The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-10-30 00:00:00

steel punch, that a person acquainted with the Hall
murk would readily discover the difference. The
impressions of the Hall mark upon .the spoons
charged in the indictment, and also upon the un-
finished spoons found In the Prisoner's workshop,
arc not from • steal pouch, but from some softer
metal.
Mr. Barrow was again called and proved hoeing
assayed seven of the spoons ; they were of standard
silver. They were not assayed until aiker.,the Pais
mailer'. apprehension.
John Smith, engraver to the Goldsmiths' Com•
pally. proved that the marks of the Hall .and Go-
vernment stamp on the spoons were not made by the
Company's punch.
In his cross-examination he said it had been
stated in conversation upon this subject, that the
impressions on the sprawl were so well done that it
was very difficult to say whether they were correct
or not. • •
Re-examined by Mr. NORTON.—Witness never
said that there was any difficulty in detectiog the
forgery ; nor had he from the first any doubt that
the stamp en the spoons was forged.
Mr. Walters, • paWnbroker, proved that he
bought, in June last, two pair of gravy spoon. of
the Prisoner, one pair of which were afterwards
taken from him by Mr. Miles.
Mr. Peachy, of Goswell-street, silversmith, re-
ceived from the Prisoner on the Slat May, le tea-
spoons, arid So on the Bth June. He afterwards
delivered to Mr. Miles eight teaspoons of the Pri-
soner's make. and which he had received from the
Prisoner; but he could not say whether they were
a part of railer of those parcels or of some other.
Cross-egsmiried by Mr. Anonsws.—He could
net take upon himself to swear that the eight tea-
spoons of *filth lie had spoken came to him from
the hands of the Prisoner.
By the CouttY—He can say with certainty that
he received those right spoons from the Prisoner at
ogese tone or other.
Mr. Miles was called again, and proved the Hall
marks on the grimy-womb., from Mr. Walters, and
on the eight teaspoons from Mr. Peachy, to be
forged.
Mr. Smith being also called again, corroborated
the testimony of the last witness.
This closed the case for 'the prosecution.
Mr. ALLEY, supported by Mr. ANDREWS and
Mr. Law for th- Prisoner. contended, that this
prosecution could not stand, the indictment
charging the offence as against the statute, and not
against the statutes, and Go evidence baring been
produced to shew that the stamps which the Pd•
caner was charged with having imitated were the
stamps legally in use, the authority fur using such
stamps not having been proved.
Mr. WALFORD and Mr. Nowrog, for the prose.
cution, contended, that the indictment was properly
framed, the Act of the 55th George 111. having in-
corporated all the regulations and Acts is force on
the subject. The authority of the Goldsmiths'
Company for the stamps was proved by the evidence
of Mr. Miles; and the form of the stamps was pre-
scribed by the Acta of the 12th George 11. and of
the 21/d George HI.
The COMMON SIIJIANT overruled the objec-
tion, but consented to reserve the point for the opi-
nion of the Judges.
The Prisoner, in his defence, denied that he had
refused to deliver up his book to Mr. Miles; he
only said, on being asked for his books, that his
accounts were short. and he had only one book.
That book lie gave up at once, cud readily assisted
the persons iu searching his premises. He also
stated, that he had for a considerable time been
afflicted with deafness, ou which account he had
not worked himself, but had. giveu his business up
to his sons. _ _

A considerable nonsbev of witnesses were call-
ed to speak to the character of the Prisoner for
the last twenty or thirty years, who expressed them-
selves in the strongest terms as to his integrity.
The COMMON SgIIJWIT summed up at great
length ; and the Jury, after consulting fur up-
wards of an hour, ou their return found the l'ri-
soner Aot
The trial occupied nearly nine hours; and the
verdict was received with great satisfactiun by a
very crowded Coors,

DEATH BY FIGHTING.
In our last week's paper we noticed the commitment
of IVi/linnt Hawkins to t►e comity gaol by Robert Weston, '
Gent, one of his Majesty's Coroners fur this county, for
killing and slayiog John Townsend, at Stow Nine Churches,
in this county, and sow give the pat Oculars of tbe jogai s ' is
taken by the same Coroner un view of the body of the de-
ceased.
It appears in evidence, that being Stow Few, • '
labourer,uf the name of John Collins, let • room at his bowie
fur • dance, at which many persons, incluelisg Hawkins and
Townsend, were present, and WON dispute arising between
them, they agreed to go into an adjoining close and fight it
out. Before they began to fight, Hawkins said to the de-
ceased, " bring as they were townsmen and all, be would
rather shake hands with him than fight him," but Townsend
replied," being as it is come to this he would end it, he would
not make it up." They then shook bands with each other
and began the battle, and in the third roiled Hawkins gave
Townsend • blow with his right band on the stomach, that
staggered him, and followed it up by anther blow with the
left hand, nearly on the senor place, which brought him
to the ground, and caused his immediate death. A surgeon
was sent for, but could render no assistance. They were
both single men, the deceased about 25 years of age, and
Hawkins U. The several witnesses examined proved that
It was • fair battle, sod that no undue advantage was
taken by either party.—The Jury, after • long and minute
investigation of the whole transaction, returned a verdict of
Manslaughter against William Hawkane.—(Nostkampton
Merest ro.)

An Inquest was held on Saturday se'nnight, at the
parish of Erasington, before J. WHITFOaD, Erg,
on the bod• of Serener. WIDDICONIBZ. The de-
ceased was on horseback in conversation with lkfr.
RIVERS, in Ivy-bridge, Devon+liire, when the Re-
gulator coach passed by—the horse suddenly went
back, and the deceased being weak and infirm, he
fell from his horse, and received a mortal disloca-
tion of the neck.—Verdict, " Accidentally killed,"
and the horse forfeited in the sum of 20s. as a deo-
cloud to the Lord of the Minor.

On Sunday last, in • fit of insanity, a tailor,
named LOWTHIAII, at Sunderland, cut off the head
of his cot. and afterwards cut his throat, but not
effectually : it is expected lie will recover. On the
same night a young gentleman, belonging to Sun-
derland, was stabbed in the buck with • knife, by
a woman of the mos place : he is in • fair way of
recovery. Jealousy is said to be the reason of ber
rashness.