The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-09-17 00:00:00

bib
morp,tt, sstrineiza 16.

.totltes Needhate, a respectable-looking middle•
aged roan, was put to the bar, charged with felo-
niously killing and slaying John Lloyd by driving
over him with a horse and ensue, on the 12th of
August last.
J. L. Fisher, the gatekeeper at the Regent's
Park, deposed, that on the Nat of August he saw
the deceased, with K lady, cross from the Park-
crescent. when a gig came full upon them; the
horse was gslloppto►t : the lady was straick and her
bonnet knocked off; the deceased less knocked
down and the wheel went over him. Witness saw
the gig after the accident, and the driver had either
got out or been thrown out, fur no person was
therein. The deceased was brought into the lodge;
he was much hurt ; he was first luid ou witness's
bed, and was afterwards carried to Middlesex Hos-
pital on a shutter. Wittiest could not say that the
Prisoner at the bar was the man who was in the
chaise.

John Jones, a shoemaker, was near the Regent's
Park at the time the accident happened. The Pri-
soner, who was driving, appeared intoxicated ; he
rolled about in the gig ; witness saw him strike the
hor.e several times, first on one side, and then ou
the other ; the horse was gallopping ; witness was
nut close to him when the accident happened, bat
saw the man afterwards lying on the ground, and
assisted in carrying him to the hospital.
Francis Steele was riding in the New-road on
the day the accident happened. lie first saw the
chaise near Wurren-street, about four or five hun-
dred yards from the spot where the accident hap-
pened. Time horse was gallopping all the time.
'Ube Prisoner was the person who was driving the
gig. He was thrown out at the time the wheel.
went over the deceased. The Prisoner was leaning
buck in the chaise, holding the reins very tight.
He was going in • zig zag direction ; and though
he was nut in the act of striking the horse, the whip
occasionally touched him, from the motion of the
chaise. The horse appeared to the witness as if
running slay. He had only a mane bit, which
the witness did not think sufficient. After the ac-
cident witness rode by the ride of the Prisoner to
Baker-street. where he went into a public-house,
and witness then asked him for his address, which
he gave. He appeared much intoxicated.
Crors.exanained by Mr. ALLEY.—The witness
did not know that the Grind Jury threw out the
bill, and that this proceeding is under the Coroner's
inquest only.
Mr. Thomas Wood, house surgeon of Middlesex
Hospital, recollected the deceased being brought
into the Hospital. Several of his ribs were fractur-
ed; he lived about an hour alter he came in. Wit-
ness opened the body after his death; he found five
ribs were fractured, and • considerable quantity of
blond was lodged in the chest and abdomen.
The case for the prosecution (ming closed, the
Prisoner delivered in • written defence, which was
read by the clerk. He regretted the melancholy
accident, for which he was noways blameable. as he
solemnly assured. the Court and Jury that lie was
not at all intoxicated at the time. He had been
engaged all day en business, and after having been
to see his daughter, who was on a visit at a lady's,
lie was returning home, when just as he had passed
Tottenham-court-rood the belly-band broke, and
the horse became umin3anageable. He endeavoured
to restrain him but was unable, and so far from
whipping the horse. lie held the reins with both his
hands. From the effects of the fall he was stunned
and senseless, which might have induced the belief
he was intoxicated.

The following witnesses were then called :
Miss Rawlins deposed that the Prisoner's daugh-
ter was on a visit at her home. The Prisoner came
a little before stir, and quitted after the clock had
struck six, at which time he was perfectly sober.
He drank nothing while at witness's house.
Richard Steele stated that he was on the New
Road at the time the accident happened, and see-
ing the horse coming along furiously, he stood still,
sod heard the Prisoner call out three or four times
to the deceased. The Prisoner was using every
effort to stop the horse; he was sitting firmly on
the seat and leaning back, and holding the reins
with both his hands. The Prisoner was thrown out
of the gig about three yards after he had passed
the deceased; he was much hurt, his forehead was
grazed, and the back of his hands wounded. He
was perfectly sober, though lie seemed stunned,
and his mind seemed to wander. lie staggered a
little when he was first picked up.
Elizabeth Lee, who keeps a fruit-stall near the
gate of the Regent's Park, saw the accident hap-
pen. The Prisoner was sitting back in the chaise,
pulling the horse as hard as he could. The horse's
mouth was wide open, and the belly-band unloose,
flapping about his legs.
John Coulson, porter at the lodge of the Re-
gent's Peak, saw the accident happen. The Pri-
soner at the time was pulling his horse with all his
force, bat be appeared unmanageable; the belly-
band b!tP between his legs ; he thought the Pri-
*is Oita sober., as he sat as stilly as possible
on the seat, pulling with both his bands.
Mary Coulson, Sensate! Bias, and J. Cowhand
corroborated the evidence of the last witness.

The Rev. Dr. Draper, R. S. Young, Esq., Sir
R. Baker, and other respectable witnesses, gave the
Prisoner the highest character for humanity, so-
briety, mud carefulness us a driver.
The Foreman of the Jury intimated to the Judge
it was unoecessary to sum up, as the Jury were
perfectly sa►isfed.
Mr. Justice BEST said, he should have stopped
the cause before, but it was necessaiy to have the
fullest evidence, not to enable the Jury to come to
• verdict, but for the sake of the character of the
accused, ■nd it was due to the Prisoner to state,
that • better character uo Mall ever left that Court
with. if a man got into a gig in ■ state of intoxi-
cation, and his horse ran away with him from his in-
capacity to manage i►, and death ensued, that was
manslaughter. He took it for granted the Jury
were ready to say the Prisoner wits not intoxicated.
Mr. F. Steele, and the other witness, had no doubt
given • fair account of what they had of ved, but
it was well known that fear would produce similar
effect, to intoxication.

The Jury, without a moment's hesitation. re-
turned a verdict of /toe Guilty.

John Levy was indicted for stealing from the

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