The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-12-19 00:00:00

FORGING SEAMEN'S WILLS.

ThOMIS Riley of No. 9, St. Clement's-lane, Strand, was
brought up for re-examinalion from Clerkenwell prison for
forgery.
Mr. Prier. Snlivitor, No 5, St. John's-square, Clerkenwell.
attended for the Defendant.

Mrs. IVarren, mother of Timothy Warren, who went to sea
in the " Tigress," in September. ag I, stated that her son had
died on the voyage, and a w ill and power of attorney had been
produced by the Defendant, as sole executor, purporting to
are born made at the Red Lion inn. Nightingale gave in the
the August preceding, the time of his leaving England. Her
son was aloud writerkotil brought up in the Virginia &boot ;
the deed bore his mark only.

Sulieitor.-11uw do you know your son is dead ?
The Captain of the " Tigress" has told me so, and that he
made no will.

George Siddenburgli. landlord of the Red Lion, sworn.—
Does not know the Prisoner ; never saw him, to the best of
his recollection; neither has he any knowledge of Gordon or
Elliston, the witnesses to thew ill.
Mr. Arthur Owen, clerk to Mr. Wilson, proctor, Doctors'
Commons, priced hating the will brought there to prove,
and that he did the business. Cannot swear to the prisoner.
Mr. George Flemming, of the Commissary Court, produced
the original will, whit I, had been proved in the name or
Thomas Riley, and duly scorn to.
Jeffry, au officer, produeed the probat of the will, which
was presented by the Prisoner, to receive the effects ; but,
in COOSNUCIICC Of the person nut being there to whom the
will was presented, it was again ordered to stand over till
Tuesday nest.
holicitor.— I can see no objection to the Prisoner's acknow-
ledging that he presented. I have desired him to say no-
thing in his defence here, our .hall I in his behalf.
MAGISTRATE.—I shall IRA commit a man on his own testi-
mony.
Mr. Flemming now produced another w ill of Robert Pratt,
late a seaman of the Alexander, which had been prOved in the
name ofJeremiali Gibbons us sole executor. The effects hail
been received. There was n 0 evidence to idenlils the priso-
ner as the party ; but Mr. Owen said, on a second consrdera•
lion, ho had seen the prisoner at the Commons, ou such busi-
ness'. . .

George M‘Duglc swore the signature on the will was not
the deceased's writing, and that he had that affection ror his
parents that be would bequeath [waling from them.
The Solicitor said this bore no analogy to the pr. snner, but
the Ylagistratc said there was endemic, but it would be ro-
served till Tuesday.
John Friaer was charged Ails attelbpting to smuggle two
large foreign damask table-clone and three Leghorn hats.
Galloway, all udiecr• stopped the prisoner carrying the
goods in a boa n.•ur Wcppitig 014 Siairs, which he seized and
took to the Customs:.
..

Mr. Thackery. Solicitor for the prosecution. called William
Taiburg, warehouse-keeper to (he Custom House, and ap-
praiserof who preyed having received the goods on the rich of
Octiiber last, which he valued at 41. 141.
The defendant was consisted inlwo-thirds of Iriple the
amount or value, which was al. 64. ; in default to gu the house
or Correction.

PEDESTRIAN 111 ATCll.—lbtstow, the Champion of
England, is matched against DAWSON and lin RCOU
to run two miles over Langton Wold, this daffy, for 100
guineas aside. DA WSON is to run the first mile, and
HA ncovar, the second. Betting, five to four on
HA LTON.

On Friday the sexton of one of the burying grounds
at Anderston was literally buried alive while digging
a grave rather deeper than common for the purpose of
disappointing the resurrection men. He had got
nearly the depth be wanted, when, the soil being
sandy, the grove suddenly shot in on both sides, and
completely covered the poor grave-digger. Some
weavers being on the spot, gave the alarm, when two
sledgemen came out of a house, and dug down till
they reached him. He bad been arrested in the act
of lifting the spade. They fastened ropes round his
arm-pits, and drew him out in a state of suspended
animation, laid him on a grave-stone, raised him up,
and finally helped him home, as he began to recover.
He declared he had put thousands out of sight, but
did not dream lie was to be au agent in entombing
himself.— Citasgote Chronicle.

