The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-12-17 00:00:00

MASON AND MIS WINE O. ILINSTY.

This was an action for slanderous words spoken to, and after-
wards of, Mrs. Mason, by the defendant.
Mr. Sc TTTTTT and Mr. COMTN conducted the ease for the
plaintiffs; Mr. Su RWIT held a brief for the defendant.
Mr. Scaart TT stated the case to the Jury. He said that this
was a very serious case as it affected the plaintiffs personally. It
was a very serious cane as it affected the pollee of this metropolis.
The defendant was, he said, a constable, who had employed the
authority given him in protecting a woman of the town in the
commission of the most gross and outrageous annoyance of
the plaintiff's wife, and in inflicting upon the latter the rratest inju.
dee and the most slanderous imputations. The plaintiff is afore.
man in some of the works now carrying on in the new London
bridge. For greater convenience, and in order to be near hie work,
he resided near the coiner of Tooler-street; his wife taking a house
towards the other extremity, in which she carried on the business of
a green-grocer— theupper part of the house being let out in lodg-
ings, to persons employed under her hnsband. Uofortnnately this
house wan within a few doors of a house of had character, kept by
one Charlotte. Fenton. Mrs. Maim being incessantly annoyed be
tire women living in this house plying about before her doors. made
an appireation to the pollee, and had them removed. Mrs. Fenton'
e t tcr this manifested her indignation and resentment against Mrs.
Moron by every annoyance she could devise. At last she employed
one ('atherine Swinney,one of her protegees, to set up a still directly
for the sale of the articles in whirls Mrs. Sisson dealt, immediately
opposite her door. Enraged by repeated M re Mason, in a
scuffle which had ensiled between them, overthrew Miss Swinney's
stall. The latter retorted in abusive langitage, calling Dim Almon
a vrti—e. Kxactly at this moment the defendant Kinsey came up.
and said to Mrs. Mason. " Yell, what are you but a wh-.e? You
are a wh—e; you have been married to live husbands." A person
who was accidentally passing be come up. and remonstrated with
the defendant for using 11101 foul language; upon which Kinsey
refitted, to Oh, I shall use that Isnot: 7e. She's a wh--e; I know
she is; atd you ate her bully, and I can prove it." Kinser. who
is a police-officer, had Mee. Mason taken up before Mr. Aldittnitla
Smith., on a summons for an assault. Tb, Alderman, on hest

ing the charge, was going to Muni* it as a frivoloul
ter, and rot within his cognisance when Kinsey I.
posed, end said that he could prove an assault. The Ma
trate seemed 'OH inclined to dist/lite It, when Kinsey ag
interposed, and Raid she was a bad woman ; she kept a -- huatana'
whereupon the slagistrate wet prevailed upon to alter bit epistles,
and' he ordered her to And trial. Kinsey, still pursuing the s
sys'em of persecution, would not wait till she could find bat.,
obtained her re be locketi up with common women... One bail -
immediately found. ; another could not be obtained at the month!.
He took her to the gaoler, and told him she was a bed, woman,
;a very eat, to tee how he would treat hcr there : he loektd
with bs I women. The Learned Counsel then said that he
not go into the circurrietankm connected with the cominitmenl,
cause that was fur the assault, but the end of all the talunsnitatil
and malicious eltrArrit was, that Mrs. Mason was comP
leave the neighbourhood, which had become too hot foeft
live in.
Hoary Steward, examined by air. C.orgesr.—ln the last Sums;
met I lodged in the house of Mrs. Mason : Mr. Mason it foramn
of some works caer•yllig on in the new London Bridge. Ile has
piece work. His wife at that time carried on a green grocery
241, Talley-street, in the Borough. 'There were other lodgers
the house. In Angutt last I remember seeing Kinsey there.
was a police officer. I saw him conversing with Mrs. Mae* ,
was on the 25th August. in the afternoon. lie said, " Theo you;
have had tome words with Cathavins Swlnney ?" He afterwards
said to Mrs. Mason, " What are you else but a w—e' You a* a
w—e, and I can prove it. Yoh have five hbaber de. You keep a
bad house, and I will peon it." I interfered, and said, •• ate
ought to be ashamed at Using a respectable women its the scanda—
lous manner he did." He told me I was one of her bullies. Mrs.
Minton also told him he ought to be ashamed of himself. I hard
frequently seen Catherine Swinney ; she lived within a door. we
of Mr. Manua. I rather think she did not live at Charlotte
ton's. He threatened to obtain a summon,. I saw Mrs. Mi
afterwards at the Clink prison. I dial not seb het before the
gle-rste. I was not at the police otE-it When they came to
gaol door, I heard Kinsey say to the keeper of the gaol, she wa
bad women, kept a bad house, and had five husbands; •
pointing to me, said I was one of her husbands. I have ,
seen Kinsey at the house of Charlotte Fenton, both befit*
after this. Charlotte Fenton and Cath. Elatuney wets knows s.
one another. I have seen them frequently together. I was Dever
in Charloue Fenton', house, but I understand it is a tad house,
Chosssexarnined by Mr. fugue*-1 have lodged at dire. Ma-
son's between three and fbur years. I was it her house haat night
I did not lacer her say to any one, " this is my fancy mut. 1
never heard her say of me, "1 have pawned all my clothes to suppose
a bastard child of his in the country, to keep ham from teeing t•-
gaol, and now, d—n him, he will not go up to speak a word
me without my giving him a guinea every morning." Her 1
band and two other persons were present with us last night.
Reexamined by Mr. Sdalit.222—l Raw Mrs. Melon last.
at her own house; she has now left her house where shealrepet,
grocery : her husband now keeps the White Lion, in Toole),
street, where she lives with him t I was there about half an b.-
last night. This was the only time I RAW her lest night.
M. Atkinson, examined by Mr. Sciat.ter —I live to Owen
street. Paddington. I never had any acquaintance with the plain
tiffs before the time when I happened to be passing accldentall
along Tooley.street, and was attracted by a noise. I had a linen
with me. I left my address. Before this I was a total stranger
them.

