The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-03-16 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME ClRCUlT.—Kmarsce, blaisten 15.

THE LINO, ON THE PWOARCUTION OF IPII. Etwatca, se&
v.. WM. CRAWFORD, EllQ:
This was an indictment against the defendant, a ./flagiatraip
the county of Surrey, for assaulting Win. Kenrick. F.aq. also 11,
Magistrate of the same manly. and one of the Welch Jt
The defendant deeded not guilty. ft was a case of conICI:
able excitement in the county.
Before the case was opened Mr. Baron Graham kindly pmposett
some mode of compromising the prosecution by private arrange-
ment, but without su:ccss.

Mr. BOLLAND (With whom was Mr. GVAXET) stated the case
for the prosecution. From the Learned Counsel's opening it op..
neared, that there had been some disputes between Mr. kenriek
and Mr. Crawford. respecting the right of shooting mrer a manor
of which the former claimed to be the Gird Into these disputes
he declined entering, wishing to confine the attention of the J Jry
to the ass.iult which was the subject of Ibis indictment. Mr.
Crawtord having filed certain informations on the Game Laws
against a person named James Beale, who had been appniated by
Mr. Kenrick as his gamekeeper, the informations earue on to be
heard before Mr. Burgess, at the Petty Sessions holden at Do►g-
ing on the fidi of November last, when the transaction now in
qiienion took place. The Learned Counsel, after Riving a general
outline of the circumstances of the case, called the foaming wit-
nesses :

Wm. Kenrick, ES+ examined.—l am a Magistrate of this
I county. On the 9:h of November I attended before Yap Baa-
-1 gees, Esq. a Magistrate, and Chairman of the Reigate divisible%
for the purpose of hearing ceriain informations on the Clause Issas,:
lodged by Mr. Crawford against my servant, James Beale, for Mils
ing game without a qualification. ['he Petty Sessions were held at.
Dorking. When the first information was called on, I requested
that the summons might be proved before Beale was caned upon ter
appear. Mr. Burgers said. " Why an ? you did not require dna
to be done on a former day." To which I replied, " that the oc-
casion did not then require it ; but it does now." Mr. Crawford
then said, " Why quibble—why give this trouble r I believe
those were the words. My answer then was, " Your summoned"
were then in time ' • bat they are now out of time, and this
Is the objection," Mr. Crawford then said, "Never mind,
I'll prove the summons ;" and added, '• a pretty lawyer-
like objection," and, I believe, he used the word " petty-
fogger." The summons was then proved, and the objection Ad
over-ruled by Mr. Burgess. The examination of the relined*
then proceeded, and, I think, the next cause of irritation arose fine*
my asking whether Mr. Crawford had any property in the pariah
or manor of groom. Mr. Crawford objected to the quentoo, bee
Mr. Burgess allowed it to be pot. The object of my question way
to prove the character of the information, and I observed that as
considered Mr. Crawford had no property in the parish, I thought
his interference was most impertinent and officious. lie had laid
six information against Beale and another person. Mr. Crawftwat
desTred Mc to make an apology for the use of the word '• impends
nent." On a former tiny I bad used the same word, and MAI apo-
logised for it ; but I refused apologizing for it now, stating as ttsy
reason for the refusal, that I had proved he had no property with ?Pb
the parish or manor, and not twenty acres within the county, as lbw
wt..: en then tinder examination had stated, and as I believed. Mr.
Crawfo-s1 then stated to Mr. Burgess thee be (Mr. C.) had new ban
treated like a gentleman. I think Mr. Parana made no reply, bat
I am .not sure. I told Mr. Crawford that he was there as an M.
former, and as an informer I should treat him. He Mid spa
pealed again to Mr. Borges% for protecti*. Mr. Burgess, ad-
dressing himself to me, raid," Mr. Crawfaid I. styled Esq. ha tha
informations." To this I replied—" That ff gentlemen descend
from their stations, and assume other characters, they mow bet
treated in the character; they assume. If Mr. P. assumes another'
character, I shall treat him in the character he assonant." I intoned
several persons who had assumed the characters of Coachmen and the
keepers of gaming-houses. I believe I mentioned alley charac•dte,
but I do not immediately recollect. I said, '•Mr. Crawford has laid
six informations; he is here as an informer, and tia an Murmur I
shall treat him." Mr. Crawford agein applied to Mr. Burgess far
protection, and said, if he did not protect him he should rake the
law into his own hands, which he knew how to do; and
added words which I diatinely andsettood to amount to a
challenge. That was the impression which the words made on
my mind.. I made no r.Sily at all—at least Ido not recorect that
I did. Mr. Crawford then asked me if I meant to apply to him
the characters I had before mentioned. I said I chit not. Hs wen
pealed his question two or three times ; I said, " You put it 60.
not I. If you take what I say to yourself, you put it on, not I."
I don't recollect any thing to irritate either of us for sortie Rids
time after that. There might have been ; if there WO, I don't re-
collect it. Another witness was examined by Mr. Crawford, sod
when I cron.examined him, he proved that he saw Mr. Crawfbrd
shooting over his farm, and riding through his standing corn. Mr.
Crawford said this was not the fact. I told him he was contradict-
ing his own witness, and that I could not permit hint to do so, CSC
he well knew that I had seen him myself on my own stadints,
corn, and over Mr. Howard's also. He then said it was not so.
said I had seen him myself two or three different times, and that
nine of my workmen had inforned me of the same thing. He theta
said, " 110 you mean to contradict me r I said I did. I had
Just got up from my chair at that time, and went to another corner
of the room. As I hinted round he threatened to turn me out se
the room to which I said, " Hear, hear!" or something of that
kind. Ile then caught up the poker in his hand, and I thought
he was going to strike me with it. I said. .• 'rake care ; be on
your guard what you are about." I think he again threatened to
turn me out of the room ; but I am not sure of that. I then
said I should not he bullied by him, or any other bully. I
added some other expression which I dot.% recollect. I have been
since told that I said in addition, " or by the spawn of
gaming-house." I don't belieie that I made use of that earn-
shin. My reason for thinking so is, because lam conscious of
the impropriety of reflecting upon any man's birth or parentage. I
have no doubt whatever that I dill make use of some other offen-
sive expression; but not that. I don't tecollect anything farther
till after the trial of the first information, which was climber&
The hearing of the second information did not proceed immedi-
ately. Nothing irritating proceeded from the one aide or the °truer
for about an hour or two. the whole proceeding lasted from eleven
until half.paat four. trhetathe second information was caHed on,
I did not wish to dispute anything which Mr. Crawford could
prove. On that information a conviction took place. As anon as
the business was over I went out to call for my carriage. When I
returned I found Mr. Burgess proceeding on an information for an
assault against some third perstsa. I offered to assist Ale. Winters+
in the hearing, as I was a Magistrate for the same hundred. I
waited about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, but the mantra
did not appear. I was nut aware that Mr. Crawford was in the
room at this time, until he advanced towards me from the window
to the tire.place, where I was standing. Ile then told me he wished
to have some conversation with me, in terms of conciliation. To
this I answered, that I wished to have no conversation with him of
any kind whatever. He then said, that in consequence of what
had passed that day, a friend of his must wait upon me, and would
I allow hfm to do so at my house ? I replied, "Iflam to under-
stand you mean to challenge me, I shall take no notice of it, but
refer you to the Court of King's Bench." He then struck ire a
violent blow on the face, which knocked me completely down, at
least so far as the wall would let me fall, and said, `• Take that,
you coward !" and ran out of the room. He was brought bark
and bound over to the last Assizes, and I was bound over to pro-
sectite.

Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant TADDY.—I have been at the
bar lam a Magistrate of this vnity, and one of his Majesty's
Justices for North Wales. I did no: attend beture Mr. Burgesses
Counsel, nor as. a gentleman, nor in my judicial capacity. I was
aware that in proceedings before Justices none were allowed to be
present but the pastiest, and I naked Mr. Burgess leave to attend
betbre him to assist Beale as my servant. I believe Mr. Crawlord
asked me if I would be his Counsel. I said I had left the Bar, and
I could net ; I was attending principally to assist Beale as my
servant ; I was not attending judicially, nor did I consider myself
as his Counsel. I was attending merely to protect my own ser-
vant, and to give him every assistance in my power. Beale was
my gamekeeper ; but I don't think he was out more than four
times during the season. I don't recollect claiming to be heard as
a British advocate; I might claim to be heard as an advocate, but
not as a British advocate; nor did I make use of the words Wekl.
advocate. I can't speak with positive certainty as to the time
when Mr. Crawford used the words " petty-fogging, or lawyer-
like objections ;" but to the best of my recollection it was after the
case was gone into upon the merits. On a former occasion, I had
made use of the word impertinent and explained my meaning
to be that what wan said was irrelevant ; but en this occasion I
admit I told Mr. Crawford that I used the word in its broadest and
most extensive sense. Mr. Crawford claimed Mr. Burgess's pru•
tection two or three times. The last time I said to Nlr. Crawford.
" that the spawn of a gambling house is to be treated as the spawn
of a gambling house, and is not to be treated as a gentleman. I
will not apply to the Magistrate fur protection; I will apply else.
where." In using the words •• spawn of a gambling house," I.
added the words, •• the bravo or the bully of a gambling house,"
and that the bully of a gambling house is to be treated no the bully
of a gambling house. I said to Mr. Crawford " you are here. nut
as a gentleman, but as an informer, and as such I will treat you.
If the cap fits you, put it on." In instancing the different cha..
ratters which some gentlemen assumed. 1 did not allude, person..
ally, to Mr. Crawford but when I called him the bully or bravo of
a gambling house, I did use those expressions personally, because
I had been Informed, and believed, and do now believe, that he
had been in that situation.

Mr. Baron GRAHAM interposed, and, with some expression
astonishment, asked the witness if lie really meant to allude per.
sonally to Ale. Crawford (a respe:table 3lagistrate in the county )
when he applied the terms " bully or bravo of a gambling.
house ?"
Mr. lienrick repeated that he certainly did, and meant now to
say that he had been the bully or bravo of a gambling-house. He
had heard so, and believed the information he had received. (Mr.
Crawford started with some indignation, and showed, by his man-
ner, that the statement was incorrect.)
Cross-examination resumed.---I know Crawford is a Magic-
trate of the county, and has been so for many years. 1 did nut
groan at Mr. Crawford, or hark at him like a dog. I did not oar
to him, " bow, wow, wow !" I have not the least reeolleetlon or
it. Very likely I might have said M. I will Dot twang that Mr.
Crawford did not threaten to turn me out of the room until he had
appealed three times to Mr. Burgess for .prot.eetioo. I did not ap.
pear u a witness for Beale. I croaa-eataintned the witnesaws.,
did not say that I would apply ist s witirdirmse against 1116
Crawford. I said I meant to apply Or a.crieninol intorruatima.
When Mr. Crawford lift the room. after eiviiimg tee, I chaired a
coninable to take Itivii less noted,. lie hvilillidtaisiy said. " P;1
come back willingly." Ile said to me, " Don't Mlle awe ass,'