The National Register.
London, England, 1820-05-21 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

no notice, and therefore we were unprepared to confute.
If your Lordships think the affidavit inadmissible, I Well
not press it fur one moment.
Chief Justice.—We are anxious to receive whatever
ought to be received, and to open the doors of justice es
wide as possible; but we must not establish a precedent
which may he dainzerous in other cases.
The disputed affidavit was again handed up, and some
difference of opinion seemed to occupy the Bench. The
Lord Chief Justice at length asked Mr. Hunt what part
of Chadwick's evidence he wished by this affidavit to
mpeach?
Nlr. Htint.--My Lord, Chadwick stated that he at-
tendect me front Stockport to Nlancitester, and that I
invited the people to cheer. Now the affidavits are sworn
to by persons who accompanied me all the way, And they
• deny the circumstance.
Justice Bayley.—That does not appear (rem the affi-
davit.
?Ir. Hunt.—lt says, my Lord, that if it had occurred
they must have heard it.
After some further discussion, during which part of
Chadwick's evidence was read,
The Lord Citief Justice said, that as the parties now
before ,the Court appeared to receive judgment, their
affidavits ought to confine themselves to facts, which
might go in mitigation of punishment. The reason of
the deponent was not stated, nor had they any opportu-
nity of ascertaining them, and it did appear to hint a
most dangerous course so admit affidavits tending to im-
peach the character of a witness, when defendants were
brought up for judgment.—The affidavit was ultimately
!ejected.
After the affidavits have been read, the defendants
severally addressed the Court in mitigation of punish-
ment. Mr. Hunt spoke at considerable length, and
• with great ability. He took a general review not only of
what passed at the Manchester meeting, bat what pre-
ceded it. He related many horrid particulars of the
conduct of the Nlatichester Yeomanry, and he concluded
by saying, " Let the Court address its attention to the
conduct of the Manchester magistrates. Of all the
popular meetings which had ever been called—of all
those assemblies which Mr. Burke had emphatically
termed • the safety valves' of the state—of all those meet-
ings which had met undisturbed, and from which no
evil consequences had resulted—none had beeu called
with so much caution, with so 'much attention to regu-
larity and to legal notice, as this meeting of the 16th of
August. The magistrates had every reason to believe
that the conduct of that meeting would be peaceable;
they knew that there was no existing law by which
that meeting could be prevented ; they knew that acts of
parliament were preparing for that purpose; but they
were too bold to wait for the assistance of those powers,
and resolved at once to seal those 'safety valves' with
the blood of the reformers. What had the reformers
done to deserve this treatment? They had said, 'We
are working like slaves, and we are starving when we
have done. %Ve labour thirteen hours a day ; and, though
we live on oatmeal and water, we cannot get enough of
that to support our wives and children. iA'e have been
told to wait patiently; but we are five years in peace,
and our burdens are unabated. We are tired of these
miseries, and we will meet together: We think that
there is one great cause of all our grievances ; we think
that a free representation in the House of Commons
would alleviate our burdens; we will lay our case before
our Prince, and before parliament ; we will call upon
them to take off some of those enormous sums which are
paid to the officers of government, sometimes for doing
nothing, sometimes for doing worse than nothinf. We
will do till this, but we will do it peaceably.' This was
the language of the reformers: how had it been answer-
ed? They, were told, ' Your meeting is for an illegal
purpose. They called another of a different nature.
The requisition for that meeting was signed by seven
hundred persons ; their names and places of abode fully
given. Were those persons strangers J They had lived
and worked, some of them 20 and 25 years in the same
town, and seven years in the same dwelling. This was
sonic evidence as to the character of such men, for they
were poor men ; and if they committed any offence,
they were speedily detected and punished, and sent
packing. 'f hey were not gentlemen , not like Mr. Hol-
ton of Holton ; not men of property who might be
steeped to the lips its infamy and crime, and yet lice
unmolested and undisturbed in their mansions, who
were above the reach of being driven front their homes
or from society.
The Attorney General and Mr. Scarlett, on the part
of the prosecution, then answered the leading matter
introduced by the defendants, and called for the severity
of the Court.
Mr. Justice Bayley, after making strong observations
on the mischievous intentions of the defendants, deli-
vered the verdict of the Court, which was, that Henry
Hunt he imprisoued two years and six months in licher
ter Gaol, and enter into sureties for time years, himself in
1,0001. and two others in Soul. each. The other defen-
-dants were sentenced to be imprisoned one year in Lin-
coln Gaol, and to find sureties Mr five years, themselves
in MI. and two others in WI. each.
At the conclusion of the judgment sir. Hunt asked
if he was to be placed in solitary confinement.
The Chief Justice said, the Court had made no order
for solitary confinement. The defendants would be in
the usual custody, and if the parties should have any
just pretence for complaint, the Court would hear it.
Time parties were then taken smut of Court in custody
of the officers. As they passed along the Hall to a coach,
the crowd, which was numerous, gave Mr. Hunt thrve
cheers. lie wore a smile, but the sentence produced
upon him a strong, expression of sui prise.
THE KING V. SIR C. WOLSLLEY AND JOEEPII
HAKRISON.

