The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-07-13 00:00:00

0I1,01?D CIRCUIT.

BERKSHIRE ASSIZES. Astatohort,,Jrtme 11.
These Aufzea commenced this day, before Mr. Damn OAa.
nnw, as the Crown side; and Mr. Justice Dunkouctt at Nisi
hies.
There were seven civil causes entered for trial, and'the Calender
contained the names of twenty-one prisoners.
CROWN SIDE.

I Effore 11;r0; TiAR. It 01.'
JUSTICE 11AVLiirS SILVER
Jo/An Ilson was Indicted for stealing a silver imp, the property
of the lion. Mr. Justice Bayley.
Mr. Caoss stated the case.
Mr. James Bayley (son of the Learned Judge) said, I was sit
the last Ascot Races in a phaeton, and in that I had !ton* refresh.
menu, and a silver cup. After the great race, the silver cup and
the refreshments were on the back seat. and while I was standing
on the front scat with my beck towards the cup, my coachman,
who was standing close to the carriage, was addressed by another
man, who called out, "Joseph, have you lost anything?" and'
my coachman replied, ".No, I am all right." My coachman
afterwards asked me if I had got the silver cup ? and I replied,
" No," anti he, on searching the phaeton, discovered the lONS.
John Bunt said—l was on the course, and PAW Mr. Barley's
carriage. I saw a person who was standing tinse to the near side of
it ; he put the end of a yellow handkerchief in Ilia niout,h, as if to
hold it, and he then put his hand over the back of the dickey, and
snatched from there a cup. I had seen the cup there; the person
then pet the cup am: handkerchief into the left aide of his coat, and
I saw hint go away under the carriages. I suspected the person
because I saw him open another carriage. I_ gave* description of
this person to Warren, a Bow.strect officer. The man at the bar is
the man I am sure.

William Ayles hid—l am the coachman of Mr. Tattersall.
was at Ascot races on the day In question, and saw :lir. Rayley's
carriage. There was a person loitering about the carriage fur three
or four minutes. anti then I saw him take something from the hind
port of the carnage. I cried out—" Joseph, have you lost any
thing ?" and he said "No ;" I then asked if he had not lost some-
thirg out of the carriage. and he said he had lust a cup. This was
on the Thursday of the races; and on the Saturday I saw the pri-
soner at Rom.street, and recognized him as the person whom I
had seen take the cup. 1

Mr. Justice 'Bayley's coachman confirmed the' evidence of the
preceding witnesses as far as their testimony regarded him.
James Warren, a Tiew.strcet officer, said, in consequence of
information I received, I took the prisoner into custody, and
searched him; I found on him a yellow silk handkerchief; the
prisoner then fanned ; on his Jectreery- I tealhisis4 took him
about a silver cup which was stolen from a gentleman's car.
riage, and he immediately said, a I was not on the course tn.dayes
I had not then told him that the cup had been stolen the day
before.

Examined be the Learned nattow.-4 had nn other reason for
apprehending the prisoner, except horn what Hunt and Mr. Bays
ley's coachman told me.
Mr. Tattersall's coachman. on being recalled. said that he was
sure the prisoner was on the course on the Thursday. as he had
seen him some time before the robbery piayirg at the thimble.
The prisoner on heitrg called upon for iris defence, raid that he
left his case to his Counsel.

The Learned Ilniux—Who is your Counsel?
The prisoner—I do not know, my Lord. but I employed Mr.
Humphries of London to take care of my defence, but he is not
here.

