The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-09-14 00:00:00

DESPERATE OUTRAGE.

QUEEN-SQUARE:-- morning several individuals. de-
scribing themselves pastry-cooks and biscuit-bakers, appeared be.
fore W. A. A. iVhite, Esq. and complained of a desperate outrage
having been committed on their persons.
In a few minutes, four fellows named S. Leak, J. Leak, J.
Gould. and IV. Corn, labouring gardeners, were placed at the bar,
when the following charge was made against them.
It appeared that the complainants, about half-past twelve o'clock
yesterday morning, were on their return front Brentford fair. When
near Turnliam-green. the prisoners, in company with several
others, instantly attacked them, by knocking a tea-tray off the head
of 31r. liobley. a ho, on remonstrating, was struck down and !'eat
most shamefully.
On acme of his friends interfering they shared a similar fate,
and one man in particular was beaten dreadfully ; he identified
!Stephen Leak as one who struck hint with a large atone clenched
in his fist on the mooth.

After other winicases had been examinctl, who ticpos%l to the ill-
treatment they had received, the Magistrate fully committed S.
Leak, J. Leak, and J. Gould, for trial.

MaaYLE-tiowg.—Yesterdav James Tessey was brought up on a
charge of assaulting Thomas Lister, baker.
Lister stand, that about sic weeks ago the prisoner purchased
some bread from him on credit, hut would not give his name, on
pretence that he would pay in a few days. Witness continued to
furnish him with bread on the same loose terms till about a fort-
night ago, when the prisoner discontinued his visits. Witness hav-
ing ascertained where he lived, called with his account, and said
that he would not leave the honse till be shnuld get payment. Pri-
soner desired him to wait about an hour, until he returned, and
that he would be raid. prisoner then went out, but did not return
at the end of three hours. Vl'itness then became impatient, and
threatened to sue him before a Magistrate. The prisoner's wife
then gave the witness her shawl in security, and he went home.
No sooner, however, had he sat down, than the door hell was
rung, and the witness having gone and opened it, was saluted by
a most violent blow from the prisoner.
The prisoner, not being able to convince the Magistrate that the
charge was talse, was ordered to find bail.
BARBARITY IN A STEP-MOTHER.

RL OHO 813`. r: ceeTiar;;; Ca;;;; :s47;cl gilder to
his Majesty, of Lower James-street, and the Quadrant, applied
to the Magistrate for protection for Samuel Price, a child in his
13th year, who was being perpetually beaten by his step-mother.
Churlotic Price, the step-mother, was brought in, dressed in
rather elegant mourning; the little sufferer was meanly dressed in
dirty clothes, and his shoes tied to his ancles with tape; his back
was very much bruised. lie stood upon a bench to elevate him,
and cried a goad deal, but answered the questions put to him very
distinctly, and showed sufficient knowledge of the sin of false-
sweating to have the oath administered to him. Mrs. Price, far
from being affected at the seriousness of the charge, justified her
conduct.

Mr. Ferraro stated, that his workshop adjoins a large loft be-
longing to the house, No. 3, Bride-lane. !Nitwit*. Mr. Foster,
and others of his neighbours had for several weeks been shocked
at the frequent beatings of the little boy. lie was remarkably
timid, never made any reply; and, indeed, he never saw a
spaniel so obedient as the little fellow was ; the neighbours had
frequently called to Mrs. Price to make her cease; she would
often drive the boy into the empty loft, and then chase him from
corner to corner, beating him all the while. She always took
the opportunity uf leating him when his father was absent; she
ti--s him, and colas him a—. She is a complete hypocrite;
I after beating him, she will come to the door and begin her convert
Ration by saying, what a bad boy he is, and how kind she is to him.
Being drtetmined to detect her, he told one of his men to take a
screw-driver, anti rentoie one uf the planks of the loft a little,
that they might sec her in the act the next time. Last Thursday
he and several of his men heard the boy at-seaming in the loft,
sail, on peeping through the crack, saw her fur half an hour
incessawly beating him over the bead with her hand. lle was
not acquainted with the father or mother, but thought it his
daty to apply to the Magistrates on the child's behalf, in the
hope that the parish would take up the proseecution.
Jane Hinton, servant to Mr. Ferraro, spoke of several instances
she had seen the niutLer in-law beat the child, particularly yester-
day morning, when she knocked the boy down and trampled on
Lim. Last %Wednestley she tied biro to the bed-post and beat him,
at half-past nice; they being in an upper room, witnessed hallooed'
, to her nut to brat the child.

