The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-12-04 00:00:00

COURT OF

'She Defendant, in this cause, was a Surveyer or
Inspettor for the Commissioners of Pavements, and
while in the execution of bis duty, appeared rather
to have exceeded the powers conferred on him by
the AR of Parliament, and used the Plaintiff, who
was a green-grocer, in roughly, that he brought
this mem to recover damageolor an assault. The
offence took plare in TnttenhArn-Court-road, upon
Saturday, the 4th of July, when the Defendant,
being obstruned in reizing some fruit-baskets be-
longing to the Plaintiff, thought proper also to seize
him by the collar, and take him before a MAgistrato
befere whom he (Sneitt ) was fined in the penalty of
twenty shillings.
From the evidence, however, it appeared, that
there were fault, on both sides. The Jury gave a
Ilerdia for the Plaintiff—domagei 40s.
ritroottos v. COOPER.
This was an anion brought by the Plaintiff, to
recover the 'fettle nt a horse, which he had entrusted
to the care of the Defend/lu, a milkman and gra-
zier, near liampreed.
The ground nt this cleim was, that the Defend-
ant had used the freedom to employ the Plaintiff's
hots* for his own purposes, in carrying hay, logs
of wood, &c. and, upon one occasion, when endea-
vouring, with the assistance of six other men, his
servants and neighbour% to catch the horse, while
rambling through his extensive parks, one of the
fore-feet of the animal got entangled in the shoe of
one of his hind-feet, which occasioned a &lc:co:len,
a great swelling, and, ultimately. death.
Verdin for the Pieinoff—demeges :Al. 3s.
THOSIPSON So. 110r/D.
This was an ethos brought to recover the sum of
441. IS,. alleged to be the anoomt of expen-es in-
curred by a publican, for thing his personal exer-
tions, and sup flying refreshments to the Eleeors
in the interest of the Right Hon. R. B. Sheridan, at
the late Westminster Election.
• 'fhe totroassit G At, for the
stated, that it was sometimes matter of great sur-
prise to him, to see with what zeal and tiondslop
people embarked themselves in election con.eite, in
behalf of th •se candidates whom they wished to he
most successful. 'Phis was an observation whichl
might with great propriety be applied to ail elec-
tions that were contested, but to none more strongli
than to those in which the Right Hen. R. B: Sheri-
den was engaged. There was no candidate whose
cause was so warmly taken up upon all oeeniottes•l
end by all descriptions of individuals, as the caustbf
that Right Hoo. Gentleman, and among others.
the Detendant, WilliAm Bond, had sealoesly em-
looked to forward his (Mr. Sheridan's) views 'and
inttrests in the lute Westrnmster Eleeion. This
sit. Bond knowing well, :hat his (toe Attorney
General's) citent, Mir. i hnmpson, was a ',croon of
tonsideraole interest, and that he had a house, aed
a large room, vouch weie well adapted for receive
mg and entertainiiig voters, took. upon himself to
engage him in his favourite CRUM'. The tans of the
case were thew t Mt. Samuel Thompson, the
Ploiotil, was a Ell4liCEl), at the George aad Boer,
Orchard-street, Westminster, and the Defendant,
WM. Bond, oleo a poollean. in Hungerloro-Mare
bet. Previous to the commencement of the Elec-
tion, the Defendant applied to the PlAintia to em-
ploy his exertions in behalf of ti's favourite candi-
date, and to bestow toe use of his house, and re-
freshments to those who were to vote fs.r Mr. Sho-
rtie-L. Mr. Thompson at first declined inteefertng,
saying he was as much disposed as he (tne.De-
tendant), to expose the Cause Of that worthy cud
patriotic candidate, hut that really he could not
afford is ; and the more so, because he had been '
a loser upon a former And similar occasion, having
expended a considerable suns of money, and never
having been repaid it. Gutless, therefore, he could
he assured of being repaid his expenses And be see
munereteil for his trouole, he should not agree to
the proposal To this Mr. Boni assented, 110.1
said lie would see him paid ; and accord'ngly Mr.
Thompson did anuAlly dedicate his largest chic,-
room to this service, and many voters were entere
toned, moshoite/y, at his house. Noehiog of hot
wAs creoted, and nothing exorbitant was put down
in his ultimate demand, winch amounted to 44i.
las. Ile could net anticipate any defence that
could be made by the Defendant's Counsel against
this cia in, unlesss it was that the Plaintiff had pre-
viously sent in his tell to the Committee Alhog for
Mr. Sheridan; but he apprehended that, even al-
though his coent might have been pechap. prevailed
upon to do so, yet not having succeeded, he had
not thereby pre:hided I,:msett from having re-
course upon Mr. Bond, who had given hem this
order, And whom be uatieretuu4 was himself one of
that Committee.
