The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-10 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, MorrnAT, JAN. 9.

These Sessions connuenced this mornitii, before F. Come, Esq.
at
sad e Bench of Magistrates, Hicks's all. Clukaturallsetreen.
Tee traverse paper is by no means so fu I es on the last occasion,
nor is there so great a ameba of !weenies foe trial as at the pre.
vMus tiessions.
John H alker wu put to the bar on an indictment charging him
with a most gross and wanton assault on the person of Sarah Jones,
on the 28th of November lost. The short facts of theme are, the
prosecutrix„ a very respectable young female, was passing along the
City.rostt, in company with a female friend, about seven o'clock on
the evening of the day in question, when the prisoner came up to
them, and proceeded to take liberties with them. The prosecutrix
remonstrated with him, but he continued to annoy them, until at
last he knocked her down. Der friend called for help, and be was
taken into custody.
The prisoner said he was not sober at the time, and was very
sorty if he had done anything wrong. lie expritsed a wksh to
make every atonement in his power, and the Jury haring found
him Guilts!, he was allowed to speak to the prosecutrix, who,
having expressed herself satisfied, the Court passed a mere 'no-
minal tine upon him.
John Gums, a shoemaker in the City, was indicted for assaulting
Daniel Ilarlow‘a bricklayer, anti his wife, on the 18th of Npv.
It appeared that the defendant had a country house near Edmon•
ton, from which some of his pigs had strayed and pot impounded.
The prosecutor was charged with having been instrumental in pot-
ting the vagrant grunters into winter quarters, and an assault wu
the consequence. The complainant said that his breast was black
and blue, and so forth, that he could never take his hand from his
breast for the bruises and pectoral medicine, &e. and that he was
at death's dour till this very morning. He admitted, however, that
be had called the defendant's wife a liar in the presence of her ser-
vants. The defendant had a stick in his hand when he, waited on
.

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the prosecutor, but he only punched him with his knuckles doubled
inwards. (Laughter.)
During the course of the trial the prosecutor. wha was a J.iminu-
tive odd-looking personage, kept his hand to his breast, and, when
lie happened to forget himself, the hand dr p, e l down, to the teat
annoyance of his watchful wife, who always reminded him of the
pain in his breast. and put up his hand, to the amusement
of the Court. This lady had more to say than the Counsel on
both sides, and she even outdid the doctor's aperient arid pectoral
draughts, by the virtue of her homely drugs, op doubt think-
ing that—
" The soverelgn'st thing on earth
" Was her own spruce beer Car an inward bruise,"
for she gave the poor fellow spruce beer the last thing at night and
the first thing in the morning. The dear man was at death's Oar,
and took to his bed ; but he took good care to get up by daybreak,
not liking the visions of the night. Ile was represented to be up-
wards of sixty years of age, but he himself said that he was only
live or six and forty, and his wife confirmed him in this statement,
notwithstanding that his Counsel insisted that he must have for.
gotten his age.
The defendant denied having assaulted the prosecutor at all.
The Jury found hint Guilty of the assault. Fined 101., with
liberty to speak to the proseentiw.
Mr. Thomas Frederick 11W stood indicted for simulting
Thomas 111'Corinick.
The prosecutor, who is Printer to the Harmonic Institution, held
alt he Argyle Rooms, occupied a house belonging to the defendant,
one which net him he had given regular notice to quit.
This, he supposed, excited an ill feeling in the breast of Mr.
Hill, who, shortly after, called at his house, during his absence,
and left such a message about of* quarter'strent, then due, that
he, immediately on coming home the same evening, went to the
defendant's house and tendered him 51., in part, telling him that
the balance, amounting to 1/. odd, he would htiag hint in a few
minutes. The defendant said he did not want money, and throw-
or' down his pocket book..!kin which, he said, there were 2001.,
call( d the prosecutor a d- d Irishman, asd other opprobrious terms,
andichallenged liiin to fight for N.' The prosecutor told him he did
not want to take advantage of his warmth, and asked hint to write
receipt,a and he would give him the Id. ; the defendant rose as
if for the purpose of so doing, but instead, suddenly came up to
the prosecutor and poshest him violently out of the bowie, and af-
terwards struck him a violent blow between the eyes, which caused
b,.rh eyes to be discoloured for three weeks afterwards.
Cross-examined by LAI r. PRENDERGAST.-14e did not behave
insultmgly to the defendant Did tell him he would inform agaimt
him forgiving an unstanmed receipt, but that was not till after
the blow was struck. The rent was in arrest two months, but had
never been denumdeil before that day. Had not tendered it be-
fore, as the defendant had destrad him always to wait till be called
fur it.

The prosecutor's wife said, that when the defendant called that
afternoon, and found her huaband wes not at hone, be began abus-
ing him. calling him a d---d Irishman—a rascal—a scoundrel, and
other epithets or the same east. On going away; he said he did not
want money, ns he had got 2001. in his nockt t.book, but that he
was determined to send a broker into the house on that very
evening.
Mr. PRZYDEROAST.--Are you a native of Ireland ?
Witness--I am not.
Mr. tuns (who was Counsel for the prosecution)—But you
have had the good bate to many an Irkimats.
The observation excited much laughter. which was further in-;
creased on the witness replying, as she did, in a than, but modest
tune, " I live had no reason to regret my choice."
'l'wo other witnesses were examined. wl)o eorrohorated the corn.
plainant as to the assault. One or these was a friend oldie de.
tendnnt.
The Jury found him Gnarly.
Sentenced to lay a tine of 101. with liberty to speak to the prose.'
tutor.

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