minor offence, of knowingly having forged notes in their possession, the capital charge was abandoned. They were each sentenced to • 14 years transportation, pursuant to the statute. Thomas Snuiders and Joseph NVilkes were then in dicted capitally lor tattling a forged one-pound Bank of En ::and note, to one Philip Chapman, at Chat nano, on .the _'Bth of April last. The prkoner Saunders was' juined with Wilkes in this indictment as a matter of form ' it being a joint offence, with an understanding • 44at his plea of guilty to the minor charge as above stated, would exempt him from capital ptintAnnent if convicted. The facts being proved, the Jury found the prisoners CPC ilLy—Death. ' - Richael•Biddulph and Elizabeth IJ.her were indicted ; • for tittering to Elizabeth, the wife of William Crowe, a forged 11. Bank of England note, on the sth of April, at 6 reenwich. • ipat Baron Wood, upon the evidence of the . .princip. witness, said, in his opinion, there was no case to go to the Jury against either of the prisoners; but certainly' . atone against Elizabeth Usher. Mr: Gurney said, that this being his Lordship's opinion, he should certainly not press the case farther. — Tile 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 Chartham. The prisoner received a good character from several witnesses, who, however, said that his temper was very hasty. Whe►► told of the mischief he had done to the prosecutor, he expressed great sot row for what had hap. veiled, and said he wished he could restore the hand to its place. "I. he Jury found the prisoner Guilty—Death. TiIURSDAY, JULY 27. THE KING Y. GEORGE AUGUSTUS HIRE, ISO. . _ . This ass au indictment against the defendant a hicif.pay Captain in the Navy, employed in the service of the cos - hams fur asraulting and wounding with a tuck or dirk, Geo. Pitcher, tit Hithe, on the 15th April, 1818. 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 an instance of the most gross, wanton, mid cruel abuse of office, that ever came before a Court of Justice. 'lke case opened and proved against the defendant was to this elect :—The prosecutor, a respectable wine-merchant and dealer in spirits at Hithe, had out the 15th of April, purchased 50 gallons of brandy and gin, into milks, at a Sale, at New Rmnney, which cost him 801. and having übtained a permit to convey them to his own stores, he was rettlflling to Ilithe in the evening, and about nine o'clock, ashen he had nearly arrived at that town, he ass hailed by the defendant, by his name, and asked what he had got in his cart. He, replied that he had got spirits; upon a Mai the defendant said—" You have smuggled them, and 1 must seize them." The prosecutor answered, that it was rather hard he should lose his prospect), whirls lie had purchased and paid fur, before he gut it home, Ile WWI askcd by the defendant if lie had got a permit, and he replied in the tar mative. The defendant then, with peat fury, insisted upon seeing the permit. Mr. Pitcher said, he had the permit in his pocket, that tic could not part with it, as it was his only protection, but added," I'll spew you my permit, with great pleasure, as boost as we get a light." They soon approached the Duke's head public-house, at the entrance of the town of Ilitbe, a hen the moots Mar culled to the landlord to bring a candle. The losallurd did so, alien the prosecutor produced his permit, and the defendant utttempted to snatch it out of his hand, but he avoided his grasp ' and then said, he had nu objection to put it into the hands o f Mr. Madden, by whom they were immediately joined, saying that he was a respectable 1111111, and lie act ordingly delivered it to, that gemlimice. The defendant, however, insisted upon seizing the cart and its contents, in the. King's name and his own. Thai was opposed by the prosecutor, who went to his hoists' mod, and arid it by the bridle, and at the same time threw away hie whip into the cart, saying he did not want to resist the defendant. The defendant tlini pulled out a tuck from his stick, and advancing ai.6 peat rage towards the pro. secular, apparently with an intention of striking him, the latter held up his arm to a and off the blow, and was a ucaded severely between the fingers. He then ran round the cart a order to avoid further in j ury, and ht was pursued by the TIM NATIONAL REGISTER.. defendant, In whom he iinmediately said—" You puppy, what do you ineau by drawing upon a naked wan.' The lay-standers interposed and prevented farther violence, but the defendant still insisted upon snaking the seizure, and culling to some butchers, be placed the horse and cart in their custody. Innuedintely afterwards no excise officer was sent for, to whom Mr. Pitcher delivered his permit. The pro secutor theta remonstrated solidly with tint defendant, and asked him what could induce him to dinw his dirk upon as. unarmed matt who had given no °deuce. lie was answered withgreat violence by the defendant, who said, " I thought it items:try, for such siongichug rascals us you always carry anus wish you cutscealed." The prosecutor replied, that lie was no smuggler, and that he was without the means of offence or defence. In a short time afterwards, the permit having been examined, the prosecutor's horse and cart and spirits were restored to him without further objection. It appeared that the prnseeator was well known to the defend amt, and that the latter had previtnoly dealt with bin fur spin its. this evidence vim corroborated by that of Mr. King, the publican, and Mr. Haddan,ii stone-mason. The prosecutor's permit was not produced. His cart had no name upon it, but that circumstance was explain ed by the fact, that it bad recently been repaired. Mr. Sea jeasit Ouslow (with whom were Mr. Marryatt, Mr. Gurney. Mr. Nolan, and Mr. De Lany) addressed the Jury on behalf of the detendant, without calling wit nesses. The Chief Justice charged the Jury, that, if the defend ant was bunt: fide acting nutter tlie impression that the pro secutor was conveying smuggled spirits, it would be their ditty to find bins not guilty, because he appeared to be a legally authorised officer of the Customs. At the name time, however, if they were of opinion that lie had no ground for entertaining that impression, they were bound to find him guilty ; or, if, soppusing he hail exercised his ditty, or had acted a ills mute violence than was justifi able, though he conceived himself merely acting in pur suance of his ditty, still tie would be guilty. His Lord ship dwelt with consitlei able emphasis upon those cir cumstances of the case which appeared favourable to the supposition that the defendant had acted honestly in time discharge of his duty, and not from wanton severity to wards the prosecutor. The Jury retired tor about half an hour, and returned a verdict of Utility. YORKSHIRE. CROWN SIDE.