The National Register. — London, England, 1820-03-20 00:00:00

~t 91igste ►ntetUgtsue. SENT LENT ASSIZES. CIVIL SIDE. (Before the Lord Chief Baron and Special Juries.) Tor: KING V. GARDENLE. This was an int;,rniation filed by the Attorney Gene ral against the defendant, fur assaulting and obstructing Thomas Ilainstead, a mariner of the Severn, in the ex ecution of his duty, whilst searching for contraband goods, at Deal, on the 13th of August last. The case went to the Jury tinder the Learned Judge's directions, and they found the defendant Guilty. TKE KING V. HICKSON, SHEA?, AND WADDELL. These were similar prosecutions against the defen- dams. The cases went to the Jury under the Learned Judge's directions, and they found the defendants all Guilty. BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE. RICHARDS V. PUGH. This was an acttun by the plaintiff fur the breach of a marriage promise entered into with her by the defen- dant. Mr. Gurney, with whom was Mr. Chitty, stated the plaintiff's case. The billowing is an outline of the circumstances: — The plaintiff was a young laity of considerable personal beauty and mental endowments, and one of the ten children of a respectable surgeon and apothecary, resid ing at Seale, near Seven Oaks, in this county; the defendant was a widower with two children, carrying on business at Sheerness as a linen-draper. The platn lllrs ace was stated to be 27, and that of the defendant 35 years. In the month of July, 1818, during the elec tion contest, which took place on Penington Heath, the defendant happened to meet with the plaintiff, for the first time, and was nit the instant struck with hcr per sonal charms. She was in company with her brother and a young lady, named Pyne; he took occasion to fall into conversation with her, as it should seem uninvited, the subject of their discourse being the merits of the then candidates for election. There the acquaintance seemed to stop, hut at the end of eight or ten days afterwards, as was stated by the plaintiff's brother and her mother, lie came over to Seale, called at her father'e house, and without any prefatory introduction he proffered his hand in marriage to Miss Richards, and required to know what portion it was in her father's power to bestow upon her. He was informed that the whole of her fortune wascomprehentied in her person; upon which he dis claimed the idea of all pecuniary considerations, said he was enamoured of her person, and represented that he Was in a very flourishing way of business, and possessed besides 7001. per annum, independent property, and was extremely anxious that the connubial knot should be tied forthwith, and that his wishes should be commu nicated to the young lady. At that time Miss Richards was on a visit with some friends in Sussex, and her pa rents immediately communicated to her the offer that had been made. In the mean time the defendant ad dressed a letter to the lady in rather familiar terms, tendering her his hand and fortune, and requiring her, if disengaged, to bless hint iii a matrimonial alliance.— The young lady returned to her father's house, and wrote the defendant a letter from the dictation of her father, giving him to understand that his addresses would not be discouraged. Immediately afterwards the defendant again came over to Seale, and spent two whole days in the young lady's company, during which he was extremely anxious for the immediate consummation of his happiness, but not being then out of mourning for hit late wife, she objected to so hasty a proceeding, but contented, at his urgent request, that the day of solem nisation should not be postponed beyond the ensuing Christmas. In the mean time, however, he made it a condition that he should have the happiness of writing to her, and that she Should answer his correspondence. He then took his leave, after having bespoken one of her sisters to act as bride's maid at the nuptials, which were axed on all hands to take place about Christ mas. Between the time of his departure, which was about the undone of August until die month of Decem ber, when the match was broken off, a most affectionate and ardent epistolary aorrespontience was kept up be tween the lovers, but towards the end of the year the. i defendant's letters altogether ceased, when, n .conse qUCIICC of a desire es:Kessed by the father to know the cause, he retitrval for answer, that his views towards Miss Richards were completely mistaken, that he had never contemplated ally thing more than the happiness of correspetidang with a woman of education and senti ment, and that nothing was farther from his intention than marriage. In consequence of this surprising inti mation, a professional vialentati was consulted, who wrote to the defendant 011 the subject of his