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London, England, 1824-04-05 00:00:00

GLOUCESTER ASSIZES, APRIL 1.

these which were cut down, and upend* of 100 people were pre-
sent ; among them 1 saw Jenkinson : 1 e was a schoolmaster in the
town of Stafford; I remonstrated a WI the people in very strong
language, and cautioned Jenkinson in desist; he said he was em-
ployed by James Stamp Sutton ('Duke to tut down the trees, and
produced a written paper, which he ?aid was his authority; he per-
sisted in going on, and said he world take all the consequences ;
these lioccedis.gs were Minnie(' daily for tome time in the present:v.
'of an increased mob; the injunction I hold in my hand OW ob.
Lined on the 20th January, a:ol transmitted to me; 711 or 110 trees
had been cut down; Jcnkirson had lived in Stafford four or live
years; the trees when cut down were part of them carried to the
canal, part taken into the roads and left there. The cutting dawn li
was continued until the injunction an :val. Sir ficorge's rent day
was the 16th January ; the Swan Inn was always used on that oc-
casion ; previous to that day I had received another printed notice,l
which was also generally circulated in the neighbourhood ; ow the
Itith of January 1 attended at the Swan Inn ; Jenkinson was
standing near the entrance; hot few of the tenants attended to pay
their rent ; not so many as usually had done to; on the 17th of 1
January 1 attended at the Quarter Semitone professionally
a constable brought three persons into the hall, who lie
said had broken into my house; Crank was one of them;
Jenkinson attended them, but was not in custody ; they were
detained some time, and were then set at liberty by my desire;
on my return home, I found the notice of distress not produced
in the house; my wife was greatly alarmed; and for Revere! daysl
whilst I was absent front my family, the house doors were kept
locked ; I replevied; towards the close of the month Cooke had
been apprehended upon a charge of obtaining money under false
pretences of one of the tenants; oil that occasion he should never-
theleas make me pay the 1,0001. which he distrained for at the
assizes; during the assizes, a hand-bill was handed to me which
was ilk) stuck on the Court Ilall (put in and marked); another

ward, ornamented with starlet red blce libbands---then forty
people, on betrothed:, and a great crowd on foot--after them a car-
riage, in which were Rfehara and James Cooke, drawn by a pair
of horses—a carriage tin.lowed, with llr. Miles, Mr. Champneys,
and 3lr•Condv • as tneprecemsion drew near the town the Cookes
gut into the dickey; the plinth were ornamented with a coronet,
and the arms hf the Stafford family ; the mob took the horses from
the carriage, and drew it into the town ; it stopped at Richard Staf-
ford Cooke's lodgings in Eastgate-street ; we had removed from the
°come inn ; Richard and James Cooke and Mr. Cundy made
speeches from :he dickey of :he carriage ; we had dinner at James
Cooke's • about fifty people were at the dinner. Jame%
Cooke was in the chair, and after dinner proposed the heal:h of
Sir 0. Jerninghani. as he bore no animosity to him ; on this It. S.
Cooke jumped up. and said he would never drink the health of a
man who kept him cut of his property, and ordered his brother to
come out wf the chair ; there was music outside the Mouse ; R.
Cooke went to the window, and told the mob that the injunction
would soots.bedixoolred, and that then the money the timber sold
for should be dim:Me:tett among the toot ; heard IL S. Cooke •17,
that evening, " fir George has dilated me Mel. a year to forego my
claim ;he further maid, Lady J. had expremed a desire to have his
portrait, which hail been sent to Comsey !tall, the Rest of Sirtieorge ;
he said, however, teat he never would rob his family by taking that
auto in lieu of his rights ; was at the Court Left, b. .t left it on the
warning of • Magistrate. Miles borrowed a book of an attorney
at Stafford, to are how the forms of court-keeping were to be ob-
served ; heard Cookesay he had been appointed agent by the House
of Lords to his Lrotlits he said that Lord Liverpool and the Lord
Chancellor were his friends, on account of Sir George Jerning.
ham's being a Catholic, but that they did not like to disclose them-
selves. Atter Richard S. Cooke came down, we were mote restrict-
ed in the use of wine than formerly, as he was more parsimonious
than hi, brother ; used to have plenty of wine before then. Cooke

Special Jary.

TUN ltrvat T. COOST AND OTNTRA.