—HIGHWAY RODBERT• Joseph Pickersgill, aged 27, was cliarvil with having violently assaulted and robbed Squire Ranisden, near Wakefield, on the evening of the sth of May. Squiraßamsdest saitl e he lived at Wakefield Out-wood. On the btli of Play lie had been at a public-house at Bray Line. He went in at a quarter past to, and stayed an hour and a half. The prisoner was there, and proposed to go home with him, but declined to go when witness did. Witness proceeded homewards, and was overtaken and passed by Mary Horton. lie 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 "I)—n thee,wtlt thou not give over ?wilt thou not hold thy din ?" at the same time punching (striking) witness's mouth wit Is 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 liis purse conta . at the time turned on his face, and the prisoner held his knee on the 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 fur help. The prisoner returned, said said—•• I)—n thee, thou art not quiet yet ; but ill 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 from his inside waistsoat pocket a pocket-hook, containing a one pound note and memorandums. Witness said, 4"rhou hint 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 hint home, deposed to the situation its which they found liim,:iiid to Pickergill's having given different 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 on the following prisoners :—Janies Shelmerdine and Richard Cook, convicted of burglary; Patrick Murphy, convicted of highway robbery; and George Graham, convicted of forging a bill of exchange. T. the last prisoner the Judge held out at g hopes of obtaining a mitigation of his sentence. Win. Oldfield, of Brmllinel, innkeeper, was found guilty of the murder of his wife, and ordered for execution. At Preston Sessions, of the 15th instant, William Pucke, the younger, was found guilty of conspiring with ten or twelve others, and committing an unprovoked violent assault on the Messrs. Frederick Lilly and Joseph Brown, two members of the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry Cavalry, during the corps being on permanent duty, in June last. After 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, ou 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 BM., and find two securities of 501. each, for your good behaviour, and to keep the peace for three yea's to conic." 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 tss ice across the seas at his Majesty s expense, but now destined for life). We understand that the calen dars throughout the country arc unusually light. We know not what apology those gentlemen will make to an insulted community, who so stoutly and vociferously insisted that " irreligion and immotality" were fright- _ _ -4 fully " stalking abroad" throughout the laud ; for this must be the surest test which can possibly throw the negative back upon the tongue of the slanderers. SURREY SESSIONS, July ti. ...10... B►GAMY.—An old decrepid man, who is so deformed that he has been from his birth unable either to drew., or undress himself, having neither hands nor feet, stood indicted for unlawfully intermarrying with one Mary Staggs, in March list, at Christ Church, in this Borough, his former wife being then alive. Hercules Manning, the parish clerk of Plunistead in Kent, proved the marriage of the prisoner with Mary Johnstone, at Pluinstead Church, in June 1808 —Tne ceremony was performed by the Curate, the Rev. S. Watson. Mary Johnstone,the prisoner's first wife, came into the witness& 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 Order being restored, Mary Staggs, a decently dressed woman, was called. She said she was 70 years of age. 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 name of it. _ _ . Prisoner—l only married her to dress and undress me. Witness—You know better, you left toe. Chairman—Was you married - by banns or licence t Witness—By batons. Priqnner—" My bold, have mercy—l am a itoor help less old man—qmie a cripple-1 can do nothing—l was born at Brecknock—the women know 1 ant an inno cent man, and never clues 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. Chairman—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: " I. Win. Thomas, do declare, that I am unable to cut my own victuals, I having no hands nor feet : nor an► I able to dress or undress myself without help. 1 married Maty Staggs, but she did not long bide with mo before she robbed me of every thing only what 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 forme, for Johnstone tells me she has hung one and transported two, and will hang me. I hope God will forgive all my wrongs and you too, for 1 decay daily, and tnu►t soon die of old age. (Signed) " WM. THOMAS." Horsemonger Lane, July, 1820." The Chairman 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. %Vita' could I do? She knew I only wanted her to undress me at night and dress me in the morning ? Chai aaaa an—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-Ihe prisoner was not able to dress himself ; it was necessary that he should have some person to attend upon bins as he has no hands or feet. We hope the Court will deal mercifully with . _ . shall be attended The Court sentenced the prisoner to three month' imprisonment in the House of Correction. Thr prisoner is possessed of property in tile funds to the amount of near two thousand pounds. Chairman.—Your to. According to letters from Stockholm of the 11th inst., Mr, George, the British Charge d'Aflitirs 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. EXECUTION.— On Thursday morning, pursuant to their sentence, James Gardner, Henry Brown, 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 fitr 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 unfortnate men would be the first object of clemency.—After hanging the usual time, thew bodies were cut down, and deposited in shells, pr-t -paratory to their being given to their friends fo r tinterment.