The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-07-13 00:00:00

WESTERN CIRCUIT.

tem t ing.

SALISBURY. JULY 11.
CROWN COllRT.—(Before Mr. Justice !ATI. I.EnaLE.)
John Corr and Thomas Stanton were tried fur breaking into the
factory of John Cowper and Son, at Trowbridge, and stealing there-
from a large quantity of cloth and kerseymere, above the vat
of 301.
It appeared that the cloth mane actory of Messrs. Cowper was
fastened in the usual manner, on the evening of the 19th March,
and on the following morning it was discovered that it had been
broken into, and a quantity of cloth and kerseymere stolen. In con-
sequence of private Information the prisoners were apprehended the
next day, at the prisoner Stanton's house, where a large quantity
of the property was found concealed under a bed. Some trifling
articles, a part of the property, was also found on the persons of
both the prisoners.
The prisoner Stanton offered nothing in his defence. Carr said
that he picked up a bundle containing the cloth in the street, and
took it to Stanton's; but he declared that Stanton was entirely nigo-

. . _
rant how he had come by the cloth. Gulliver.
Several respectable persons came forward and spoke to the goad The wife of Cox, and a lodger named WiManic:deposed to the
character which the prisoner Stanton sustained in his neighbour- overtures made to Cox by plaintiff to swear that defendant was the
hood. He Wa4 staled to be a remarkably industrious man, and purchaser.
have acquired considerable property. Young Gulliver was also examined to prove that he went to
After retiring and consulting for several hours, the Jury returned Shepherd's fur the horse by desire of Cox, who had sold it to his
a verdict of Guilty against both the prisoners. Sentence of death father.
was recorded against the prisoners. Mr. Sergeant WILD, in his reply, called upon the Jury to con.
MATCH-MAKING. alder the improbability of Cox's story. Ile contended that a man
must be unworthy of Credit who could calmly listen to a man that
Ann Hill, a woman of advanced age, but of stout and athletic proposed to him to perjure himself, which, according to Cox's state-
person, was put to the bar, charged by Mary Ann Body with hay.
menu, he had done. Was it likely, he asked, that Shepherd would
ing at different times stopped her on the King's highway, and put-
have acted so much like a madman as to make such a proposal to
sing her in bodily fear, and felonionsly stealing from her person
Cox in the presence of two other persoine, one of whom was a nom_
some articles of wearing apparel and 3s. in mousy. parativea tranger to both parties. Ile submitted that the evidence
Mr. MEHEWETHER and Alf. HALCOMBE conducted the
of Cox and the other witnesses for the defence was altogether sera
prosecution. worthy of credit.—Verdict for the plaintiff—Damages W. 10s.
The prisoner it appeared was a very notorious character. She
TAVENDER v. MINOR.
was known to all the country mound, as one whose potency was un-
unfolding the Book of Fate and providing husbands This was an action for the trifling sum of three pounds, due 'for
questioned in
the use and occupation of a piece of land. There were two
for unmarried damsels ; in short, though not a gipsy, she ap-
Counael for the plaintiff, and no defence. A verdict was of course
peared to have a strong predilection for the habits and practices of
taken for the plaintiff; but It may be doubted whether in this the
that vagrant race. winner may rot find himself in the end a loser.
Mary Ann Body (the prosecutrix), a ample, innocent•looking, Mr. JUSTICE GAsEt.EE having gone through the Nisi Prisms
country girl, and extremely pretty, was first examined. She swore cases, entered upon the Crown business, to assist Mr. Justice LlT-
that she was now about eighteen years of age, that she held thc si. 'MED ALE.
tuation of child's maid at Mr. Chubb's since July 1325, and is un-
married. Witness was introduced to the prisoner in January last, George Talbot and Joseph Smith were charged with obtaining
by a girl named Harrison, who told witness that the prisoner could money on false preteuces. from Sarah Dark, over.eer of the parish
tell her fortune. Witness was anxious to see the prisoner, who of Ramsbury.
then told her that she should go a journey and see an elegant Mr. Justice Gasy.t.rg having looked over the indictments and
young man, who would become her sweetheart. The prisoner was affidavits of the witnesses, inquired of Mr. Bingham, the Counsel
said to have got many young women husbands. Upon her first for the prosecution, whether he thought it advisable to proceed
visit she gave witness something wrapped up in paper, enjoining her with the case. It appeared that the prisoners had Sold a naked false.
not to open it until she came again. At this visit witness gave hood to the prosecutrix, but they were not guilty of any greater
prisoner a shilling, and returned by appointment seine days after, crime. They had not produced any certificate, nor a token of any
with the paper unopened. Prisoner then opened the paper, and kind, to prove that they belonged to the parish, or were entitled to
poured some livid out of a bottle on at. She said it was a parish relief.
"charm,' and told witness that the nice young man would come to Mr. BINGHAM said he was struck by the sane point, but he
sec her. Some days after they met in the street of Malinsbury, and understood that convictions had taken place in similar circuit).
prisoner said that she knew some woman besides witness must have stances, under the 30th of Geo. 111.
touched the paper, and that the charm should be repeated. l'ri- 1
Ir. Justice GASELEE doubted whether any such conviction
miner said this would coat her Is. Rd., which witness gave her, and '
had ever taken place. He had consulted with a gentleman corner-
another Is. Gd. for herself. She then had another piece of paper rant with these matters, who coincided with. him that the charge
from prisoner, which she kept carefully, and returned. She subse. was not sustainable, and that the prisoners, it convicted, could arrest
quently gave the prisoner three several sums of 3s. sad ss. and 2s. Gd. the judgment.
She also gave her an apron and a white shawl. The latter, the
prisoner said, was to be cu: in twain, and one half of it delivered to Mr. BINGHAM said, he believed his Lordship was right, and
the young man, which would evince his affection and constancy. that he had been in error. The convictions to which he had
Prisoner afterwards afterwards obtained from witness a pair of cotton stock- ferred took ben
in the Sessions, and not at the Assizes. The fact
Mg* and a striped gown : she said these were to be given to a was that a great deal of money was taken from Overseers by such
misrepresentations, and they wished to put an end to the practice.
young woman, who was to accompany the nice young man. Pri-
The offence would probably come under the new Act of Parliament.
sorer afterwards said she was going to see the young man, and
wanted money to pay her expenses. NVitness then gave her a silk The Learned RIDGE thought that might be considered, but
I gown. Upon various occasions, by threats of ill-consequences that the present indictment must be discharged.
which were to ensue in case of her refusal, and promises of good The indictment was therefore withdrawn.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.

