The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-02-18 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY SESSIONS, FRIDAY, Fits. 17.

CUTTING AND MAIMIND.
Edward Lawson, aged 45, and Jame: !weren't, aged 23, both
curries, were capitally charged with stabbing and cutting Joshua
Armstrong, with intent to prevent the apprehension of Edward
Lawson, who was charged 'fat an ruanit, and James Lawson
for aiding and abetting the said Edward in the cutting and
stabbing.
Mr. Bor.l.ag” stated the case. There was a count in the indict-
ment charging Edward Lawson with an attempt to murder. They
were indicted Unfitr the 4id Ote. DI., cap 411, commonly called
Lord Ellentanrough's Act.
Thon as Garton, head constable of %Vorshlp-street Police-office,
went, on the 231 h of January last, to 11r. Lawson'a house, to fetch
away a placard that was nailed on the window.shutter, the window
being closed. Another officer, Vann, acemtipanied him, and also
Kennedy. They took the placard away. At this time there were
about fifty persons about the house. lle was then instructed by
Mr. Benett, the 31agiatrate, to go wish a sufficient force and ex-
ecute a warrant whirls Armstrong, an officer. had fur an &Inuit, on
Edward Lawson, in ltrown'sdane, Spitaltields. Edward Lawson
was a currier, anti his brother was there at the time. They went to
a side door at the hack premises. There were planks or boards
Inside, anti they could not get admittance at first. Two officers
were left there, and he and others went round to Mr. Denison's
premises, from the hay-loft of which they could see through holes
in La wstin's premixes what was going on in the second-floor left.
Several men (trom eight to ten) were waiking about, but had no-
thing in their hands. Then he 11,:ard a noise—they were removing
large tildes towards the side ut the wall which was barricaded. lie
saw the pole of a pike standing up in the currier's loft. Amistrung
had a dog in the hity-loft,which put his head and shoulders through
one of the holes and yelped—returning back suddenly. Ile re.
coved a cut in the right shoulder. Wink's looked in again, and
asked the men to kneel down that he might speak to them. Two
knelt down, and he told them what he came about, charging thetn
In the King's name to aid and assir. They then went round to the
side-door with drawn cutlasstw, eight officers in all. They could
nit break open the door, and mounted the wall by a ladder unop-
posed. They then saw a pike jobbed against Armstrong from the
Lard ; he pa.ried it off and fir:A a pistol. Witness saw a female
at the tirst-flinir window. crying 51y brother is shot ; why don't
you come Inman' and 'inflect him ?" Lawson was wounded in
the thigh. Witness then went into the premises, and saw 24 pules
with sharp instruments at their ends.
Mr. llitonEutcx here objected to the evidence ; for it had not
been proved that Minion knew of the warrant, nor that hi.: knew of
the pikes being prepared fir resisting its execution.
Mr. Baron fa HMI All overruled the objection.

The witness men went on describing the manner in which the
premiers were barricaded with tables, hogsheads, blocks of wood,
brickbats, &c.
Cross-examined—The instructions of the Magistrate respecting
the placard had nothing to do with the assault warrant. Ile could
net tell the reason why he went about the placard and the
peclple assembled there. The assault warrant was dated on the
2th of December, and there was a Sessions between that time
and the present.
Dlr. Bnont tt lc x—And do you not execute a common assault
warrant be tl•cse sermons, without waiting to bring it here ?
Witness. S.)111,IiIIICS we do not. _

fdr. BROM: IC K a‘sault warrant was an after-thought—
the placard was the real thing ?—Witness could not say ; they had
heard that 31r. L2W6011 had turned out the sax-gatherer and ex.
eiseman.

Pi:. BEoDEfticK—Wits not the real reason of your going,
the placard and the people there, and not the assault warrant ?
Witness. I communicated to the magistrate about the placard
and people assetnblvd, and he then ordered me to execute the
MUUMUU warrant. Arinstrm g was above the wall, and tired the
pistol. lie did not he him say at that moment " I have shot
one man. now give u.e another pistol." He heard something Mit
afterwards. _ _

