The Express.
London, England, 1847-07-23 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.—STAFFORD, JILT 21.
Nl6l Pates—Before Mr. Justice Coleridge.
STAGG V. EARL OP Mitvowei.—A JOCKEY'S FEES.—
Neptune Hector Stagg, ajockey, sought to recover from the
defendant 2001., for wages and expenses in riding races and
attending " meets" in 1839, and during several following
years. The plaintiff, it appeared, was educated in the
stables of Mr. Saunders, a trainer, who keeps an establish-
ment fur horses at Edgeford, in this county, and where a
numoor of horses belonging to the noble defendant have
from time to time been trained. In the year 1839 the plain-
tiff, being then apprentice to Mr. Saunders, rode a horse for
the defendant, who appeared to have been so pleased with
him, that he, in 1840, allowed him to ride two horses of his,
by name Widreshew and Medea, at several important
races. It was stated in evidence to be an invariable
rule of the turf that whenever& jockey rides a winning horse
he is entitled to a fee of five guineas ; if an unsuccessful
horse, the fee is three guineas. During the year 1840, the
plaintiff regularly attended various race meetings, paying his
I own expenses. In 1841, he was engaged at a fixed salary of
501. per annum, and so continued up to the end of the season
of 1842, attending as before, and paying his own expenses.
It was stated to be a part of the duty of a retained
jockey to be present at all races where any horse of
his master's is entered, there being no difficulty in ascer-
taining the fact, by a perusal of the " Ramng Calen-
dar." The noble defendant, who, from time to time,
paid the plaintiff sums of money, on being furnished
with the Plaintiffs demand in the present action, in writing,
expressed his surprise at his sending him in a regular ac-
count, considering the monies he had paid him, and a present
of 501. made on one occasion. A letter from his lordship,
bearing the Newmarket post-mark, April 17, 1843, was put
in, which certainly seemed to leave no doubt of the conti-
nuance of the employ, and which contained the following :
"Stagg want to know the lightest weight you can
ride; I shall want you to be as light as you can for Cheater
this year."--Serjt. Talfeurd, for the defendant, commented
upon the whole case, and urged the improbability of the
plaintiff, a mere boy, being in a situation to Ice out of his
money for such a length of time, and contended that the
course adopted by the defendant in paying from time to
time showed clearly that nothing further remained due :
besides, it was unusual for persons occupying these relations
to require receipts for every sum of money paid.—Mr. Jus-
tice Coleridge summed up. The jury, after a lengthened
consultation, were locked up, end finally returned with a
verdict for the plaintiff-164i. Is. ; none of them appearing
to know clearly upon what grounds that precise sum was
awarded.

MIDLAND ClRCUlT.—Norrtsonan, Juts 22.
The commissions for this oouaty and town were opened
yesterday afternoon. The calendars are light, and there are
but six causes—one is a special jury—a will cause.
WOODHOUSE O. PRATT AND WIPE.--SLANDEH.--The-
plaintiff is an unmarried woman, about 20 years of age, and
at the time this transaction took place was under an engage-
ment to marry Mr. Henry Doleman, chief mate in a mer-
chant-vessel. On the 4th of Oct. last there was a party at
the house of Mr. John Pratt, at which the defendants were
present. The conversation turned upon the intended mar-
riage, when Mrs. Henry Pratt said, " Henry Doleman is a
fool to have anything to do with Harriet Woodhouse; she
is a bad one—she, her mother, and alders, and all together ;
her mother kept a bad hones at Sweinton (near Not-
tingham) ; she hu been confined and has had • child
whilst living at Bweinton ; but it is no matter to a sailor,
for sailors are not particular." This was the slander.
Toe words were communicated by his sister to Doleman,
who, with Mrs. Woodhouse, called at the house of Mrs.
Henry Pratt, when Mrs. Henry Pratt repeated them.
' A witness, Mrs. Oilatrap, corroborated the previous state-
ment, as to the words, and then deposed to attempts being
made to prevent her coming forward, and giving evidence
against the Putts. It would seem that Doleman, though he
stab d he had Woken off the marriage in consequence of the
words uttered, had been in the plaintiff's company since.—
Mr. Whitehurst contended that the words were spoken
' without malice, and that the match had not been broken off
in the manner alleged, and, therefore, the defendants were
entitlid to a verdict.—The 'earned judge told thejury, if
they believed the uttering the words in question had de-
prived the plaintiff of her marriage, she was entitled to
compensation, and the more so if the injury was permanent.
The jury found for the plaintiff-40 shillings damages.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—Yotte, JULY 21.
Crown Cocoa—Before Mr. Justice Wightrosn.
Moans& NEAR Stinrrun.n.—George Bradley (26) and
James Bradley (23) were charged with the wilful murder of
John Riley, at Sheffield, on the 12th of January last. The
prisoners pleaded not guilty.—Mr. Serjeant Wilkins stated
the case. The deceased, John Riley, was a man about 44
years of age, &tobacconist in Waingate, Sheffield. His place
of residence, however, was at Broom Lees, a mile from
Sheffield, on the Grimesthorpe road. On the night of
Monday, the I Ith of January, he closed his shop in Vain
gate about nine o'clock, and went with • friend to the Cattle
Market Inn, where he remained till half-past twelve, when
he left to go home. He was perfectly sober. In going to
his home he had to pan a place called- Burger's-gate, where
Mr. Riley received certain blows which caused his death.
He got to his house about 20 minutes to two o'clock in the
owning, and Mrs. Riley, who was sitting up for him, let
him in. He was covered with blood and bruises. A large
lamp at one side of his head ultimately caused his death.
His watch had been stolen, and one of his pockets turned
inside out ; but another, which contained 26c, had been
overlooked by the murderers. Mrs. Riley assisted
him to bed, where he lay, attended by • medical
prectitioner, till the following Saturday, when he died.
The circumstances tending to connect the prisoners with the
robbery and murder are as follows; on Thursday? January
14, the prisoner, Jame' Bradley, went to a public-house in
Sheffield, produced the watch taken from Mr. Riley, and
asked • man named George Bowling to sell it for him.
Bowling suggested that they should ge together to • man
named Sales, who eventually paid 17e. for the watch. After
sitting some time at the Cofth and Horses, Sales, Bowling,
and Bradley went together to the All Nation's public-house.
They there drank together, and James Bradley made the
following statement : ' You must not say anything about
the watch : it came from Mr. Riley, the tobacconist, in
Waingate ; I robbed him of his watch and 30s. ; I knocked
him down the first Mow. I heard that we mimed 31.
and the shop key. I heard that Mr. Riley got
home between two and three o'clock in the morn-
ing." He also made emend other implicatory oonfesaions.
The evidence spinet George Bradley was very alight. He
was merely seen near the Cattle Market Inn about the time
the deceased left it. Evidence in support of these facts
having been adduced, sad the respective counsel for pri-
mers having addressed the court, the judge summed up,
and the jury, after a seereltstien of 36 minute', returned •
verdict of Not (hay. Mire Is another charge against the
TER MISPIRLD Mosinias.—Before the rising of the
mows this mom, Mr. ISM wade an application for the
deauetkai et ist Raid Rata the next arises, on the
ground ihat tastier ResEriell evidence could be adduced,
and that It wee agagragy /e the ends of Janice that the
Eidson die earls hillisineate should be postponed to the
neat asidose.—The Jeffs • Very well ; I will consider of
it. You had bolter anew Mr. Berjeant Wilkins to see the
affidavit.