The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-09-28 00:00:00

VlASitt Ii

[Preen the Jamaica Royal Gazelle of Asps 2
The following of details a swat hirvid'und
diabolical act of piracy and murder: The,cirewm•
glance has been laid before the Admiral; at which
lie expres.ed great abhorrence ; he stated, that the
fiat brig of war he could get hold of would be star
boned in the quarter where the piracy etas coati
mitted, and that he was in hopes that some of our/
cruisers would capture one of those scoundrels, to(
citable hi. to make en ezample:—

(COPY.)
JAMA•CA, MO—Personally appeared before me, one of hilt
Majesty'', Justices of the Peace, Hugh Hamilton, marinerii
who being duly sworn, maketh oath and saiih, he sailed aw
mate on board the stoop Blessing, William Smith, master.
sod had made three voyages from the port of Oracabessa, I.
this Island, to St. Jag. de Cubs ; and that in the tarns of
the fourth voyage of the said sloop, about the beginning of
the preseut mouth (bat the deponent cannot ham the day),
were Whit In with by • lung black schooner, with black
mouldings (then), the name of Emanuel marked on her
stern, and commanded ►y a white man, with • cured crew
of colour and countries, ammig whom were bertha, or Ame-
ricium ; that after bringing the sloop to, the privateer or
pirate's boat came alongside, and took out the Captain and
his son with all the trew, and carried them on board of the
schooner, leaving the sloop in possession of his people; that
►e demanded of the Captain his money, ur his life. The
Captain persisted that be had none, but proffered him the
cargo, w hich.consisted of owe hundred barrels of flour, and
Arty Herres of cornmeal (marked 3 within a diamond); that
on the following day, not producing any money, a plank was
eon out io the starboard side of the hammier, upon which
be nitride Captain Smith walk, and that as he approached to
the end, they tilted the plank, when he dropped into the sea,
and the re, lA* the •ffurt of the Csptain call.
ed for Ile rmiske4 and fired at him therewith, •kets he sunk,
and was seen no more. The reel of the crew were ironed be-
low, will, the exception of hie sun, a boy of about fourteens
years of age, who witoened literate of his father. While in
the agony of 'eminent' crying, the ("howls took the butt-tad
of the musket and knocked the boy ell the tread, thereafter
took Lim by the foot. and hove him overboard ; that
on the day following this sad event, having previously take.
out all thesiggiug, sails, &a be. of the sloop, beset het us
lire, and burst her ; asd us the same day gave the crew, cons-
I/klieg of three othersy and he, this Depoisesit (h•viagstrip.
ped us of . very article has what we had oar our backs), the
jolly bow, wish • Wicket utwaler, and one bisewit each per
sun, without • compass, which we asked fur. bat were re-
feted by his soyearg, " be would sootier give hell ! to be off,
or he would sink them." Thus we parted, and in the after.
soon of Iberians' day were picked tip by the schooner Af..rg
Ass, lodooging to Black River, and we were landed at Port
Moroni co the 15th July, 1822.
(Sighed) HUGH HAMILTON.
Taker and sworn berme me, In the presence of George
Mackay, Esq. at Roselle Estate, iu St. Thomas' in the
. . .

list, this Stith day of July, Mt..
(...qued) R. FERGUSSON.
MIX —Ths Captain of the pirate la a call robust am*,
swarthy cumplesioa, Roman owe, lung rimy, but caouot
speak to any other per tat oho maths.
About the middle of la►t month • auspicious.
'oolong schooner, very probably the one alluded to
shove, was seen hovering off the root end t and very
shortly after alit had disappeared, • vessel of war,
suppourti I. be the irse, bore in sight; and the
liasiard could not larva been far off at the time.
It is to be revelled that she was loot fallen to with
by either .f them, that prime of these freebooters
or the ocean might have been brought to public
justice, to atone fur such daring crimes, stud be the
means, in some measure, of deteretug others from
continuing so them.

