The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-02-06 00:00:00

.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, WiLSTMINSTIR—Fcs. 3.

Tilt RING v. TUC REV. TROUAS PRIESTLY.
The proceedings in this case were resumed this
Morning, and several affidavits of great length, on '
the part of the Prosecution, in answer to the Defen-
dant's, were read : those affidavits were chiefly ex-
planatory of the various transaelions between these
patties, and insisted that the sum of 1291.. which
was appropriated to discharge an annuity, was by
no means a voluntary contribution to the Defend-
ant, but an aCtual loan, to he repaid at a future
period ; cad, instead of oppressive, reptescuted the
conduS of the deceased Mr. Stylesmau as forbear-
ing and lenient.
Mr. Easaia e, on the behalf of the Defendant,
in a most impressive addresS to the Court, adverted
to the age and situation in life of his client, who, in
• the year 1776, was only possessed of a living
of .501. per annum, with a wife and five children:
his difficulties obliged him, like many others, to
grant an annuity upon this small stipend ; while,at the
same tirue, the deceased, Mr. Stylesmaa, possessed
a property of 50001. a year ; and his advancing
one half of 1291. to redeem the annuity, could not
be ethisidered so extraordinary a gift, the remainder
.
btVer ade up by time other persons. lie cen-
trism all the subsequent circumstances, un-
til the dispute relating to vicarial tythes, there seas
no one aft which could show that this was a loan ;
but, on the contrary, that it was considered by all
the parties a voluntary contribution. The subse-
quent assignment, be insisted, was obtained by sur-
prise, and from that period a system of oppression
continued on the part of Mr. Stylesman, and by his
executors, after his decease. In a moment of irri-
. tation of mind, his client wrote the letter in ques-
tion, for which he was sincerely sorry, and felt the
strongest contrition ; and he now, in the spirit of
that humility, cliaraCteristic of his profession, sub-
mitted himself to the judgment of the Court.
Mr. WiLsoes, on the part of the prosecution, con•
sidered the affidavits of the Defendant an aggrava-
tion of his offence, nor could he complain of the
' ;severity of the Frosecutors, as he might have lain in
gaol since last term ; but it was not their wish that
he should sisTer any punishment, till all the farts
were before the Court. He contended, the con-
' dua of the late Mr. Stylesmao, and his Executors,
was no more than that of any person pursuing a
leg 4 debt ; and this at a time when the Defend-
ant's income bad considerably increased. and when
- they supposed bins veiledly able to pay that which
... he 0 frequently in his letters admitted to he due.
After some further observations, 'elating to-these •
transattions, the Learned Counsel concluded, that
..• through the whole of these several proceedings, Mr.
Stylesman had aged with the greatest lenity and
forbearance towards the Defendant ; whose condu,"l,
on the contrary, was aauated by very differeut
Motives.
Mr. Hatron made a few observations on the
CUM side ; and Mr. Justice Lay:aerie e pronounced
the judgment of the Court, in nearly the follow-
. ir.g words :
'Thomas Priestly, you are brought here to re-
ceive the ItstigiTlCTit Of the Court fora libel, tend-
ing to disgrkese and vilify the charafter of the late
Mr. A. titylesmati, to degrade his memory. and
• vex and injure his surviving relatircs. In mitiga-
tion of your offence, you have endeavoured to in-
duce the Court to think, that the crime of which
you are guilty, was committed under an irritation
ot mino, from the harsh usage you had received
from hlr. Stylesman in his life time, and from his
executors since his decease. You should have
considered, if you had any legal right, the law
would relieve you ; and, by applying to the Court,
you would receive ample justice. If' the letter were
written with a view to obtain money, to which you
had no title, or if done for the sake of insulting his
• memory by slander, your offence is the more cri-
minal. We lament that a person of your age
should have so little controul over his passions,
and have so far forgotten his duty, as a Minister of
the Gospel of Peace, as not to prainice the prin-
ciples you inculcate, and to have so little in your
recolledion a part of that Gospel, which enjoins
• •us to forgive our enemies. The Court, therefore.
s• considering all the circumstances of this case, do
. order and adjudge, that for this offence you pay to
r- the King a use of 101. and enter into security for
• - your future good behaviour, for three years, in the
sum of 1001."

••. The Defendant having paid the fine, and entered
into this recognizance, was discharged.
llf •
KN AR EsEog oUt.:11 ELECTION.
THE RING V. AI LIN. HUGHES and ABBOT.
. The Defendants is this case were brought op to
receive the final juJgment of the Court, conviaed
of a violent riot and assault at the late eleaion for
the Borough of Knaresborough, as freepuntly men-
tioned in former papers.
Having heard Messrs. Hor.sovn, RAY NC, and
SCARLET, severally, as Counsel for the Defendants,
in mitigation of punishment, and some observations
by the SOLICITOR-GENERAL, and Mr. Ser.:leant
Cocatt • on the part of the Prosecution,
Mr. Justice LAWRENCE, in pronouncintt the sen-
tence of the Court, animadverted on the violent
mendua of those parties, upon that occasion, with
great severity, particularly that of Allen, whom he
considered the master-mover, of the riot. He
thought, if such proceedings were to pass unpu-
nished, no Officer could, with safety, proceed to hold
et an eleaion. There being some distinaion between
•p• the cases of these Defendants, the Court ordered
that the Defendant, Allen, should be imprisoned for
the space of six months in 'His Majesty's gaol of
Newgate, and that the other Defendants be com-
mitted for three months to the custody of the Mar-
• • _• s.sArshalsea of this Court, and, at the el-
-1 three to give security in
the space of four years.

Ktritictr, and OTUERS.
had been convified of a
claims of the fair Credi-
ittings after last Term, at
in cur Paper of tbe• 23d of
Inciiight up for judgment.
Mr. Moms moved, that
.ennett. who was in custody
pessuitted to surrender

•
I

shal of the Marshalsea of t:
1 piration of that period, all
1001. to keep the peace for
1 f TIE KING v. ROBERT R
The Defendants, who
Consp;racy, to d.feat t:ie
1 . tors of a Bankrupt, the Sil
Guildhall, as stated fully ii
Decenth:.r, were this day 1,
n
.. .
th,!L the
erendfiq instance,
arnt,itoshi
rtetl
on a civil a6tii:n, should Li
MIMI