The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-01-13 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

•
HICKS'. HALL--CLimissitti.L, lkx- 12.
Ilenty Roberts was indicted for assaulting a Mn.s
Elizabeth Williams, in the parish Of St. John's,

Shadwell.
It appeared that the Defendant was a plumber
and engine-nsaker, and that he and** Proesennie
were neighbours to each other, but did not agree
well together. The cause of variance betwixt
theta, was a piece of ground behind their respective'
premises, to which each laid claim. Into this area
the Defendant was in the habit of forcing the pipes
of his engines. and of spouting water through them,
ip larder to prove them soma}. Upon the S td of No-
vember
last, perceiving Mrs. Winnows perambu-
latiug this disputed ground, the Defendant took
that opportunity of trying his pumps and pipes,
from his window, and gave the Lady a complete
drenching with water, while in a situation where
she could not escape from the attack. In this or-
ration the Defendant's wife assisted, by supplying
the engine with water, and encouraging her hus-
kaiak to give it her well.
it was alleged for the Defendant, that he was en-
tirely ignorant of the Prosecutris being on the
ground at the time he catty forcing his pumps, and
that at all events, she had an op unity of keep-
ing clear of the water, if she had thought proper ;
but she went to the spot for the express purpose of
getting. ducking, and indulged her resentment, by
afterwards accusing him of an assiiiilt.
The Jury found hiin guilty, and he was fined in
the sum of ten pounds.
William MOW, a respectable looking man,
and by
.trade a brasier, was indicted for receiving
and having in his custody 13Iba. weight of bras* the
property of Messrs. Warner and Co. brass-found-
ers, in the neighbourhood of Jewin-street, knowing
the articles to have been stolen.
It appeared that the Prosecutors having for some
time missed quantities of Leos, in an uninanuf
nc-
tured state, watched their servauts,.and at length
found that one of them had been in the prac-
tice of robbing them, who, upon being detected,
absconded. Upon the Bth of August last, a search-
warrant was procured to search the Defendant's
house, as, front its contiguity to their premises, sus-
picions attached that the stolen goods must hare
been disposed of to him. Accordingly various
small cast pieces of brass were found in their nn-
manufactured state, such as were used in- making
beer pumps. These pieces were proved to be the'
property of the Prosecutors ; they were made of a
composition of copper. zinc, And lead, but by
evidence it appeared that this was
coarse brass, according to the custousof
Mr. Serjeant BUT and Mr. Auit, on behalf
of the I3efendant, argued, that the article in ques-
tion consisted of such a composition as could not
justify the allegation in the indictment, that it was
brass that was so found in the Defendant's custody,
and therefore could not come within the useaaing
of the act of the 49th of George the Second, which
applied to the receivi.ig of particular metals therein
described, and stated the punishment to be four-
teen years transportation-
Mr. °ranee and Mr. (bran argued. that the
same thing might be said of an indictment, al-
leging that a person had swim or received a gold
watch, silver spoon., or even a guinea, all of which
articles were well known to coutain a taaiiderable