U. ft. 041 Ct u 64-gun
Chatham for lioroichr to be
fur that be .t bout.

*hip.
VKd

has sailed from
as • breakwater

bikilookit Itslssiict

B Retied( MielVricirl foe otr''bOlt • 4101•:1
trait, the ptclikrry bi' Jams [Teedhlan. E.g.
It oppeated from the tesittoony of Mr. Neediriti.
that he left his rhohow Ststidilitt at the door of W
bottom in Pentonville, with the cost in it. He had
hot been in the house many millilitre before he wita
informed that the coat had been ttnten, It wee •
teitoted to him in shotit I quarter of An hoot:
A constable steed that he less called on c.e spot
by the cry of " Stop thief !" and the Prisoner AM t
topyrtl near White Conditit Howie, *llll thi Oak
in his primession.
The Jury found him Gairry.
The Prosecutor begged to reeiofilliend As.
-Otercy. He hid mOde some inquire's. God had red.
son to believe this was hi. first ottence in addl.
lion to which, he took some blame to himself for
having placed the temptation in hi. *ay.
The RECORDIR said. reetsioly the Proseetttor
might have token greater care of his property. but
it must not he colosodeled that his corelemitiesv
would excuse ally one for stealing it. The Court
would. however, give due *eight to the remit.
mendatiorl.
Peter ?Iran was convicted of Stealing e piece of
linen. the property of Joseph Lee. of Islington.
The linen we/ hung ode upon the irons of the shop
of the Prosecutor, who is ti Linen-draper, from
whetter the Prisoner eontrivedstb steal it.
l• The ItecOaoca said, that from the circumstance
of the Prisoner having ss. in his pocket at the time
the robbery Wlil tomnattied, there could be no doubt
•that he was it practised thief. and the only reason
that he was not sent out of she country was his
-youth (the Poisoner was 15 years of age.) The.
sentence of the Court was, that he should be kept
to herd labour in the House of Correction for six
months, and be publicly whipped.
John Bridgman, aged 16, was capitally indicted`l
for strolling in the dwelling-house of Captain Dun.
ran M'Leod. in Portman-street, Portman-square,
on the 23d September instant, a gold watch, chain,
and five seals, of the value of 61. the property of
-Mrs. Spilt., the wife of Lewis Spit's, Esq. and
• Mary Ramis, for receiving part of the property
knowing it to have been stolen.
It appeared from the evidence for the prosecution
that the Prisoner Bridgman was an'opprentice to a
bell-hanger, and had been employed to repair some
bells on the lunding.place between the dining and
drawing-rooms. He went about five o'clock, and re-
mained till past six o'clock, when he went away.
Mrs. Sirius was on a visit st the house, and had le;ft
her watch in the bed-rclotn. Soon after the Pri-
soner had quitted the honse, she missed het winch;
and suspicion 'touching to the Prisoner, OD officer
was sent for, who repaired to the shop of the Pri-
*twee' master, where be waited till he came in.
when he was charged with the robbery, and. on
searching him, four of the seals were found upon
him. and the watch was found in a drawer of the
shop, concealed amongst some old iron. On being
questioned where the other seal and chain were, he
confessed that he lied disposed of them to the other
Prisoner, Mary Evans, to whose whop he directed
*the officer. When the officer went there she was
denied, but, on searching the house, he found her
concealed on the leads. The Silt seal, and a da.
plicate for the chain were found in the house. The
vhsiu had been pledged with a pawnbroker for Q2s.
From the evidence of the pawnbroker it ape
peered that the female prisoner pledged the chain in
we of Mrs. Evans, Homer-street, Padding-
tow, but no such person lived there. The property
was produced, and identified by Mrs. Spot's.
The Prisoner, Bridgman, made no defence.
Mrs. Evans and, that she knew Bridgman
from her husband working in the *hop where he
was apprenticed. He came to her house one day
and told her that he had found the chain, which, so
he wonted motley, lie wished her to pledge for him.
She did so accordingly, slid ptocured un it 241.
and received 41. for her trouble.