Mr. TALFORD opened the pleadings, detailing the diffivent
counts et* the indictment, seven in number.
dlr. TALI( TON stated the ease. He thought it one in which the
defent:anta would not have called witnesses ; but understanding,
from what had pawed, that it was their intention to do so, be
should be conipelled to pursue a course very different from that
hich he had miNinally proposed. The charge against the defend-
ants was, in f-et, that of having put their beads together and de-
viled means of obtaining money under false pretences. air (I. Jer-
binghatn was the party agates, whom these malpractices had been
de Died, and to whose injury they had been braoght into anion.
The defendant Cooke was a solicitor, and therefore might be sup-
posed to know that the law was SUfliriClit to establish a legal right.
The merest schoolboy knew that an undisputed possession of more
than tit', y years of property, no matter how ongtnally acquired,
gave a good and legal cluon to such proper in the absence of title
dada on the part of those cob:mirk; the rightful possession. Not
upon this point, however, did his client mean to found his claim
to the valuable possessions-which the defendants had so
wtempted to get in their hands. Sir George was a gentleman
of most ancient family, of lineage the most direct, and of con-
nexions the most respectable and honourable. Such were the tides
of the plaintiff; and it would ere long be seen, of what nature those
intended to be opposed to them really were. In order, however, to
meet the misrepresontatiorat which had been most industriously
made, he should enter into Rome description of the lineal descent of
of Sir O. Jerninglsain, as a mew historical statement, as recorded in
Acts of Pardiament, and enrolled in the archives of the High Court
of Chancery. Sir George is lineally descended from the Duke
. .

of Buckieghann who was attaintedand beheaded in the reign of handbill toe courts,and ;a notice not t 3 pay" 'the rents bespoke a play, the bill wits heisdech, •• By desireof the lion.
Henry VIII. On his death, and after the attainder, die blood of were shortly afterwards distributed (put in and marked); the James Stamp Sutton Cooke." We generally draek Madeira, and
the Barons Stafford was restored to Henry, one of the sons of the latter was delivered to me in the street by a person named Bar- frequently claret.
attainted Duke. In the reign of Charles IL, a great great grand- low. on the 22d March ;he had a large roll of similar papers in his Witness then proved several papers which had been previously
daughter of this limey married a Sir William Howard, who was hands; Sir George has two manors on the Staffard estate; one of rut in. They were now read : their purport was as stated by Mr.
then crested Baron Stafford ; this nobleman was convicted of tree- Foubridge and the other of Stafford ; attended the Court ; saw J. Talfonl, in his Peening.
son on the perjury of Titus Oates, and was beheatled. Iwo. He Russell Mills then, who acted as steward, and the two defendants ; Croonexammed by Mr. Cooke.--The paper handed tome is In
however could not make his heirs forfeit rights which they idle. I warned them all against the illegality of their conduct ; I my hand-writine, with tin exception of the signature of Mary
Steel from hie mothers as Baroness Stafford, in whom, and in 'showed Miles a printed hand-bill, and asked him it' it was issued by Stone copied it from a paper given to me by yru. This paper
whew heirs, the fee-simple of the estate and title were un-1 his authority? he said it was. Put in and read; it announced a (another) is like tl original; cannot recollect any particular time when
deniably vested. From this Baroness, and from one of her Court Leet to be held on 11th March, lecture Miles, as steward, you told me Lord Liverpool and she bard Chancellor were friendly
i heirs who was created Earl of Stafford, the present Sir George; in consequence of the arrival of Richard Cooke, Baron Stafford. towards you ; it was not upon the occasion of your refusing to *I-
I Jerningham was lineally deseeeded. The Learned Counsel then lt was dated Stafford Castle.) Jenkinson had a large book, and low me to play at cards, that I challenged you ; you went to church
mated the nature of an application made by Mr. James Cooke to ; appeared to be acting as secretory ; both he and James Cooke in- every Sunday ; I saw nothing immoral in your &Induce
I Sir George, in Nov. 1822 ; this application however was of course suited on their right to hold the Coos Leer, and had very argry Mr. Cooke wished to move to put oft the trial on the ground of,
unsuccessfl, and the conspiracy to defraud was then first embodied.l words with one of the freeholders, by whom 1 was accompanied ; the inability of bold Liverpool to attend from indisposition : his
J. 11. S. Cooke forthwith gave a dinner at his lodgings or house, there was a person there in a scarlet robe, his name was Ward. Lordship was a notarial worms, and he now held in his hand a
at Somers Teem ; one of his guests, named Crank, lie appointed his His LoRDISHI r -Nut one of the Judges, I hope. certificate from a medical emaleman of his Lordship's illness.