E.lward Gilbert was the first Witness called. He
wai examined by Mr. GARAOW, who was also on
behalf of the Plaintiff, end deposed' that be re-
membered seeing Mr. Bond at the George and
Boar, duling the early part of last Westminster
Elation. Build called Thompson out of doors,
when they had swine conversation, which he (tbe
Vs 'mess) did not hear ; but afterwards, Thompson
desired him to come out, and attend to what they
wete saying. Mr. Thompson oat rated the story of
what he had done upon the foirner tlonion, in the
interest of Mr. Sheridan, for whoh he never had re-
ecived any remunes Atinn. Mr. Bond said to him,
that it he ( Mr. l'hompsoe) would again assist, as he
had done before, in canvassing, lie should have
seven shillings and six-pence per day, tar his se:-
vices ; and a similar oiler was made to the Witness
himself. lie understood Mr. Thompson's haute was
engaged, but he did not see it engaged by Mr..
Bond, there having beau nothing said in that con-
versation relative to that sullied. Both Mr. Thomp-
son and the Witness accordingly did every thing
in their power on behalf of Mr. oriencian, and the
large room was used exclusively for entertaining
the voters with meat and chink.
Coos-oreerined by Mr. PAS R•
He did not know the Plaintiff's hand-writing, as
be funisell cow.' not write.
Sarah Gilbert deposed, that she was in the Plain-
tiff s bar one evening awing the early port of the
Elerni o, end .he a•w and he ad Mr. i t oto ocin ri
Mr. B ad cowrsaing town' about

. Thompson
Mentions
d ,na Mr
... y
1 hOnlrion Ir3ll, ti, PIOT* -I shim' mess i for Mr.
Bors:!rand those friends whom I e might bring with
him. „pet. ta am hear any thing sail tby either of
theni 4s- rprisitheil M. Tr onipson wa• .0 have Mehl'
personal s,munera'on. fib- was freepundylshatest
after at Mr. 'lir mp-res house and fsViritr. Semi
frequently there exceed ugly three( to Mr. lihrni=
behalf, and she knew that the friends a( that
date w. re provided with tette:it-In. Ms der' *lb
whole of the EleCtion, in the large chilli,
that Mr. Bond or Mr. !hose pson was geenrellytMlll .
them. Crourrterpoitil by Mr. P Aim.,
She was no relation of Mr. Thonspetni, although
she used frequently to go to his honer; she Men, hit
hand-writieg ; (being shown a lesser, she depomtit
WAS the Plaintiffs writing) $ she Mae certaie that
Mr. Bond frequently ate and thank with the Eirse.
tors. ,
William Gimpy, a soldier in the Guards. den
I
posed. that he had been in the habit of frequenting
Mr. Thompson's house while off guard. He km*
both Plaintiff and Defendant, and reenetnberedeb•
latter coming to the house of the rernser upon shol2lll
of May last. They were in the bar having something ri
to drink, and conversed together, but be could not
say What it was about. Upon that occasion, home •
ever, IieSAW then. go op to look at the club.roorn,
in company with another person, and when they
came down again, he heard Bonet say to Thompson;
that the room would do very welt. From the Air
course that then took place between them, homier* .
stood that it was for the purpose of receiving dui
voters in the interest of Mr. Sheridan, and for en* .
terfaining them with meat and drink, in any mani
net Mr. lhompson thought necessary. He was at
lhompson's, assisting in serving the Eleetors dur-
ing every day of cie E.teennn, except one, when he
era; on duty. The chub-room was restively enevote4
to their use during eight complete days. alter the
Nth of May. Mr. Thompson required his assist-
ance in furnishing the drink. as he himself was fie-
coently out with Mr. Bond doing the °undone
work. He could not say what the meat and drink
so besenvred might reasonably atnnant to during
that p,:rind ; hut he remembered that the score of 1
liquor alone, amounted, upon one particular dnye $
to four pounds ; a great deal having, by Mr. acme'
particular dire/liens. been given to people who were
out of doors, who were not voters. There v. 1
upon one mention% a round of beef that weigh/
nearly fifty pounds, made use of, with bread lord
every thing else in proportion. There were * few
ill t lipor drank by Mr. Bend himself pre.
vious to the Elelition, which were scored up ten
him. Cfill-eStIMMAt by Mr Pa art.