The Jury found both the Prisoners Gnifry.
The Rscoxote then proceeded to pass the sen.
tenet of the Court on the Prisoners. Mary Evans,
in consideration of her family, to be imprisoned
three months only in the House of Correction. and
kept to bard labour. The Recorder then addressed
Bridgman. and told him this was an offence which
would affect his life : one circumstance in Isis fa-
vour was, that he went to the house for a lawful
purpose, but at would be necessary to pass sentence
of death on him, and he seriously exhorted him to
repentance. as he might be assured he would noe
escape without a ve►y punishment.
Henry Berry and Christopher Read weri
charged with stealing three live (owls.
The Pri►oners were stopped by an officer, having
the fowls hid under their costs. They gave a false
account of the manner in which they became pos.
seined of them.

The Jury found them both Guilty, and the R►.
corder sentxnced them to be publicly whipped, and
kept to paid labour in the Bowe of Correction for
two years.
✓ohn Sherry was indicted foe embezzling 3s. the
property of his niggler, Wu,. Worthingtou.
The Prosecutor rioted, that he was a brewer, and.
lived in Great Peter-street, Westminster ; the Pri-
loner was his drayugan, arid was employed to re-
ceive money from his customers wham he served
with beer; he ran away from his service w►thout
accounting for ►everal gums of money received by
him on the witness's account—amongst others this
sum of three shillings.
The person who paid the Prisoner the money not
being in Court, the Jury. under the direction of
the Court. acquitted the Prisoner.
The Saline Prisoner was then charged on a second
indictment w►th embezzling another sum of eight
shillings under sim►lar circuwitaucee.
The Jury found him Craig. sod the Prosecutor
recommended him to mercy, which the Ricounzz
said should be attended to.

Between 50 and 60 Numbers were diecharged
this morning, the Gomel Jury baying ignored the
bills relative to them.

EXPEDITIOUS TRAVELLING WV STILAII.--.The
Royal Sovereign Ramsgate ►tram packet left the
Custom-house Stairs, London, ou Wedne►day
morning at half-set eight o'clock, and lauded her
passengers ou Rumsgate Pier at half-pact four in
the afternoon; thus making her passage in eight
Wars, being at the rate ot more thou I miles an
hour.

tl"lr*V-

tsiokk.
tf._

Fattonv, SkeTstiontit
noteas Jay. pastillion in the service of his
Mi*goy. was iodicted for attempting to steel from
lhe penes of Wm. Lewis Billie'', a watch, chain.
kali atiel key. on the night of the 15th of,slny
lest;lis 1114isaellLstreet. Coient-garden. There
won nienther count ill the indictment, chsraing
itimi with attempting to pick the pockets of severs!
:persons unknown, on the slime night.
The witnesses were ordr,ed out of Court.
' Mr. W•LVORD °petted the esse fur the prosecu-
tion.

' Woo. Lewis Bullet) tieing sworn. deposed that he
arm a feather norarr muker. and resided at No. 45.
'ilsirsrick.strerl, Suho : he recollected the night laid
in the indictment ; his Majesty honoured Drury-
lane theatre with his presence ; he went to Russell-
street to, get • sight of his Majesty on his leaving
the theatre; he stooil in the street; he saw Gook
the constable standing before him—he seeturd to
watch him. Just before the King's carriers left
the theatre he felt a pull at his watch; it did not
give him soy uneasiness...is, it was secured by a
ch.in. Just as his hil•yesty !wised him. he felt a
strong pull at his statiti;chaiii ; it was so violent
that he us afraid his pocket would be torn ; he
moved q position. and some one fUrhird part him
and too a person in the crowd iuto custody. mad or
the same time called out to him that he had lost his
ii
watch, and desired him to follow them ; he did not,
as he had his watch, and he wished to act with hu.
mainly towards the person, whoeier he might have
been, that attempted to dtpriSe him of his watch,
and he returned home.