Mr. Stanbury, examined Uy Mr. Scasavrt—l am a watch.
man. I know Mrs. Mason's shop; there is a dinorderly bons
within a few doors of it ; it is kept by Mrs. Fentoa. I have r
moved common prostitutes from Mrs. Mason's doer. I saw !
in the gaol ; I went to be hail for her. I saw Kinsey there:
said, '• Do you know what she has been up to ?" I
" No." He replied, "She has indecently exposed herself."
told me the Alderman would not like try being bail for her.
patrol in June last.

Cross-examined by Mr. Gum XEY —I was at Mr. Mason'
night. I was not on duty ; I had leave of absence.
Elizabeth Fownes--I am servant to Mr. and M. Mason.
went into their service last September. I have seen Kinsey four
five times at Mrs. Fenton's; I have seen him eating oysters then
Mrs. Fenton keeps an oyster shop. I have seen improper persons
go into the shop.
Mr. GURNET, for the defendant, now addressed the Jury,
said that as they had not pleaded a justification of the t
he could not go into evidence to prove the truth of them.
client denied ever having used such words; all the witnesses
remembered with great accuracy what Mr. Kinsey had fait:
not a word said by Mrs. Mason. Although he was not at lit
to peeve the truth of the words, yet he ',mat liberty to prove
tain things connected with them. He denied that Mason was
husband; he ditt not believe a word of it ; though he could
strictly prove that Mrs. Mason's was a b—y tiotie, yet be
Prove certain things which gene it very much the arpcorance of
The only injury to Airs. Mason would be by saying words
very contrary to those ascribed to the defendant;; for to some
a had character was profitable.
John Hall, examined by Air. OURNIY-1 know Mrs. Mason
and Mr. Stewart. I have heard her mention his name, but notliiilb
improper. I Dave heard hair ma him her nstre -men. ritas'e
heard her say the same thia‘of twesizre
her say any thing about a bastard. or giving him a guinea.
Cross-examined by Mr. Se AItLIT T--Sbe is a free,
.ickose,ri
humoured woman. I have no reason whatever so thinkAt is
not a modest woman. I know Charlotte Fenton. I Issider also
Catherine Swinney, and the young women about her houee,..by
sight; that is all. I should not like to contcss that I had aver
been In Mrs. Fenton's house.

