The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-11-07 00:00:00

LONDON ADJOURN.ED SESSIONS,—Nov. 5.

Dorgieu, Esq. was indicted for a misdemeanor in in-
decently assaulting Henry Gunter. a lad sixteen years of age, por-
ter to a confectioner iu renchurch-street.
The prosecutor gave evideace to the same effect as he had stated
on bis examinations at the Mansion-house. The assaults, he said,
had been repeated several times in Gracechureh-street, and other
public thoroughfares, at noon day. On the 24th of October, be-
tween twelve and one o'clock, as he was crossing from Lombard-
street to Fenchurch-street, with a Pox of pastry on his head, the
defendant came by his side in the middle of the street, and assault-
ed him again. Witness instantly struck him, and threw down hi*
box. The defendant ran towards the foot pavement, and witness
followed. When the defendant reached the pavement, he stopped,
and witness struck him several times. A gentleman came up,
and said it was a shame, and asked what the defendant had done ?
%Witness said, he had assaulted him indecently. The defendant
said he had not. The gentleman said to witnesas that be should
ge' an officer, and not use the defendant in that manner. Kilby,
the officer. came up. and the defendant and witness went with him
to the watchhouse ; at the watchhouse, he told the officer he knew
the dete:idant well, that his name was Williams, and that he had
seen him a few days before at the Court of Requests.
The fact of the indecent assault rested entirely on ;the evidence
the prosecutor. The other circumstances were confirmed by the
testimony of several witnesses.
Mr. ADOLPHUS addressed the Jury for the defendant, and
pointed out the inconsistencies in the prosecutor's story. The
Learned t ;entlemsn dwelt with great force on the almost utter in-
credibility, that the crossing of a street, the greatest thoroughfare
in London. which tio man over ventures to cross without looking up
and down to see that he can escape being run over--that such a
spot should be chosen for the commission of such an assault. The
person capable of each an act must be lost to every scree of shame
and every fcelinig that prompts to sat'-preservation. There was
also the declaration of the prosecutor, that he knew the defendant's
person, and that his name was Williams, front having seen hint a
few day' before at the Court of Requests, where he was a party in
a cause of Aadrews and Williams. This proved how liable the
prosecutor was to be mistaken in other facts, or to misrepresent
them. And when they Consider the defendant's situation in life, •
situation which opened to his honourable ambition every elevation
to which the first commercial men lit this first of eommercial coun.
tries could aspire ; and heard from the host of honourable persons
he would cal before them, who were his intimate acquaintances
that his whole conduct, that all the habits of his life were in strict
conformity to tlic respectability of his situation and prospects, they
could not bclie%e that he could Pave plunged headlong into an
abyss of infamy by a publicity of depravity front which the most
habitually burdened would have shrunk.
The Governor of the Bank of Ireland, and a great number of
eminent commercial, and several private gentlemen, were then
called to the defendant's character. They all stated that he lived
in the bosom of his family ; that he was intimate with theirs, and
highly esteemed by them as moral and respectable in every sense.
Some of the witnesses who had opportunity of observing his con-
duct, most minutely mentioned his attention to religious duties;
and the younger of the witnesses, who were more immediately the
defendant's companions, all declared that they never had an ac-
quaintance of more delicate conduct, or one of whom they could
less believe it possible that he could be guilty of the offence im-
puted to him.
A person who had been servant in the defendant's father's house
for six years, and had lately left it in consequence of having mar-
ried, stated that he had, while in the service, attended on the de-
fendant as valet, and bad always considered him a young gentleman
of the strictest propriety and delicacy of conduct.
The RF.CORDER recapitulated the evidence to the Jury, and
pointed out the inconsistencies in some parts of the prosecutor's
statements, and. the improbability that any one should commit
such an assault in such a place as the crossing of a public street ;
and the even greater improbability, that a person of the defendant's
character—for it was impassible that any man could have a higher
character--ehould forfeit that character and the honourable situa-
tion he filled in society by any act that would for ever consign hint
to infamy. Still, character, however exalted, was no anawes to
positive evidence of guilt, if it was believed ; and what was highly
improbable was not necessarily impossible. It, therefore, they
believed the prosecutor's evidence, they would find the defendant
guilty ; but if they thought tEat evidence unworthy of credit, they
would pronounce his acquittal.
The Jury, without a moment's hesitation, returned a verdict—
Not Guilty.
The verdict appeared to give high satisfaction to those present.