Secretary, receiving a premium of 5411. foe such appointment. Witness-He had a white rod or wand, in his hand, and the His LOBDSIIIP.-It is now too late; if you had nieved this
On the 30th of December, they met at Stafford, and associating Stafford knot embroidered on his sleeve. morning before she commencement of the trial, I certainly should
themselves with one Smith, a Sheriff's officer, went on the same His bon Deli z r -Aye, like a mayor, I suppose. have been very glad to hive put it off.
day to Stafihrel Castle, which was not then completed. This Castle Witness-" lord t,,tatrold's Office" was painted conspicuously Cross-examination resumed-I can swear that more than thirty
was shown to strangers, and when the party sunned, Smith toll en the door of Jenkinson's house. trees w'-e cut down; you gave directions that no tree should be
' the old woman who lived in, and exhibited the Castle, that the ibis LOILIMIIitp asked 3lr. Campbell if he had any questions to cut, but such as were on the StatOrd estate ; should not know the
two strangers with him wanted to see the Castle •, they were ad- put to witness. hand-writing of Sir Charles Wolseley ; I know you once dined and
matted, and then it was that the defendant Cooke declared his Mr. CAMPBELL rather wished Mr. Cooke to do so before him, slept at his house.
brother the heir of the estate, and took possession ;he then en- as he was most affected by the evidence of witness. Cross-examined by Mr. CAMPBELL.-I do not think the signs.
devoured to bribe the old woman, who, however, instead of His Lon Dente said that the bar should take precedence of de- tore to the paper now handed to me to be the hand.writing of Mr.
obeying the mandate of her new Lord Richard Baron Stafford, ap- feredant to an indictment. Cooke ; I was in the room when Jenkirson was introduced to
plied instanter to Mr. Sevkcrson, the steward of Sir George, and Mr. CAMPIEtt. urged his right to waive a privilege, and his`etooke; he was recommended by ,Rogers the printer, as a person
who, on his arrival at the Castle, finding 31r. Crank, the Secre- Lordship eventually consented. that wrote a good hand; Cooke, when he engaged him, showed
ter of the new Baron, left in possession, forthwith ejected him. Cross-examined by Mr. James Stamp Sutton Cooke (who had him a pedigree and some Acts ef Parliament ;he told him his
The party immediately set to work. They first enlisted a Stafford previously obtained his Lordship's permission to retire for a few brother had a just claim to the title and estates; Miles first came
schoolmaster of the name of Jenkinson, who was the other defend- minutes.)-1 received letters from you when you were at Stafford; to Stafford with Richard S. Cooke ; I quarrelled with James
ant to this indictment. The next step was to publish notices ad- I have them with me, but have not received any notice so produce Cooke about the 15th April ; I think there were 3,010 or 4,000
dressed to the tenants of Sir George, Mr. James Cooke having them. people attended the procession into Stafford.
taken up his abode in the town. here, in all due pomp and Ilia liOIDCIIIP observed, that they could not be received in Mr. CAMPBELL.-Aare, my Lord, than attend the entrance of
apparently oppressed with business, he received such of the tenants evidence. the Judgox
of pie George, as his notices had induced to pay him a visit. Cross examination resumed-I preferred certain bills of indict- His liolDblllP.-At Newcastle, Mr. Campbell, I have seen a
The first notice served was dated on the 30th of December, 18.22, meet against you at the January Sessions of last year ; one of them crowd of at least 10,000 people.
