The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-06-08 00:00:00

Kitten condicteA the prosecution. A person heini
as a juror, was interrogated by Wm. M.. Me.
redith, Esq. as to his having made up his mind, or
declared an opinion, as to the guilt or innocence of
the prisoner. Among other questions were the fol.
lowing
Have you say hiss or prejudice splint the prisoner at
the bar ?
A. I believe Mai to M tut eld convict.
Mr. Meredith repeated his gondola aid pressed fir a wore
direct and satisfactory inner.
At length the Juror said, " Me, I have sot ao ing pre-
jedice against his as I have soma no."
Q. Why, Mr, Wye you a prejudice naiad we?
A. Benne, Is en 'plain, *either you oar the other
Colonel have acted very clever toward the Jury.
Mr. Meredith now tamed from the Ju►or, and
addressing himself to the presiding Judge (Hallo.
well), said, .Sir, will you permit the Juror to use
such insolent language to the Prisoner's Counsel ?'
Judge Hallowell said he had not heard what the
Juror said, and inquired what it was ?' Mr. Me-
redith again turned to the Juror, again repeated
his question, again received the same answer, and
again turning to the Court repeated the same in.
quiry he had just before made. Again Judge Hal.
lowett declared that he had not heard what the Juror
bad said, and again inquired what it was ?` This
answer was evidently unexpected by Mr. Meredith,
and be said to the Judge. • Then, Sir, yon should
have attended and heard, and protected the Counsel
from *acts innocence,'

Judge Hallowell said, " I cm desirous to hear,
and I wish the Juror would turn his face towards the
Bench that I may hear him."
Again Mr. Meridith addressed the Juror, and a
third time repeated his question. The Juror now
tensed to the Court, and although we have been
unable satisfactorily to ascertain has precise words,
we are satisfied his answer was couched in less ex-
reptioaable sad in milder terms than it had been
before.
James C. Biddle, Esq. now rose, and moved the
Court that the Juror be set aside for cause. He
cons'dered his open and acknowledged prejudice
agiiinst the Counsel of the Prisoner as sufficient
ground of challenge.
Judge Hallowell overruled the objection, said
• what had occurred was not legal cause to set
him aside, and desired the Juror to walk into the
box. Mr. Meredith said, " Thank God, we can
challenge peremptorily." This remark offended
the Judge, who sharply censured the course pur-
suing, said it ought not to he tolerated, and pretty
plainly indicated that it should be punished.
Mr. Meredith expressed his willingness to meet what-
ever punishment the Court ahould direct, but de-
clared he would support what he regarded as the
rights of his client, his colleagues and himself. Mr.
Biddle lost no lime to declare his entire coincidence
is opinion with his calleegue and his disregard of the
tknors held forth by the Judge; he thanked God
th.t Judges could be tried as well as Attorneys; he
believed the Court trembled while it threatened,
and thought such cooduet only calculated to excite
laughter.
Su considerable a sensation and aisweelewserusion
were manifested at this time, that teelledienteh dd.-
! Acuity in ascertaining with any tolerable accuracy
what passe I.
Quart being restored, Associate Judge Ferguson
said, that the proceedings of the Counsel fur the
Prisoner were an insult to the dignity of the Court;
that they not only had resorted to every subterfuge
to rescue the Prisoner from justice, but that to this
they added insult to the Court. Judge Hallo-
well remarked, that he wished the trial of
the Prisoner to progress, and that at a more conve-
nient semen he would give full consideration
to the conduct of the Counsel, and the Court
would take such order as its dignity should require,
and as should be thought necessary to secure a due
administration of law. Thus ended this very on-
pleasant altercation. The trial progressed and was
easel tided. •
About half-past three o'clock the next day,
Wednesday May 8, the Court being assembled and
the room much crowded, the Presiding Judge pro-
ceeded to express his regret at the step which asense
of duty imposed upon the Court, in consequence of
the conduct of two gentlemen of the bar. He theu
passed the fi.lloising sentence t
The Court oa fall coasideratioa do adjudge that Willies
M. Meredith and Jamas C. Biddle, Emirs counsellors at law,
and officers of this Coed, he cminsoitted to prison in the deb-
toe's apartment of the city and county of Philadelphia, moral
the irat day of Jews nett, or instil discharged by the legal
authority of this Cowl, orb, due coarse of Is. fur • high
eosteasoi of this comet try gross Misbebatioer little presumes
of this Court, obstreetiog the adasisisiratioa of justice.—
May 8, 18111."
So soon as it was ascertained that the Judge was
about to pass sentence on the conduct of Messrs.
fliddle and Meredith, Mr. Biddle rose, as we un-
derstand, to ask a suspensiou of proceedings until
they could have the bruetit of counsel. Judge Hal-
lowell said he would not be interrupted, and
commanded Mr. Biddle to sit down. He then
requested Mr. Kitten to inform the Court that he,
Mr. Biddle, sod his .colleague, Mr. Meredith,
wished to have the bougOt of Counsel. The re-
quest was made: known by Mr. Kittens, but the
Court refused to secede to it, declaring that they
would hear nothing but on apology.
Mr. Meredith now rose and addressed himself to
the Coen, huh he vies -ordered to sit down. and
the Court pissed sentence. We feel somewhat et
a loss to declare whether the Court did, or did not,
say that they would, when sitting as Judges of
tbe Court of Continuos Pleas. take the matter fur-
ther into consideration, AA determine, whether the
names of the Counsel should or should cot be
stricken from the mll'of attorneys practising in that
Court. From the evidence be lore us, we incline to
the opinion that such a declaration war made by
Judge Hallowell.—(News York Poper,)