The dereialarits were next bron6ht into Court to re-
ceive judgment.
Mr. Justice Bayley delivered the sentence of the
Court, by which Sir C. Wolseley w 35 sentenced to be
imprisoned 18 months in Atiiie6r!ou Gaol, and at the

exiitation of that term, find sureties for five years, him-
sell in 1,0001. and two others in 5001. each.
Joseph Harrison was sentenced to be imprisoned in
Gh stet Gaol 18 mouths, to be computed from theexpira-
ion of his present imprisonment, and to find sureties for
five years, himself in 3001. and two others in 1001. each.
Sir C. Wolscley.—May I ask when I am to go to
Abingdon
The Chief Justice observed, that would depend on
the orders received by the officer who had him in custody.
The defendants were then taken out of Court.—Tents
ended.
COURT OF KING'S BENCH, TUESDAY MAY 16
Marge after Taws.
TEASDALE V. CLEMENT/.

This was an action against the Proprietor of " The
Ob " newspaper, for having insetted a libel in that
Paper, reflecting on the character of the plaintiff.
From the evidence it appeared, that the plaintiff is
Constable of Si. Pancras parish. On the 3I of October
he was going his rounds, accompanied by another consta-
ble, named Smith, about six o'clock in the morning, when,
itt the New-road, near Brunswick-square, they saw two
men before them, carrying a basket. Their meaner
excited suspicion, and they pursued and stopped them.
On searching their basket, they found a dead body. They
secured the men and their burthen, and took them befure
the late Mr. Leach, the Magistrate, when they underwent
an examination, and %etre detained the misdemeanour.
They refused to tell where they got the body from, and
Mr. Leach directed them to apply to some surgeon, and
inquire if the body would be useful for dissection. They
accordingly applied to the surgeons at St. Thomas's Hos-
pital, and left word with the porter, the house surgeon
not being at home, that they had a body in their posses-
sion, and an account of the manner in whirl. it came into
their possession. In the course of the day the surgeons
sent their porter for the body, and gave the 'colloid Itis.
. to be divided between himself,Sruith,and the watch-house
keeper, as a remuneration for their trouble.
On the following Sunday, an account of this transaction
appeared in The Ob , in which account it was stated,
that the plaintiff Teesdale was ordered by the Magistrate
to have the body interred, instead of which he took it to
Mr. Carpue, the surgeon, and offered it for sale, but Mr.
Carpus refused to purchase it, saying it was the property
of the awn from whom the Constable bad taken it.—The
plaintiff, it was alleged, then took the body to St. Thomas's
Hospital, and there sold it; that the plaintiff had been
held to bail to answer for his conduct, at the Sessions.
Not a word of this latter part was true, and this was the
libel complained of, and for which the present action was
brought. The case having been proved,
Mr. Adolphus addressed the Jury ou the part of' the
defendant.

