The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-12-12 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY, Mospay. Decnista 11.

Williams Price was indicted for hurglariously
steolinCa quantity of linen, value St. and upward..
from Joseph Wilgus). The evidence of the theft
was perfect.
Baron GA WA. in summing up, suggested
some doubts as to the proof of the burglary; still
he observed, as the value of the property was laid
at upwards of 40i. the thefi. if proved. was a
capital offence. It remained for the Jury to
determine whether the goods had all been
stolen at one lime. Thieves had • plan of draw.
ing things out of underground kitchens, by • stick
with • book at the end. This practice was styled
" fishing for things." The property might have
been so drawn out by the Prisoner. If the Jury
were of opinion that the things had been stolen iu
that manner, as there could not have been forty
shillings worth taken at one time, they would only
find the Prisoner guilty of striding.
Verdict—Guilty of sterling to the value of 39'.
not burglariously.
Baron Gaintow asked if the Court should pass
a mild sentence, had the Prisoner any friends who
were willing to assist him in adopting an honest
course of life .1!

The Prisoner could give no satisfactory answer to
this human suggestion.
The Grand Jury for the City of London entered
the Court, and alter presenting a iminber of bills,
the Foreman addressed the Court, complaining that
he had, at the request of his brother Jurors, made
r formal demand on Mr. Brown, the keeper of
Newgaie, to allow them to inspect the whole, or
any part of that gaol, in order to report thereon to
the Court. Mr. Brown had refused their applica-
tion. They wished to be informed by his Lord-
ship what course they were to take, or whether Mr.
Brown had a right to refuse them admission or not
Baron GAaaow said, that to the best of his re-
collection a similar application hrd been made to
the Court in the Session* of May last, by the
Grand Jury of the City of London, when a
Learned Friend of his was presiding. The an-
swer given at that time, according to his best re-
collection (for which if be erred lie hoped their
excuse, especially as he had been busily en-
gage ,1 in other affrirs ever since), was, that the
Court could give no opinion just then ; but
that the matter should be laid before all the
Judges of the land as soon after that as they
could be consulted, and on some future occasion
the Court would make known the result of that
consultation. The rafting opportunity was taken
for laying the subject before all the Judges of Eng-
lund. On the Sessions neat following, the senior
Judge made known the decision of all the Judges,
as well as he could recollect, to the following effect :
" That fur as mooch as it was • question of right which
had been submitted to them, like all other questions of right
it was capable, in some form or other, of being brought an-
der consideration in • judicial manner. And as in that case
any one of them might be called to sit in jedgment spoil
the issue, and as by a writ of error the question might be
agate submitted to all the Judges of the land, they were un-
witting to encumber themselves with any extrajudicial op.-
wino which they might be then able to pronounce."

That which had been the opinion of •II the Judges
its consultation, he, as • single Judge, felt it neces-
sary to adopt for the safe guidance of his own con-
duct. lie did not rioter into the propriety of Mr.
Brown's refusal ; on that subject he had no means
fur forming ■ correct decision ; but if the Grand
Ju►ies of the City of London felt that the right of
visiting the prison was essential, and • mutter of
sufficient importance to require more investigation,
they would have no difficulty in in►tituting pro-
ceedings, in some judicial form, which would lead
to • legal decision. lie hoped that his answer
would be satisfactory, as it was beyond doubt re-
spectful.
The Grand Jury retired without more observation.
S I thefts of a petty amount, quid wholly un-
interesting in their detail►, were disposed of.

SURREY ADJOURNED SESSIONS.