The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-12-05 00:00:00

WILLS V. HURST.

This was an action brought by the Plaintiff, who
resides in Martimer-street. Caveodish.square, to
recover from the Defendant 751. fo► relit of a suit
of ready-furaished apartments. and for money tent.
Mr. SCARLET? stated the Plaintiff's case to the
Jury. The Defendant, when he first come to re-
side to the Plaintiff's ready-furnished lodgings. in
1819, it was not disputed, was under age; but
whatever importance might he attached to that cir-
cumstance as a defence to this action. was rendered
of little consequence; for lie should be able to
prove, that subsequently to his attaining his ma-
jority. io 1821, Ow Defendant had promised that
the acconi.t should be paid. The Learned Counsel
called the housekeeper of the Plaintiff; who proved
the circumstances is opened.

. -
Mr. %VI Lin addressed the Jury on the part of the
Defendant, whose original name was Shirt, but
having the misfortune to have a respectable property
left him by a relative, he had taken the name of
Durst, abandoned his wastes's service (For he had
been articled to a respectable attisrney), sod entered
on such a course of extravagance and dissipation,
that before he became of age he had spent all, and
will now in the King's Bench. lie cuotended that
75/. for lodging, &c. for about eight or nine weeks
Was 511 enormous charge, and including .expensive
'liars and spirits, could lint be cuosidered as neces-
saries, and as such the Defendant could not be held
liable. The promise of the Defend.int, as stated
by the housekeeper, was a species of proof of all
others liable to doubt, end if the Jury disbelieved
that, his client was unquestionably entitled to a
verdict. The Learned Counsel awn called

The Drfendaittia father, whin proved that his
house was always open to the Defendant as his home
until he forsook rt.

Mr. SCARLETT replied.
The Jury found a verdict fur the Plaintiff—Da-
mages 741.

IVANII v. FLIGUT.

Mr. MARRTATT stated, that the Plaintiff' in this
cast was a respectable haberdasher residing in
Nlareliniont-street, Bedford-rquatre. The De-
fendant was a publican living in Tottenham-court-
road. The action was brought for 52/., tieing the
amount of goods supplied the Defendant's wife.
The Learned Counsel then called his witoesres,
lint uu tl.eir cross-examination by Mr. GIAINItYp it
cone nut that the Defendant's wife was living sepa-
rate from her husband, on account of hta halving
discovered her coming out of a houre of ill-fame in
Carlisle-street, accompanied by a paramour. The
separation was known to the Plaintiff at the time
the goods were supplied, and • great part of them
were sent in after the Defendant had positively re-
lilted to pay for soy thing winch his unfaithful wife
order.
The CHIEF JUSTICE, under these eireomatanceß,
expresailig a strong opinion against the Plaintiff's
right to recover—
Mr. MARILYATT elected In be nonsuited, and the
Plaintiff was accordingly called.

4.:01.11tT OF COMMON PLEAS, wsreasuarrts,
Wsoweso+T, Dscessuitß a.
SCIPIO V. •NOUS AND GRAY.
This was an action for assault and bast imprison-
ment.
Mr. PLATT opened the pleadings.
Mr. Serjeant HULLOCK stated the ease to the
Jury. the substance of which, is ruhatquently sworn
to by the Plaintiff's witnesses, was as
On the kith Match last Gray, one of the L)e.

ft:taints, went in con, tiny with Angus to the hotted
of a Captain Homan, tr•tdtng in one of the Alptni
Cottage'', Regime!. Palk, to demand a small ',gm
of money due to Gray, the kceper of livery shades,
for the hire of a gig and Scipio, the Plain.
tiff, w man of colour, answered tttt• bell, aid told
the Defegidants flow his waster was not sr home.
Aligns replied that he was, and that he should get
admittance. Scipio, tile black seirsiii, replied that
he was intrusted to take care of his migstri's pro.
petty in his alisenee, and hr *mild not allow Inin to
enter. Angus, upon this, oho fillsil the doubt,
capacity of green-glover and coincahl. in the neigh.
bogirlmod of Mars at ruck him on the head
a inogt violent Mow, which caused him to hired pre.
lovely. A scuffle then ensued, but with the :u•airt.
slice of other pegenos who entered the gurileo
log to the house, Scipio was eventually
b glut to the itolice glEce, end iefterttatt!.
algid acquitted at flick'''. 11.111. Fur stnx ua•ualt
the Plaintiff now sought to ,e•cocer compcilaa;togg
in datn.►Kes.