The Chief Justice slimmed up, end the Jury found a
verdict for the plaintiff—Damages 801.
THURSDAY, MAY 18.
DELDEN AND WINE, v. JOSEPH AND DEOEDE PAGE.
This was a cave of assault. There were two re-
cords—the one charging an assault upon the plaintiff's
wife, to which the plaintiff himself was of necessity a
party; the other charging an assault committed upon the
plaintiff alone. It was agreed, in order to save the
tune of the Court, that the two actions should be tried

together.
Mr. Gurney, on the part of the plaintiff, stated his
case as one of peculiar hardship. His client, the
learned Counsel said, was an industrious pains-taking
hawker. who obtained his living by vending his com-
modities at fairs; and the defendants were gentlemen of
property, residing at St. Alban's. It happened that,
upon the 21ith of March 1819, the plaintiff and his
wife were attending the fair of St. Alban's • and upon
the morning of that day, which was the 'last of the
fair, were peaceably packing up their wares, in order
to their no less peaceable departure, when the two de-
fedants, who were wont from time to time to amuse
the inhabitants of the town with a row, thought fit to
make these poor persons the subjects of their dexterity.
Those gentlemen, upon pretence of dealing, came to
the booth of the plaintiff ; but, instead of making pur-
chases, by their beastly observations they indectutly in-
sulted and assaulted the wife, and proceeded, by way of
satilfaction, to beat the husband for interfering. INuing
a period of nearly three hours the defendants continued
to annoy and ill-treat the plaintiff and his wife; they
broke down the booth, and endangered the loss of the
goods • and when the subjects of their sport retreated to
an adjoining house, they followed them thither, amp
threatened their lives. The Jury would naturally sup-
pose that souse attempts to protect themselve 1)1(1 been
made by the plaintiffs. Such attempts had beets made.
Mr. Gelden said to one of the defendants, ••• 1 will
complain to the Mayor." " Then you must complain
to me," answered the assailant, " for I am the Nlairir,
at least I was Mayor last year." A constable was call-
ed, " but -he dated not touch Mr. Gape." 'lle gen-
tlemen, the learned Counsel believ(d, had die excuse
of intoxication for their conduct; but if a ma?, behaved
ill when he was drunk, he must pay for it when he was
sober. The present action had not bern brought until
sery moderate recompense had been refused ; and it was
to be honed that the Jury, in g ving heavy dantagi s to
the plaintiff., would at the same time give a valuable
lesson to the defendants.
A number of witnesses were then called, who fully
made out the case as stated by. Mr. Gurney.
'Foe Lord Chief Justice, in summing up, informed
the Jury that they 1111 l sr find distinct verdicts won each
action The second verdict, however, would, he thought,
depend in a areal measure upon the first. In causes of
the present deseriptiou great consistency of evidence
could tint lie exiiecied : the matter indeed, in itself, was
a scene of lie tholiAlti, however, that here
was at East as much consisienry in tile plaintiff's Case
as rid appe,,red that of the tlefentlauiN
The .airs f .1 fur the pit tI!I ii omit the
with loot. dam ttLei .1311) thh hi-., n 5, I. upon the

A library is ail'. • ... 0. wlidesaic in a
provincial paper, several ji,el square
of handsomely
ne nercr having 6cca
h"--u"d kooks, which are as good as

OLD BAILEY, Friday, May i 9.

BANK PRO6ECUTIONS.

The following prisoners were this morning brought
into Court, and severally pleaded Guilty to the
minor offence of having forged notes iu their pos.

William Cooper, aged 25 ; George Thorpe, aged 24 ;
George Henley, aged 28 ; Joseph Lenney, aged 24.
They were informed by the Court that they would be
transported for fourteen years.
Samuel Benjlinin Meredith, Robert Ireland, and
George Seymour, pleaded not Guilty.
The following were arraigned, and pleaded Not
Guilty to the capital charge :—George lludfield, aged
and Henry Brown, aged 28 ; for tittering five 101
and five 51. notes; James Gardener, for uttering thirty-
five it notes; Jane Harrison, for uttering seven IL
notes ; and Peter Miller, for uttering two 10/. and Due
51. notes

The prisoner who had pleaded Not Guilty were then
informed t.iat their trials would comaience to-morrow,
at ten o'clock.
EXTORTING MONEY BY A CHAO!! Or AN UNNA-
TUR•L orreucc---William Wilkinson, a wretched
100k111/ NIJII HI colour, WAS indicted for an assault upon
Edward Hodder, ou the King's highway, and stealing
from bib person three half crowns, and two one-pound
notes.

