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London, England, 1824-04-23 00:00:00

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the Jury, slier they had heard the witnesses for the peewee,'" to
as, ifhe did not come within t!:e meaning and provision of the Act
for restraining the sale of piddle offices. If 7'aggart himself did
rot receive the money, it sea clear that h: knew Bareonthe was to
have it, a fact undenied by him. A fraud war decidedly commit-
ted, and it would be for the Jury to deride by whom it was so com-
mitted.
Mr. John Debb examined by Mr. (it to: r. v.—l am a Director
of the East [oldie (alumna:v. and was el-cted in April. 111'21.
Shortly after I received a letter from Mr. Taggart, which I
answered. In June and August following I received letters from
him; the letter of June was enclosed in that of Attircet..
Mr. Morgan proved that the letters handed to the wnnewi were
in the heed-writing of Taggart.
The letters, which were then put in and read, stated the wish oft
defendant to obtain *cadetship for a Mr. Pritchard front Mr. Bebb,'
and at the same time apologising for taking such a liberty with a
gentleman of whom he knew an little. The letter of defendant
represented this Mr. Pritchard as his godson, that several of his
relatives had been in the service of the Honourable East India
Compute, and that he had repaired to hondon for the purpose of
ensaufying himself for a situation in the Bombay Cavalry.
Mr. Bebb's examination resumed.-1 answered Mr. Taggart's
i.tn.rr on the nth of August, stating that I mold not then give
r me appointment, but that I hoped I should be able to do so in the
Its, year. I received an answer to that letter, thanking me for the
hoe I held out. In the April following I received another letter
tot Mr. Taggart (letter produced end read), and I promiaed
•be appointment. I subsemiently heard from Mr. Taggart that
P tabard was dead, expressing a hope that I would give the sp-
p•rintroent to Mr. Bennett. I received a letter, which I lost, from
defendant, and I ant confident it was in the same hand-writing as
:.11 the former letters.
The appointment, signed by Mr. Debi), was put in Red reatL
It /toted the petition of Mr. Kennett for the cadetship, and the re-
tvmmendation of Mr. Tagaart, who plesi.tad his honour that he
hu.d received the appoirtment gratuisaarly from Mr. Bebb, and
Into he (the defendant) Rave it gratuitously to Bennett.
Croft-examined by lir. SCAIti.T.TT.—I had no knowledge of
Mr. Taggart before his letter to me. Ile is an old man—passed
the middle time of lite. Not seventy years of age. Mr. Taggart
toss •two nen to his name at the East India House.
.Mr. John Mort:Re—l was formerly Attached to the navy. I
know Mr. Taggart, and also Beare:Mau, wha was for a long time
his steward. 1 have seen them dine together, nevi he was treated
es a confidential servant. I was in Glamtegaiushire in 1820, and
fea thence wrote a letter to Rascombe, relative to • R i ttt atior. for .
Pritchsrd. The letter was put in and tad ;it was dated I
lab The letter was simmered, and I aftrmards spoke to
Jlmo
en the Nubian. I said I would give him Illtt!cl., but
hard wirs rnemo. ark
taai slue
or bile. Taggart lAbgerievethte des' th. of 31r. Pritchard, I
Mr. Frederick Bennett, whose brother is a stork-broker. I
• proposition to Mr. F. Bennett, through a Mr. Holland. I
natbsed the 1001. to 11.41 and, who repered it to Bennett, as far
en I believe. At a subseqiuent period I ray Basenmbe at Chide-
hest, when I expressed a wish that Bennett emild he substituted
'Pritchard, and that the same would be done as to the money. I
trationed this to Mr. l'aggart before I mentioned it to Mr. Has-
Oahe. 1 said I though: it would he a pity that the appointment
Amid be lost after the death of Mr. Prhchatti. and that It would
be a very kind act If he would interest himself for Bennett. lie
then asked about the young man's family, arli said he would Mu-
tat himself. I don't think he knew Iknnetibefore. I went to
tThislehurat with Bennett after his appointment. I walked with
Mr. T. in the garden, when s great deal was said obeli, Itmeonibe.