Jame* Canter drpo•etl, that he was passing by
the Alpha Cottages on the day upon %%loch the
transaction occurred. M. saw Angus entering ti
door, Gray ./1.4 on the outside. Angus called hit►
to assist in taking the man of colour. Angus en-
deavoured to force his way to the house. The man
of colour sunl hit master was not at home, and I:e
should not Ohm min to enter. Angus then struck
Scipio with has staff, in the most violent manner, co
the head, and lint his leather cap, he MUM have
had Ins Iceitil sold. fits blood flowed moat pro-
fusely, lie thought he should hate died on the spot.
Sell/10 cried out Murder!" Then Gray came in
at the garden door, noon which Angus desired hint
to take the handeulls out of his pocket, which he
did. Scipio took bold of them, and Anglia struck
him on toe hand with hisstaff, and cut his knuckles.
In the scuffle Scipio fell, aid
.Grit as•iatml him to
keep him down., Scipio aas then handcuffed, and
Brought to the police-office, 111 High-street. Gra•
also went to the office. Scipio appeared exceed.
ly weak, and looked most deplorable. He was then►
committed to
This sisirineut wus in a great measure corrobo.
rated by James Kenton, James Parker, and other
witnesses.

Mr. Serjennt VAUGHAN addressed the Jury on
behalf of the Defendants. Ile contended that the
assault lied coin M enced wish Scipio, the Plaintiff;
MOM powerful and athletic moo. If he ►huyld be
able to rove this, there could be no doubt of a
verdict for the Defeinlatts; for lie was lure he
would not be contradicted by the Court in raying.
that they were perfecily justdied in ustng the hand.
cuff's to prevent his feri,ciotis violence. He should
call witnesses to s.eur to the fact, and having done
that he shrink' submit the case of bro cliciite with
confidence to the hands of the Jury.

John Green was then sworn. lie deposed that
he lived at No. 96, Alpha Cottages; on the day in
ques.iton lie saw Gray coming out of the gate lead.
tug to Captors Iloinan's house, most futtously, as
though lie had Leen pushed out; he (witness) was
then assisted by Mr. Gray to get upon the wall,
and he saw Seipio and Angus each side collaring
.each oilier; Angus the constable then called upon
him, in the King's name, to assist in taking Scipio
into custody ; lie then got over the wall; both the
parties stood in a threatening attitude; they seemed
very mitchirliefignred with blood ; the Black seemed
mole disfigured than the other; there was no other
person at that time in the garden that he saw;
the Black was strueeling to go towards the house
and h•ll ; when die loondeuffa were produced Scipio
seiz,rl hold of them, wood the constable struck him
on the knuckles to make him let them goo; Scipio
was bleeding profusely.
On Ins ernrooexanoiriation be said, he understood
that Gray went with Augus to the house to recover
a sum of money due to loom for the hire of a horse
wort gig.
John Foxton deposed, that he was in the nei_gh-
boorhood at the tune the transaction occurred. The
loom of colour was a good deal cut; he also saw
►everal cuts on the mouth of Angus.
William Humphreys was called to depose to it
conversation which he had heard Scipio hold on the
subject. Ile said that on the 2311 of May, after
this transaction, he was sitting in a public-house,
when Scipio came in with a friend, to whom he re-
lated the following statement: —" Mr. Gray mud
the constable came to his inastar's house for some
money, due fur the hire of a gig and horse; lie
opened the door mid told them his master was not
at home. They insisted upon getting in, upon
which be threw Grey into the street and then shut
the door ; lie then took bold of Angus, and fell to
lowing him, after the manner of fighting in
his own country. He (the witness) then asked
bon whether he knew lie was a coustable ? hn
said he did tint until after he had struck him.
Ile then said the constable struck him upon
the bead, and cooltest for some persons to assist
him, upon which he cried out "Murder!" and
several persons entered, stud he was knocked down
and hasolcutred. lie then said, he called to the
by-etandery to go and fetch him his knife, mod then
striking his losiod upon the table, he declared fre-
quently, if he had got his knife, that lie would have
timidered him. He sometimes spoke iu French to
his friend, but lie did toot understand them.