promise to the plaintiff, and in answer to that letter he assigned asa reason for his conduct, that AI iss Richards had in one of her recent letters intimated to him that a younger and snore worthy rival tll.Ol the tit fetidAlll, had been paying her cons.derable ant miter, had praised her beauty, and that she dint hied her ',tower to resist his Milan tunnies to bestow her band and bee it talent hum—Thew were the most prominent circumstances of the case on the part of the plaintiff. A whittle of the defendant's letters was Olen in et Menet:, and as usual on such occasioas, their contents produced a visible effect upon the ramble nitis ties of the whole court of auditors. It appeared that the dekndant had never seen the plaintiff more than twice in ills life. Mr. Adolphus, for the defendant, :addressed the Jury with great ability and eloquence, on behalf of his client. The Chief iiiroll :11.1111111e11 tip the case for the Jury,'! and told them, it had been admitted on the part of the defendant the piauniii o as entitled to a verdict, and that the question 01 Jautages iv.is peculiarly for their cousi• derattein under all the circumstances of the case. Thc Jury retired for about half an hour, and returned verdict for the plaintiff—Damages 7001. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. CROWN SIDE. SAW! OF ENGLAND PROSECUTIONS. William Stepney, a youth aged 19, was indicted for uttering a forged one pound Bank of England note, at Plumsted, on the 10th of October last. The prosecution was conducted by Mr. Bowen. The prisoner was without Counsel. It appeared in evidence that on the day mentioned in the indictment, the prisoner and another young man named Curwen, tendered the note in question to Mrs. Henderson, the landlady of the Red Lion public-house, at Shooter's hill, in payment for some bread and cheese, amounting to and received the change. After they were gone, circumstances of suspicion arose, and one of the Bow-street patrole who happened to be on duty in the neighbourhood was sent alter thesis, and having taken them into custody they were searched. The prisoner threw from hint a piece of paper, which bring picked up was found to be a forged one pound note. Both prisoners were taken before a Migistrate, and were afterwards lodged for safe custody in the parish watch house; front which, however, they contrived to break out and snake their escape. Ott the 16th of November the prisoner was again apprehended in Middlesex, and on being then searched he threw from him another forged note. The other man, Curwen, has not vet been retaken. The prisoner, who represented himself to be a maker of mats, stated in defence, that he had received the note in question from a gentleman, who had purchased four mats of him on the day mentioned in the indictment: Mr. Baron Garrow summed op the evidence, and the Jury found the prisoner guilty.—Death. YORK ASSIZES, MARCH 10. TRIAL FOR MURDER. William Booth, William Garrett, and Benjamin Bower, were charged with the murder of Thomas Parkin, a game keeper in the service of James Archibald Stuart Wortley, Esq. on the 10th of October last, at Tankersley, by shoot ing him through the body. Mr. Cross stated the case on the part of the prosecution and afterward called the following witness : Joseph Parkin stated, that he was employed by Mr. Stuart Wortley to take care of his game and look after poachers. 011 the night of the 9th of October witness and Thomas Parkin, the deceased, went out to look after poachers: about four o'clock they saw four men upon the road coming towards them. Witness proposed to Thomas Parkin to go out cf the way. William Garrett, one of the prisoners, ran towards them, the other three following close after him. When Garrett came up to them, Thomas Parkin put his hand upon his shoulder, and said, " What, my lad, is it you?" They then passed the two Bowers, but they said nothing to them: the fourth man, Samuel Booth, had a gun, and was nut more than a yard or two behind them. Thomas Parkin went up to him, and said, " What, Sam, thou'hast got a gun I see." He put his hand on the outside of his pocket, and said, " And thou hest got a pocket full of snickles." Samuel Boutli said, " Damn thy soul, art thou going to rob me ?" He turned round and presented the gm., and immediately shot Thos. Parkin, who fell down, and said, " Oh! lam shot?" The moment the deceased fell, the other men seized the witness, and Booth struck him on the head and shoulder with the butt-end of the gnu. Witness felt other blows, but does not know from whom they came. Witness heard one of the men say, " Hit him I hit him !" or " Stick bins; stick him!" he could not tell which. It was John Bower's voice, At this moment he heard a gnu go off, and then, becoming more at liberty, lie ran off