WORCESTER, JULY 11.

The Assizes here are nearly terminating.
On the Civil Side there has been nothing remarkable, or even in.

panying it would not render the offence a murder, if death has: tn.
sued, a verdict of acquittal mast he reccrdedi- Ili, Lottlihip ou-
s;iveil that many atrocious offenders had altogether._ en .cajlllui
44.
punishment in consequence of this clause in the Act; allereiraW.
in smicelettcotling the.
mimi,i.tration of justice. he Ilhe;C::
right course disk
to pursue 'oe• to he had thine, in order
might not escape all punishment, in ease he had, bessailiti otasy
offence._ _ . _ _ _

CROWN SIDE.
These are the only carer of any interest :
Mom Mons was indicted for having on the 24th of June last,
broken and entered the dwelling house of Henry Harbour and
James Jones, situate at Hanley Castle, in the day time, no person
being therein, and stealing a metal watch and six-pennyworth of
hall Pence.
The two prosecutors lived together in a house, and hiving gone
out on the day mentioned in the indictment, thtty locked the door,
and hung the key up in a secret place, violet) the prisoner it seemed
had discovered. On their return they still found the door fast, and
the key hung up in the place where it had been left 4 but the hous2.
had evidently been entered, because a chest, in which the articles in
question had been, had been broken open, and the watch and half-
mice were gone. The prisoner had absconded from the neigh-
bourhood where be before lived, and being apprehended four days
after, the watch was found on him.
His Lottbautr was of opinion that the dwelling-house was
wrongly described in the indictment, and that therefore, it the Jury
were satisfied that the prisoner stole the property In suestion, they
could find him guilty of that fact only.—One year's imprisonment
and hard labour.
Francis Penn and Amelia Penn, husband and wife, were in-
dicted for having filoniously broken open the dwelling-house of
`James Bartley, of Rushock, on the 2&I of Slay last, in the day-
tune, no person being therein, and with having stolen therefrom one
shawl, one table-cloth, two shifts, and other articles, the property
of James Hartley. The evidence in the case consisted of proof
I that the female prisoner disposed of all the articles stolen, after the
robbery, and the male prisoner, on his apprehension, confessed
having broken into the house, but declared that his wife was per-
fectly innocent.
Mr. Justice Bunnounie, in charging the Jury, observed that
Amelia Penn ought not to have been indicted, because, if even she
had Whited in committing that house-breaking which her husband
had confessed, still the law would construe her conduct as having
been pursued under the coercion of her husband. The female pri-
soner must therefore be acquitted.—Amelis Penn, N.,it Guilty—
Francis Penn, Guilty_-l)esth.
Elizabeth llornsby was indicted for stealing an anvil and a ham-
mer, the property of Edward Perks, of Ited,inch, nut RR the pro-
secutor could not identify the property, the. Jury found her Not
Guilty.
James Thomas was indicted for a highway robbery. committed
upon John Daniel, on the sth of April last, at St. Peter's parish,

