The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-08-25 00:00:00

George Mercdith stated—that tha lest blow was given by the dE.
umeti.

The prisons made no derma..
His master gave him a good character.
Mr. Justice 'Pasta summed up the evidence to the Jury.•
Verdict.—Guilty. Sentence—One Month's imprisonmmt.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.
NORTHLT3IIIERIAND ASSIZES.
NrwcAerLE•uros-TrN E. SATURDAY, Avocrr 21.

trzolf-N SIPE.
Rtf,•rc the Ilan. Sir J. HU1.1.01-ir,
The Learned Judge took his scat in the County Court ptecisely
at nine o'clock, when

--.-......
John Duke, for feloniously marrying one Jane Brown, his for-
mer wife, Mary Mahany, being still alive. was pu: to the bar.
On Mary 31ahany, the prosccutrix, being cuUed, she did not
appear. ~
The Jvne z immediately ordered her re:agnizance to bee:treated,
which was accordingly done.
Charles Burke. aged rtsj years, and Rickard Armetronz, Aged 44.
convicted at the last March Assizes for feloniously stealing certain
goods, the property of William Little, of Ilexham, and sentenced
to death, were put to the bar, when-his Lordship I.3'd that their
ease had undergone the opinion of the Judges, and bra subsequent
Art of Parliament the capital part had been tak:n or, but as their
offence was of. an enormous nature. thejudgmen• of the Court was,
that they be severally transported foe the term of their natural lives.
Ale.rander Bosertson, fur sheep,nealing, was the next pesener pat
to the bar.
31r. Loon state.' the case * e part of the Crown, and Mr.
Rein called in support of the ecution.
Wm. Readhead--Ile aent his sheep to 3lorpe:h market; they i
o
were his own property ; he sent them to one John Gibbs, his chap-
' herd, and had them put in a field thud, i
John Gibbs. examined by Mt. attn.—He is the shepherd; be'
was to take them to Morpeth market. He saw then, at lire o'clock :
anti found none missing. These were other sheep in the held. He
took them out in the morning, and found two missing. He went
in search of diem widi James Taylor, and found them near War-
ton. Ile left Morpeth at seven o'clock, and proceeded to Hatton on I
the Wall. He got there about eleven o'clock. Mr. Taylor had
also missed suns sheep. We found the prisoner there; he had
nine sheep with hint ; he knew two of them. He went forward and
got a constable. One sheep had lio 0 on The back, and the other
two an A, and two bad red marks on their hicks. Ile is the sleep.
heed, and knew them ; thiy had been under his care from the Ist
of November. They were has master's property. He put the'
marks on them himself.
By the lent:E.—lle has to doubt of the marks. The prisoner
said that he wished the sheep to be taken care of whilst he tried
to end the person who gave them him, and that he wished the con-
stable to go with hint, which be refused.
James Taylor, examined by Mr. Rctn.—He drove sheep on
the 9th of March, for Mr. Howell, his master.
Bar the Jc DU c—Caa't say how far Hatton on the Wall is from
W ton.
(Palm recalled by the Junot--Can't say how for it is off.
William Brett examined by Mr. lensit—He is a ennstable ; they
are sic nines from each other. Gibbs cane to him; he took the
prisoner; he had nine Aber', with him; he said he had got them
at Alorpcth of one Mr. Reid ; he was to take them to the Three
Tons, at lieddonon-the-Wall for hem. He said Mr. Reid assisted
him out of Morpeth with them.
The A; DGE called on the prisoner for his defence.
The prisoner said they were given to hint by a man of the name
of Reid, and that he wished the countable to go with him after the
person who had given hint them to drive.
The !awned JCDGE charg.si the Jury, and said it was particu-
larly to be regretted that the constable had not accompanied the
prisoner to the place where he said be originally had them. The
prisoner had told a consistent story all along, and it would be for
the Jury to say whether the prisoner had taken them with a felo-
nious intent, or whether they had not sent by Mr. Reid, who was
only heard of by name, and give the prisoner the doubt.
The Jury retired, and brought in a verdict of Guilty —DeJth.
The Clerk of the .tnaigns asked the prisoner what he had to say
why judgment of death should not be recorded against him ?
The prisoner stood mute until he was tenured from the bar.
Thomas Booth was then put to the bin, and stood capitally in-
dicted for stealing a ttun gelding, the property of Mr. Thomas
Thompson.
Mr. Lout stated the case on the part of the Crown. The
Learned Gentleman called