He said particularly, " I have nothing to del'aith any thing be.
tween you and Bascombe." To which I answered." Very well.
Sir." or something of that nature—but the subjkt was certainly pot
on so the appointment of Mr. Bennett. We talked of various
+objects for above an hour. I believe Mr. Taggart knew that Mr.
Dannott was to comedown to ehislehurst with roe. The patties.
lore of the conversation I cannot speak to. Whoa Bennett sailed,
I.rectived one hundred sovereigns from Mr. Iftr)land. • I did not
give than to Bascombe, but in place a promissory note for 1051.
boring Interest, which I intended to have paid; The note was
ultimately pet& Mr. Taggart wrote to me to tee Briscombe pro-
Emly treated, that Is to ear, to take op the bilb .without which
Taggart threatened to take steps for its recovert. .., I remember
meeting Sabine, an attorney, on the subject of thelnoncy. I believe
I celled upan him of my own accord.
Cromeziejtined by Mr. SCARIXTT.—I was needy 15 years ac-
quainted with Basmusbe, who often obtained money fur me. lam
of opinion that Bascombe has considerable influenceaver Taggart,
who is infirm, and nearly 70 years of age ; he require the (Instant
attendance of somebody t he never moves without Bascorrila bring
with him. The letters now produced were written in •fttfifideniv,
sad finding use could be made of them, I destroyed all the other
arta 1 had, to prevent their being brought before the Court. Bas.
Ambit stated that he dared not mention the money to Mr. Taggart.
to weeds 10 that effect. I never named the subject of the money to
Mr. Tamil. He has securities for money I now owe hint to the
=of t. I gave the promissory note in September 1822.
being then gone to India four mouths. Ilascombe made
se application to me ter money before I brought him the pmmis.
Any tax Rasabmbs woe placed in some difficulty by my not tak-
lag op the note, and it was not till after that, that I had any con.
lionetiCO with Mr. Taggart, who is quite the contrary of an as:a-
ria.' man 1 he is extremely generous, and ready to do any good
fat, ff asked by Bascombe to do it. Mr. Taggart is a bachelor,
and a man of considetable fortune.
slinatamined by the ATTORWEY-oElfrast..—l sent the pm.
usimery note to Barioombe inclosed in a letter (produced). The
latiter promised faithfully to take 'op the twee. and also itteloled to
lift to get discounted by file Taman. I rather think the bill was
not discounted; Inusnot positively say.
James Holland. examined by Mr. Sergennt BosaNnole.--I,
as a swim, is Tottenham-court-nod, and was a friend of Rea-
bees. I paid 1001. to Morgan. in consequence of arrangements
made with Morgan. I saw Mr. Taggart at Garniway's. Mr.
Mama was present ; and, at Mr. Taggart's request, I introduced
Frederic Bennett to hba. This was about the month of April,
MOIL I then represented Reisnett to he a respectable young man,
sad that I could get rateable letters for him to Calcutta, if Mr.
Taggart would be bib intl ce to substitute Bennett in place of
IMs. Pritchard. Mt. art Inquired as to his education, and
~.,e,„
istiremed himself 0 with that as well as with his posonal
al e . addiarg, that he would do what he could for him. Lennett, examined by Mr. 1143LLAND.—I was introduced
by Holland to Illerra, and afterwards gave him one hundred sore.
seigat. I did not brow Mr. Bascombe then. I met them at the
Block Exchange, Man Mr. Sabine asked me if my brother went
et India ? It answered, " Yea ;" and he said the appointment was
through Morgan ? I also answered—" Yes ; ' but asked
re7firtrbl ine the ohjeet of these inquiries before I would answer him.
Me then said, calling Mr. Bascombe, " This is the lemon who
was to receive the money, in place of which he gave him a rote,
tideediabmioured. Mr. flaacombe now thinks that you might id-
ioms a nallicient sum to take up that note, which I could not tons.-
plg with." They said that those matters were secret, and on that
onserted.
Mesa *tease foe the pmsectitiod closed.
