The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-10-28 00:00:00

LONDON SESSIONS.-WEDNEIDAY, Om 21.

This morning these Session a commenced before the Recorder,
the laird Mayor, Mr. Sheriff Brown, Aldermen Sir John Paring,
Wood, &boil. J. J. Smith, Mr. Sergeant Arabin, &e. fte.
After the usual proclamation, &c. had been lead, and the
Grand Jury sworn, the Recorder addressed them to the following
eltict:—
" Gentlemen of the Grand Jury,—You are now called upon to
execute one of the most important offices which can be collimated
to f*lbjeCts of the realm, vit., to ascertain whether there is 'or Sae
sufficient evidence to cause you to vend the prisoner's for trial whose
several cam will be submitted to your ronsideration relative to the
crimes with which they stand charged. In looking over the calen-
dir of offences alleged to have been committed in the city
.of Lan-
', don, I am sorry to observe that the number of prisoners is Large,
coesidering the short interval since the termination of the last Ses-
sions, and it is lamentable to observe, that a very greet number of
the prisoners are accused or picking pockets, an offence which has,
of late, become exceedicgly prevalent, and calls loudly for the law
to be fully put into esecution. Gentlemen, yon of/I-find • charge of
mansleughter,bitt there will, no doubt, be also an indictment for the
I higher ettmce of murder. This was frequently deemed necessary,
inasmuch as it was possible that facts might be elucidated, and W-
I ditional evidence affirmed, of which the committing magistrate had
no cognizance. (The !recorder then pointed out the legal distinc-
tions between murder and manslaughter.)--lientlenten, having
said thus much, it will be Air you so sty, when you hear the evi-
deuce, whether there is ground for vou to find the" bill on the capi-
tal or minor charge. Gentlemen, r also find that the celerities can.
tains a charge of the crime of forgery, which will claim most of
your consideration. The crime of forgery is iinfortutiately of that
trequtot occurrence, that you, Gentlemen, must be aware, that in
case of the conviction of the offender, the party is subjected to be
handed over to the eemmon executioner. There are, however, vs-
lima grades and distinctions connected with this crime, which re-
quire more consideration titan a charge of forging or uttering a
forged simple instrument, and which are not of 'etch frequent or-
citrrence ; for instance, the forgery of a bond or deed, or • power
of attnrney. With respect to a deed, supposing it to be erecuted
by the teal parties who appear on the fare of 1., if after such exe-
cution of the deed. any party should alter it, and make it &aliment
to what it was when first executed, it is, to all intents and pur-
poses, • forgery, should the alteration prove to have been unautho-
rized. So if a letter of attozney appears on the face of it to be ex-
crete.: by three persons, and it shall appear that only one out of the
three excepted it, the person so executing it is guilty of forgery."
The lammed Recorder then pointed out several other legal and
technical distinctions, which he considered here upon the ease to
which be wall directing the attention of Gentlemen of the Grand
Jura Ile then alluded to two cases of attempting to pick pocket.,
which he informal them was only a misdemeanour, and punishable
accordingly. After adverting to a charge of perjure. the Recorder
stated that as the charge ezhiliittil by the Hank would of necessity
require much time and deliberation, he would recommend tits
(heard Jury to devote their 'orrice..., in the first instance, to the
consideration of bills of a minor importance, in °obi that no delay
might arise in the despatch of business, after which they would
have more kisser to consider the case to which he had alluded ; he
hsd no doubt hut they would ecmsetentiously pedimm their duty as
citizens and sobjects, and at the conclusion of it deserve the grati-
tude of their coontrytnen.
M. Lawiin was charged with assnulting W. Parlett, one of the
constablca of St. Botolnit, A Idersgate.
The prosecutor saw a person of respectable appearance lying in
the steer% apparently intoxicated; witness went to his asseirange,
when prisoner threw out his arm, aimed a blow at hill), and seized
bin) in an unmanly manner t witness took him into custody, and
canveyed him to the Compter. The prisoner was able to walk
if he pleased, but when he got part of the way he refused to walk
at all.
The prisoner cram-examined the witness, who denied that he
ever aired to contortions° the matter for lab., or on condition
that he (prisoner) would stand a supper; all he said was. that if
prisoner wunlit make an apology he would abandon the pro-
'mention.
The prism:us in his defence said, that he alinuld have been more
fortunate had he becti able to employ a gentleman at the bar, but
situated as he was he would rely on the humanity of the Court.
Ott the day in question he met with a gentleman with whom he
had served in the year 1014, and during the Peninsular War.
Ile drank freely, and to this he attributed the irregularity with
which he was charged. The tonsecutne had been very vindictive
towards him. lie had been deprived of liledtv, and was labouring
under ill health and pecuniary difficulties, otherwise he would
have brought evidence to rebut the charge.
The Jury returned a verdict of Got/ht of the common assault,
but recommended him to mercy on account of his previous lm-
pi amnion.
The Rccoeoca sentenced him to be further imprisoned for one
week.