Thomas TI;;;;;;;JVhe prosecutoe—Be was at Stagshawbardt
fair on the 3th of July; he pater:gild a pony. 'and tool it to a
ptibtfc-bour-, Mt give It into the care of an officer ; he paid
M. 13s. for it; he saw it afterwards about seven in time evening,
when it was in the foallard ; he went again to the hone fair, and
saw the prisoner with the pony. I said, " What do you ask for
the dun pony ?" He said Ili.; he said a person had given it to
him at that public-house (panting to the place). I laid hold of
him and the pony, and mod it was mine, and took him before the
Bailiff; he did not say from whom he had the pony.
Cross.ciamined by 31r.Cooxsox—He is a cattle dealer—not a
horse dealer ; he bought the pony about eleven o'clock ; he was
amongst the cattle all day ; he was in the tents among the beer
and ale; he might have had two or three glasses of ale on that
day ; never saw the prisoner before ; he never spoke to him until
he catched him with his pony ; he never saw him in any of the
tents; would swear that he was not in one kept by a man of the
name of 3laish ; a man of the name of Weight was with him;
nothin was said respecting • pound note and a great coat; be
heard Weight say there was some dispute about • hone and three
pounds: he had no doubt the dun pony was Ids ; he did not say
it was; he only asked him if he would bell it ; he never said that
the potty belonged to another man who would take 111. for it. He
appeared to be in liquor, but capable of doing business; never said
to the hostler that he would take 2tk. and the great coat; lie never
said any thing about 201. to the hostler.
By the Jr nor—The pony was 13 or 14 hands high.
The J CDGE—it is described as a pony or gelding. Now there
is no mention of the word pony in the Statute. His Lordship
spoke of a case where a niece was called • filly, which was held to
be larceny in one ease, and felony in the other.
Gilbert Snowden Reid. examined by Mr. R ern—lle was hostler;
he recollects the prosecutor putting a pony under his care, it was a
dun pony. lie tied it to a gate first, until be put it into the fold.
This was in the afternoon. He saw they:ismer that evening about
half an hour before lie tied it up; the prisoner was riding on a
Chesnut pony. He was in the stable when the pony was taken
away. The fair is not above 30 or 40 yards off the house. I said.
the pony is not your's. He said he had bought it. I asked hint to
pay for the hay, and to remember the hostler; he said he had no
small change, but afterwards gave the atableboy a penny. Ile is
sure it was the same pour.
Cross-examined by lllr. Cooxsost—He is quite sure that the
prisoner is the individual who took the pony ; be never said
that either the prisoner or • lad had taken away the galloway ;
never said, that if Booth would pay 201. he would not appear
against hint at the assizes; never said that the prosecutor would
compound the felony for a pound note or his top coat. He was not
in • tent kept by a Mrs. Blanchard ; never heard the-prisoner say,
" I'll be ti—d if I dr., as I tun innocent."

, .....
Re-examined by 31r. bosii—The pony tsbne.
Joseph Hall, examined by Mr. the constable who
took the p: ironer on the 6tn ofJuly ; the bailitTgave him in charge.
He said n man put it in his hands, and that he would not take
lens than eight guineas for it. He afterwards took him before a
Magistrate ; lie said he had got into this mess by being drunk ; his
deposition wu not taken doers in writing.
Mr. Losrt—l will tall the 14Ingistrages clerk.
The Juno E—lt always ought to be done, and I am bound to
consider it as such.

Cross-zxamined by Mr. Cooing° N—lle did not say he was sure
Weight was the man who gave it him.
The J ync E—Prionner, if you have anything to say in your de-
fence, now is your time. . . .

Prisoner-1. was in liquor, and Weight has had a spite apinst
me these seven years ; he once b indica my mother out of a pound
note.

