The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-10-26 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS,
MONDAY, OCT. 25.

Tbe I."etazaataw opened the 'tart at ten o'clock.
'fbeJury having begs swim',
Josiah Tat was pas on hit Mal for keeping a `ambling-hems,
setgirth in the indictment as a common nuisance.
The prosecutor not appearing, the prisouer was, of course, se-
at-weed and discharged.
J .ah I'kelp stood indicted for having assaulted Matthew Burn,
a half-pay Captain, resident in Islington.
Mr. Ai LTV dated the case for the pr.osecation. The quarrel ap-
peared to have originated in a misunderstanding between the par-
ties as to the quality of a monument, which had been niad,: by the
deft,dant for the use of the prosecutor's friend. The parties had
aria indictments against each other. Mr. Phelps stood accused of
asvault %mutt Captain 'torn, and Captain Burn was in turn
shArged whit having maltreated not only the prisoner, Mr. Phelps,
lot also his daughter, bliss 3lnrianne Phelps.
('apt. Bunt, a grenather.lookiug gentleman, of most military
aspect ar,ul warlike longitude of cute, was called to prove the case.
He staid himself to have been in the army ell his life, and to have
bet u :.malted by Mr. Phelps on the _'3d of October.
.Me. Putni.t.s, for the defendant, cross-examined the wit-
less. Had you anything to do with the ordering ot'your friend's
tomb ?
Winans—No. It was ordered seventeen years ago.
Pusiairs—Aye, but you were altre seventeen /tars Sp.
• •

Wicasss..Ye, 1 think 1 was.
Xt. Pit:Laws—The tomb was not your's, I suppose ?
Witness—No, I don't suppose it was; if it bad been, 1 should
set Et Lere now. (A laugh.)
The teat witness for the pro:nen-mina, a Mr. Frost, happening to
fit" his evidence rather favourably to the prisoner,
Mr. Pei Lt.: es obstrrid, that the case for the prosecution was
clearli (it laugh.)
Tim ',carnet Gentleman was proceeding to make a statement
relative to the tomb, when he nsTs interrupted by Capt. Burn m-
eaning, " false as hell."
Mr. Pe: I.l.ies.—" Gentlemen of the Jail, the Captain says
my statement is as false as hell ; but you can see that the Gal-
ham Captain, shire his residence in India, is as hot as hell."
(A laugh.)
The lammed gentlemen enntintied to detail the circumstances in
favour of his client, on the discrepancy bctwesn the e-idence of the
prosecutor and his witness; ite übnerred that the Captain was a pure
tonne of fire; and who ever bend of any congeniality br'ween lire
and Trod ft (i laugn.)
Mr. I'HILLIP/I'A statement was fresisemly interrupted by Cap-
rain Burn, who declared that it RYA all a felirication, and that his
Counsel, Mr. Alley, failed to conduct his ease satisfactorily to him,
by permitting such weertians to pans uncontratlieted.
Mr. A Leer —Then, Kir, here's your brief fur you—you may
conduct the ease yourself.
Captain Burn wan persuaded with much difficulty to refrain from
further interruption.
Mr. Pasteur.' proceeded.—The Captain squeezed and shoved
Lie client to such a degree, !hint lie was near making him • fit
'abject for as neat a tomb as his client could make, had he not
bean interrupted by Mrs. Phelps, wh> eserted herself to ter-
minate the affair, fearing that she might be a husband out of
pocket. (A laugh.)
Mr. Phelps. the prisoner, then mounter! the witness-box. and
Captain Beta, by • species of legal transmigration, passed into the
chewier ef prisoner.
Mr. Phelps snore that he was assaulted by the Captain ; Visa
Al anat. Ile Phelps continued the statement.
The CHAIRMAN summed up. Verdict--Mr. Phelps Not Guilty,
Burn, Guilty. Judgment of the Court, Capt. Burn to pay a
linen( IOL, with permission to speak to the prosecutor.
William Clifford, who has been in prime foe the last three
mouths, for having refund to enter into his earn recognizanecs to
keep the peace, was brought up, and, having declared his con-
seat to comply with the order of the CasrL, was discharged.

E.4IT.ER OFFERINGS.

DURHAM SESSIONS—Ocr.IB, 1824.

This wart a ease in which Peter Watson was die appellant, and
the Rev. IVilliain Noitielil respondent, and was an appeal against
• lagnorste's order for the payment of Easter Offerings.
Mr. Conlin,: opened the case, and addressed the Bench at
considerable length. Ile said he cculd easily see why Peter %Pat-
ron hid resisted the claim ; he was a Dort of Knight Errant, a
4:stisedor against Elmer (Wirings, and had travelled all over the
country to 'wise an opposition to the payment of them. Ills ex-
ertions were not solely 'initiated to the parish of Chester-le-Street,
but he 11'.15 iu fact an Itinerant, who went front place to plai7e, as-
sert:Wing ntithitudiv of people, and persuading them that Esater
oeerings were an undue and an unlawful exaction. The Learned
Gouiritl nntered into i:atinients, to chew that these offerings are
die and payable of common right, and called witnesses to 'hew the
matigniity of their payment is the parish of Chester-le-street.
Mr. Lints, on the part of the appellant, said It was the duty of
bis Learned Friend to hive proved more antisfartorily than be hail
done. Mr. Nestield's claim to those Easter Offerings; the only
• in which he had attempted to chew it was custom. I admit
(said .Me. L) that Easter Offerings are due, but the question is, to
wi.om arc they due? And he thought some stronger proof of the
irna!ity if Mr. Nestiela's claim should be produced, littera the
Court could allow it. ile would call no witnesses, but left his case
in the hands of the Bench.

Tfie "knell conferred, and it was unanimously decided that the
Ilsiristrates' conviction should be confirmed.
The Rec. W. Nestleld and Peter Watson were both in Coort
the termer on the Bench, but he retired. as did all the other Cler-
i.ral Magistrates before the Court decided on the question.
There IS no appeal from the decision of tl.c Court of Quarter
Sesrens.