Joshua Armstrong, the prosecutor, produced the warrant, and
said he could not execute it because the house was shut up. This
was on the 25h of Javuery. Witness described his having gone
with the cfficers afterwerda. Ile saw Lawson in the yard, and told
him he had a warren' against him, but that if Lawson gays his
honour that lie would come up quietly to the office with good bail,
he would be satisfied and go away with the officers, after dispersing
the mob. Lawson said he would not; witness then toad him he
would give him ten minutes to consider of it, and if he did not
agree then he would break open the premises. Lawson replied—
•• You may do as yen like •" witness then described the ladder
scene, sayin}g,• that 1w had the warrant in his left hand, and con-
stable's stall in the right. Lawson was below with a long pole,
having a knife at the end. and pushed it several times, once cutting
hint in the little linger, bat did him no particular injury. The
pole was produced Court, and was about eight feet long. There
were some other smaller weapons. 'When the witness was wounded
an officer said •• Why don't you shoot hint Josh ?" Lawson made
another blow, which was warded eff by the staff, on which a cut
was made. Ile tired and shot Lawson, who retired into the house.
He came out again and said, " Armstrong, you have shot me."
The pike then lay against the wall, and lie took it up. Witness
then said, '• if you come out of that door I will shoot you again."
His tivother James was walking about with him in the yard,
having his bands in his pockets. Edward Lawson afterwards said,
•• Armstrong, conic down, and I'll surrender to you." NVitnese
said, "If you put that pike out of yoer hand I will." He then
gave the pike to Ills 'neither, and wben witness went in ; 'Ali-
son said, " Armstrong, I am now under your protection, let us
gu to the offiae," and they went arm in arm.
Cross-examined—And they shook hands together, were good
fiends, and so remarry as he hoped. Ale. Smith, the tax.gatherer•
told him that the afthie was in the hands of the Commissiohers, and
he need not execute the warrant. The first warrant was not de.
Buoyed ; witness kept it the whole time. When Al r. Smith came
to tell him not to execute the warrant, they both drank together.
James Lawson was walking about with his hands in his pockets,
apparently in great agitation. lie seemed to be dissuading the two
men Irons innate' ing, mid told his brother to desist. He interfered
to prevent anything happening, and took no part to molest the offi-
cers. The cut in his hand slid him no injury at all, and did not
hinder him in the execution of his duty.
51r. BRODEILICK then said that the case was at an end as re-
garded James; and, as the cut did the officer no injury, he sub-
united that the charge of cutting end maiming fell to the ground.
Alr. Baron GRAHAM was of a dillerent opinion. He had often
stopped a case when it appeared that the wound was not intentional,
but here be must let the case go to the Jury, telling them the law
of it.

Mr. Justice GAS GLEE instanced the case of one Hunt, who had
wounded a person by mistake, intending the blow for another. The
wound was slight, and the man soon recovered ; but the Jury con.
viewd the prisoner, reserving the case for the opinion of the twelve
Judges, who said that the verdict was right.
Other witnesses were then called ; but
The Learned J Doi. asked wbat necersity there Wag for further
proof'
. _

The further evidence was still persisted in, but was of oo addi.
tional tom or inter.:st.

Mr. Baron GRAHAM then called on the prisoners to make their
cleence. _

Edward Lairson said that he waved the opportunity now afforded
Min to make a dermee, but observed that lie entertained no malice
agairst Armstrong or any of the officers, and that be did not know
of any warrant being out against him.
James Lawson said that he made no effort to obstruct the officers.
Daniel Gardne'r, a brushmaker, saw the transaction, and said
than Armstrong had the warrant and constable's staff in his !Etc
ha,cl, :-ad the cutlass ir. his right. The person below could, if he
pleas dl, have struck him with th 2 pike, either in the head or breast.
Arm,trong caught hold of the pike, aid thereby cut his own band.
lie then deseenned the ladder for the pistol.
Hie:lard Thornton. a•boy 15 years of age, corroborated this evi-
dence, and distirctly said that Armstrong cut his own band by
grasping at the pike.
Ur. Buount 'cc asked if. there was nothing to prevent Law•
son front striking Armstrong on the breast, if he pleased ?
Witness—Nwhing whatever.
thher witnesses deposed to the same effect.
Mr. Baton GRAHAM summed up, sad the Jury returned a
verdict of " Not Guilty."

VAUXHALL GARDENB.—These beautiful gardens, the
boast of Englishmen and the wonder of all foreigners, will
he conducted next season on a most magnificent scale. We
understand that it is the intention of the proprietors to
render the musical department what it once was, when the
tnost eminent singers of the day were engaged. Bishop is
to be the composer and director of the orchestra ; Brabant
and Miss Stephens are named among the vocalists, who
will at once establish the respectability of the place, and
pave the way forother eminent performers. Charles Tity-
lor is engaged, and De Begnis is spoken of to strengthen the
comic department.—A'rening l'aper.
A very large and highly-respectable meeting took place
on Thursday evening, at the Town-hall, Uxbridge, for
the purpose of considering the expediency of petitioning
Parliament to meliorate the condition of our slave popu-
lation in the Colonies—the Right Hon. Lerd Gambier in
the Chair. His Lordship, in a neat speech, opened the
business of the evening, and was followed by the Rev. J.
W. Cunninghame (Vicar of Harrow), the Rev. Mr.
Monroe, Rev. E. Ward, Rev. G. Radford, Rev. F. Le
Grice, Rev. T. D. Allen, and several other gentlemen.
The various resolutions were passed unanimously, and a
petition agreed to. The meeting was considered to be
more numerous than on any former occasion.
The Members of Convocation of the University of Ox-
ford are respectfully informed, that the Solicitor-General
will not be proposed as Candidate at the approaching Elea
tion.—Committee-room, 26, Pall-mall.
Spazcnies or THE RIGHT HONOUIAIIii Rainy PEEL
AND UEONOE CANNING.—The Proprietors of the Arikli Gen.
tknian Newspaper will, to.morrew, 19th inst. present to Am pub.
lic a fun Report of the ripeecharof the Right Ron. R. Pad end CI.
Canning, on the important question of the Currency.. in ill•-got"
of Commons on Monday ; and that, of the Right Hen. the Hari of
Liverpool in the House of lairds yesieedhablessening on do same
su and to such report odd some observations on the
present erisis.—Orders received by elf Newsmen, and at the Of.
_ _

iieei No. Zs iliplia4trest, Covesitistim