The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-09-16 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, SEPT. 13;

George Rogersoo, and Antic his wife, were indicted for assaulting
George Allright; and, by • cross indictment, he was also charged
with assaulting them.
Both cases were heard together.
Mr. ALLEY stated the case, and called
George Allright, who said—l am • cheesetnonges In Holbosn,
and employed the defendant erson at a shop in St. Alban's-
place. I supplied him with for which he was to pay me a
price that 1 fixed, and he was to sell them again at • petit if he
could. This did not answer, and I went to the house to take to the
stock and turn his goods out of the house. I got in at a window,
and he and his wife would not let tne remove the goods; and be'
gave me a blow, and his wife gave me • push.
Croat-examined by Mr. Cas•ttroto•-1 was perfectly peace-
' able. There was no reason for my getting in at the window. I
might have gone in at the dour. I never struck Rogerson or bis
wife. lam sure I never touched a woman in my life. (A laugh.)
'William Weymouth, a constable, said—l was with the prosecu-
tor at the time, and I saw him struck.
31r. C•NIIINGTON, for the defendants, said, that as this was
the sixty-fifth ease of assault that the Jury had to try at these Ses-
sions, it was superfluous for hint to tell them that the witnesses for
the prosecution had proved that they were the most quiet people in
the world, and that the defendants acre the most turbulent ; but
he was in • condi:inn to prove that the prosecutor not only got in
at the window, but that when Rogerson threw himself on a sofa to
prevent its removal, Allright threw hint off it ; sad when he remon.
acrated with him, Allright began to hit right and left, and at last
got Rogerson's head into chancery.
George Rogerson stated the same facts as were opened by his
Counsel, and
Anne Rogerson, his wife, a very pretty young woman, stated,
that when site and a friend of her's, a Mrs. Ilaylock, complaints:l
to Allright that it was cruel of him to take away the goods, he gave
one of them a knock down blow with his right hand, and the other
spore, with his left.
Mr. CARUINCITON—And this was the modest man that never
touched a woman in his life ! (A laugh.)
Allright here exclaimed that it was not Rogerson's head that he
had in chancery, but his MAWS.
The CHAIRMAN (F. C.Rlnt, ll 611.) left the ease to the Jury, who
found Allright Gaits!, of the assault on the Rogersons, and Roger-
son and his wife Not Guiily of the assault on Allright.
The l'itatitums sentenced Allright to pay • fine of Ibis

Robert Mires stood charged with as await ea a stout, trash co-
loured, good-natured looking woman, Ann
Tee piosecutrix having. been celled to give her evidence against
the prisoner, declared her intention not to prosecute.
CHAIRMAN—And why did you indict hint ?—Why ? because
he assaulted me.
Cum enAN—Well, and why don't you prosecute ?—Becetis:
don't like it.
Cum RMAN—Whe then did you put him there (pointing te the
bar/ ?—1 didn't put him there trii sure.
LHAIRMAN—WeII, what do you intend to do P—Why to let
him go, if you make him petty the tapences.
CHAIRMAN—I can't du any such thing; will you prosecute
him?—No, if it be agreeable to hint.
Curti ultee—Then why did you bring him here?—Ter settle it
without a trial.
Cm AIRMAN—That would be a new duty for a Jury. trill you
glee your evidence I.—No.
CHAIRMAN—Put her into the witness-box.
She was accordingly led to the steps of the witnees.bax, but re.
fused to ascend. After another ludicrous dialogue bstween the
Chairman and her, she at last mounted the box, but firmly refused
to take an oath, or say a word agaiest die prisoner.
COLUMNAR—Gault:men of the Jury, there is no evidence against
the prisoner; you will decide accordingly.
The Foreman stated that they were reedy to give in their verdict.
Clerk—Gentlenten, do you say whether the prisoner is guilty ur
not guilty.
Fureman—Not Guilty.
Prwiecturix—Not Guilty! Lord, no such thing; he is guilty to
be sure ; I could prove it.
Union MAN—You are too late now; the prisoner is discharge&
LIREL.
Tar [two. AT THE WROSECUTION OF JOHN AMOS; T.
VI al. RORINIION AND ISIS WIFE, FOR LILEL.
Mr. ALLEY stated the mese for the prosecution. 'I he female
defendant had been originally married to the brother of the prose-
entre, and bore some children to him. tin the death of her hus-
band the management of his property devolved on the prosecutor,
his brother, and other trustees. His relict, the present female pri-
soter, married the male prisoner, Mr. Wm. Robinson. From
that period continual dissensions occurred between the female pri.
soner and the prosetutor, in consequence of his having placed the
property of the children beyond the reach of her improvident ma-
nagentent. In April last he received a letter, written by the female
prisoner, in which Was enclosed a hand-bill, charging him with
swindling. fraud, and the abduction and concealment of a youth,
her con, for a diabolical and unnatural purpose. The letter in-
formed him that this' band-bill would be published through al/
London. Mr. Alley was instructed to say, that every one of these
charges was 'false and gruundless, and to prove this he would pro-
ceed to put the prosecutor into the bus, front whom the prisoners'
Counsel might extract woo(' of the truth of the charges it they
could.