Ou his crow-exsminaticin by Mr. ALUM; he
said he worked for • number of persons in the
'trade; he lived in Berwick-street ; he never lived
m Noel-street. On being pressed, he said that the
*Mabee of the house was in Berwick-street, and
the private door in Noel-street ; Gook lived within
two doors of him in Noel-street ; he knew him by
sight. hut never was spoken to on this business by
Gook before a fortnight ago ; Gook found him
out by some friends of his that lived in St. Mar-
tin's-lane; the watch about him was not the same
he had on the night of the 15th of May ; the chain
was (it is a steel one) ; the key and seals were not
the same ; he bought them ahout • mood, ago ; he
sold the key and the two seals he had on the night
of the transaction to two friends ; the watch he gave
to • friend to dispose of for him, sad he pledged
it ; he knew he was coming there to prove that the
Prisoner attempted to steal the watch he wore on
the night of the 15th of May, but lie did not
think it would be necessary that he should produce
it. He then shewed the Jary the way his watch was
secured by a chain, and that it was impossible it
could be taken out of his pocket. He got the mo-
ney honestly with which he purchased the watch
and seals he now wore ; he could not recollect pre-
cisely when he purchased them, bat it was nfter the
transaction of the 15th of May. He and his mo-
ther earned from a/. to 51. a week ; he would not
say they earned so much now, as it was a slack time
of the year.
Thomas Gook deposed that he had been a con-
stable for seven years; he was in Pall-mall on the
evening his Majesty went to Drurrlane Theatre ;
he followed the royal carriage to the theatre; he saw
the Prisoner standing in the street near the entrance
to the Qs. gallery ; from some information Connell
gave him, he watched him ; he saw the lust witness
Bullen there, he did not know him before, but
from his observation of him that eight, knew that
he would know him again; he saw the Prisoner
standing three yards from Bullen, when the bunt-
pet sounded for his Majesty's departure from the
theatre ; he saw the Prisoner go close to Bonen,
put his hand round his waist, and make a slight
pull at his watch chain he told Harrison lie
would want his ambience, and when the car-
siege passed, the Prisoner wade a heavy pull at the
watch chain of Bonen, on which he took him into
custody, and told Bullet) to follow them ; when he
brought the Prisoner to the Bunch of Grapes,
public house, in Bow-street, he searched him, and
found on him • five shilling piece, half a crown,
and a key; he asked him why he put his arm round
the Gentleman: he said he done it to keep himself
from falling, as he wss so much pressed by the
crowd. Shortly afterwards the Prisoner asked him
for the half crown he had taken from him, on which
the witness said that he had also taken a five shilling
*cis from him, which he supposed he had stolen;
on which the Prisoner said it was the first offence
he had committed, end hoped he would forgive
him ; he replied that was only in the power of the
Magistrate; when lie took the Prisoner into cus-
tody, the watch was out of the Gentleman's pocket;
it was u silver our; he saw it distinctly, and also
the seal ; he had such a view of it that he would
uudertake to say it was mounted with jeweller's
gold. On taking the Prisoner to the vsatchhouse
he offered him all the money tie had about him to let
him go.
The Foreman of the Jury—" You hen • said
we saw the watch ; that is impossible, for iitould
not be taken out of Bullen's pocket; he has sbewti
us how it was secured."
The witness Bullen was again called, sod with
difficulty he forced the top of the watch out of his
pocket, hardly sufficient to shew that it was •
watch; be said his coat, which was a close one, was
buttoned.

The Foremen of the Jury—is Then it was
im-
possible that Gook could see either watch or seal."
Gook, on his cross-examination by Mr. A LLB'S',
said that it was fine or six weeks since he discover-
ed where the last witness lived. cud that he was the
person that had been attempted to be robbed ; if
last witness said it use roily afortaight ego it could
not be true ; he lived in Nuel-street, within four
doors of the lest witness; he did not always sleep
there, he had another house in Castle-street ; his
wife was a straw hat-maker ; he tad been seven
years a constable, two of them a special constable ;
he was not dismissed from the office in 1820, he was
only suspended; his name did pot appear in the
list of constables for that year ; although he lived
so near the last witness, he did not see him until
five or ►ix weeks ago; the last witness was in Court
when he, the witness, was tried for the conspiracy.
He did not hear Mr. Allersey that he would give
op the prosecution if the man who it was said had
been attempted to be robbed was produced.
He deoicd that he ever said to uoy Bow-street

