The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-11-22 00:00:00

CIIARGES OE LIBEL

Joseph Russell, of Birniiiighain, was this day
brought up to plead to an information laid against
bun, fur selling the Second Number of a publica-
tion called the Republican, which was alleged to
monis' a seditious and blasphemous libel.
'hr Defendant had been brought up, on a foriner
day, to plead to this information, but hi. plea was
postponed, as he was in custody after a conviction,
b,r which he has since received the judgment of the
Court, for otlimg Mr. Hutie's Political Litany. the
Porwhes, for publi%long winch Mr. flone was hini-
seif acquitted by a London Jury.
The Defendant was this morning informed, that
the counts of the information for selling the second
cumber of the Republican, had been read over to
him on a former thy, and he had postponed his
plea. He was now called upon either to plead to
this information. or traverse his plea until next
Term. He replied. that he was refused copies of
this niformation, and in that state was unable to
plead. How could lie make out his defence until
he was fairly put in possession of the charge made
against bum Ile could not comprehend it from its
length, in the hurry of the reading over by the proper
officer. lie therefore hoped the Court would order
him copies—it was impossible for him either to plead
or to defend himself without them.

111 t. Justice flotuoy co said he had no power to
order copies to be delivered contrary to the usual

caurse.
The Defendant replied, that he had no money to
pay fur conies; the whole of his property had been
as-igiiett over for the benefit of his creditors, moil
how was he to get them ? lie repeated he could nut
No to trial without copies; and asked whether the
Court would out allow him to plead in forma pan-
penis, and then to have copies without payment.
Mr.Justict 1-14Thacitu informed !inn that hr must
first plead—that was the Br.t step to be taken : • he
might then make the customary affidavit of his not
tieing worth 51.. awl solicit permission in the punier
form, to be considered by the Court as coming be-
fare them informers parperis.
The Defendant bowed to the Court, and pleaded
Not Gailty.
INQUEST AT OLDIIAII.
Mr. SCARLET? moved the Court that the rule
fir obtained on a former day, might be made
absolute against Joseph Taylor : it was for a cri-
minal information against that person, for circulat-
ing what purported to be a ileporibun of a medical
(Gentleman named &noshes', among the Jurors,
ut Oldham, then sitting iu inquest upon the body
of John Lees, and while their verdict was pending.
The information charged Joseph Taylor with cir-
culating she paper alluded to, for the purpose of
prejudicing the minds of the Jury, whilst delibe-
rating as their oaths ups's the matter before them.
—The Learned Counsel said no cause was skews
against his rule, which was therefore made absolute.
Our readers will recollect that Mr. Scsat.Err,
his original motion, applied to have 11r. Earn-
*law included in the information with .I,oireph
Taylor, but the Court did not see sufficient cause
to grant his application. It was therefore now made
absolute solely against the latter.
The paper purports to be the depsition of Mr.
Earnshaw, respecting the wounds ofJolin Lees, and
for cause of his death, which be was not psrmitt. d
ti state to the Coroner's Jury, when culled upon
brfore them, as he refused to take an oath, bring a
member of the Soviet) of Friends.
SHARP PRACTICE.
Mr. COOPS& moved for a rule to shew cause why
the Defendants, two in number, should not be dis-
charged out of custody under au execution, and
allowed to *lgo • coprecit for the payment of the
tiernand, by instalments of two pounds a month.
By the affidavit oa which he moved, it appeared
that the Defendants had signed a cognorit for pay-
eient of about iO/. the amount of debt and costs
to the Plaintiff in the case, hut not keeping
up their payments, execution had sued out, but
clay were not lii custody. In this state of things a
friend of the Defendants, named Buck, applied to
Cie attornies of the Plaintiff, Messrs. Cross and
Lewis, on their behalf. and offered to pay 5/. and
to sign a new cognorit fur payment of the remainder,
at Q(. a month. This was agreed to by Mr.Crwo, Mr.
Lewis being present, and a time was fixed for pay-
ment of the 5/. at Mr. Cross's office. In the meals
time, doubts arose in the minds of the Defendants,
that if they went to Messrs. Cross and Lewis's
officer or elsewhere, to execute the new cognovit,
they would take advantage of the circumstance to
arrest them. Mr. Buck called again on Mr. Cross.
acid stated what were the fears of the Defendants,
a Wing, that lie bad assured the Defendants they
hid toi reason to fear any such dishonourable ad.
vantage being taken of them. Mr. Cross, Mr.
Le wig being present at the time, said he should
scorn to be guilty of any such dishonourable con-
duct. Under this assurance, the Defendants went
at the time apptiiiited to Mr. Cross's office, the W.
was paid. and some conversation took place respect.
tug who should pay for the stamp for the new cog-
mud it was agreed it should be added to the
amount of the debt. Mr. Lewis went out, under
pretence of getting a cognoeit stamp, but presently
returned with a bailiff, by whom both the Defeti-
dant, were taken into custody. The present appli-
cation was, that Mr. Lewis and Mr. Cross should
pay the expenses of this proceeding, and that the
Defendants should be allowed to execute a new,
cagnovit.—Rule to shew cause granted.
Mr. itnittee BATLEY sat at /Vial A*ls fur the
Chief Justice. No case of interest occurred.

Sir FaAscii &auErr his received notice, that
the ATTORNBY-GIiNERAL has filed an ex officio
inforin4iion against Wan fur the letter to the Elrctors
IVratiniuster uu the subject of the Manchester
u traps.

P" LICE.

GUILDWALL.
Saturday Thomas Fcark:, a middle-aged man, of respect-
ahle •ppcarauce, was cliaigc.l with a fraud on David
Williams, • watchman. The Prosecutor, ■ very simple-
looking person, hail been taken by the Prisoner into •
public-house iu St. Marlin's-le-Grand, where the latter
engaged with another person, who happened to be pre-
sent, in fairing up, first fur silver, and then fur a Bank-
note, and lining all his money except a SI. note, applied
to the Prisoner to change it, which he was unable to
do; but advanced first a IL and then a 21. note, the larger
wide being placed before him on the table as secnrity,—
The Prisone►, however, shortly after snatched up the whole
of the money mail made tie with it, but was pursued, and
the notes belonging to Williams were found iu his pus-
Ws ' .

The Prionser's Solicitor contended that nn offince had
been committed, inasmuch as the Prosecutor parted with
his money willingly; but the Illagistrale's clerk said it had
been decided to lw a felony where persons had been enticed
to play and been cheated out of their money, mid also
in the old trick of ring-dropping. It was replied, in those
cases the persons had no intention to part with their money,
when Sir Wm. Domville observed, therevould be no doubt
that Williams did not intend to part with his money. Ile
was decidedly or opinion Ibat a felony had been committed.
The Prisoner was committed to take his trial fur stealing
the bank notes, value 31.

Bows