front StalfenlCaetle, and cautioned the tenants not to pay any rents was for • conspiracy ;it was ignored ; Sir George and his father John Rogers examined by Mr. TAENTDW.-My father held a
to SirG. Jerninghant or his agents, or to any other person titan to have been in receipt of the rents of the Stafford estate for upwards farm under Sir George Jerningham ; recollect being sent by my
Richard Sutton Cooke, as legal Baron of Stafford, or to his bailiff: of thirty years ; the rents were received in 1806 by Sir William tither to the George Inn ; met a Mr. Dudley and his son' who
steward, or agent. On the Ist of Jan. thesecond notice wasdated. Jerninginon, as wont to Lady Anastasia Stafford Howard ; I he- were a/so tenants to Sir George ; we all went to the George Inn to
It was in effect a caution to the tenants, that if they did not forthwith lieve the Stafford estate is not Crown land • I have heard that there see James Cooke. In the room we saw a quantity of papers and
pay their rents and arrears to Baron Richard, they would be di- was such a person as Lady Anastasia Stafford Howard ; have seen Acta of Parliament. I told Cook we came according to his request
'strained OIL It offered a reduction of one halt the rents for the a pedigree of that lady, in which she is represented as descended to pay hint the rent. Ile said, " You must recollect we only take
ensuing seven years, and pledged the new Baron not to eject any from the Lords Viscount Dowsed ; have attended frequently at the one-half ; he told us the estate belonged to his brother, Lord Star-
one or his tenants trout his occupancy. The first thing the de. Forebridge Courts ; have not the Court rolls in my custody ; my ford, and produced Counsel's opinion which he gave us to read ;
lendant did to get the money, was resorting to acts of trespass and appointment as steward took place about two years since; never it related to the barony of Stafford ; he then shewed us the pedi-
violence, of a -description such as had never been seen since the held a Court for the manor of Forebridge ; part of the property has gyre of his family, which we looked at ; Cooke produced a letter
lays of the civil wars. Men were employed to cut down the timber been sold, but not on indemnity bonds. which he real aloud ; he said he had received it (tom Sir George
vu the estate. To quiet the scruples of these men, an axe wan His LottnittlP observed, that he could not, nor would not, go Jetningham ;he said he was going to dine with h:m at Sir C.
drawn round the bottom of the trunk of such trees as were to be cut into the question of title ; as, if the title was not legally in Sir Wolseley's as friends and relations, and that then everything would
down, under the persuasion that this ceremony gave a legal title to George, there was a legal mode of proceeding. be amicably arranged. I paid him 171. 10s. for my father, he
the cutting down. Many were time trees that fell in pursuance of Cross-examined by Mr. Ca st Part L (fur Mr. Jenkinson) -Mr. having previously threatened to distrain ; I took a receipt signed by
this sysmin of devastation, and even sold to those who had no ob- Jenkinson put a paper into my hands, when the trees were being cut Cooke ; Dudley paid 81. for his tither.
j..ction to advancing money upon such senility. Sir George, how- down ;it was like the paper row put into my hands ;do not know Crusnexaminal by Mr. Cooke. -1 am sure the letter had a seal
ever, obtaining an Injunction against the further cutting down of that he gave up his relation's consequence of bis appointment under to it with Sir GeorgeJermingham's coat of arms ; the letter handed
trees, this plan was fur the time abandoned. James Sutton Cooke Richard Stafford Cooke. to me has a similar seal ; I cannot say that it is the same letter.
also app-inted gente-keeper to the manorsof Sir G. Jerningham. Re-examined by Mr. Rusagt.t.-Went before the grand jury at Maly Pcake examined by 3lr. R tome t..-In Jannary, 1027, 1
"or these acts of trespass and fraud the present indictment was pre- the Stafford Sessions to prefer a bill of indictment against the de- lived at a farm Gilled Lamberscot, near Stanind ; am 43 years of
tarred. On the 13th of Jan Baron Richard visited his barony ; not, tendant Cooke; saw in the bands of one of the jurors a paper pro- age, and know that the Jerningham family were the landlords of
however, wish all his baronial honours, not in his baronial splen- timing to be the opinion of Mr. Harrison upon the claim of 111 r. my grandfx,her, father, and myself; in January I kept all my
doe, but under the appellation of simple Mr. Brown ; and as a Cooke to the barony of Stafford ; the bill was ignored ; I do not doors locked and bolted in the slay time, because. Mr. Cooke had
means of further disguise, he put up at a humble public-house, know that James Cooke acted under a power of attorney. threatened to dismain for rent ; one Sunday in that month he called
drunk ale aid smoked tobacco at night, and drank runt and milk in Wm. Henry Crank examined by Mr. Taamoart-1 am 22 years upon me after the Morning Service; he introduced himself as the
the morning. 'this disguise was certainly effectual, for the host of of age; became acquainted with James Cooke in 1822. having ad- Hon. J. S. S. Cooke. brotner and agent of Lord Stafford; he
the inn never, for a single instant, dreamt that he had been honour- vertised in the Time, for a situation; saw him in consequence; offered me the lease of the farm for 21 years at half rent; I told