WENT WINTER CIRCUIT.

MAIDSTONE, Dictums 17.

Bofors the Honourable Mt. BLINN GRAZAN.

CUTTING AND MAIMING.

Robert flaqtry was indicted under the sad Cleo. 111. c. SP,
S. t, commonly called Lord Ellenhorough's Act, for assaulting
Samuel Owen, at the Ville of Sheerness, on the teth of Au-
gust, with a certain sharp instrument and feloniously and
maliciously stabbing, with intent to kill and murder him.
Second count alleging the intent to disable; and third, to do
the prosecutor some grievous bodily harm.
Mr. Assoseises and Mr. Bowmen conducted the prosecu-
tion. The prisoner was without Counsel.
It appeared that the Prisoner, having been convicted of
and sentenced to death for a burglary at the last Assizes for
this county, and /ordered for execution, obtained a respite
of his sentence, en the ground that he was able to cora-
munieste some important information respecting the murder
of the late Mrs. Density. The sentence was afterwards
comainted to transportation for life' sod the Prisoner was
removed on board the convict ship Bellerophon, at Sheer-
ness, preparatory to the execution of that sentence. The
prosecutor was 'Captain, or Overseer, of the Bellerophon.
On the morning of the 49th of August a complaint was
made to the Captain, by the master of oon of the gangs of
convicts, that the Prisoner had, the day before, refused to
work, alleging that he was unable, from a certain disorder,
to do his duty on shore. The Captain, seeing no founda-
tion for such an excuse, remonstrated with the Prisoner,
and told him he must conform to the regulations of the ship,
and finally ordered him on shore. In a short time after-
ward, the prisoner was again brought to the Captain, upon
a report that he had cut off the rim of his hat. The Captain
reproved him lift this, and told him he bad no right to de-
stroy his clothes, which ware provided at the expense of
Government. The Prisoner insisted that be bad a right to
do what he pleased with his clothes, as be worked for
them. Upon which the Captain advised him not to evince
so refractory a spirit, telling him that if be did, be
should find means of taming him. The Prisoner then
said ho saw no cause fur removing him to the hulks,
and that if justice hail been done him he should have
been hanged long since. The Captain reproached hiw
as an ungrateful wretch, in speaking of the forbear-
anon shown him by his King, and the mercy of his Clod?
and advised bins to conduct himself with !more sub•
mission in future. In an instant, the Prisoner struck the
Captain a back-handed blow with great violence on the right
side. At the moment, the latter did not know that be was
wounded ; but presently observed a hole in his waistcoat,
and that blood began to flow. The conduct of the Pri•
saner immediately excited the vigilance of the other officers,
and he au secured and handcuffed. Upon conveying the
Captain to his cabin, it was discovered that be was wounded
in the right breast, just under the nipple, to the depth of
an inch and a hall The Prisoner, when seized, said ne
wished to say something before he went below; and being
permitted to speak, he said that the Captain's life was to have
been attempted before by some of the old convicts belonging
to the ship, but an opportunity bad not offered, and I bat be
being asked to do it, lie said he would, and that be had ate-
cordingly done it. The knife, with which the prisoner had
effected his purpose was picked up on the deck, and the
blade was covered with blood. The Captain lingered for
about about a fortnight in bed in great danger ; and it was
proved that he had not yet recovered from the wound, nor
was likely ever to be restored to perfect health.
According to the testimony of the ship's surgeon, the wound
was in a most vital pprt, and during the first stages of the
oure the Captain's life was in great jeopardy.
The Prisoner asked no questions of the witnesses for the
prosecution!; andlibeing called upon for his defence, said that
he committed tho dreadful act imputed to him in a fit of in-
sanity, without any malice towards the prosecutor. Goaded
by the consciousness of former crimes, and wound up to a
stato of frenzy, room the apprehension of being transported
for life, he became delirious, and in a moment of furious
passion bedid an act which, under other circumstances, lie
would have shuddered at with horror. He had been dis-
missed the naval service in consequence of insanity; bat
deserted and abandoned by all wbo knew him, he was un•
able to prove the fact. He trusted, however, that the Jury
would take his case into consideration.
Mr. Baron Gasman seasoned up the case; and
The Jury immediately found the primmer—Guilty, Death.
When called upon to say why judgment of death should
not pass against him, the Prisoner said he wished for no
mercy. Ilarrasaed as be was in mind, by a series of crimes,
he had no prospect of peace in this world. To save his life
I a ould to him be no mercy. SuppOsing his sentence should
be commuted to transportation for life he would look upon
it us a prolongation of big misery. Life had no shams for
him. Rather than be transported for life be would prefer
instant removal to the place of death. Deprecating the pro-
m rvalion of his miserable life, be earnestly prayed that the
Learned Judge would leave him for execution.
This address excited general astonishment. The wretched
Prisoner spoke in a strain of language far above what might
he espeeted in a man of his bumble condition.
Mr. Baron lialllA74 proceeded to pass the awful sentence
of the law, and conjured the Prisoner to snake the best use
oil the short time allotted him on this side of the grave, to
prepare for an eternal scene, and told him ha must expect to
undergo the merited puisish went which assailed his MOM.