f'harl's Bramwell. a wire-merchant at Paddington, stood in-
dicted fur assaulting Wm. Walker (a gentleman in the employ of
the respectable firm of Severn, King, and Co.) and Mary Ann, his
wife.
A ewes bill had also been found against Wm. Walker, for an
assault on Mr. Bramwell.
Mr. Walker was returning with his wife and child from a visit
to his brother, when they were met in 'rower-street by the defend-'
ant, Breinwell, and a Mr. ishadgate, of the Excise, who hail just
left a dinner -parry in the neightmarhnod; and the charge against
Mr. Bramwell wank that W.:peeving. he put his bawd. vary lodes
cently open the return of Mrs. Walker, and upon her husband's
remonstrating with him for so doing, he struck him a violent blow.
Kith respect to the indecent conduct towards the lady, both she
' and her husband swore positively.
lann the shape of the proceedings, there being two indictments,
Mr. Bramwell was enabled to give his statement also upon oath,
and he positively swore that he never intended, or did touch, the
lady at all; and that the first commencement of the affray was,
his receiving a kick front Mr. Walker, who charged hint at the
time with his haying indecently assaulted his wife; that he denied
having dace so; that Mr. ll'alker repeated his charge with insult-
log language, and then, and not till then, did he strike him.
Mr. Shatlgate corroborated his friend's statement, declaring that
he believed Mr. Bramwell did not touch the lady ut all. If lie
had, he thought harm's' have seen it.
The Reeoa men put it to the Jury to say, whether they believed
it might no: be a misconception on the part of Mr. and M. Walker,
in which case he would have been the first wesailant. if, on the
other hand, they thnin.fht that Mr. Bramwell had laid his hand in-
dere tly upon the lady, that was such a provocation as fully justi-
fied the husband in the kirk lie was alleged to have given.
The Jury, after Nome consultation, acquitted Mr. Walker on
the indictment against him, and pronounced a verdict of guilty on
that against Mr. Bramwell, who was immediately sentenced by the
Court to Fay a tiae of till. to the King.

S Q 7.4 !ITER SENSIONS,
WSW. CISDAY, OCT. 27.

Sarah Clark, aged 2f, was indicted for uttering • eatinterfeit
bait-crown.

Oil the WhSeptcoiher, she went into the shop of Mr. Friswell,
a corn-chandle:, in Charlotte-sttert, Blackfriatt-real, and requested
to be served with half a pint of Embden grnts, for which site ten-
dered a half-crown ; having received the change, 2s. 41 she left
the shop, and 10011 after the half-crown was ascertained to be a
counterfeit. her. Friswcll went after the prisoner and brought her
bark, when she wm given into the custody of Ileadington, a eon-
edieW3.9 I:101 searched, and a hag contninin a bad half-
crown and some lead silver found underneath her stela ; there
were also found two theatrical prints, which induced Ileadington
to Inquire about the neiglihourlinoil, when he ascertained that the
prisiher had purchased the tlrt.l prints, and gave a counterfeit half-
I crown in rarpent. _ . . .

Mr. Joh:. Field, inspecinr of counterfeit coin to theillint, pro' ed
that the three halt-crowns were Ginnie:ldt, and front the seine die. I
The prisoner said nothing in her defence.—(l7.l4:;:
The CHAIRMAN sentenced her to one year's hard 'simile In the I
House or Correction, and at the expiration of that period to find
sureties for two years.
Ass Powell, aged 21, and Eliza Taylor, aged 37, were charged
with a similar offence.
Mr. Jame Warnen.id the London-mad, Birmingham and Shea.
field warehouse-keeper, stated, that on the Ist of (let. the prisoners
came into his shop, and Taylor purcitased some trifling articles, for
which Alley gave him two half.ctowns in payment ; lie gave the
change, and the prisoners left the shop. Shonly after, having or. I
casion to pty a small Ruin, he ascertained that the two half-crowns '
were counterfeit. On the following inornii-g they ante again to
his ainip, when Powell purchased an article, and tendered halls
erns!. for which his shopman gave the change: two MI:HUM after
the witness ascertained that the half.crowa was a bad one; in the
ever. ing Taylor thire to the shop, while Powell staid at the door ; tete
kpurchased candlestick fur 2a. and tendered a hill-crown, which he
itativ to be a counterfeit, but gave her the change; while he was
giving the change to Taylor, Powell came in and asked tor a two-
penny sponis. tendering a shillinff which was also bad ; lie then
attempted to detain them, but '1 aylor got oft: As hr was ars-uring
Powell the threw something down' the area. diet it was regained by
leis shopthan, and it turned out to be two slolliags and sixpence,
each in a separate paper.
Mr. John Field proved that all the money produced by Mr.
Wenner was counterfeit; the lialfserowne a; peered to be frtmt the
$4l ine die.