ed by the patronage and support of so noble a guest as Baron he said he wanted a secretary and amanuensis ;he showed me some' him I was tenant to Sir George, and that he did not know what
Richard Stafford. He shortly after repeated this visit ; again paper and part of a petition to the Howse of Leeds claiming the the rent was; he said I was a tenant on trespass, and he would
smoked tobacco, and again drank ale; but still his Lordship barony of Stafford ; he proposed a salary of from 70. to 751. and to make me produce my last receipt; he told me Sir George had given
thought proper to ;Tara into On the 13th of January a third pay all travelling expenses; engaged with him and gave 501. for up all title to the estate, that he could prove it by a letter he had
notice was served upon the tenantry, fixing the 16th of January for the situation; in December dined at Mr. Cooke's lodgings at received from Sir George; he said that Mr. Fteekerson knew it long
the payment of rents, at the George inn. for which receipts were Somers Town : the party consisted of two men, one of them an ago, but that he kept die tenantry in the dark, for whom he was
to be given by James Stamp Sutton Cooke. Jenkinson was sta- articled clerk so an attorney, the other of the name of Lane, and sorry from his heart ; he said he had not called on the other
boned at the room-door in which the steward of Sir George was sit- a Mr. and Mrs. Browne ; a person called Mrs. Cooke was also pre- tenantry, and did so as I was a female, and therefore entitled to re-
ting to receive the rents, at the Swan Inn, for the purpose of using sent; after dinner both Mr Cooke and Mr. Lane spoke about the spect,as front his grandmother Dorothea rime all their honours and
such misrepresentations as should induce the tenants to repair to claim to the barony of Stafford ; the latter said he had risked halt estates ; he said his bruther was acknowledged to be Lord Stafford
the George Inn to pay their rents to the agent of Baron Richard. his fortune, and would not object to risking the oilier half' in sup- by the King, the Judges, Lords and Commons; he said a great
The result was, this J. Stamp Sutton Cooke, as the solicitor, and poet of the claim ; he was a law-stationer, living at the corner of deal more; that he saw Sir George in London, who knew of his
young Crank as the secretary, received from some few intimidated Finch-lane, Cornhill ; appointed to meet Mr. Cooke at Stafford ah coining dawn ; lie threatened to detrain, but gave me till next day
tenants the amount of 101. fee rent, and he believed a whole hatfull the 30th Dec. 1022; he said he was rather short cf money, and that to think of his offer; he said he was diersed to give me longer
of halfpence. %{-hat was the next step ? A distress for rent was as he was going to Stafford to receive some rents, he would them' time, but his brother was a peremptory man and would not ; re_
put into the house of' Mr. Seckerson, sir George's agent, whilst he repay me toy travelling expenses. I was at Stafford on the 30th rived a letter front him afterwards-( Put in and read, dated 29th
WWI attending his professional duties at the Stafford Quarter Ser.- December accordingly. On my arrival I met Mr. Cooke ; it was January, 132:1, and threatened to detrain if the rent was not imme-
'ions • constables were called in, and the agents of Cooke expelled, about half-pas three in the afternoon, at the George Inn. Smith, diately paid. I.
A second distress was put in the house in the afternoon, by four men a Sheriff's officer, was with Cooke, and the latter said they were Crossmeationed by Mr. Cooke.-Von did not say the King was
faring themselves up stairs, and intruding upon the privacy ot 31rs. going to take possession of Stafford Castle, but thut it was, to be bound to acknowledge your brotber's title. Lady Anastasia Ho-
S. and some female visitors of that lady, in a manner beelsould not kept secret; set out accordingly, in a post.chaise, to Stafford ward was not the landlady of the estate in 11106.
then describe. James Stamp Sutton Cooke next applied to an old Castle; an old unman, of the name of Perry and hcr daughter William Rogers. examined by 31r. TALroan.-Went with his
maiden lady, named 3lary eeake, for the purpose of endeavouring were there ; Smith said to the former that he had brought her brother to Mr. Cooke, at the George Inn. (Corroborated his testi-
to induce her to acknowledge his brother as her landlord. For this some gentlemen to see the Castle ; obtained admission, and after monya Ile said he was to dine with Sir George at Sir Charles
purpose he told her that Mr George bad given up possession to his seeing two or three rooms, Cooke, in one of them, wrote the paper Wolseley's the nett day, which was Sunday. Saw him on the
Mother, who only was kept out of his rich t% by Me Seckerson. Ile produced (put in and read), and gave it to me: he told the old wo- Monday following. Asked him if he dined with Sir George and
further said, that the House of Lords, the House of Commons, and man he came to take possession of the Castle for his brother Lord Sir Charles. He said, No, but that Sir George had sent him a
the Ring himself. had acknowledged the rights and tides of his Stafford ; he told me I was to remain in die Castle until he sent handsome note of apology. My father is too old and infirm to
sable brother. With this noideo hasty, however, he was unsuc- somebody else; the old woman must have heard him, travel here without danger.