WESTMINSTER ADJOURNED SESSIONS,

Siattaimir. Nov. 3.

Robert Ainsworth, better known u Black Bob of Westminster.
was indicted for assaulting and wounding George Cooper, a police
officer of Queen-square, while in the execution of his duty.
It appeared that the prosecutor and another constable were sent to
apprehend Bob and his comrade Blower, for practising as running
dustmen. Bob and his friend were regaling themselves at his
"old woman's." Cooper's appearance threw all into disorder. A
general fight ensued. Cooper's staff' had been wrenched from him,
his head cut in several places, and his body much injured. In
Net, so seriously was he hurt that he lay on the ground senseless.
Burly. the other officer, however fucceetled in making prisoners of
both his antagonists, and, by a skilful marceuvre, contrived in a
moment to place the " ruffles" on their wrists. No sooner hod de-
feat convinced Bob of' the folly of his conduct than he began to cry
and beg Cooper's pardon.
Cooper seemed extremely ill while giving his evidence.
The case having been proved,
The prisoner addressed the Court in his defence. He said lie was
very sorry for what had happened, and begged humbly and esrnestly
for mercy.
lie was convicted, but his appeal WWI not in vain. He was sen.
teneetl to three months' imprisonment in Tothill-fields bridewell.

POLICE.

BOW-STREET.

LADT BARRYMORE AGA/N Prarce, better known
by her slang title of Lady Barrynaure, was brought up on Saturday
morning by Lloyd, a watchman, charged by Mr. Bra:lmes, the
landlord of the kin& Ilea& James-street, Covent garden, with
having on Friday night created a violent disturbance and grossly
misconducted herself at his house.

It appeared frcm the statement of the complainant, that on Fri-
day evening, about half-past eight o'clock, this wretched woman,
who had been drinking with some persons in the tap-room, sud-
denly started up in a state of great intoxication, and seizing all the
pewter pots she could lay her hands on, began to throw them right
and left, without the least discrimination, hitting several persons
very violent blows, and one man so seriously, that he was unable to
attend at the office.

Lloyd, who was passing at the time, heard the noise, and en-
tered the house, but lie had so sooner shown his face than she
threw a quart pot at him with such violence, that had it struck the
intended mark she might have been placed at the bar on a charge
of murder. With the greatest difficulty Lloyd, and several persons
who were present, contrived to secure this furious woman, and to
convey her to the watch•house.
The prisoner, whose appearance was sickly and emaciated, and
who had a bandage tied round her forehead, being culled on for
her defence, did not attempt to deny the charge which was brought
against her, but complained of being the most ill-used woman in
England ; and expressed herself anxious to be sent out of the
country.
The Magistrate (Mr. HALLS) observed that means might be
found to do this, but for his own part he must content himself with
ordering her to stand committed to prison, to take her trial for the
assault.

The defendant, contrary to expectation, heard the decision with
perfect salinnest, and was unwind front the office without any
difficulty. .

1.1518ET11-STREET.