Mr. Bolland opened the case. He stated, that this
was a case of peculiar importance,
_ and required their
utmost attention. The Learned Counsel proceeded to
detail the tacos of the case as they were afterwards
proved in evidence.
Mr. Justice Bayley summed tip, and the Jury found
the prisoner Guilty.
The prisoner upon hearing the verdict, exclaimed,
" I'm murdered."
Baron Gatrow—Gentlemen, the observations just
made by the prisoner calls from me this remark. I have
attended to the course of the evidence, and I think
myself bound to say, that had your verdict been different,
an inroad, and a fatal inroad would have been made
upon the safety of society.
Mr. Justice Bayley also expressed his concurrence.
Benjamin Constable and Elizabeth, his wife, were
indicted, the former for stealing and the latter for felo-
niously receiving, a number of valuable pistols the
property of Mr. Rivierc, the gun-maker, in 01Tord- I
Street.
_ _ _

The male prisoner was a workman to Mr. Riviere,
and it was proved that he had from time to time stolen a
number of pistols of the most valuable kind that the
shop contained, and his wife pledged the,,. for trifling
sums at several pawnbrokers' shops. It came out in
course of evidence that the prisoner was in great distress,
in consequence of having a wife and children and a sick
father to support.
One of the pistols produced was stated to be worth 41.
16s. at prime cost, and this was pleded at a pawnbro-
ker's for a few shillings.
Mr. Baron Garrow, in addressing the Jury. animad-
verted in very strong terms an the negligent (to say
no worse of it) conduct of the pawnbrokers in this
case. It was owing to the facility with which the un-
happy couple at the bar, could raise a few paltry shil-
lings, by plet!ging artitles worth as many pounds, that
they had been placed in such • situation, and Mr.
Riviere had been so great a sufferer in his property.—
His Lordship directed an acquittal of the wife on a
point of law.
The Jury found Benjamin Constable Guilty, Death
—and the Foreman begged permission to recommend
him to mercy, and to state the grounds on which they
did so, which were—first, the circumstance of this be-
ing his first offence, and the good character he had
borer—and, secondly, that they conceived his guilt
was in a very material degree owing to the readiness
with which he could raise money upon the articles at
some pawnbrokers
Baron Garrow.—" I hope this opinion of yours,
Gentlemen, entitled as it is to the highest consideration
and respect, will obtain a very wide circulation. I
shall direct that the pawnbrokers do not receive one
shilling of Owl, expences, and I hope that in future
they will attend to the interests of the public, as well as
to their own."
His Lords(tip then desired Mr. Clark, not to give the
pawnbrokers one single shilling
In the course of the (lay Mr. Baron Garrow took occa-
sion to rein irk, that the public business to this Court, as
well as at the Assizes, were much retarded, •ind the
Judgrs pin to much inconvenience, in consequence of
the neglect of Magistrates' Clerks to furnish the deposi-
tions taken at the Pidice Offices. He now requested Mr.
Clark, toe I),,puty Clerk of the Arraigns, to make out a
list of all the prtsiiners in whose cases the depositions
had not (teen furnished this Sessions, will' the particular
office i(mit %voids each was committed, and transmit
the same 10 Lord Sulmouth, in order that measures
might he adopted to put 30 end to so alarintog au evil.

The servant of Capt. Davis, who, as out readers
may recollect, enabled his master to escape from
6iltspur.street Cumpter, was tried on Monday at the
London Sessions, and sentenced to six months im-
prisonment. We understand the Jury were ex-
tremely reluctant to find a verdict against him, but
without violating their oaths, they could nut acquit
him.

Last tvc..k d •,er‘ant at Mr. Donn's, Firling, Holder-
ness, being about in light the fires, and Mania no
I atches, gut Mr. Dunr.'s riowiler flask, and al, 1 str.k
ing some s mks ell liw aflame the tinder, seditcleti
ipiatitily of gunpowder upon it. This .11 1111 l di-
ately taisi:ig fire, comiiiiiineaoqi wills that in the ILO:,
which exploding, carried away all the gliaS in MO
WIIICIOWS, and left the thumb of the ,young woman's
hand, in which she held the powder flask, hanging by
a piece of skin.

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE:
-..-
EPSOM RACES.

IVEDNESDAY-.11,11111T DAY.
These Races commenced on Wednesday, but u usual, on the
first day, the ground was attended by ttwee persons only inter-
ested, and there was no betting excepting upon the Derby, as
follows :

15 to 8 against Pindarrie
443 1 - Kilt Devil filly

sat

It to 1

Brother to Blucher

12 tO 1 --.--- Duke

Abjer