The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-04-08 00:00:00

WELCH V. PHII.L.

This was an action bronaht by the Plaintiff,
"situ u u firmer, against the Rector of the Parish,
for omitting to take away certain tithes, to *ti—
bial,. awl calves after they had hens duly set out,
and notice given accordingly. The case tunted
upon a question of law; wi.ether the lambs and
E.Aves became the property of the Rector at the
time when they were dropped, or wheu they were
wonted mid set nut.

Ale. Justice Briar thought the case was a sew
one. lie recollected no case in point. Ills preseut
opinion was, that although the lambs or calves were
but to be delivers d nod they were weaned, that
was, until they could be removed without injury'
yet the Parson might say, if he pleased, that they
were his property front the moment when they were
dropped. The Learned Judge rect. iiiiii elided that
verdict should be taken for the Plaattiff: damages
51. with liberty to enter a non-suit. Ills Opinion,
sl erroneous, would then be corrected.
Verdict taut accordingly.
PRY V. PRIDDY.

This was an action to recover V. s*. for goods
sold and delivered. The first witness proved the
174111..

Mr. Justice llEs•r expressed his regret that aim+
a cause should have found its way into Court.
/fere was a man so foolish as to bring an action for
ss. and another man so foolish as to defend it.
Few lines had wore of troth about them than two
winch be would quote to the Jury :-
64 Causes are traversed, sad so little woo,
That he who rams thew is at last aarlinie."

Yesterday, an Inquest was held at the sign of the Gnat,
Fully hill, &nick!, before J. W. uawiii, Loofas the body of
Mrs. 31aly reeral, of the above tow.). it appeared in
evidence, that on Monday tut the.deceased was is pawl
health, dined with her funily, and ate very heartily ; after
diaper she repaired to the drawing•remara, where she was
stuffily after found by her daughter, quite dead. Apoplexy,
is appeared, was the cause of her death. Yefilicl--Dscd by
the Visitation of God.

SHROPSHIRE ASSIZES.

These Assizes terminated on Saturday. , John
Denny, for stabbing the Rev. J. Wilde, a lelt
for
execution. Four Special Jury causes are postponed
till next Assizes.