The Jury found tho prisoner Guilty.
llis Lordship then observed, that he had _basis guilty of ails
merous unwarrantable acts on the (lay mated in gar indiettnent.
lie first destroyed the property of sn inoll'ensive boy; he then toi
sluiced him becsase he complained of the injury • star that hd
brutally treated a female wh:) took the boy's part; aid aMta the
prosecutorirnan interfered,i wound,
:ire.yett.t,rfuwrttrliVeurrilliet
ber mil=id,
vilreitnwiass
n‘ott d t
nfo:fe.ited. Under allgthe
rut ',bat ItiCsa
his Lords‘t;p felt it his duty to pass a sentence Cu 11118. ei
twelve inotiths imprisonment, and It.trd labour, in the 1111111111* Ana

of Correction.
Richard Crook was indicted for having assaulted a Lends
Tardy, with intent to commit a rape. The seelad esalst In the
indicunent simply charged the pr.sotter ebb heed"' oonelnitted a
common assault upon the prosecutrix.
This case extlfediuost extraordinary interest, as tho obovoctot of
a very beautifuf "girl. only thirteen years of oiro, who was the
daughter of a respectable fs:mer, was concerned in its Sara&
The Court was crowded to excess by almost all the beauty of the
county of Worcester.
Mr. Justice DI:ReeI:GU requesting the ladles would retire be-
fore this case was entered upon, observed, that it always gave Aim
pain to desire the withdrawing of the fait sex from a Court of Jas.
tice. Upon the present °cession, however, he felt convince* that
the case was one which could net by possibility afford them interest.
The ladies then withdrew, and the contrast that immediately pre-
! sensed itself between the then present ippeamnee of the Court; and
I that of ha subsequent auditory, was most smiting. Benches that
had been filled with beauty, and standing places that had beta
crowded with the loveliest :banns. were instantly occupied by fat
sweltering farmers, who had struggled during the preceding Mere.
ing for some access to the Court.
CHARLES PHILLIPS conducted the prosecution ; and, in a
speech unornamential by unnecessary phraseology, stated the facts
lof the case. _ _ _

:Hiss etitia Tandy wes then called. She appeared to be about
seventeen, though her actual age was but thirteen. In stature she
was unusually tall, and in figure beautifully formed. Her youth
alone could repel Anything like desire in any man, and she was most
respectably dressed. /Ice simpleharrative, after having been sworn~
was, that she went to Pefshore fair on the day stated in the indict.
ment.whicli was the last day of that fair. In the course of the evening
she was accosted by the prisoner in the White Horse public-house.
where she had taken shelter from the rain. ilthen she was entice.
enuring to proceed home, as he acted civilly, she did not reject his
attentions. though he was a man much beneath her in rank ; and
afterwards he offrred to conddc her home, as she was without ny
ip ector, because it was as late as ten o'clock at night. She
ot
as stopping on a visit at that time in the house of a brother-in-law,
at Mount Pleasant farm, close to Pershore, and in her way
thither she had to pass a stile, Which crossed into same fields
that would indirectly lead to the house of her brother-in-law
Over that stile the 0 toner forced her, and, after proceeding with
some rapidity for a tittle' he attempted to take liberties. She re-
slated, and the prisoner knocked her down. After having got up,
he renewed his attack.. anti caught hold of her frock, whilst she was
screaming " murder." The string of her frock broke at that in.
quint, and being liberated from his grasp, she ran as fist as she
could in one direction, and, on her screaming " murder" again, the
prisoner ran in knottier direction.
Mr. Ceitwoon, for the prisoner (with whom was Mr. CAAR I NO.
row ), closely cross-examined her as to whether she had not first
drawn in the prisoner to make certain advances towards her, but,
with great simplicity of manner and apparent purity of morals. she
denied all the assertions which the Learned Counsel appositely pat
to het.
Other witnesses were called, who proved that, hearing the cty of
" murder," they went into the fields whence it proceeded, and
there saw the prosecutrix in a situation which evidently sheaved
that she had been maltreated. Her frock wet ripped open behind,
and she was also otherwise maltreated.
Tne surgeon who had been called in to attend her, stated the
she had been grossly m 'treated. and Ire found her in a state o
delirium, with some bruises.
On his cross-examination by Mt. Curtwoota, he was asked
whether that delirium had proceeded from drinking too much runt
and water. He distinctly ansiterref that it was a delirium evidently
proceeding from some other cause.
Mr. Cu ItWOOD then addressed the Jury at some 'length for ehe
prisoner, and stated that the whole Areusation was unfounded.
The Learned Counsel then called witnesses, both Mate and fe-
male,' who most positively stated that the prosecutrix had actually
invited the prisoner into her society by nods and winks. Some u
them, however, equivocated most grossly in their cross-emu:dna-
' Lion, and we understand that two of them particularly bore the
basest characters.
Mr. Cuattr.sis Pin r.r.i rs made a very eloquent reply.
Mr. Justice flunantt Git read over the whole of the evidence M
summing up, and the Jury found the prisoner Onihy.
His LOLIDSHIP remarked, that there was a clear suborriation of
perjury in the defence; and passed a sentence of one year's impri.
sunment upon the prisoner, and said that he molt flinti securities NI
his good behaviour for one yew subsequent. _