Martha Moore lives opposite. Last Monday the woman was
beating die child front half-past seven to ball-past eight. On the
Wednesday and last Tuesday she beat him so that she heard the
knocks ; the chairs and tables rumbled as though he was hiding
himself beneath them, front one to the other.
The child said he could read a little; he went to a Sunday
Pelvic)? but did nat go to church. Tuesday morning his mother
heat him with a palter across the arm; the day before that she beat
Aim with a broom-handle; stunetimes she beat him with a thick
curd ; his mother said she beat him for telling stones; he tried to
. run away once, but had no where to go to; his own mother had
been dead six or seven years; his father married that mother (the
prisoner) the day after Laster Monday.
%I hen called on for her defence, Mrs. Price wild she never did
more than properly chastise the boy. he expressions Mr. Ferraro
attributed to her she never uttered. The boy was a very bad one ;
he stayed on his errands, and told falsities ; he occasioned a great
many words by saying he taw the wife of one of his father's shop.
mates walking with a strange man,witen the truth was she was in her
company; he has even borrowed money in his father's name. She
had not beat hini in the presence of his father, because he left her
to chastise him ;he would not do it himself. Mr. Price could not
suppose that the boy was to be encouraged in the way he had treated
her ; she always treated him. well ; she had better clothing for hiM,
and loved him as much as she loved herself. Instead of going to
church when she wanted him he would play on the bed. It was
net a poker that she beat him with on the atm, it was something
like one.
auy—Yes, mother, it was ; here's the black on my sleeve (show-
ing his sleeve with what appeared to be soot upon it).
Mother—No it was not. Besides, you stopped a whole hour
goitg an errand to Brewer-street, and locked me in the while.
Boy... Father told me to lock you in when I came to him,
and asked nig to hold the candle for him, and when I told him I
had locked you in,. he said, " never mind her."
Mr. Data—Nothing jtistilies such acts of cruelty as have been
proved against yen. It is shocking. You must be detained for
hail, and I shall sand fur the child's father.
Later in the morning the father came ; lie was mom to hese hew
his wife I'ad vetted the child ; he never heard any thing against
him, or that lie was given to lying; he knew his wife to be of a
very violent temper, and t'iat she would beat the boy wheu be was
out ; she never bet t h in while he was at home.
Mr. DYER made hint premise to take care of the child, if she
got bald; otherwise she might recommence her brutality If he
could not make that promise, the child must be given into the sate
of the parish officers.
Price tookthe child with him, promising to mike we of his i

THE BRITISH PRESS.