The prisoners were found Gritty.
Powell was then sentenonl to six months, and Tayior to twelve
months' imprisonment ; after Omie p'•nods to find sureties.
ILeey Price, aged 25, was indicted fur a similar offence.
About seven wceka ago the riiioner called on Mrs. V:ner, •
dross-maker, No. 3, Princes-plsce, ‘Veqminsier-read, NA de.
sired her to make her a gown by the following morning, leaving
the article to Inge it. Next morning the prisoner called
again, and pail for it with two half-crowns and • shilling ;
she then darted out of the shop, s Welt induced Mrs. Viner
to suspect that all 1i3.1 not right :. and on looking at the
money she found the two half-crowns to b,• counteriews t she went
after the prisoner, but could not find her. On the 24 of tletober,
after Mr. Warner (the prosecutor in the last case) had left the
watchlieuse on Lis return home, lie saw the prisorer in his shop.
purchasing a brush for sixpence, in payment for which she tendered
a half-crown, wideh after she was gone was rotted to he cetinterfeit.
Ur. N. acquainted Shergold, the constable, WOl het deneeiptioh.
and when biter gold apprehended Taylor (one of the prisoners in
the last easel the prisoner was in her company.
Tlic prisoner was found Gesiky, and sentenced to six months' im-
prisonment, and aftet that to NW sureties.

It is said that three estate in gorse isiaire, containing to-
gether between IG and 17,000 acres, have reoentl:, teen sold
fur et),l/004

THE BRITISH PRESS.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS,
WientfEstuor, OCT.

Prier Bonner and Mary
having assail Simon Wells.
bis wife, were pot on their trial for
Mary was charged on a second indictment with having assaulted
die prosecutor's wife also.
Both indictments were tried together.
Simon Wells, the prosecutor, stated, that on the ermingef the
2lth October last, he was sitting quietly and peacefully at Ins door,
most tranquilly smoking a pipe, when Mrs. Bonner came out and
called the pmsecutor's wife several very significant and disagree-
able names. Of this utienurteous conduct Simon was beginning
to complain, when Mr. Bonner came out and stopped Sitnon's
mouth by knocking out his teeth, 'lid knocking him down nt one
and the same instant. Poor Simim thought there was an end of
the affray and himself, but after a few minutes lie discovered that
he was alive, and that Mrs. Bonner was down upon him with all
her weight and vigour, and that her unceremonious husband was
standing by, apparently prepared to renew the exertion of sinew
which had ;ust laid him on the paving stone'. Front this disagree.
able situation Simon won fancied that he should be relieved by the
appearance of his wilie ; but Mrs. Wells no owner essayed to res-
cue her mate, than Mrs. Bonner flew upon her, and inflicted on her
several proofs of the acuteness of her nails.
This statement was supported by most strenuous swearing on the
side of the prosecution ; but was contradicted in every point by the
witnesses for the defence, who ouiswme their sulversaties with the
utmost :cal and solemnity. Aesneding to the assertions of the lat-
ter it less not Peter who struck Simon, but Simon that struck and
knocked down Peter; nor was it Mrs. Peter Bonner who assaulted
Mrs. Simon Wells, but Mrs. Simon Wells who scarified the fea-
tures and extracted the hair of Mrs. Peter Bonner.
It appeared in the coarse of she evidence thaethe prisoner Bonner
had indicted Wells, on a former occasion, for this identical assault;
and that Wells, having been acquitted, turned the tables on his foe
by the present prosecution.
The Jury foiled Bonner and bis wife Guilty on both indictments.
The CHAII(MAN sentenced him to pay a hoc of 121., with per-
mission to speak to the prestekitor.
Prisoner— I'll die Ont., 'Never will I pay for an assault on a
man whom T never tourbetf--;oever."
Ciiitinwas—" Then yeailmist go to prison."