BURGLARY.
Beujanuila Pluckrose was indicted for a burglary in the
dwelling-house of VI illiam Jeeves, in the night of the 7th
of August, at St. Paul's, Deptford, and stealing therein 1161.
in gold and silver money, six silver tea spoons, two silver
table spoons, and a chased gold seal, the property-of Wm.
Jeeves; and 68 sovereigns, two chased gold seals, and a
chased gold key, the property °Wolin Jeeves.
The prosecution was conducted by Mr. ADOLPRVIII, and
the defence by Mr. ANDREWS and Mr. posture.
It appeared in "es ideoce that the Prosecutor was a but-
dim, residing in Church-street, Deptford. The Prisoner was
a young man of respectable appearance, by trade a hair-pre.
parer, and had been on intimate terms with the Prosecutor,
he being a member of the same clubs. Ile bad been admit-
ted into the Prosecutor's house, and kiiew its internal ar-
rmigements. On the night of the robbery the Prosecutor
was attending a club called The Druids, of which the Pri-
soner was also a member, and the day before bad promised
to meet him. About so minutes before twelve o'clock oa
the night of the 7th of August, the Prosecutor's housekeeper
had just gone to bed, after fastening all the doors and locking
her master's bed-room, when she heard the street-door open,
some person enter, bike the candle from the kitchen, which
had been left burning for her master when he came borne, go
to her muster's bed-room door, unlock, and enter it. Sup-
posing it to be her muster, she was nut alarmed ; but in about
it quarter of nn hour the person left the bed-room, went
down stairs, and slammed the street-door after him. This
aroused her ; she got up, and, upon catering her master's
bed-room, she found that two trunks had been broken open
and rifled of their contents. A message was seat to the Pro-
secutor, who immediately returned Irons his club, and dis•
revered that the trunks had been robbed of the money and
property mentioned in the indictment. Suspicion fell upon
the Prisoner. Next day his lodgings were searched in the
presence of the Prosecutor, his brother, and two constables.
After in.tking a general inspection, they saw nothing to con-
firm their suspicious, and were about to quit the house,
whec they observed that, during the search the prisoner had
been immovably fixed upon one board in the floor, and was
a gitated, upou which they became curious in the examina-
tion of it. The prisoner said there was nothing there; but,
upon remosing him, they pereeixed that part of the fluor
had been cut, and clumsily nailed dean again. A chi-
sel was procured, and the board removed, whets one of the
constables thrust in his arm between the flo• ring and the
ceiling below, and pulled out a nightcap, in which was found
a purse of gold and silver. Ainotigst the latter was
Pence, which the presiecutor immediately reoogaised Wise his
propert v, from the marks upon it. Upon examining further,a
bunch of skeleton keys was pulled out, one of which, w ben
applied to the prosecutor's bed-room door, opened it imme-
diatefy. These circumstances confirmed suspicion. The Pri-
soner said that the money and the skeletons found were his
property. It further appeared, that just about the Onto of
the robbery the Prisoner was seen standing in the street near,
the Prosecutor's door. These were the circumstances ad-
duced in eyidence to establish the Prisoner's guilt.