Mr. Coozsox called a person of the name of Wiliam—lle Is a
saddler at llexhatn. In a conversation which lie hsd with the host.
lee, he (the hostler) said, that he could not say if the prisoner or a
lad ook away the pony on the I;th of August. heard the pro-
secutor say that lie would compound the felony for '2os. and his
top autt. He said, let old Booth raise me !W. and 1 will not ap-
pear against him. It was b accideut he saw the parties: be did
not seek them.
Christopher Thomas Marth—lfs is a carrier in this town. Ills
father had a tent at the fair, and lie was there to assist him. The
Prisoner came to the tent. He had not a pony in the morning,
hut be had in the evening. He came on a gelding. lie thought
hint tipsy, and told him to take care of himself. His hat tell off.
Ile was afraid of his life, he was so tipsy. lie saw him talk to
three men---the prosecutor was one of them. One said, " Toth.
take care of yontsclf, or we will play you a trick before night."
The prisoner said •• I'll be If you an play any trick upon
me. Witness has known the prisoner eight or ten years. Worn
he has come to Newcastle fair he has slept at his house; he
bears a good character, for err thing witness know..
Cross-examined by Mr. Lose—lle does not know what the
other two were doing. The prosecutor was in his father's tent.
Matthew Emus examined by 3lr. Losu—lle has known the
prisoner from his infaacy, and he has always borne the character of
an honest man. The prisoner is by trade a black :mitts.
The J t• hoz charged the Jury, and said the prisoner was charged
with a carnal felony, and it would be for them to say by their Ter.
diet whether the prisoner became possessed of the pony with a felts.
Mous intention. or whether he had been employed by any other
lt+ sill the pony, as he had stated, and form they own
opinions from the evidence before them.
The Jury retired and brought in their verdict Cuity—Death.
Thnneas Trotter for highway rubbery was acquitted—the prose.
tutor not appearing agslnet hint. •
John Ckwei, a child aged only 11 years, was charred with steal-1
ing • silver watch, the property of William Heron.
31r. Lost: stand the case oE the part or the Craven, Ind called

William Reves—He lives at Iforpeth = remimbers the 14th of
Jul► last ;he lei his wtftelt on day In his venting desk ;
don't know if he kicked the desk; he locked the doors of the room;
you might enter the room by a window in the yard ; he left the
window open; he had been out. and missed his watch when he
came hack ; he traced a fuotwark near the wi: low ; could not my
if a large or ■ small one. He knows the prisoner at the bar; re
members seeing him near the garden on that day; he afterwards
found hi, watch under the door and charged hint with the theft,
and he did not deny it.
Robert. Ilumpbre) s czar:mined—lle 13 a police officer, and lives
at Murneth ; I.e apprehended the prisoner on the Ilith of July.
and took hint to the House of Correction; he asked me what I
took him there for? I told him for stealing William Heron's
watch; he said that he had put it under the door; he has had the
watch.

Thomas Hardbottle, a child of ten years, examined—Those
who tell lies go to Heaven, sod those who tell the truth go to
Ilell—he Afterward* coervted, the mistake.--H'imess saw the
prisoner with a watch; he gave, it him to keep bilk( of; he had
fallen into the River ; he took it out of his clothes; it had a
chain and seal ; he gave him the watch, anti he gave it to Edward
Challener.
Edward Challener examined.—He knows the prisoner ; saw him
on the Thursday before he was taken up ; Hardbottle gave the
watch to him 4 the prisoner came out of the water and asked for it ;
lie said it was his father's watch.
Hobert Henderson, another boy, examined--Ille knows the pri.
loner ; he had a watch with him: t he saw it ; he said he paid
is. for it; he took a knife and tiled to open it, and chipped a
piece elf the free ; it had only one point ; does not know what the
prisoner did with it ; that is the place (pointing to the dial) • he
saw it broken. The watch was produced in Court. The boys
spoke to the chain and hey, but not to the watch.
Mr. Heron, the prosecutor, was recalled, who described it to be
his watch.
The Learned Judge then called on the prisoner for his defence.
The prisoner cried, and had nothing to say, but that his father
was here. The poor old man only spoke to his age..
The Learned Judge charged the Jury, and said that thee* sp.
peered very little doubt of the prisoner's_gutte.
The Jury found the prisoner Gatiltg—Death.
The prisower, kneeling down, claimed the benefit of the statute.
The Learned Jt; E—You have been convicted on the clearest
evidence, and it is necessary that an example should be made of
' you, in order to reform you and deter others. The jud ent
'of the Court is, that vow be imprisoned
months in the gaol of reignmouth, and twice whipped, and kept ;
to hard labour; and takegreat care in future, or you may be ulti.
I irately hanged.
Thomas Jobfiv, for tittering a false counterfeit note, was dis.
charged by proclamation.
The Grand Jury informed his Lordship that they had disposed
of all the business before tht.o, and that they had reason to believe '
that there were no more bills to be presented.
Mr. Baron licu.ocK—Uestletnen, I thank you, acid you are
discharged.
At half-past twelve o'clock the business finished on the part or ,
the Crown, when his Lordship told the Crow.; Jury they *ere also •
discharged.
Ills LOADSII44. afterwards sat at Nisi Prins, and took
nosecoon V. WILKINSON; C. P.
Mr. COOESO s opened the plesdiugs, and said, this was an action
On the case, and brought by the plaintilr, a surgeon, for malice'
attendance; the amount claimed was only 121. 9s. The Learned ,
Gentleman then called