artful in every particular. tinder pretences, equally helm, however, pew paper was dated the 311th Dec:miler, and was a declaration James Dudley examined by Mr. Tetierros.-I paid 81. to Jas.
he obtained the stint of 01. front a man named Rogers, and 171.105. of having taken possession muter a power of attorney. It was wit- Cooke for rent ;he gave me a receipt. (Receipt produced and
Ifiem another named Dudley. To these men he produced a letter, untied by Smith.) read.) IVitneas confirmed the testimony of the other tenants.
which he said lie had received from Sir George, although he had Cooke made the old woman an offer to hold the Castle for him, Craw-examined by Mr. CooaE.-I heard you read the opinion
never received any letter of any description whatever trots that which she refused to do. Cooke and Smith went away. In about of a counsel. Cannot say the paper handed to me is the same.
Baronet. 'the time having arrived when the Noble Lord was to a quarter of an hour the old woman went out, and before long re- Mr. John Seallerose examined by Mr. RtssEt.i.-My father
make his formal entry into Stafiiird, the 6th of March, it took place turned with Mr. Seckersor, who desired me to leave the castle, keeps the Dolphin, at Stafford. On the Mid of January, 11123, a
with all due display of ribbamin First appeared a hired London which 1 slid, after having shown him the paper. I then went to stranger came to the house at about 7 o'clock in :he evening, with
carriage; on one of the panels were painted the antis of the Stafford the Inn, and told Cooke what had happened. Ile said, "Never a portmanteau, and asked if he cinild have a bed ; I told him he
family; on the dickey how sat Baron Richard and the lion. James mind, my boy, it is a good possession, and we'll love them yet." could. I now know it is the person who calls himself lord Staf.
Stamp Sutton Cooke; inside sat ale, Miles, the defendant who Rogers, a printer, came to us the next morning, when Cooke told font Afterwards saw hint on the dickey of the chariot in the pm-
had not yet appeared ; tag-rat.-and-bobtail followed the carriage ; him he wanted him to
.print some notices to the tenants to stop cession. He supped in the parlour ; after supper he came into the
the horses were unyoked, and ° that which is usually done on such their rents. Rogers, declined, but said lie would recommend some kitchen; he there drank ale and smoked his pipe. At seven o'clock
occasions was done by the mob of the day. Speeches were one to Resist in writing them. On the 31st Deceniber, Jenkinson the next morning he drank two glasses of rum and intik. Ile went
also made, and as stafford is famous for its ale, that potent came to the inn. Cooke told hint he wanted some notices written, away shortly afterwards, and said he would let them know inner
beverage was plentifully distributed. A dinner was also given, at as Rogers would not print them. lie agreed to copy them. I about who he was when he came again. About a fortnight after-
which speeches were again made, and the false pretensionaprevious- assisted by the direction of Cooke. Two of the papers put in are wards he arrived by die night coach ;he slept there; heard no name
made by the Honourable James Cooke, were repeated by Baron copies those written by us; they are signed by Mr. Cooke. that he went by.
Richard. The next act of this farce, or amedy, was the bidding Read.-•• Cautions to the tenant* of Sir li. J. not to pay rents to Cterssmitarnined by Mr. Cooke.-He paid for all he had.
of Courts Lett and Courts Baron, preceded of course by formal any person but the representatives of Richard Bacon Stafford." William Lathbury, examined by Mr. TA Leon n.-I am a tenant
notices in the usual technical NMI or word*. These were signed A great number of topics were made; pentane named Tingley anti to Sir George Jernitighani ; have been so to hint and his father for
" John Russell Miles, Chief Steward." On the day fixed the Barlow distributed them about die place; a few were stuck on the twenty-seven years.-Mhis witness confirmed the testimony of
Courts were duly held, a Mr. Ward acting as bailiff' with a wand walls. Mr. Lane came down to Stafford about the 2d of January, those previously examined.