Charles Wood—This witness, Who described himself as a
man and Jightermart, come into the box dressed in a huge
white great coat. His behaviour was meat coarse and indecent.
He gave hie evidence in chief, with a lounge and an indifference
which almost indicated that he was in a state of intoxication :
on cross.extunination by Mr. Scarlet[, he displayed a specimen
insolent impertinence rarely paralleled in courts of law : the
beara.nce of a Court singular for the propriety and decorum
which its pmeeedings are conducted, shiekled him from a ta.,
which he richly deserved. He said, in suhstance—l was present
when the summons was served on Mrs. Mason. She used '
language to Kinsey ; she called him a caddre, a nour, and •
ill name she could think of.
On trots-examination by Mr. fkAaLtTT, he said—l know
Fenton ; I took a glare with her this morning, (in reply to a
don that went am to his intimacy with this woman) You touch mi
closely Mr. Kinsey was there with us; I paid for my own lig
and (with a swegger of the moat ridienloos self-importance) I
got money to pay for more. (Mr. Scarlet* was again touching
closely.) I do not like that much; I never was a parish officer.
(This came out after much reluctance, and evidently related
tender point.)
Mr. Scan LEFT—Had you ever a felon in your custody ?—",
custody ? (repeating the words of the Learned Counsel, 89 he ,
already repeatedly done.)
Mr. SCAIILETT—If year ask ITC., 1 Shalt say, yes.—Witness—
I shall say, No, Sir; I never had a felon in my custody ; I was at
Mrs. Fenton's about a week ago, to carry a bushel of oysters •
never was in her house with Kinsey.
Witness was again hesitating and equivocating, when Mr. Sc
LETT said—You are only wastinr, the time of the Court, for I r
have it out of you if I work you till 'tier.
Witness--You'll get nothing but the truth out of me if von s.
me all night; I know no more of this girl (Met. Fenton) than
do of you. When Mrs. Mason had overturned Catherine
ney's stall, she told Kinsey that he and the Meg:watt migi

Ann Read-1 was a charwoman for Mot Mason ; she went
different names; sometimes she :a called Bell, and toasters:lli
Steward.. he.

Cross-examined by Mr. SCARLETT--. 1 worked with
Mason four or fire dart, about ten weeks ago; I nerer spoke
Kinaey before this week ; I MA goilg on .an errand ; he came •
end clapped me on the back, untasked me if I lint w him ?
No; I was at a public house this nbirrhing with Wood (the
witness), the gentlewoman (Mn. Fenton), and Mr. Kinsey.
drank something; ore Vfele there more than an hour.

Catherine EYiolt Vl.d now called ;—after a etstutierstle
the salsa:med. Site was a dirty, miserable-lootino creature.
wn not the person expected by Mr. Ourney.
Charlotte Elliott was then ealkd, anti she immediately ateppall
forward ; she displayed a more dashing appearance, anti bowed ate
curtsied with marvellous grace. Though she made her &Sat
Charlotte Elliott, she was, in • poitt of fact, the identical Y
Fenton.

By air. Guwsre—My name is Catherine Charlotte Milt-
know Mrs. Mason; she goes by different ntiniee. Mrs. Ster
war: her name when she first came into the neighbourhood
said Steward washer husband.

Cron-examined by Mr. Se* RI FT T-1 am sometimes
Fenton, but that is not my name. I keep an oyster-Ater.
Kinsey never came to my hotise but on business. Ann
the daughter of the last witness, was a lodger of mine.
know Catherine Swinney ; she does not lodge in nay house t
has been in my house. I never had any taxnplaints by
Almon about any annoyance .he might have received from
lodgers. I did not give Catherine Swtnney orders to stand oppe.
site to 3lra. 31asoris. I never was in gani, i never was charged
with keeping a disorderly house. I know Mr. Holland he I•
in ney house.—(atter a pause, correcting herselfi—er rather
in his, for it is his house.

Mr. SCMII LETT—Oh, one mind such mistakes nee pert.
fedoral. People often speak tlws truth involuntarily when they
not mein it.

Witness continued—lle vas neva, to my knowledge, brodeM
up on a charge of ibie aort.

After this lady had got down from the bee, stung be the metal.
ins cross-examination of Mr. Barlett, she turned to hue, and
that she did not keep a bed house.
Mr. G v Itt Y here eland his cue, after an intimation from
Lori Chief Juvree. conveyed in • whisper, that he was mann",
ease worse by every shams he called.
Mr, gcAni.r.vr, in a moat animated end forcible reply,
the testimony of the defendant's witnes-rv, one by one, .1.1 she,
that the whale Tan a mass of prevarication and perjury. Ho
that if the Jerry gave all the damages laid ta the decLaratit
could rot repay the plaintiff for the Ltury he had siritainr4,
would it adequately punish the infamous conduct of the gorrods•
aggravated as 0 was by the circumstance of bits being a radio
officer.

The Lotto ClitTT JUITiCT, wiebout ounwniog ttp tbi
deuce. merely told the awl that tiodoobtediy etas words were a,
tioriable ; if tbe:rofore, the; Nampa prat they bed bort riovitd,
they would Sod for the plattuf; cludmotion of Ilainene \raj pis
cutiarly for tbelt DIM coroldentiot. $t would, bowesc:, caution

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