said he did not know whether his wife could get bail ; and b 7
manner did not appear to interest himself for her.
ROBBERY BY A SERVANT.
Thome Marrs, and Mary, his wife, were brought up is Parties
to a robbery of notes to the amount of Val. by die servant of Mr.
Smith, lilt, Regent-street.
Mr. Smith stated that a servant of his, named Sarah Gordon,
I had been in his service but three weeks, when she lett him clandes-
j tinely on a Monday night. The next day he discovered that she
had robbed Captain Blaney, who lodged with hint, of 201. when she
went up to make the beds ; the notes were under the bed. Ile had
traced the nott a by the numbers, and found where two 101. notes
had been changed,-one by die female prisoner, and another by an
old lady, who was present. The girl was gone to Bristol, u ap-
peared by a letter the witness had received on Tuesday. On the
• day the girl went away the male prisoner carried her box from his
house to where the prisoners lodged.
Mares said his wife mangles for a laundress to one of the lodgers
When he went to carry home the basket for his wife, Mr. Smith's
servant asked hen if her husband would carry her box. Ile thought
lie might as well earn a shilling, as lie was out of work, and did.
On the way he called et Mrs. Lawless's, the sister-in-law of Got.
don, who changed the first 101. note.
The woman said, Gordon told her that her master had paid het,
and she wanted to come away, if her husband would carry her box,
as she was going in the country next day. Gorton came to her
place; had supper, and breaktast, and desired her to get change
for a 101. note. Gordon made her a present of I/. for her trouble.
111 r. DVE a remarked it was a very suspicious thing to receive so
large a sum as one pound for supper.
Mrs. Lawless, an hcnest old woman, said she had been ac-
quainted with Gordon some tittle. Tao or three days before die
man called with the trunk Gordon was not able to pay her two
shillings she owed. She came to her house, and told witness to get
change for a 101, note, which witness slid by paying 14s. that she
owed. Gordon took thel odd money, and left Si. in her hands, to
be sent after her if she wanted it, or to keep it till she returned.
She then pulled out more notes. Witness felt alarmed that Gor-
don had been doing wrong, and asked her where she got them. 'The
other said, Don't ask me; I mold have three times as much If I
wanted. lam going to Ireland." She said she had left her place
because she had been impropetly treated. Witness did not know
what had become of her till she received a letter stating her to be
at Bristol. The note she changed was traced to her by Salmon.
the officer ; and fearful that harm should corns to her, she gave him
the 51. Gordon had left with her, and made up another 51. to restore
the 101.
Sir. Byrn to Mrs. Lawless—You have done credit both to your
honour and feelings. It was most discreditable to those who took
your money. I will take care it shall be returned to you.
Mares and his site were ordered to he detained. Capt. Blaney
is at Margate. A warrant was issued for the apprehension of Got-
dou.--The use stands over for another hearing.
ASSAULT. _
- - -

UNION-manHALL.—Yesterday a- nameti Scott was brought be.
fore the presiding Magistrate, M. SWANEY, Esq., charged with
having violently assaulted James Lee Wilson and his wife.
The complainant, who is labouring under illness, stated that on
the previous evening, as he was proceeding over Blackfriars-bridge,
accotnpanied by his wife, the prisoner, whom be never beheld be.
fore, met them, and without the slightest provocation struck the
complainant a violent blow in the face that knocked him down.
Being in a v ry weakly state of health he was unable to rise off
the ground in order to pursue the fellow that had committed the
outrage; his wife, however, followed, and seizing the offender by
the collar, for the purpose of giving him in charge, he cowardly
turned round and struck her several times with his fists.
Mrs. Wilson corroborated her husband's statement of the out.
rageous conduct of the defendant, who received no provocation on
the occasion.
Defendant —" Your Itiorthip, I was drunk at the time, or I
slionld not have insulted them."
Mr. SIVADEY—four admission of having been intoxicated does
not palliate the offence ; you attacked a poor man in the first in-
stance, who was unable in consequence of Piness to resist you, and
then in a most unmanly manner assaulted his wife for endearouring
to secure you.
The complaining party interceded for the defendant, as they as-
certained lie had a wife and children dependent on his exertions for
their support.
The Magistrate observed that it was an aggravated instance of
assault, that in Isis opinion should not be compromised ; however,
as such a proceeding was suggested, it rested with the complainants
whether they would prosecute or not. He should, notwithstanding
their determination, fine the defendant ss. for being drunk. Th
parties then withdrew, and amicably arranged the assault among
themselves. •
A man named Davis, a native of Walcs, was charged with as-
saulting and threatening the life of his w fr.
The complainant's face and arms exhibited the marks of severe
punishment. She stated that her husband was in the habit of
getting drunk almost every night, and beating her on those °ses-
sions. She had put up with his ill-treatment for the last fifteen
years, but his brutal condom towards her increased with his
years ; and site was convinced he would be the death of her at
last, if lie was not punished. The poor woman then described the
last occasion on which she had been assaulted by her husband. It
appeared, that on the preceding night lie had returned home in a
state of intoxication, and on entering the room where his wife was
lying in bed, he dragged her out of It, kicked her, and lastly heat
her with the poker, declaring that the instrument should silence her
fur ever before many days elapsed.
The defendant, in reply to the charge, in a Welsh dialect almost
unintelligible, declared that his wife was the aggressor on all occa.
sions. She was equally as fond of a drop as himself, but he could
not give her the credit of being so quiet in her cups as himself, for
when she got into her tantrums, lie was obliged to stand aloof—:the
glasses, cups, saucers, nay, whatever was within her mach, were
flung at his head.
Witnesses, however, were called, who proved that the defendant
behaved in a very barbarous manner towards his wife, and be was
therefore held to bail to answer the charge at the Sessions.
Three Irishmen of the names of Sullivan, Dmiovan, and Scott,
were brought up, charged by Mrs. Wright, wife of James Wright,
with stealing a pewter pot, the property of her husband, last night.
AIAOISTR ATE—What is the value of the pot
Complainant—Four shillings.
Sullivan, who appeared to be the principal delinquent, said lie
offered to pay for the pot; they were all in liquor, and had a lark;
they did not mean to steel the pot, but to carry it back again ;
however, they. completely rendered the pot of no use by squatting
and battering it against the wall, and making a hole in it.
They were fined 4s. and ordered to pay 2s. more for the warrant,
and ls. fur their discharge.
FALSE CHARGE OF FELONY.
Towle-HALL.—Two respectable looking females, named flaky,
were brought before the sitting Alderman, an an alleged charge of
felony.
The complainant, a Mrs. Morris, stated, that the prisoners
were in her employment as seamstresses. Site went out on the pre-
vious day, and on her return discovered that her box, containing
a 51. note, end eighteen sovereigns, had been broken open, and
all taken except sixteen sovereigns. She, however, admitted that
she had not accused the prisoners of the Wisely until the follow.
ing day.
The ALDERMAN having ascertained that the contplainant was
in great poverty previous to the charge, and that the case was " got
up,' merely for the purpose of imposing on her landlady, to whom
she owed a quarter's rent, the prisoners were discharged, both of
them vehemently asserting that there was not the slightest founda-
tion for the charge.
The complainant was severely reprimanded for having recourse
to such an expedient to impose on her landlady.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS.