to procure assistance; but when ' lie returned to search for the deceased he was gone, and he afterwards found him In a cottage near the road.side. Witness said the deceased died on the following evening. The shot entered his left aide and came out at bis back. Witness, on his cross-examination, said there was uo strug gling before the shot was fired, and no assault was com mitted upon any of the prisoners either by. the deceased or himself. The deposition of the deceased,taken under the impres sion of immediate death, was then put in and read ; which agreed in almost every particular with the statement of the preceding witness, and which expressly denied that there had keen any struggle between the parties. • The Jury, without retiring, found all the prisoners— .. Guilty. His Lordship -immediately passed sentence of death upon the prisoners, who were ordered for execution on Monday. On Monday Samuel Booth underwent the sentence of the law, for the murder of Mr. Stuart IVortley's game. keeper. At half-past 12 the unfortunate man was con ducted to the platform behind the chapel. He was ac companied by the chaplain to the gaol, a int whom he joined in prayer for about ten minutes, during which time, though he appeared at intervals to attend seriously 0 the Rev. Gentleman, lie occasionally looked about with an air of composure, almost bordering on intliffereoce 11 hen placed upon the drop, he looked towards the im mense crowd which were as,embled, awl said, with the utmost coolness, " Good bye, lads! I die innocent." The drop immediately fell, and he died apparently without a struggle. The other two men, who were sentenced to death for the saint crime, have been respited. On Wednesday a turnkey from Stafford gaol arrived in Hinckley at one o'clock, try the Owner wail, with a prisoner, on his road to Leicester. Finding aio imine ,nate conveyance, he was obliged to wait for Pettifor's eetting coach ; the coach arriving, a crowd of people rushed forward to inquire of the coachman how the poll stood at Cmentry. At that instant the turnkey opated the door of the .roont at the Bull Inn, to speak to the waiter, when the prisoner inintediat:ly threw off his wooden shoes, leaped out of the window, holding the chain he had on his legs in his hand, and got aWil% and, althouch the tilitikey immediately followed, lie lost him ' and lie has not since been heard of. The iirisouerhad been confined in Stafford gaol eight months on a charge of horse-stealing, but was to take his trial at Leicester at the eastiiii4 assizes. The Turnkey lett Hutc k ley on Thur day Ilight for StAlortl, alter a diligent MUCH, illiOul ally holes of ever seeing him again. Sir Thomas Law i enec is spoken of as likely to be lected Prebident of the Royal Academy, in the oom of the late Benjamin West, Esq. ORATOR Hoarr.—Extraet from a private letter, dated Chorley, March 1 I, 1820.—" 1 suppose you have heard of Mr. Hunt's being pot up to represent Preston : it is astonishing what a mother of votes he has got ; but, between von and me, it is nearly over with him ; he has nearly polled all his friends, and I know he has no chance. I connot help relating a curious circumstance which happened to him yesterday morning : he has token a whim since he came here of going alone to persons' houses canvassing, and, I believe, has made rather free sometimes ; but where should he stumble yesterday morning, but the honse of Mr. Hor. rocks, in Preston, who is nephew to Mr. Horrocks, the candidate ; and as there are many Horrocks at Preston, he had no suspicion ; he asked the maid-servant if her master was at home. I must first inform yon that Mr, Horrocks had told the girl a gentleman was to breakfast with them, and she must have it ready early. The servant supposing Mr. Hunt to be the gentleman, desired hint to walk in, and said her master would be down directly, as they expected him to breakfast. How Mr. Hunt applied this to himself I do not know, but assu rance stood his friend, and he took his seat. Mrs. Hor rocks, came down first, and, not knowing the gentleman her husband had invited, fell into the sante mistake as the maid, and placing him a chair at the hreakfast-table, observed, Mr. Horrocks would be down immediately before the coffee (not radical) was well poured out ; the host entered the parlour, and having not only a personal knowledge of, but a personal dislike to Mr. Hunt, he was thunder-struck to find bins at breakfast with his wife. An eclaireissment soon took place, and as Mr. Horrocks is a gentleman, Mr. Hunt was about to join them at breakfast, when the invited guest arrived (Mr. ).l. Downes, of Blackpool), who hail a still greater dislike to Mr. hunt, and who, on being informed oldie blunder, and finding that he had not only been taken for, but superseded