A two-fold defence was set up 1... r the prisoner; Best,
that lie u u possessed of a considerable quantity of gold
money before the robbery ; and, second, that lie had received
the siipenee sworn to by the_prusecutor iu change of a half-
crown at an oyster-shop in Deyttord.
When the unhinges were called to prove these facts, their
evidence turned out to be eery loose and unsatisfactory. A
great many witnesses gave the prisoner ■ good character fur
being an honest, industrious, sober, and respectable yooug
man durum his past life.
The Jury, under the Learned Judge's directions, found
the prisoner Cogilty—Death, but recommended bias to mercy,
on account of his previous good character.
Before Mr. Justice BAYLEY.

Stephen Lawrence was indicted under the MI George 111.
C. 143, fur assembling with other persons to the number
of three and mere, at the wish of St. John, in the Isle of
'Menet, on the lit September, taal, armed for the purpose
of aiding and assisting in the illegal running and landing
of certain uocustomed goods. The indictment contained
.ever,) other counts, charging the Prisoner with feloniously
shooting at one Washington Carr and others, being officers
sir the customs ; with aiding others in the last mcntiooed
folony,Ae. This indictment was found bythe Grand Jury at
the last Lent Assizes for this county, shim so less Ilan
In enty-one persons implicated in this transaction were tried,
nineteen of whom were convicted and four executed. The
Prisoner had not bees apprehended at that time, but had
been since, and was now brought to trial. The trial com-
inenoed at nine o'clock, and did not end until half•past seven
this es•ening. At the time of the former trial the particulars
of the case acre fully detailed, and it is now unnecessary to
enter into them minutely.
Mr. Jllllll4ll came doom specially to conduct ths pdo•
acclaim, load was assisted by Mr. MUM and Mr.

- •
Nan. The
VI. 'defence was conducted by Me. Rousso and
Mr. ADOLPH
it appeared that Mr. iVashingto Carr, Lieutenant is the
' navy, and athree or four n officer employed in the Coast binekade, ssioo„
duty with men in the night time of the it
of September last year, being stationed betne,l3 %Nis Ba.
and Margate, when he saw a smuggling boat pushier Ulu;
shore.
were arme He saw ad party of forty or fill‘ smugglers, many of
whom , 'misting in the debarkation of the tubs of
foreign spirits. Ho interposed, and seized the first loan ho
approached, who had a couple of tubs slung upon his (Ark.
' A contest immediately ensued, and firing commenced on
'I both sides. Several of both parties were (Imperially wound-
ed, and in the end the smugglers got off with the g•rtater
part of their booty. The question was, whether the Prisoner
was one of the smuggling party on that oceioion, it hang
alleged that he was the principal sup pert and hating
the deepest interest in the venture. To support the case fur
the Crows,_ three accomplices were celled, one of whom de.
prisooer.
Oen but their
nied any knowledge whatever of the prisoner, whilst iho
others swore positively that he was most actise un the occa-
sion, paid Use men who assisted in landing the spirits and
sensed those who were to protect the debarkation. Se'veral
ainfiedanyloweosyngofirmto
ildheneatiefeyorhe
'Mee defence set up was tint an alibi, end 'untied, the a it.
ewviitdneesnese.e dwiderenoct
nesses for the Crown had mistaken the Prisener for his bro-
ther, there bring a remarkable similarity between
the% is
person and general appearance. It was proved that the
ther had absconded to America. bru.
Mr. Justice Barter, after an elaborate summing up, left
it to the Jury to say, whether they would find the primate
guilty under so highly penal an Act of Pariiarn..nt, os the
testimony of the acoumpliees, who had not been warmed
to that degree which would justify a confident reliance upon
the troth of their statement. If a conscientious ihoitit was
entertained as to the Prisoner's identity, be was entitled to
the benefit of the doubt.
The Jury deliberated about ten minotes, and found the
risoner Not Guilt y.