Mu iloolteswir, for the defendant, Taggart, commenced by
*bet assay of the friends of his client, not expecting
to-day, were not now in attendance, to bear
M ' silty and generosity of Mr. Taggart's cha.
11101. Am bar as the ease had been proved, however, he felt he
WOO Mee aaistance, for the facts in evidence disproved
awl*
alp*
• fter an appointment to take place at a subs(.
was an old servant of Mr. Taggart's, and
beat mesas bequently advanced sums of money to other per.
smess Belted tame any reason to doubt the fidelity of his Perri,tt,
RINI he Reed net ton the Jury how liable generous men were to be
arks abr pima& in 'itch a situation. The letters of Morgan to
Samesenbe all alai that Bascombe had great influence on Tag.
gort g end whoa 'Morgan wrote about the appointment, the Jury
traced from jtogyin iskevolf that he would not dare mention any
111, of motley to Mr. Taggart.
(Here some .1 the Jury observed, that they had no doubt of the
honour and innocence of M. Taggart. ]
There was neither criminal motives nor knowledge in Mr. Tag.
and if the servant wanted to crotinue his influence he would
i.i,
~ not hy always taking honest means. If Morgan gave him
for getting the bill discounted, did the Jury believe Barminbe
wroldi tell his muter 4•1 circumstance ? Certainly net, for that
•=1 excite his mastb's suspicions, and weaken that influence
he had before enjoyed. In fact, throughout the whole of the
vs_ e there was not the slightest panicle of guilt in the conduct of
lie Taggart. To be sure he said of Pritchard what was not to be
=e4l, but they had the trample of Mr. Hebb himself in using
of recommendation, which no personal knowledge of Ben.
1
justified him in making. It was what every one did when
g a good office at the representation of re‘pectable persona.
case of his client was safe, although he had no persona to call
le abaramer 4 but that he cousidered to be now onuettemary.
The Corsair SERGEANT (for the defendant Bascombe) ad.
Mows; the Joey, and eaprereed a hope, the', as they had already
sitgaitied their °peels as to Mr Taggart, they would give a amn-
ia, benefit to Mr. It:Lacombe. He hoped that Om servant would not
he secriti:«l for the master—the poor not sacrificed to the rich, and I
tie • z.ak to the strong. lie considered it rather a curious circuity.
stance, that Morgan, clearly guilty of this crime, wan not prove.
ented, but thex• two peramis—Taggart and Bascombe. What en.
tided Fluurean to so notch favor? Mr. Morgan was now released I
from all &mete, by being made a without; and the worst that could
be said of I 4iscumbe was, tint being a goodmatured man, lie e .. I
toed himself, with his nostm, to do a good an for his friend Mor-
gan, e• d that not for etyy positive or valuable consideration, but
for Enid° vague hope and speculation that lie might receive a benefit,
wilitich in the end he slid not. Thew res no tut:gination of' art er
contrivance of fraud on the part of his clitnt. If he committed any
wrung, Morgan was the sok cause of it ; and he hoped the Jury
noul•1 not forget, on viewing the whole of 116 conduct, that he not
only Liel nut received any benefit, but was involved to considerable
ellflItuld• z, in consequence of this transaction.
lime LORD (:111 LI. Jusvte x briefly noticed the particular points
of the evidence, stating, at tire same time, that there could be no
doubt of the acquittal of one and the guilt of the other defendant.
The Jury, after retraining a few minutes in consultation, retired
to the Jury-room at six o'clock. and returned in about twenty mi.
nutex wito • verdict of Not Guilty against James Taggart, Esq.
and Gail., against Henry Bastombe.
The Court was crowded throughout the day.

DRLAIAI l'L ACCIDENT.—On Monday last, a shocking
accident happened at Tiverton, during the election of Church-
wardens. The tower of the Old Church was decorated with n flag,
and, whilst s.mie boys were amusing themselves about its staff, one
td. them, named Perram, about twelve years or age, climbed to the
outside of the tower, and, dreadful to relate, till headlong from it !
nu porn fellow, it is needless to add, was killed on the spot.
Ms Ludy presented a mot distrusting spectacle, and was fall of
Jaissinians and twaimen.—Tarirun Courier.