by Mr. Hunt, very indignantly declared he would not take breakfast at the same table. High words arose, and Mr. Horrocks found himself placed in a delicate situation. At this moment Mr. Hunt stepped to the door, anti is supposed to have sent somebody to his Committee, for in a short time (though through the interference of Mrs. Horrocks, Mr I)ownes had been softened, and they were about to sit down to the table) the Orator's Committee arrived at the door, and with them a mob, demanding Mr. Hunt, and being very outrageous. Mr. Downes, I believe, escaped backwards, but it threw Mrs. Horrocks and the family into dreadful alarm, as they threatened to pull down the house. However, Mr. Hunt soon left it, taking his myrmidons with him. These are facts you may rely on, as I had them from Mr. Horrocks, though they are little known in Preston, except the mob being there, which was supposed to be on account of Mr. Hotrod., being nephew to the candidate of that name." An ingenious attempt at swindling was a few days ago made in the town of Brussels. A soi-disant German Barms introduced himself to Mr. Troyaux, one of the principal lace-manufacturers there, and well known for his humane attention to the British wounded after the battle of Water loo. The Baron stated that he had a commission from a person of distinction at Petersburgh, for the purchase of Brussels lace, to the amount of lii,oo o f t ra l n 3 es d , ay a s nd s , ig fo h r t the peyment of which h ewas directed to draw bill s o f ex change on an eminent Banker at Berlin, at —referring him for their validity to a money -dealer in the town of Brussels, whose recommendation, thongh strong, was not thought satisfactory. Mr. Troyaux would only consent to deliver up the goods when the acceptance of the hills should be duly. notified. Hereupon the Baron stated, that a Government courier being upon the point of proceeding to Petersburg'', he was anxious to forward the lace by so favourable an opportunity ; and proposed, as a collateral security, to give him, in the mean time, bills of exchange, drawn upon and accepted by theitrchitect of His ,Holiness the Pope at Rome, for 17,000 francs. Mr. T. however, determined to confine himself to the Berlin transaction, but suggested. that the Baron might select the lace, and leave it, sealed, in Mr. T.'s ;possession until the bills should be negociated. This was, with some dif ficulty, acceded to, and the Baron promised to call next day to complete the purchase. In the evening a note arrived, stating the Baron's incapacity to keep his ap pointment from having severely sprained his anele by fall, and begging Mr. T. to come to him with the lace the next morning, in order to avoid delay. On arriving at the Baron's hotel he found hint in bed, supported by vo lumes of pillows, and the curtains half drawn. The lace was selected with great care and much bargaining; the Baron being extremely solicitous of not exceeding, in the least, the amount of his commission. The bills were drawn, and the rnerehandize deposited in a carom (band box) ready on the table; Monsieur le Baron condescending though unaccustomed to suds work, to tie it up with his own hands.—He begged Mr. T. (in the absence of the valet) to call Therese web a /magic, in order to seal the box with the Baron's coat of arms. Mr. T. was absent only a few seconds, when his suspicions were awakened. Mr. T. cut open the baud-box, when he found the Baron had, during his absence, dexterously substituted wadding in the room of lace! the Baron having secreted the valuables among the pillows!! The culprit was forgiven on his leaving the town within four I a. IhSTRUCTIVE FIRE AT COVENNEY, Bucits.—A most alarming fire broke out in this village at midnight on Monday, on the farm of Mr. Shorter, which was occasion d by the negligence of a boy in setting fire to sonic straw in the stale on the return home ot his toas ter. In less titan ten minutes the stable was consumed, and seven pigs were burnt in a stye at the back of it. The flames commimicated to two barns, which were also consumed in a very short time. A strong wind communicated the flames to the timber roof of the dwellitt.; home, and at this time the lire was seen miles nit. A whole range of bruises, seven in :mother, fell prey to the devouring elemcitt ; but most the furniture was saved. A titan of the n one of Bartholomew was dangerously hurt i.s ,one .imber fallitie on tom. A most shrieking aecnieut happened a few days since in ;lie neighbourhood of gray's-Inn !an , where a poor girl fell fouls the fourth or filth story, in the act °ideati on; the outside of a window; she was uuaiediately taken to Bartholomew's Hospital, when it was soon ascer tained she had met with a compound fracture on the left arm and of each leg. ~.t"'