Richard Fletcher ►aid he was present iu the pub.
lieshouse, and the statement made by the la►t wit.
ue•s was as nearly as pnoiible true.
Mr. Serjeant HuLtocie then replied. He
begged the Jury to dismiss from their minds any
previous acquaintinice they might Wee bad with
any of the parties iq this cause, and attach them-
selves solely to the evidence adduced before them.
It would have been well indeed for the Defendant
if he had been able to skew any legitimate cause for
his conduct ; but were we to be told so the city of
London, that if a trifling sum of motley is due to u
stable-keeper by a eentleman, that his house is to
be Invaded by a constable, and his servant insulted,
He was sure the Jury would give little credence to
the statement of Humphreys. as to the confession of
ficippio; fur was it possible that Scipio could be
such a dolt as to tarnish grounds for mu accusations
when his trial was to come on the very day after this
supposed conversation. A coofession was at all
times bad evidence. but mill worse when filtered
through the means of a constable.
Mr. Justice Buattouga then commented upon
the evidence, sad. after a few minutes deliberation,
the Jury retnrued a Verdict for the Plitiuttlf-
-1)0140gel gOL against both the Qtfeuckuts.

_!

r.D 8.41 i Y. WEDNESDAY, DECEWCER 4.

These Ses.iotts corarpineed thin eLly before the
Bight I lon. the Lord Mayor, Mr. Justice B.yley,
Mr. B iron Guru*, &e.

The foilogging is the elite of the esletular :••-
if•trglarr • ' II
ketonning (tom Traeapseinliew ... .. .• • ••• ••• • • 1
. Highway Robbery
cleating in a Due Inagibislog ' ' '
Malicitially Shooing - . 1
E.,rgery •
Ex analog ter fide Phile aritil Forged Cwildaet idea NON
. mock
.....
Iltgasay .3-
Allen:MlK tat .egteri sweassiby charging wilt ail
• ) 1 . ' hisatutai Mee '
. Illeeieheheft 41HtleieGiabida .. • a
. littering Caioniegfeil Caw '" . 1
. Cmtweileinene 0 3
bleating from the Prism
122
Leaves i ea
. . , __A. • . . .
frtilining ( ;110.1. 11 1.1!•• rYi•teneeit
fewdiuieg Motley by fat* preleiseet •., ... 1

- _
Total:.' 192
MALICIbUS SIIOOTIkG.
ttillinm Tucker ..as intl,etc4l for unlawfully and
ri:dtcrouslv shooting William Becket, with Harlot
I. kill or do kiln witty bodily ham.
no, was the case of the i;ttle boy shot in a field
at 1-I,.qnn, to ;Middlesex. by a labourer, the particu-
lars of which have iecently been very fully detailed
Bow-street Police Reports.]
The lbw. Mr. LAW, when the ease we* called
on, informed the Court that the surgeon was uot to
-attetalm-ce.
'dr. Baron GARROW said the trial Could procerd
mill, the other %witnesses.
Mr. LAW then stated the case to the intl., and
Wm. Beckett, the little boy, was pat mat the
witness box ; and to questions put to hint by the
Chart he ausweted, that be was eleven years of age,
utal knew the punishment that ant ited bars Lind
1.11. e swearers. He then proceeded to detail the
huts of the ease, as they have already been given
to the public.
From the testimony of Bell, the boy`a foster
Culler, sod that or the Surgeon who attended him.
it appeared that he was confined for six weeks, several
pebbles a zre extracted from his face, and lie has.lost
the sight of one of his eyes.
The Prisoner, iu his defence. said that the gun
went off by accident as he was gutting over is stile.
Mr. Trumpet. a fernier at Heston. the Prisoner's
'employer, stated, that he stationed him with the
'ten is. frighten away the crows from his corn fields.
It woman old gun. which went off very easily at tl.e
fi4l cock, but it required a good pull at the half
cock. Time Prisoner was a remarkably quiet and in-
offensive person. and in the Imam'. opinion lint at
s'l likely to commit any malicious or mischiev-
ous :let. _