Thomas };laden—ln June, 1022, he resided at Relstrode. He
had a wife and lout children ; one of his children took fever, and
he sent to Newcastle fa 'dr. Ilusegood ; he came directly (four
miles distant), and inquired into our condition. Witness Oat
working at that time, but was poorly. off. They all fell ill with
the fever woo afterwards ; they were in a very destitute state, and
one week had only Is. id. to support his family; the neighbours
were kind to them; he got a man to write to the overseer; Wit-
tenstall is his settlement : no person else wrote. The plaintiff at-
tended the whole time, and he was very attentive ; no permn could
take more care than he did. A man of the name of Taylor came
to take fare of him. He gave him a pound note; he did not owe
him any money.
Crow-examined by Mr. Loam—lle made 14s. anti 13s. per
week; never made 30s. One of the children was ill a month.
He paid him nothing. lie made no application to the parish for
two months. Ile was out of work when Taylor came. lie was
dl for ten weeks.
Robert Snowden—He recollects the plaintiff going to Wittenstall
in the month of °eptember. He called upon him, and went to the
overseer ; Sir. George Wilkinson, the defendant, was the overseer
at that tints. !le saw hint. The plaintiff stated to him the nature,
of his errand, of the distressed state of the family, and that they
were all ill of typhus fever. He said that they must not be lost,
but that he must send them something. He received him in a very
kind manner. He cannot say if he gave hint a pound note for the
benefit of the family, but he said that the family were not to be
lost. His son acts occasionally for him. Witness belongs to the
toirnship. Can't say if Taylor did anything for him in the shape
of en agent ; he acted as ehurchwasdr..and overseer for his father.
He has seen him with the books.
Cross.examined b Mr. Caxswet.s.—Can't say what time it
Plaintiff was in September. did not say how long be 'm attended
the family ; doee not recollect be said he would won be well.
Inherit Ilarryman examined by Mr. t'ookaox—Mr. !lose.
good gave hint • pound note; he gave as. to Ms. Elides, and he
applied the rest to the family.
Robert Snowden recalled by the Jrnoz—He has known Sir.
Wilkinson, overseer. for tour years ; his son officiated for Mat ; he
was overseer at that time.
Ale. Eisdeu recalled—Wilkinson said the bill was heavy ; it was
a stiffish one ; but he thought he hail been moderate as he had not
charged more than ss. a journey; said he was coming to Newcastle,
but he did not say for the purpose of paying the bill
' Mr. Lost; contended that the party who had originally employed
llosegeod were the persons who ought to pay the bill, at.d not
the parish, besides which he could prove that the defendant was
not the overseer at the time, end that Air. Wilkinson would have
to pay the whole, if a verdict went in favour of the plaintifE
What Wilkinson did, was done in charity, and nothing more.
The Learned JuDGE addressed the jury, and said there could
be no doubt of the reasonableness of the plaintiff's bill ; and the
only question for their consideration was, had the defendant made
himself liable for the payment of the plaintiff, as overseer of the
parish of Wittenstall.
The Jury asked for the bill, when th retired, and afterwards
brought in their verdict for the plaintiff:— 121. ifs

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