John Amami, examined by Mr. ALLEY—Lives in Al iddlesex
had been formerly managing clerk of a Mr. Shebat, in the city.
Received the loner enclosing the alleged libel while in his service,
from another clerk of jr.S Shabot's, on the sth of April last. This
letter, now produced, is, to the best of his judgment, in the hand-
writing of the female prisoner; could not swear point-blank that it
is hers, but is so certain that he wotld have paid money on the be-
lief of it.
Clot a new, to Mr. Alley—Have you finished the examination
of this witness ?
Mr. ALLEY—Yes, Sir.
CHAlum*N—Then how do you bring the publication of it home
to the female prisoner P
Mr. ALLEY—I have proved the manuscript to be her's.
Cum amay—But you have not proved that it came from het dl-
reedy ; he received it by another hand.
Mr. ALLEY—The letter came by post. and was delivered to him
by the hands of another, who received it from the postman. Lord
Ellenborough has decided, on a similar case, that such a proof of
publication is sufficient.
CuAinstaw-1 know the cuse—a very trifling oee It is. Not at
all so important as this. You may proceed.
Mr. PRENDERGAST, for the defence, cross.examined the wit-
ness, but elicited nothing which could skeet his former statement.
Mr. ALLEY said this was his ease.
The Cum a mem required his legal authority to support the see.
ficieney of the present mode of publication.
Sir. ALLEY cited a ease in which the delivery of &letter in Lon-
don which had been sent from kl'indsor, was bald by Lord Lilac.
borough to have been a clam publication in Lesion, and pro-
mounted the writer of the letter to be rropeosible forth, publicatien
Sit where it is delivered.
The CHAIRM•N admitted this. LeaWahtlem A sobout required
roof of the letter having been sot by er.
Mr. ALLEY submitted that the proof of the itimaserlyt was
sufficient proof of publication by be.
`The Cll.lllll DIA /4 would oat mdlmit it.•
4001 LEY—Wbat, Sir, do you object tp fibeilikat-st
1 t
CsionmAx— yno reran. I object to his deem ha that Mar,
ai not applicable to the droeimasoes et IbtossOest
....Aber some further tpulsgaigniss.ghichisiblevismig.mr.
Alley to proceed with hie case.
Mr. ALLEY trusted that the Chairman would reserve the point
of law fur another tribunal.
The Ceuta mew said he would leave the point open; but would
certainly send the ease to the Jury.
The alleged libel am then put in and read ; it purported to bt a
hand-bill, or cheekier, iR thetorm of an advertisement, charging
the prosecutor, Amens, with having swindled the female prissiest
out of a considerable sum, with having defrauded his brother's
creditors, and having taken away and secreted a young son of hen,
for an unnatural purpose and'" diabolical design."
Mr. ALLEY said this was his ease.
Mr. PRENDERGAST, for the defence, contended that the pub-
lication of the libel by the female prisoner was not proved. The
entire affair was but a petty quarrel between private relations, and
not worth the attention of a Court of Justice. The charge ot in-
tention to commit an unnatural crime could not have proceeded
from the female prisoner. No woman could have thought of it.
The words " unnatural purpose" must have meant only the dill.
tachment of the child's person and affections from his mother, Ms
natural protector.
Mr. ALLEY declared that he had no charge against the malt
prisoner; he was indicted only through a point of form. The Jury
would of course decide nothing to affect lutn.
The male prisoner amid that he could produce witnesses to prose
that 'the writing was not that of Mrs. Robinson. He complained
that the Counsel whom he bed employed (.Ur. Phillips) was net
present, and that Mr. Phillips's substitute (Mr. Prendergast) was
not sufficiently instructed to defend him.
Mr. PRENDERGAST would not advise him to call evidence so
disprove the manuscript ;'he
as he' would give
pleased.* advice at all on the
subjed ; the prisoner might do he pleased.
The CHAIRMAN expressed a willingness to hear evidence agease
the proof of the manuscript. None was tendered.
The Camino' summed up. As to the matter of the mans -
script, he had no doubt that it was a most gross libel, by whines.-
ever it was written. Two persons had sworn that it was written by
the female prisoner. After a further consideration of the subject,
he was of opinion that the proof was sufficiently brought home no
her. As to the male prisoner, the husband, there was not the sh.-
dow of a proof that he was even aware of the circumstance. If thet
had any doubt of the guilt of the female prisoner, they would keve
her the benefit of it, and acquit her.
The Jury, after a short consultation, declared the male prisoner
Nast Guilty, and the female prisoner Guilty.
Mr. PRENDERGAST some time after moved an attest of...udg-
ment, an the ground that the point of law, as to the proof of the
publication by the female prisoner, ought to be left open for argil-
mentstion.
The eitrita MAN consented to defer judgmenttiU Frilay, when
he would hear the arguments on the point of law.'
The male prisoner moat solemnly protested the innocence of the
female prisoner.
ASSAULT.
Nary Arm Gorman was charged by Mary Ooncalses, tie
keeper of A house of ill fame, with an :weak, and kicking ha se .
rings out of her ears.
The CHAIRMAN—It Milt have been a hones kick, then
(A laugh.) Nut Guilty.