The National Register.
London, England, 1822-12-09 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

ZING'S SHIPS STEAM VESSEM

TOESDA Y, Dec. 3.—John Watson and Joseph Hincbin were
indicted for assaulting Robert White, a seaman belonging to
the Pervert receiving ship, stationed of the Tower, to receive
to unteers for the navy.
This was a prosecution directed by the Lo►ds of the Admi-
ralty, the assault having arisen out of a practice on the part of
the commanders of the ateani-vessels plying between Loudon
and Illsrgate, making their vessels fast to the mooring chains of
the Perseus, and stationing themselves between that vessel and
the Tower wharf.

Robe►t White, a seaman belonging to the Perseus, sworn,
deposed, that on the evening of the Sikh of September he saw
two of the crew of the &lire steam packet from Margate, get
into her hoot, and make the vessel fast to the moorings of the
Perseus, which had been repeatedly prohibited. He and an-
other were sent in one of the Persesies boats to cut off the
hawser, and as they approached for that purpose, the people
belonging to the Eclipse hailed them, and threatened to throw
them overboard if they attempted to cast the hawser off.—
When they reached the hawser, a boat was sent from the
E. Noe, ang five or six hands from her jumped into the Pes-
eta, s boat, and the defendant Watson attacked him, beat him,
kuocked his hat overboard, tore his shirt to pieces, ■nd they
tried to t.irow him overboard. He had not osed any abasiv•
language, nor had his compassion to the crew of the steam-
ves►el. The Eclipse was made fa t to the buoy of the Per-
sesoes moorings, %Inch is a Ring's buoy.
Mr. Robert Cummings, gunner of the Passes, and Mr.
Mayne, master's mate, confirmed this evidesce.
This was the case for the prosecution.
Mr. Walford addressed the Jury fur the defence. He said
that he should prove the whole affray to have arisen oat of the
precipitation of the commanding officer in sendirg a man with
a knife to cut away the hawser of the Eclipse without timely
warning, the consequence of which would have been the most
imminent peril to the lives of a number of passengers, and to
the safety of the vessel. Mr. Watson, the pilot of the Eclipse,
seeing the danger, hastened to prevent it, in doing which he
received a cut ou the hand from the knife, and a blow with an
oar, which caused others to hly to his assistance, and the sessile
ensued. These facts were proved by sevt:al passengers.
The Chairmen charged the Jury, observing, that if there had
been an establishes! rule that no ♦essel shoald make fast to
the moorings of the Perseus, and the Captain of the steam-
vessel was aware of that rule, and knew that its so doing his
rope would,be cut, he would have been responsible for all the
danger and mischief to which by so doing lie exposed his vessel
and passengers. If, however, it was a mere matter of capri•e,
a regulation sometimes enforced, and at others relaxed, lie could
not but think it savoured of over-officiousness, so strenuously to
enforce it at that moment when the consequences were likely to
be so serious. It was for the Jury to say, upon the evidence
before them, on which side the first assault was committed ;
and if they were of opinion that it commenced on the past of
the man belonging to the Perseus, by cutting the defendant
with his knife, they must acquit both the defendants.
The Jury, without a moment's hesitation, returned a verdict
of acquittal of both defendants.