The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-08-07 00:00:00

PINE r.CAATrR.

Mr. Sergeant PELL ( who was— specially retained by the plain-
tiff) stated, that this was an action which. although of trifling con-
sequence al to the amount to be recovered, involved a question of
the very highest importance to the public. A man named S
belonged to a society at Portsmouth, celled the " General&TlN
Vision Society," and on sonic account was expelled, and denied
the pecuniary aid the other members of it enjoyed. Ile applied to
Mr. Carter (the defendant in this action), who was a Magistrate of
that town, on the suliirct ; and believing that authority was vested
in him under the 334 George 111. the defendant issued warrants
for the purpose of levying a ilistre:s on the plait:MT% goods, for
31. tits. and 2/. 13a. nib The question of the Magistrates power In
this instance involved great difficulty, as it appeared by a clause In
the first Act, that powers were re,erved to the members of these
Societies to make rules fur settling their differences by arbitration,
and that such arbitration was to be final, and not subjected to the
control of Magistrates.
The Learned Sergeant and the Counsel on the other side eon-
suited. and it was agreed that as the facts were not disputed, aces
should be submitted to the Court of King's Bench, in order to
- .

gain the opinion of that Court respecting the powers of 31agistrates
over the conduct of Benefit Societies.
THE. SING V. TIIO3IAS, CHARLES, AND WILLIAM VISION.
This was an information pled at the ihstance of the Attorney_
General, against the defendants, who are brothers, for assaulting
and obstructing, in the execution of their duty,two Excise Officers,
near Ilavant, in this county.
Wm. Torir deposed, that he had been an Excise officer fir 27
years. In the evening of the 14th February h., ucconti anied by
Smith, who was receiving instructions from hint, went to a place
nanted Roland's Castle, and as they returned between 11 and 12
o'clock at night, they met three men with a cart. It was a moon.
light night, a.til he saw the men distinctly. There was a remark-
I able dug under the cart, which he afterwards saw, as well as the
coat, at Vinstin's. IVitnrcs desired to search the cart, as he sus-
pected that contraband goods were in it. The cart was a covered
one. l'on this, one of the men struck him with a bludgeon.
tharlesVinson forced a pistol out of his hand, and he and another
struck the witness. Smith was attacked by another man, and was
covered with dirt and blood. He clearly saw the faces of the de-
fendants, the colour of the cart and dug. Ile went on the 16th to
where the Vinson% live, and there he saw two of the
defendants and Thomas, the othtr. he usderstood, was at Ports-
, mouth. .

Cross.exatuined—The dog was under the cart ; it W2l perfectly
light t there was a hedge on each sides f the and ten or twelve
feet high; witness on the 16th had Itawlit s an officer, with him,
mid the :Supervisor; on that day they were about Vinson's house
for sonic time ; he knocked at the door; the father lacked out, and
witness said something to him in a pleasant way, about spending
his box of money ; he did not see a man named Chase there,
neither did he hear Smith say to William and Charles Vinson,
" neither of you is the man I want."
George Smith, who was in company with the last witness, con-
firmed his testimony, with this difference—lie said the dog was
before instead of under the cart.
In his cross.esamiration, he denied having said any thing to
Chase when he saw him at Vinson's on the 111th, and also denied
having said to Charles and William Vinson, " Neither of you is
the man I want." _ _

Mr. C. F. %Ft I.L !AWL on the part of the defence, in has ad.
dress to the Jury. observed upon the inipmbsbilities of the testi-
mony of the two witnesses. It way also worthy of consideration,
that the dog appeared to be perfectly still during the s'tempt to
starch the cart. and every one aho heart him knew that the nature
of Moe dogs prompted them to attack any one scuffling with their
masters. The Letirned l'ounsel then said that he could prove a
complete r.li6i as to all the defendants.
John Rawlins stated, he lived at Chiehester. and accompanied
Tozer, Smith, and two other persons, to Vinson's. on the 16th;
William and Charles l'inson came down stairs, and Smith went up
to Chucks, asked hint his name, anti said (lifting up his hats " von
are net the man 1 ww:t." lie then said, it was his eldest broths