The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-04-17 00:00:00

LENT ASSIZES.

CHESTER, Aram 14. 1
Bcfore 'Edges W and Jewels.
BURGLARY.
George Woolley and Thomas Baler were charged with having
burgLariously entered the house of Williata Sotheran, of Weever-
ham, on the night of the bah of December, and Stolen therefrom a
sovereign, a guinea, fifty shillings in silver, and 51. in copper.—
Gait/I—Death.
It is understood, that no mercy will be extended to the prisoners,
who, it is mid, will receive sentence of death at the MDR time as
Dale, the young man convicted of the murder of Mr. Wood. Next
Wednesday is the day tired.
Thomas Clarke, aged 27, was indicted for having assaulted and
killed David Briedley, at 51aorlestield, by throwing him over a
wall, in consequence of which his neck was dislocated, and he
languished and died.
Mr. Sergeant CROSS stated the case.
James ‘Vright, esamined by Mr. Law—l lived in Macclesfield,
and knew the d:craised Brindley. We lived in the same house.
Late on Saturday night, about twelve o'clock, on the 19th of Oc-
tober, I was alarmed on hearing a noise, as of persons falling out,
and looked out of the window, when 1 observed the prisoner and
Matthew Brindtcy (the old man's son); the old man was at his
own door. I heard the old man sew to Clarke, "Go home about
rear business, and don't disturb me," or to that effect ; and asked
hint—" did he want to rub his house." Clarke wanted to strike the
old man, but was prevented by his son. The old man charged
Clarke with stealing his hat. Clarke wanted again to strike him,
but was prevented by Matthew Brindley. The old man immedi-
ately got into his house, and cline out again with something in his
hand, and went down the road, where there was a small wall.
whither Clarke had previously gone, and the old man, on coming
up, struck hint on the side of the head with smite unlawful weapon.
I don't know what it was, but it sounded like iron. Ile made a
second blow at Clarke, which he missed ; then the weapon tell out
af his band. Clarke turned about, and said, ••• 0. you are poker.
ing, are You ?" and said ••• he poker hint." They both fixed
theta:xi:is in a posture of fighting. The old man stumbled a
little when conatig up, but kept aloof, as if afraid to face
Clarke, and was retreating nearer to his own house, near a wall
which was about two feet high. lie got his back close us it, and
leaning over it, apparently as if he had lost his balance. Clarke at
this time was facing him, and the old man gave him a push, when
Clarke took him by the breast, and I raw toe old man go over the
wall. Clarke threw him over the wall. It was nine or ten feet
deep where lie fell. I ran from the bowie, and seised Clarke, and
hid him look over the wall and see what he had dour. Ile got
away front me and rsn off, but was stopped b a young man, who
held him till I came up to him. The plea where the old man first
struck the prisoner was six yards from the wall, and more titan five
or six minutes had elapsed before he was thrown over. No blow or
push had occurred between than till that period. They had been
quarrelling all the time.
James Chapman examined—l saw the deceased strike the pri-
soner. Prism r got round Dement the deceased's flour, and they
were fighting together till they got to the nail; the deceased plated
himself against the wall. Crindley closed with the prisoner, and
I the deceased went over the wall; I can't say the prisoner flung
hilly, he forced him Over.
Aaron Dean corroborated the statement of the previous fight,
sod saw Clarke place one of h 6 hands on the old man's breast, and
the other wale( his thigh, and in this way he tossed the old man
over the wall. It was tot, in his opinion, more then three minutes
from the blow being struck ; th were scuffling all the time. The
old nom appeared to get towards his house, and the prisoner pre-'
rented hint.

—..... .......
frederick Lallemand, ahrgeon, saw the deceased on Monday
after his death. Sew the place where he hud been thrown over. I
have no doubt the cause of his death was the fracture of the three
loser bones of his neck, which was ~cceeioned by the fall.
'l'he rive of the prosecution here closed.
3lr. Justice IVARR EN summed up the evidence.
'1 he Jury tested a verdict—Guilty of Manslaughter.
Mr. CHILI J us-rice, in pwaing sentence upon the prisoner,
observed that the Court, taking into consideration the provocation
he had recrived, and the character that had been given him, and
his being already confined under the charge upwards of six months,
the seutence of the Court was, that he should pay a fine of fire
pounds, and be then discharged.
ellatthese Orinellry, son of the deceased, was charged on the
Coroner's Inquisition with aiding and abetting Clarke in the
offence, but was se-vatted. Mr. Sergeant Caoss having said be
would not offer any evidence against him.
Thomas Shaba, Skeleton, James Statham, and Inks
Nesofou, were indicted for buTlary and petty larceny, in stealing
tame game cocks front the doming-house of 'thonias Lea.
Mr. Sergeant Ca oss said be would not give evidence on the capi-
tal charge, and that he had no evidence against Newton.
Galliniore, a servant to Mr. Lea, stated that he was ping
home about three o'clock, on the morning of the 13th of March,
when he saw the ground covered with feathers, near the hen-room.
He called up another servant, who went with him, and they fol-
lowed-the prisoners, and got the game cocks, which they had let
drop from a bag on the grounit‘ The cocks beganlo fight whilst,
the witness anti his fellow-aervants were argulwith the prisoners.
He knew three ut them. It was a line moon! t night.
Croui-exaniined by Mr. D. T. Jox Es-- at were you doing
up, my fine fellow, at three in the morning? —I was with a young
woman.

Whose cock was it you saw—a red or black ?-I.lr. Lea% and a
real game emit, Sir.
Was it alive?

thi;nvoro • ent one of the cocks loudly crowed.'
Ir. Coass said, it appeared he was living evidence of that;
and he alight be taken out of Court as a eritnma not wanted.—.
( Loud Laughter.)
Was it a mounliight night I—Yes; nod I knew them well.
Pray were you talking to the moos ?-0h ! that is all moonshine,
Sir.—( Laughter. )
Another witness corroborated his testimony.
The Jury acquitted Newton, and found the others guilty of petty
larceny.
They were sentenced to be severally imprisoned and kept to hard
labour fur six months.