Powens or Leer JITRIES.—On Saturday application was
made at this office by the foreman of the Leet Jury, of the Manor
of Stepney, for a warrant against a butcher named Nathan, residing
in Rosemary_lane, whom he,charged with assaulting and obstruct.
ing the jury in the execution of their duty. It appeared from the
statement of Mr. Law, the applicant, that the jury on examining
Mr. Nathan's scales, had found appended to one end of the beam,
an iron hook weighing nearly two ounces, hung there, as the Jury„
concluded, to cause a draught a!;ainst li. customers. In conse-
quence of this discovery, Cite Jury amerced hint in the penalty of
it., and condemned the scales. Mr. Nathan peremptottly refused
to pay the penalty, and the Jury ordered the scales to be removed,
and carried away. Nathan restated, and during the struggle arose
the assault and obstruction for which the Jury sought redress.
Mr. Ilannw Ica, the sitting Magtatrate, observed, that he had
no doubt that Lett Juries were empowered to examine weights and
measures t but he had great doubt that they were under any cir-
cumstances authorised to impose a 'Lie, or take away the articles
they condemned.
Mr. Law replied, that he had not then his appointment about
him, nor could I.e exactly define what the powers were, whirls it
bestowed on hint ; but the Jury, on the present occasion, had acted
precisely in the same manner as their predecessors.
Mr. HAADWICK—Pray how do you act when you Levy fines,
and take away goods in default of payment ?
AfrarLaw—We leave notices for the parties to attend us on a
certain evening, when we hear any thing they have to offer in miti-
gation should it not be satisfactory we confirm the amereentent.
Mr. HAKDWICK—Tnen after giving your decision at the ehon in
the first instance, doubtless having licsrd what the defendanChrid
to say, you again summon him before you, to rehear his case,
and vary the penalty as circumstances may arise ? Are there any
fees attached to the office of Let Juror?
Mr. Law—None but what we vat and drink.
Mr. lianowtce—Then you have frequent dinners ?
Mr. Law—Yes, we generally dine together every day we are oat.
Mr. liannwicx—Who presides on the re-hearing of those
cases; is it the steward of the manor ?
kir. Law—No, your Worship, the Jury and the defendants are'
the only parties present.
Mr. only_
I must say that your conduct Is I'
should think both irregular and improper. I know of no law—l
know of no Act, either local or general, which empowers any
body to be at the same time panics, Judges and Jury. I have token
some trouble to ascertain the extent of the duties of beet Juries,
but I cannot find that such summary modes of scion as they have
assumed area: all countenanced by law, either statute or prescrip-
tive. (The beamed Magistrate here referred to the articles of
Coons Lea, in Tomlin: s Law Dictionary). Your duty is to ex-
amine weights and measures, and to present such as you find frau-
dulent in open Court to the steward of the manor, where those per-

suns. who by making vat of them have become untenable to tee
law, may have an opportunity of defending themselves.
Mr. Osmond, the clerk, in explanation of the prattle,* of
Leet Juries, informed their Worship. that the usual course pur.
sued by those bodies, and one of very general complaint, Iris
where they did not obtain immediate payment of the penalty as;
chose to inflict, to suinuion the uncomplytng party to the tavern,
where they were enjoying themselves, and there he undentood, is
some instances, they, on the prompt payment of a few 'billings,
reduce an amercement of two or three pounds.
Mr. H•npwwx—flow are those fines which you levy die.
posed of ?
Mr. Law—They are annually given up to Sir C. Smith, the
lard of the manor.
The application for the warrant was then granted, and in a shoei
time the officer made his appearance, with Mr. Nathan in custody,
who was held to bail for the simple assault, not for an assault on
the Jury while in the execution of their duty ; an arrangement
which will throw the onus of proving the extent of the duties arid
powers of beet Juries nu the prosecutors. .
The Magistrates admitted the necessity of having a check over
the dealings of the tradesmen of the metropolis, but regretted that
this useful control was not placed in more efficient t ands.

UNION HALL.
CAUTION TO WORIIIIIN.-011 Saturday tiro journeymen
glass-cutters, named John Lee and John Erglist'. were brougld
before the sitting Magistrate, L. B. ALLEN. Lig., for having sn-
lawfully absented themselves from their work before the comple-
tion of their contract.

111 r. James Bailey, a glass-cutter, stated, that he hired the dit,
fendants by the week, by verbal contract. Having worked in bts
employment ten days, they had quitted it without giving him any
notice of their intentions, and leaving two large glass bowls in az:
unfinished state. Atler considerable difficulty, the defendants
were traced to the warehouse of Messrs. Pellatt and Green, Is
whose employment they had entered subsequent to that of die
complainant.
The defendants urged in their defence u a reason for abruptly
leaving Mr. Bailey, the difficulty and hardship they experienced
in consequence of being kept without sufficient fire in the work.
shop, and beside the irregularity with which they received their
wages.
Mr. Bailey, however, produced evidence ter contradict the aster.
tious alleged by the defendants.
The Magistrate observed, that the charges were distinctly
proved against the defendants ; and as many complaints of a et.
radar nature had been lately made at this office, in order to make
an impression upon workmen in general, he would now 'mace
them to be imprisoned for two months each in the House of Cot-
ration to hard labour.