The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-04-26 00:00:00

DREADRIL ACCIDENT.

On Tuesday mor—iiiit6. at two o'clock. as Mr.
Cheerly, an Attorney, was returning to his house in
Broad-street, Carnaby-warket—in passing through
St. Martin's-court, he was much alarmed at a wo-
man running out of the house of Mr. Kenelly.
man's mercer, in the broad part of the court, with
nothing on but her Amite ; she addressed him,
by saying. .. For God's sake, Sir, pray assist
rue ; there is a lira in the house. and I am
afraid something has happened to Mrs. Ke-
nelly." Mr. Ches.rly, at the woman's re.
quest, entered the house. which he found Ailed
with smoke ; he went up into the first floor. by
which time he was almost suffocated ; on entering
the roma, he perceived Mrs. Keaelly extended on
the carpet. very much burnt; her hands were
nearly comumed, and she was ealing out, 0. Wa-
ter! Water!" she appeared to be p irtly undressed,
as her stays were in au adjoining room.—No person
what swelter was present at this dresulfa I scene except
Mr. Cheerly and the • nt, who called him in.
—From the noise, a young inau, clerk to Mr.
Kenelly, bring awaked, came down stairs, with
only his shirt on, in &rigid terror, and as-
sisted Mr. Cheerly in extin..'nishing the flames,
whirls had communicated to the adjoining
room, Mrs. Kenelly still groaning in a dreadful
manner. The Canes being, by their exertions, got
under, by which they both gut severely burnt in the
liaquls, their attention was next directed to Mrs.
The Clerk dressed himself, and wrist
omit for medical maistancr. Mrs. Kenelly died.
however, shortly afterwards, and the clerk, from
the greut fright, expired in the course of the day.
Mr. Kenelly was. at th. time, at country-howl:.
A General Court-Alma is ordered to ametuble
in the West ladies for the trial of the grenadier
companies of two battalions of the both. fur miss
contluct tailors the away at Guadeloupe.

L4NCASTER LENT ASSIZES.—MAacn 31.

Before Sir St ;ox LE BLANC.
M4LICIO('S
'tsetse v. at:tty.
11119 was an action which was brought by the
Plaintiff, Mr. James Collier Hatter, a young mita.
just of age, egaimit Mr. Richard Bury, to recover
damages for r 1118111:1011• 'W094E41104.
it Wil.4 stated by Mr. Serjstoit Coceet.t., that a
graver or more serious caax.„4,ver came before a
Court. Happily for the' Plaintiff, the injury ill-
tended him by the Defendant had failed, his cha-
racter had risen superior to it ; but the cooduct of
the Defendant was not, on that accouillk the less
deserviug of severe auiruadvers.on. The action
was liar preferring three indictments for trimly
against the Plsintil, without the least probable
cause. The Defendant was a &raker, in Man-
cheater, and had some time since failed in busi-
sines. ; at the time of his failure, the 11141111111 was
his indentured apprentice. Before the Defendant
had obtained his certificate, he attempted to be,
trade again, under a different firm ; but sisspici in
falliug upon lion, the Commissioners took po—
sessiou of his property. This proceeding, of f
the part of the Commissioners, gave rise to an
action, to ascertain whether the property taken
byathent helot-I;rd to the Defendant ? It was tried
in London, aud the Plaintiff was examined as a
witness. The cause terminated, us justice required.
sgainst the Defendant; and, from that moment, lie
became the determined enemy of the Plaintiff.
The first step lie had recourse to, was to attempt to
vilify rod degrade the Plaintiff in the opinion of a
merchant, w lio was about to take him as a partner.
lie represe.ited him as a young man of bad oral
infamous character, and stated, that he had the
means of proving him a rogue arid a villain. The
circumstances oil which he grounded these false
allegations, were these :—The Plaintiff, subsequent
to the Defendant's bankruptcy, had been appoint-
ed to make up the accounts, and collect various
debts; lie had dune ail, and lid dilly accounted
for all he had received. The Defeinfaist, how/rte...
charged him with having embezzled certain 1,11111.,
which the Plaintiff had actually paid over to Ishii,
and for which he had given his arknowledgmentl ;
and, in order to effect his design of ruining the
Plaiutiff, he preferred a bill of indictment against
him at the Quarter Sessions, which was returned
ir.oraessis. He then preferred two other indictments,
and, upon his own testimony. got them found s, true
bills." Having done this, he procured the Plaintiff
to be apprehended upon a Bench warrant, and hail
him thrown into prison. He afterwards hurried
Oil the trial, before the Plaintiff could have time
to advise wit:i a professional frieud, nr procuie the
attendance of a single witness. Upon the trial,
unprepared as the Plaintiff wit., the Jury, by the
direction of the Bench of Justices, larmourably ac-
quitted him; and so satisfied were the Bench of the
motives which had actuated the mind of the Pro-
secutor, that they directed the Plaintiff to lie fur-
nished with a copy of the indictments, to enable
him to seek redress in a Court of Law. The Learn-
ed Serjeant oli,erved, that this wicked man, not sa-
tisfied with having brought this youth to the Bar of
his Country to Ramer for a capital offence. of which
'lie was uticouscious ; boasted that he had nearly
transported him, and that he had not done with
him yet. Such was the nature of the case ; and,
upon the subject of damages. the Learned Setjeaut
thought the Jury could not give any that would be
considered too exemplary. The Defendant hail
dune all in his power to ruin this young man, and to
remove him from his native country, as a transported
convict. He desire., d the Jury, therefore, to place
themselves in the situation of this injured youth,
mid give him such damages, as, under similar cir-
cumstances, they would expect should be given to
them.

The witnesses for the Plaintiff corroborated every
parrt of this statement.

Mr. RAINS addressed the Jury on behalf of the
Defendant. His arguments went chiefly in miti-
gation of damages. on the ground that the De.
Pendant supposed he had a probable cause for pro-
secuting the Plaintiff.

Sir Sistow La BLANC summed up the evidence
with his accustomed ability. Ile was of opinion the
rushee of the Defendant had been amply proved,
and that it was a case in *lnch the Plaintiff was en-
titled to such damages as would have the effect of
vindicating and establishing his own character, and
at the same time of punighing the Defendant.
The Jury, after consulting a few minutes, re-
turned a verdict for the Plaintiff—Damages MI.