in Isis hand, duly painted and emblazoned, and John Russell Miles when two other clerks were engaged to resist in writing the Doti' es. atilt-on Gutnam, examined by Mr. TAENTO sr.-I am • tenant
officiating as chief steward. Mr. Seckerson nenonsinued and A man named Goodwin came down with lane. Cooke said he to Sir George Jeminglism. As .1 was going to the George Inn, to
warned the defendants of the illegality of their proceedings ; but would cut down the timber and sell it ; he engaged several men pay my rent to 11r. Seckerson, Jenkinson stood at the door, and
his remonstrances and warnings were unheeded, and the Courts for that work ; the men objected to cutting until smile one drew told me he was placed there be Mr. Cooke, to tell me not to pay
re we held with much form andeeremony. The Learned Counsel, the axe round the tree, and cut a piece out, as an assertion of my rent in anybody but hiinseff. I told him Mr. Cooke might be
after stating the nature of his evidence, observed that the conduct right. Cooke gave me a slip of paper, authorising me to do so. d--d. Ile then went iota the road, and, shaking his stick, told me
of the defendants was unemunpled in the annals of imposture. He (1 am sure I have burnt it.) 1 dffi so, and the cutting of timber Mr. ('ooke would make me repent. Was afterwards diatrained
concluded by informing the Jury that they could not lied, on the immediately commenced. Mr. Jenkinson and Mr. Goal win super- upon by Mr. Cooke.
prment occasion, a verdict against either Mr. Richard Cooke or Mr. inten.ded the work generally : I have seen them dose; saw the order W. 11. Crank, recalled ; examined by Mr. Caefeweei..-.A book
Miles; that it was not necessary he should rove Mr. Janie, of injunction served on Mr. Cooke: he told me it was an injurc:ion, entitled the Slapvd Peerage wan shown me by Mr. Cooke.
Cooke to have conspired with Mr. Jetikinson to defraud Sir George and that it' it had not been so he would have cut down all the trees William Sidney-/11y mother is a tenant to Sir George Jerning.
Jerningham, as Ina .Lordship would inform them that, if the former on the Barony ; he gave it me to read; in the room where he re- ham. (Corroborated the testimony of the preceding witnesses.)
Was proved to hare fraudulently conspired with either his brother ceived people he had norm papers on the table tied with red tape, John Hawkins examined by Mr. TALVORD.--1 have been a te-
Mod, or with Miles, to would be equally liable to their verdict and copies of Acts of Parliament, particularly those of the 14th and nant to Sir Jerningham 13 or 14 years. (Corroborated pre-
aeairst him, as if he had been proved to have compared with Jen- Mel of Henry VIII; several persons called to take land by paying ceding witnesses testimony.) Cooke told him he had been pre_
kineon, although r.either of the other two defendants appeared to I a m1)&111.11111; they were to hive it for G. an acre; some paid 101., sented at the King's levee ; that he had had a conference with his
this indientent. four 1001., one vOl., Goodwin paid 20111., ('ndereeed paid 1001., Majesty just before he came clown to Stafihrd, when his Majesty
(It was suited that Mr. Richard Cooke haul pleaded his peerage , Plant 701 ; I sew Root of the 11101. e)• paid to Cooke ; 1 wrote out shook him heartily by the hard, and wished him luck of the barony.