Sin—Observing a statement in your Paper of an application made
on Saturday last st Marlbomugh-street office. by Mr. Searle, of
Surrepstreet, Strand, in behalf of Colonel Archdall, for the livery
worn by the youth Frederick Withen, I have, in justice to my
brother's character, to request that you will state in your Journal
that ht, is not wearing the livery of the Colonel ; for the whole of the
clothes, and other things belonging to him, were delivered to the
landlady, Mrs. Taylor. at the house, 31, South Audley-street, the
day after his committal, excepting one suit of plain clothes, which
he will detain until such time as the Colonel may think proper to
cause his salary to be paid to him : but to wear the livery would
be a disgrace to his character. The watch lam witness was given
to him.

I hope7and trust that you will Insert this in your Journvl, as it
Is the only means I haveof clearing tbecharacter of a much-injurcd
youth.
I am, Sir, with due respect, your humble Servant,
256, High Holborn. lionarto 1I rumen.

Since the paragraph appeared in our paper, stating a
poor pitman at Painaher Colliery to be the heir male and
lineal descendant of the last Earl of Perth, two letters have
been published, one in the Durham Advertiser, represent-
ing an officiating clergyman at a Catholic chapel in Moor-
fields, London, as the heir; and another in the Berwick
Advertiser, stating that a Capt. Diummond laid claim to
this honour many years ago, and had it allowed by his
Majesty, that the present Lady Gwydir is his descenda•t,
and well deserves the immense estates of which she is the
possessor. Of the first letter we shall only observe, that it
is very improbable that a man, with the frie;ids a Catholic
minister may be reasonably supposed to have, should not
have succeeded—should not even have preferred his claim
if lie had any title to show. With regard to the second
letter, we would say, that if the late King did wrong, that
is no reason why the present should not do right. The
amiable character of the possessor of the estates is no an-
swer to the claim of the rightful owner. We ere still of