Ile never was at the Hustings. and never saw any
paper 111 this cause except tee subpoena with which
he was served. He was certei i that Mr. Bond
said the rash* *vett do very well ; and it was by
their subsegoem conversation that he found it was
for the purpose of the elation. The room was
solely applied for the voters of Mr. SNericlan. Am,
upon • :sett/relay there •as one of that gentlemsal
flags brought there and bung out of the window. "
James Marshal deposed, thuire reeolleaed being
at Thompson's. during the avail:so, and treguenen
ly saw Bond in the club-roam. He heard him
give direeions to Thompson, to have every thing
in reason, and he supposed he meant by thien
refreehtnente tsn'the Fleanrs. B:sides the persons
in the club-trot% there were others drinking at the
bar, to vhoir. he remembered two gallons of beer
were distriauted. He had been in rise }ana of fre-
quenting that house for four years. He knew that
Thompson went ab tut' canvassing ; Le himself did
so, although he was not employed. 4.
Thorne* 'lmmo:, n deposed, that he was Ire-
qitently at Thompson's during the eleaion, and he
liim,elt split several votes toe Mr. Elliot and edr.
Sheridan. lie saw seismal pet,ocs witli Sheridan's
colours, eatirg and drinkreg in -the elubnouna,
which he understood was opened for their Mt*. - .
dun l and he saw a A II; hanging out of the whoa
doer. Thompson had solicited him to proem*
some votes (or him, thinking, that, as he kept a
barber's shop, he would have oppiirtunities cf see.
ing a grett deal of company, arid w.s therefore the
better able to Afford some aid E., the Plaintiff.
Mr. Perm: in addressing the Jury 0.. behalf of
the Defendant, stated, that he heartily j iined with
the Attorney-General ltd los astonishment, at 6-wing
persons of such a description as that of the Plaintiff
and Defendant in this cause, engaging in eleaion
conte.ts, and expending their money, without know.
lag how they were to reimburse themselves. or
whether they were ever to receive it or not. It WAS
truly a melancholy consideration, to find pa pie
such as those who had been examined this day.'
coming forward to attempt to make out caste
of this kind, because he was convinced, that
when the tea:wets well understood, it would ap-
pear that there was no more ground for charging
the expenses attending the opening of this house
upon Bond, the Defendant, than upon any of the
Gentlemen of the Jury themselves, who a ere no way
concerned in the eieftion. It was upon the 17th of
June, and alter the eleaion was over, that Mr. Roi.d
was said to have stated that the Plaintiff should have
taken in his bill to Mr. I' rots, one of Mr. She-
ridan's committee. It was upon the 16th of May.
that Band had said be had got a final order to open
the Plaintiff's house, meaning that he had get such
an order from the Committee. Where, he would
ask. eras the necessity for saying he had got a t
order, if he himself was to pay tne expenses cut of
his own pocket ? He meant by this language to .
say that Thompson was a friend of his, and being
also a trienal of Mr. Sheridan, he had endeavoured
to get the Committee to prevail upon Thompson
to open his house. In a sub.' quent el:sneers:um. it
was said that he expressed a wish that he had had
nothing to doiwith it ; and it was an oneortant
circumstance, that he had said, on the 17th ofJene.
that the Plaintiff should have taken to his MB to
Mr. Frost. and act to him, on ate (Mr. Park)
could chew that the Plaintiff had causally adopted
that plan, a circumstance that spewed to whom 1
considered himself bound to look fur i.is pay me
When. hiswever, he found the C.inemittee coul
raise money to settle his debt, h: th .1, f r a

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41
4.1 CI .IN.
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Lifir f lITELLIOENCIL .. . .: ilf.4ll4.loolVitrirsOe Ireitio* to do ivitb it, is hi
_.--...--_ - Mirysies a Icon stern a f rale!. orris on I ard ape*
-
ICING'S BENCH, WISTMI 88888 , 'The. S. 40110. fo-d siia. .. You need no: !tar. as! shalt
are riiii paiJ." Ui do thr•r icons, Mr. Thompson
Sitting, at Nisi Prima. I said, hi trotsid !skit an illii.• part us the Election,
lIMITH O. ZUMWENS. and e,ttrAss da telJalf of Mr. Sherd .n. Mr.
..1•... i.. th;. r Anat. _ar3 I a a Sort Cirsr OP I 'I 1.........•.. w.... .wwye.r•Agt to.iira. mess. for Mr.