in this county.
Mr. Bias/ stated the case to the Jury, and then called the fol-
lowisin witnesses :
John Daniel—l am not quite seventy.eight. I live in the work-
house of the parish of St. Peter. a little way one of this city. Or
the sth of April, I came to Worcester to receive some money,
and got six and sixpence in a leathern bag. In returning imitate
I called at the Wheataheaf, with a friend, to shoni I had
showed the town. After my friend had left, the prisoner at the
bar, who was in the house, 'tidied me to drink with him. There
I had a pint of beer, and when it came in, I pulled out my purse
for the purpose of paying for it. When I wax going away, the
prisoner asked which way I was going, and I told him I was going
along the London Road. The prisoner overtook me after I got
through the turnpike. Atter I got a little further, I had occasion
to turn into the fields to go to the workhouse, and the prisoner
went on the road. When I got across the first ficl i, soniehody
overtook me, gave my coat a violent shake, and struck me a blow
under the left ear, which knocked me down. It was the pri-
soner. When I was down, he got upon me and began throt-
tling me. He stuffed a pocket handkerchief into my mouth, to
prevent my crying out " Murder," which I did whenever I
could catch my breath. He knocked old one of my teeth; which
threw into the fire when I got homes lie took my money out of
my pocket, and tried to get my watch, but could not. I cried out
" Murder," and tut:, persons, named Waal and Meek, came to my
assistance, and I told them what had happened, and told them the
direction in which the prisoner hod gone. They took him ...id brought
him to me, and then he asked if I would swear to hint. and I said
not then, but I would the next morning. The next morning I
was taken so the prisoner, and saw him among other prisoners, and
picked him out. lam positive lie is the person.
The witnesses Brass and Meek were then called, and described
the situation in which they found the prosecutor. They went in
pursuit of the prisoner, and found the prisoner at the bar.—
They asked him where he was going, and he said he had lost
his way, and wanted to go to Norton. They then seized him.
Meek said to the prisoner, What have you got in your hand ?"
The prisoner said, " Nothing but a handkerchier," which they
took from him, and found, on examination, that it was quite wet
with blood. After they had got a few yards. they heard something
fall from the prisoner which jingled like silver, and they tried to
find it on the ground, but it was too dark. In all oilier respects
witnesses corroborated the statement of the prosecutor. The next
mawahrg, on the spot where the prisoner had stood the night previ-
ous the prosecutor's fAir.e was found.
landlord of the Wheataheaf public-house then proved that
the prisoner had been drinking with the prosecutor on the evening
in question.
l he constable who apprehended the prisoner was next called, and
stated that when he apprehended him hr asked him what he had
done with the old man's money, and he said he had thrown it away,
and, where he described, the purse was found.
111 r. Justice ItuRROUOII charged the Jury, and they found the
prisoner Guilty—Death.
John Clifton, an ill-looking fellow, was indicted for a common
assault committed upon one John Crump.
The prisoner was ortgioally indicted under Lord Ellenborough's
Act, for stabbing John C unip with intent to do him some grievous
I bodily harm ; but Mr. Justice Burmugh, for a reason which he
stated in his summing up, recommended the Grand Jury to throw
out the bill for the capital charge. Subsequently the present in-
dictment was preferred and found.
Mr. Jicavis, jun. stated the case to the Jury, and then called
the following witnesses:—
Edward Crump, the brother of the prosecutor, stated that lie
was in the White Horse public-house, at Bror»sgrove, on the 24th
of June. The witness had a pair oebraces in has hand, which he
had just bought and the prisoner having snatched them from him,
pretended that he would not restore them. At'itnesa said, that if he
kept them he must pay for them, on which the prisoner threw them
at him, and he them perceived that they were cut to pieces, and
rendered completely useless. He remonstrated with the prisoner
on the cruelty of his conduct, when he uplist, and knocked him
down. Ann Tidmarsh, the waiter at the White Horse, then said
that the prisoner ought to be ashamed of himself to strike a boy
