The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-08-13 00:00:00

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HORRID
MURDERS AND PARRICIDE.

SURREY ASSIZES.

(By k.!•pres,j

'Eavimnirtiab.

TRIAL AND•CONVICTION.

Late lest (Weduesdry), of George Cheauft
the younger, and Williams Chakreft, fw thE
Wilful Niurder or GiOLlthi CHCNNIILL, the
elder, and hi. HoineketVer, ELIZABETH Wit-
SUN, in the Town of audalining, eu the oiglit
of the 10th of November, 1817.

The nnUrtment root:mall several mint*, chart.
ink the tiffriteo in &ff.-teen way,. It ciiarged
Prisionen. with iiiflictnig tiie wounds im ,the heads
of the deerasoed version.; first, by 618%1.4 a ham-
mer, and afterwaida cutting their thtt..4ta with a
cute knife.

At eight o'clock the Prisoners were put to the
bar and severally arraigned—they pleaded !Sot
Gig;hy. The Prisoner. Chromed', was ono athletic
mod powerful-looking young man, about 30 vein's
of age—he seemed molter inclisord to coo pomace.—
his fritterer were pialte, but had a %Millie and wane-
what heavy expression, mod indicated an indolence
of habit. 'His Icherks were round and plump,
and he looked snore like a man who was fowl of
the idleneboo toad indulgence of ale-house society,
than our prone to the euaception or exercur of
more voutroot and desperate tusesiona. He was dress.
ed in a dark-coloured frock coat, buff wao.leont.
Ind woreee black *ilk handkerchief nun' his melt,
His appe.irance and manner were altogether thn of
a rtApeettlije farmer.

Vie other Ptitotter, Chalc►aft, Feemed shoot
42 years of age ; the expression of his features was
good, he had a keen and expressive eye, and
throughout the trial put several well-directed ques-
tiinis to the witne.ses. His demeanour was that of
a shrewd and cunning man ; his dress was that of
a farmer's labourer; he wore a white smock-frocks
and a coloured cotton handkerchief tied loosely
round his neck in the manner generally worn by
persons in his line of life.
This trial stood over since the last Assizes, in con-
sequence of the illness of a witness, and, us might
be expected, excited an extraordinary degree of
interest 11 gloott tie whole county. The de-
ceased Mr. Chruurll was on aged man, well kook's'
io the district ; he hail made a good deal of pro-
pv:iy in the town of Gadulminz, and had brothers,
who were in business in Guildford ; and be had
connections in different parts of the coumy.
The doors of the Court were beSieged before
seven o'clock in the morning. A number of re-
spectable ladies took their stations, with the must
patient pet SeVtilltlVC, in the midst an must tticaul-
(nuns crowd, which it required all the efforts of
the javelin met: to keep hack, from an attempt to
burst open the doors. Bels;re eight o'clock Mr.
Seljeatit LEN. (the Judge) mot the pritteipol Couus.
eel, with difficulty obtained ingress to the Court.
Considerable delay and difficulty took place he.
fore the Jury could obtain access, and the cootia-
sloe, mill indeed commotion outside the Court,
WAS great beyond descriptimi. On our occasion the
doors were forced open, the javelin-writ driven
aside, and the arena of the Court entirely filled by
a sudden rush. The side whitlows were entirely
peopled by fashionable-looking ladles, who mount-
ed up on the stone focings by the aid of ladders,
and seemed determined to brave any personal dan-
ger to get a peep at floe business of the Court.
Mr. Bennett. M.P. sat on the Bench.
A considerable time was consumed in tri Mg to
restore order in the Court, and, id a qitarter before
woe o'clock, Mr. KNAPP. the Clerk of Arraigns,
proceeded to call over the names of the Gentlemen
smairwited on the July.

The folhroiog Grutlemen were peremptorily
chullenged by the Prii.otier Cliennell,

Mre.nra. Edward Lewis, John Si minima, John A rind.l,
Chandler, %Vahan' Jackson, and Richard Robin.uo.
The full .swing ury were then morn—

sfesf•rs._George Trimtiter, John Twytor,Sinnuel SAvac..,

Edmond Chernurtn, Chrk, Julia 34" .
Sited, RlChArli pyre, Charles FAlkucr, %Val. moil,
&mall, and John Fry.
Mo. HEATH read the declaration contained M
the indictment, charging the Prisoners with th
murittitt.

Mr. GURNEY stated the case to the Jury. Ila
cbservntl, that in an inquiry so solemn as this, ire
need not require their patient and unwearied .itten-
human blood wets, under any en-
eunistanbes, full of horror ; but, great us was the
crime, it hod, like al! others, its comorarative aggia-
vatton. Tina WAY one of the t dreadful OW'S
they could well ceue-ive, because it was that Of
to 2•011 lifting his hand against a parent's lite.—
But great as woe the atrocity of the set, in an
equal degree should they be cautiously aroxioti•
before they had decided on the nature of the ev -
dente which would he submitted to them. He en-
treated that the Jury would dismiss altagetltter rwlalt
6tf.rir minds all that they had previuusfy heard or
read relative to this caw. The Leotard Counsel
then narrated to the Jury the whole of the circ rms.
b.:mitred evidence as it was subsequently stoteol Iss
the witnesses for the prosecution. The Prtsonve.
Cha'craft was a catmint to the late Mt. Chew Li,.
and the odor r Pri.uoier was les won. but koe
lived on very ftiendly terms with Lim. The de-
ceased parties, it would appellee were ire town to Terre
been alive at eight o'cluvit out Monday evetriog.
the loth of Navember. 1817, and the tu.uroleras
were discovered at half-Tryst resew o'clock cii lnr
following uturoling; hut it would be cle;in. Trolls
the eitdence, that the crime was eitruinitietl before
a quarter to ten o'clock on the night ia queteoos
for at that time are adjoining neighbour had gone
bed 10(1i61•0%ed, and or married n.rahe site early parr
of the aught, so es to br to hear any thosig ii. I
hazard in the !Untie of the tier. tied ; aid It a
quite iiiipon•sitile, 6001 is 1, lit& 4,eCureed *ha,
she was awake, as ii.iitt 1)3:e :Asko place whets true
crime hod los en committed, that the feniale oast
door would riot have heard U, ,mr..Chenneio 'AO a
frguiNr man, and wro( to bed !bout nine er'sl...

al4tl it cu..jtctured b.! Iri.d but pot Bunt; at 114