Twoversona, dike! name of Coleman, father and
aor, tissigntors of a barge on the criti4l, deposed
that they were passing with their barge under the
bridge where this occurrence took place, and heard
tl.everitut of a gon, and afterwards heard the little
boy Beckett cry out. Oh !my eye!"-They went
on to the bridge. where they louod the boy badly
wounded, and the Prisoner apparently much all.bct.
vd, and paying him all the attention in his power.
lie told them that Ins gun had gone of by acci-
dent and sltst Beckett.
The. Rev. Mr. Wingfield and Mr. Tromp. who
led known the Prisoner almost from his infancy,
gyve him a moot excellent character in every respect.
.Jr. Baron Ganao* charged the Jury, who im-
mediately returned a verdict of Aot

EXTENXIVE ROBBERY.
•./Oh• Harris. late a private soldier in the 2il regi.
men, of foot, was indicted for stealing in the (I*ell-
irr-hrnive of Colonel de Burgh, of that regsmetii,
to whom lie wits hatinsii. • diamond ring value
I cO/. divers Rank of Eugland notes for the pay-
n!..sit of 250/, end sundry sovereigns, his properly.
The Prosecutor stated the circumstances of the
toi)bery as they have already been giveu in the police
rsr,orts.
‘Vllliam Rich, the deputy constable of Leeds,
where the Prisoner was taken into custody on the
1 I rlt November, proved the finding on his person
the diamond rift* it 10/. note, a purse with 3Ss.
in it, and a green silk purse empty.
111 r. Harding, jeweller, of Oxford-street. proved
that the Prisoner purchased • silver wroth and •
gold.ring at his shop on the morning of the robbery,
ler which he paid a 101 note, receiving the chasq.-,.e.
James Ingram, a prilice.ofSeer, proved the receipt
front a man roamed Halliday. at whose house the
pri.mier had lodged, ninety-three sovereigns, and
a It.lf sovereign, also the watch and key purchased
by the prisoner of Mr. Harding.
Colonel tie Burgh identified the diamond ring
nod green purse found on the Prisoner. and the tru-
ly-mod note also found on Inm, as well us that paid
he' him to Mr. Hurtling as part of the st‘leis pro-
perty.
Alr. Justice BATIAT summed op the evidence,
ord the Jury found the Prisoner Guilty—Death.
The Cowl ordered ell the property found to be
delivered to the Prosecutor.

INSOLYRivr DRBToits' COURT,

Tusswav, DECIWSIII 3.

She Rev. Richard Hingham was opposed ty
!Wrier,. PoLLOCIL and Cooks, on behalf of sere-
rsl creditors.
The 'lnsolvent ito ineumbent of the episcopal
chapel at Gosport ; and has been engaged in bauk-
n•g awl oilier specolations to a coasiderable extent.
l'he debts from which he sought to be discharged
amounted to upwards of .504100 f. consisting win-
of charges incurred by various litigations
in which be has &men from time to lane involved,
particularly a Scotch reit, in which be was success-
ful through nil the inferior Courts, but which was
ultimately reversed its the Huu•e of Lords; anti in
consequence of which he lost his wife's (octane.—
After a long investigation, which lasted from about
twelve to three ecturk, bet which disclosed uo fact
of any interest to the
The. CovaT, having heard Counsel on both rides.
were unanimously ofiopinion that no case had bees,
runic out tu support the opposotoon to the
In•ol-
vent's relief under the Act, and there, ore ordered
him to be discharged forthwith.

A female did penance in the usual manner, in
Stemrey Church, tin Sunday lac, for defaming a
tr ueighboat's chartiettr.
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