TRIAL OF .101114DiNNY, FOR STABBING.
. This case came on soon after twelve o'clock on
Friday last, and from its singular atrocity, and the
high respectability of the Prosecutor, excited a
-great degree of interest.
John Denny, aged 64 (a blacksmith or labourer),
was put to the bar. There were three counts in
the indictment: the first charged the Prisoner with
stabbing, with intent to murder, the Rev. John
Wilde, at Pontesbury, on Tureday, the lath of
August last; the second charged him with stub-
bing. with intent to main ; the third, with stab-
bing, with intent tb do Mr. Wilde some grievous
bodily harm. The trial proceeded on the first count.
Mr. BATIIIII opened the case for the prosecu-
lion ; and, in so doing, eloquently disclaimed all
vindictive feelings on the part of the Prosecutor,
whkse known humanity would snake him feel most
happy could • verdict of acquittal be recorded for
Prisoner, and whose sense of public duty
alone could operate in his standing forward in the
present instance to seek justice fur the injury he
had received. The Learned Conusel then gave au
outline of the case, as dieclosed in the subjoined
evidence; sod having concluded, the several wit-
nesses came forward, and delivered their testimony
as follows :
Rea. John Wilde, a Magistrate of this county,
and Rector of the third portion of the parish of
Pontesbury, stated that the Plisoner was in the
workhouse in August last, on the 11th of which
month he came to his (Mr. W...) house, fur an
order to leave the work-house, as he wished to go
and seek work. Mr. Wilde gave the Prianner an
order to leave, and to receive Ss. On Monday the
17th of August, lie saw the Prisoner again, who
wished him to give hun •n order of re-admission
to the work-house, offering to return the 54. if he
would re-admit him. Mr. W. told him he would
not, and that he (the Prisoner) had money enough
to keep him till he could see the Managing Com-
mitte of the parish at their Board on the next
Monday. Mr. Wilde sew the Prisoner again on
the 18th, next morning (Tuesday), at the Rev.
Mr. Peters's : lie again applied for re-admission,
and was refused lay both Mr. Wilde and Mr. Pe-
ters, being again told dolt lie had sufficient money
to support Inns till next Monday, when there would
be a meeting to which he might apply : he
left the room, and contiuued lurking some time
before Mr. Peters's house. Mr. Wilde saw him
again in the village of Poutesbury, that evening,
going towards his house, about seven or eight
o'clock; Mr. Wilde met him returning out of
the court before hit house. The Prisoner again
• applied fur re-admission to the poor-house, sod was
similarly refused ; Mr. Wilde went towards his
house, and the Prisoner followed. Mr. Wilde or-
dered him to go out of the court, but this lie re-
fined to do, saying, "By G—d I will not leave
it ;" or, " 1 will not leave it, by G—d," raising
his voice, and 1116 countenance at the same liaise
lightening up. Mr. Wilde, who was walking
backwards .mil forwards in the court, said he would
make him leave it, meaning by this that be would
send for a Constable, which he did. Mr. Wilde's
servant then went for the ci.isteible, and Mr. W.
went into the house, bolting the door after him. A
female servant soon afterwards wanted to go out, taut
the done being bolted, which she was not aware of,
Mr. W. went to open it. The Prisuotr was still iii
the court before the door, and again preferred his re-
quest for re-aihnission to the work-haute. Mr. W.
said he could not, and would Hot comply with his
request. The Prisoner kept slowly and gradually
approaching nearer and nearer to Mr. W. till he
tame 'within a small trellis-work which covered the
door ; he had his hand in his bosom ; Mr. W. ob-
served his knuckles moving, lie approached within
half a yard of the Prosecutor, Ins left sidle being to-
wards Mr. W.'s right side; repeating Isis applica-
tion for admission ; the Prisoner drew his hand from
his bosom, with a rapidity which escaped observa-
tion, and struck Mr. Wilde on his side. Mr. Wilily
felt no pain at the moment of being struck, awl
was unconscious of being wounded; but be almost
immediately retired into the parlour, when, feeling
something warm at his sick. lie drew ulnae his waist-
coat and shirt, and found his side hi _.eri_seig
lie went out, and cried, " Murder?" The
Prisoner was still in the court, not attempting to
escape, and Mr. W. desired that I.e might be se-
cured. Mrs. Wilde then came down stairs to Mr.
W. accompanied by him children ; they sent lair
assistance, and Mr. W. was led into the parlour.
A surgeon was sent fur.
On the Bev. Mr. NlVscross-examinstion by Mr.
PEARSON, he said lie did not know. when Drossy

offered to return the 51., whether lie really lied any
money, further than from the construction of Pri-
'once* own words. The Prisoner did not appear to
be intoxicated on the evening when he stalAred
In saying that Prisoner's countenance lightened or
brightened up when he swore that he would not
leave his court-yard, he (Mr. W.) meant that ,
lightened up as that of a man determined 'to resist
on order; he could not say, whether Prisoner had
the appeuraiace of a man inflamed 'by sudden pas-
sion or predetermined malice. When he told lie
Prisoner, on Monday, that he tad sufficient money
to keep him till the following Monday, the Pri-
soner made no reply, but only said he wished to be
et-admitted.
John Dean, a servant to Mr. Wilde. saw Pri-
soner strike Mr. Wilde with his left frond ; Mr. W.
fell down immediately, and rose up again ; witness
stood' lose behind his master at the time.
Mr. Williams, a surgeon at Poutesbury, was
called in to Mr. Wilde's assistance; examined the
wound, which was two or three inches deep; there
war much CfrUblUll of blood ; it was a severe
wound. Mr. W. was confined to his bed four eir
ire days, and was not capable of being removed to
his usual residence in Shrewsbury for lei or eleven
days, fur fear of inducing lever, as an intl./maltose
was to be apprehended. Witness descritred the
wound with a pen on paper (it was nearly in this
shape and produced the knife with which
the act was committed. [The identity of this knife
was fully established by the succeeding witnesses.]
With respect to the wound, one line of it was

termed by the thurrt, the other by the withdraw.