like the witness ; when the prisoner, with much brutal violen:e,
knocked Ann Tidmarsh down on the top of the witness, and then
placed a chair on her chest, which he pressed down, on her violently.
John Depper then released her from the oppression of the chair,
and the witness was then enabled to rise. The prisoner was pro.
'ceding to do further violence to Ann Tidmarsh, when witness
went and, called in the prosecutor, John Cramp, who was hostler at
the White Horse, and told him that unless lie carne in jinn-mil.
ately Ann Tidmarsh would be killed. The prosecutor then came
in, and was immediately knocked down by one of the prisoner's
companions, who inntantly ran off. Ann Tidmarsh had then hold
of the prisoner by the collar, who was going to strike her with a
little short stick (which, it afterwards appeared, must have had
some sharp instrument in the point of it). when the prosecutor
jumped between the prisoner and Ann Tidmarsh, and prevented
the infliction of the intended wound. The prisoner then run this
stick right forward at the prosecutor, and thrust it in his ribs.
Ann Tidmarsh was next called, and corroborated the first part of
the statement of the last witness, and described that, after the psi.
saner had struck her a violent Wow and knocked her down, he
placed a chair on her stomach, and pressed upon it with all his
weight. She then saw John Crump, the prosecutor, corning in at
the door, and he was immediately knocked down by one of the pri-
I loner's companions. On his getting up. one of the prisoner's com-
panions made a thrust at him with a short stick, and site witness
saw no more, as she was so much injured that she was obliged to
be carried home.
John Depper was then called, and corroborated the whole of the
previous statement.
John Crump, the prosecutor, next gave his evidence, and stated
that he was • nailer by trade, but was acting as hostler of the
White Horse public-house on the occasion in question. He Yore
out the testimony of the other witnesses, as far as his observation
gave him the means of judging, that it was correct, and he de-
scribed that when the prisoner thrust him with the short stick, lie
felt an acute and smarting pain. On clapping his hand to his aide,
outside his shirt, his hand was immediately covered with blood.
Afterwards he perceived that he was wounded in the title, and the
tenth rib had prevented the wound from having been made deeper.
Mr. Richard Jenkins Haynes, a surgeon, was then produced as
a witness, and stated that he had been called in to examine the
prosecutor shone ten o'clock, in the night its question; and upon
examining his side he found an incised wound, about a quarter of
an inch in length, but not more titan the eight') of an
inch in depth, as the weapon, whatever it was, had struck
against the tenth sib. The wound had been inflicted by some
small sharp instrument.
The constable of 13romsgrove was next called, and proved the
apprehension of the prisoner and another man, who had a short and
a long stick with them ; but from the circumstance of its being fair
time at Broo.sgrove on the occasion in question, the prisoner was
enabled to drop the short stick in the crowd during his conveystice,
a distance of a quarter of 11mile, to prison. This witness also pro-
duced she prosecutor's shirt, which appeared to have been com-
pletely saturated with blood.
The prisoner, when called on for his defence, evinced, by his
dialect, to our astonishment, that he was an Irishman. We be-
lieve that such instances of wanton and unprovoked brutality to.
wards the other sex, as was proved the prisoner had committed
upon Ann Tidmarsh, are very rarely instanced in the conduct of
individuals who have been born in that nation. He said, in de-
fence, that Ann Tidmarsh had assaulted him itninediately after
his entering the house; but lie added that he could produce no
witnesses either to his conduct in the instance in question, or to
his character generally, as he was it stranger in the country, and
knew nobody.
Mr. Justice BURROUGH, in the course of his summing up,
told the Jury that it was very true he had recommended the Grand
Inquest to throw out the hill for the capital offence, under Lord El.
lenborough's Act, and had advised the present indictment for a
common assault to be presented against the prisoner, because i^
that statute there was a special provision, that if, when a wound
was inflicted Witt a sharp instrument, the circumstances accom