in abatement ; and that the King's Bench had allowed the plea. several receipts, I have seen Cooke receive about tiOff.; Maniere Sir George Jeriatighani, Bart. examined by Mr. Tat•NTON._
31iles, one of the dam:dents, was out of the country.) paid 1001; several stuns of 101., 31., ar el 21. were paid ; recollect I have been II years in possession of the estates of the Barony of
Mr. James Stamp Sutton Cooke stated to the COW; that as one the rent day in January ; was at the George Inn with Mr. Cooke; Stafford. I succeeded my father, who had been in possession
of the defendants of this indictment, it was his intention to avail he took half rents; one paid 2s. Oil.and ale•-her less than 2s. ; re- from 17113; he succeeded my grandmother, through whom the ea_
himself of ids richt as an Englishmen. to conduct his own cause_ collect Roger. pa)ing his rent ;it WAS 171. 10s. Ilefem the tenants tates came into my ; she was of the Plowden family, and
He 5150 suggested the propriety of the witnesses on each aide Wog paid their rents Cooke read a letter as from Sir George Jerningham, her mother of the Stafliml family ; my grandmother was the niece
ordered to withdraw. in which he said, if the estates belonged to Cooke he did not wish to of the Earl of Medford, whose son and heir dying without male
His Lonersote-You are entitled to the claim you have made, keep them from him; went With two eo'nololl informers to therein issue, the title became extinct. There is a building on my estate
on Mr. Seekerson's; Cooke emit us ; we were to take an inventory; called Stafford Castle, erec.ed at to y expellee; it was built on the
Mr. Phillip Seamen, examined by 31r. Russrt.u.-I am an the two met, were to be left in poeseseion ; we dietrained for 10001., site of the old castle. In Nov. 11t22 I received a visit from James
attorney sad agent to Sir George Jeri:lngham have been so eon- as rent due to Imel Stafford ; I obleeted, to Cooke, that 1 had never Cooke, whom l had never seen before ; he brought Mr. Lane, also
creme 'lhr hint anti his father for more than thirty years. For that been so concerned before; he told me no hams should come tome; a stranger, with hint ; air.% was at an hotel in Hover-street ; he said
period the family has been in the possession of the Stafford estate. while in the house constables arrived, and took us into custody ; 1 he came to claim the Stafford estate for his brother, and that if I
Went to the castle me the 30th December, 1822. at about four was afterwards set at liberty ; left a notice in the house by direction would give it up quietly his towhee would return him the back
o'clock in the afternoon, having been sent for. Found William of Cooke; he was called out of the room one evening ; when lie rents, as he wished to have nothing to do with lawyers, who
Henry Crank there. Anna Perrin had fetched me. Crank was returned he told sue he had been to see his brother, who was at ran away with the profits of every thing ; he read me the
matted its tl:e kitchen. The daughter of Anna Perrin and another Stafford, under the name of Brown : have seen a letter in the poems- opinion of a Mr. Perkins, a Counsel, in favour of his brother's
ming woman were present. sion of Cooke purporting to have come from Richard Stafford claim. I told hint I never acted without legal advice, and that lie
Mr. CAMPBELL objected to the conversational evidence, as none Cooke, most address himself to my Counsel, Mr. Butler. I afterwards
of the mercies were present--Overruled. The defendant was called upon to produce it. It no: being pro- received a letter from him, which I think I have lost. I may
Examinatim resumed.-Crank said he was ordered to remain ducal, the notice for production was proved, but being deemed in- have it at home. I wrote him an answer. 1 never wrote to
there be ale James Cooke. and exhibitell a paper. 1 ordered hun sufficient, it was not pressed. hint that I was willing to rive up the came to his brother,
out. He went. Oa the let January, 11112, 1 received this notice. Witness resumed-Heard Mr. Richard Cooke frequently asked nor that I did not wish to keep it front him as he had a clear title,
(Put in, and oinked.) OD the 4th January I received another. I for in the presence of James Cooke, and about two months after- nor any thing to that effect ; I never told him any thing of the
(Put in and marked.) Saw similar notices snick up about the I wards he arrived ; Cooke left Stafford for London ; during his ab- kind; when I tot' bins Mr. Butler was my Counsel, he turned
town and in the hoods of several of Sir Georges tenants. lam one acne, received a newspaper (objected to) ; received a letter from round to Mr. Lane, and raid, that he thought 31r. Butler and Mr.
of Sir George's tenants. 3ly house is on the estate. On the 11th I him, ordering me to provide ribbands, and prepare the procession Perkins had better talk it over torther. I hare of the portrait of
January received information which induced Tile to go to a part of J really fur the arr,val on Richard Stafford Cooke ; he directed me to Mr. Richard Cooke at Cooley Ilan ; my sister has seen him, but
the estate. Saw sa ash tree which had been cut down, and another I meet hint at the Barley Mow, four miles from Stafford ; arranged it is thirteen yeses ago. before he had set up this claim. In JR.
partly cut. They were not cat by my orders. No person was . the procession along with Sir. Cuinly, Cooke's brioche? sin-law ; meaty 1823, I was at (tosser Hall. i never received any invitatioe
there. About four days afterwards I found another tree cut down ; left Stafford with the proceuion Roo; them.; met them before we ;to dine with Sir C. eVolseler. I have not had the slightest inti-
that was the 15th January ;on the 17th I saw several persons en- ' got to the Barley Mow ; the procession was au the following order: mare with him for the last thirty years. I was not in Staffordshire
gaged in cutting down trees, others in lopping off the branches of -A trumpeter, on horsebaek-1 Whirred, en horseback, with a in either Jaenary, kanniary, or March, nor did I think of going