. .
plieo that he would kr tee i).Wonet if O!!
swells did tint ci me doirn he 1,/Pe ris terse.
cusertof *tying 60. Ile stated to the Magistrate
that the Priioner cottferriert his guilt ; he did not
know silty it was not put down in hia depostnioo...--
The Prisoner...as remanded for a further riansinal ion
to gist the Magistrate en opportunity of is
into his character. Ile thought the last *does, hid
only one ireal and key onsprnded by a tihbois from
Iri• watch alien the transaction lisketted ; fie
might be misroken as to she chain, for 1w was not
ibis. to see It, butt to to the Beal hr Could hot, us tip!
first time he saw hullen afterwards he told him the
seal he then curried *as net the same, of it was i of
of so light a colour. fir did not swear at the 011
!Wiley it was a silk chain, be cause lie was out
asked the question.
John Connell deposed. he was a porter ; that Es
knew Gook about sat months; he was in Ciarlimety
with him on the night of the 1.5.11 of May at the
Theatre between nine and ten u`clor k ; he saw the
Priariner attempting to pick pockets at the door of
the two shilling gallery, afterwardi he taw him
neat the ..hakopeare Taitern, and when the carriage
of his Majesty passed. he him put his arm round
a gentleman's waist and make three pulls at his
• *retch. fits other testimony in chief west to con-
firm that of Gook's.

• On his cross-examination by Mr. ALLEY he said,
Ile did not know whether or not he had told the
Megistrate when he guve his evidence alpinist the
Prisoner that he was a currier; he had been a ser.
'ant at Warren's Blacking Manufactory in the
Strand; he had at one time lived at Mr. Hitchesi's
in the New Rosil. That gentleman vies robbed,
and one of his aprons was found where he lodged
the following day; he was one of the persons that
had been tried and acquitted for the conspiracy.—
In answer to a question put by the Chairman. be
said that he gave the same evidence he had given
this day at Bow-street office.
James Harrison deposed he Cal a shoemaker and
street-keeper of St. Martin's-court; he left the
King's Arms public-house. St. Martin4s-court,
about luilf•past eleven o'clock on the night laid in
the indictment to stiend at the theatre ; when he
got there Gook beckoned to him shut he wanted his
assistance; he sow the Prisoner put his hand round
it gentleman, and touch his seal ; he made • eecood
pull at his watch ribbon, and then a third pull.
when he saw the watch a little out of the gentle-
mati's pocket ; it was ■ silver one.
One of the Jury—" This is patching op the eti.
&nee. I saw this witness In Court while Gook was
giving his evidence."
The edam. in answer to a question pot by the
Chairman, said, in the most positive terms, he had
been out of the Court from the commencement
of the trial until lie was called in to give his eei.

Sle or seven of the Jory declared that thry had
not only 'ten Inns in Costa during Gook's ettonno-
stint), but that thay had also seen Gook and him in
'Court while the fist witness was under turnip:a-
tion.

The witness's examination in chief was continuer,.
but it eves merely a repetition of the story of Gook
Soil Connell.

On his croes•elimination he said it was a quarter
before twelve o'clock when the attempt on the gen.
tlernan's watch was made by the Prisoner ; it
could not have been between nine and ten o'clock,
Mr. Thompson, coachman to his Majesty, stated
that the Prisoner tied been u postillion under him ;
he hid nn duty to perform at the theatre on the
night alluded to.
On his cross-examination he said a great number
of his Majesty's servants were about the theatre, and
if there was any thing to have been done, it would.
have been their duty to hove done it.
Mt. Aboutuns said this was the case for the
prosecution.
Mr. A LLEY addressed the Jury in defence of the
Prisoner, and denominated it a most infamous, a
profligate, and a most base proceeding against art
innocent young man. He concluded by saying he
had several witnesses to call, acid swung.' them
twelve of his Msjesty's servants.

The Joey said it was not necessary. as their minds
were made uu. They immediately returned a ver-
dict of Not Guilty.
The Cuurt was extremely crowded. sod the and).
tory could riot suppress their &deur of appruba-
lion at the verdict.
Jay was discharged.