Mr. Cr uwoon—ln justice to the prisoner I might io state that
before I left London Mr. Humphreys consulted mein the case, but
I have received no brief.
The prisoner on being asked if he had any witnesses to speak to
his character, said that lie could not farind to bring them from Lon-
don ; however several g.ntlemen had signed their names to his cha-
racter, but Mr. Humphries had got the paper.
Mr. Baron CiAtiROW summed up the evidence, and left it to
the Jury to say whether they were satisfied of the guilt of the
prisoner.
The Jury, after a short deliberation, found the pOsoner
The prisoner again asserted his innocence of the Offence imputed
to him.
Mr. Baron (Lenanw, addressing the prisoner, said, that not-
withstanding the strong professions you make of your innocence
nod your good character, tt is quite impessible that any person
in this Court, who has understanding enough to comprehend the
proceedings, can have the smallest doubt of your guilt, or of your
being one of those who go in large gargs to plac.-3 of public
amueement, where, if a countryman unfortunately falls in 'nor
way, he gets plundered of his property by pricking in the lucky
garter, or betting upon the thimble rig; and if a gentleman
crimes to a race-course, and is attending on the Wins of his
family, von plunder his carriage of any property that may he
contained in tt. If I were to discharge you. you would be soon,
very won, among your associates is guilt, and you would get,
from one step to another in crime, till you world bring your
I career of guilt to a close by commixing some atrocious capital
offence. His Lordship then sentenced him to be transp ted for
seven years.
The Learned BARON, turning towards the Jury, observed, that
it might be sonic satisfaction to them to know that, notwithstand-
ing the prisoner so strongly persisted in asserting his innocence,
he had, only a few days hefiwe committing this offence, been
discharged from a prison, in which lie had been confined on a
charge of felony.
Mr. Cr nwoon—Bitt, my Lord, I had the honour of being his
Counsel in that erase, and defended him successfully.
The prisoner appeared quite indifferent to the sentence passed
upon him.
71,muir if was charged with stealing fire turkeys, the pro-
pert" of Mr. Henry Newell.
Mr. RIGIBY stated the cese.
Sarah Cooper said—l am au/vent of the prosecutor; he had
ten turkeys ; I locked them tip safe over night, and in the morning
I missed live, and found one dead; the five Inst were brought back
from Maidenhead ; I knew they were the some.
Cress-examined by Mr. Cunwoon—The turkeys when they
came back had their wings and tails picked; they were white
turkeys; there are a great many white turkeys, but I am sure these
were ours ; I know it, because I opened their crops, and found
I food that cortespondol with ours.
Henry Nes ell said—l went to Maidenhead and found a basket
on a coach, containing the turkeys ; the prisoner was afterwards
found hidden in a tub ; he had been a servant of mine seven years
Jigs.
Croat-examined by Mr. Ctrawoob—l did not see the basket
put upoh the teach. and my only reason for charging the prisoner
I was, that I found him asleep in a sugar hogshead.
Thomas Hamerton, a very queer-looking countryman. said, that
I he saw the prisoner put the basket containing the turkeys on the
top of the coach. (The evidence of this witness was given with a
volubility quite astonishing, and the quantity of irrelevant matter
he brought in was beyond all cheek.)
Mr. Cuuwoon was proceeding to crows-examine him, but when
the Learned lientleman had pinta few questions, the witness said,
" My lord, I am only telling the truth. and I hope I may tell my
own story straight forward, without Oda Counsellor's bothering
me."

Mr. Baron GAAllow—Witness, the thing that you mistake for
what voce call bothering you, is the exercise of great learning and a
very sound discretion.
Thomas Willoughby Humphries said, the hnsket taken by Mr.
Newell was the same put on the coach by the prisoner. I drove the
coach. The basket was to be left at Strialsbuey.green.
Croits.examined by Mr. Cu nwoon—lt was a dark morning,
rid I did not see the witness Hamilton, and I don't think, from
the state of the morning, that he could see a man's face to know It.
Mr. Baron GARD ow said, that he considered it most improper
for coachmen to take up parcels in the night from persons they did
not know; it allirded the greatevt opportunity to thieves, as the
parcel might contain the High Sheriffs plate, cr any thing else.
anti if the coachmen did oot act With more caution, they might be
transported as accessories.
Mr. CI7TIWOOD stated, that the prisoner had been out on bail.
Mr. Baron GAR now summed up the evidence.
After the Learned Ireton bed concluded his address to the Jury,
the pniinner said he was in the habit of travelling to buy poultry
at Maidenhead market ; and being there a little auo early, he got
Into a sugar liosrshead and fell asleep.
The Jury having consulted together for near five minutes, the
Foreman said tha: they found the prisoner .Vot Guilty; but on
his 'toying this, two of throe of the Jury rose and aaid.—" No !
no !"

The Learned rtAstrity told them their duty was to consult toge-
ther till they were all :greed, anti then the Foreman 'Mould an-
nounce the opinion of the whole, by saying guilty or Oct guilty, as
their opinion might be.
~,The Jury haying again consulted together for near a quarter of an
hour, Raid that they were now all agreed, and that they found the
prisoner C.itifty; and that the difficulty before was, that one of the
Jury was deaf, and lied made a mistake.
The Juror who was deaf was then discharged from further at-
tendance.

The Learned BARON observed, that the practice of the thieves
now was, not to accompany the stolen property, but taisend it by
nee of the quick travelling coaches, to be left a little way out of
London. and there to he found some hours after by a confederate,
and be by him sent by some other coach in a ditlerent direction to
be disposed of. Ilis Lordship sentenced the prisoner to be trans.
ported for scv^n years.
CIVIL SIDE.
(Before Mr. Justice Bt7a ROUGH.)
LOCK V. VIGGOT.
This was an action for the negligent driving of a post-chaise by
the l:crendant% servant, whereby the plaintiff's gig was damaged.,
It possessed no public interest, and alter an abundance of con-
flicting evidence, the Jury found a verdict for the pluintlll, with
41. damages.
Mr. Citivry appeared as Counsel in an ejoctment case, having
been any- "•• retained for that purpose.

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