The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-05-05 00:00:00

THE KING N. DRAPER AND FRANKLIN.

TheLieleaid ant, Draper, was collector of the
pier and harbour duties at Margate; Franklin was
• constable at the same place. They were charged
with conspiring to oppose and obstruct, in the ear.
cation of their duty, two men belonging to his Ma-
jrsty's .liip Sevens, employed in assisting the rewe.
nue Akerson that station. There were other counts
in the declaration for assaulting and obstructing.
The Defendants had suffered judgment to go by
default on the first count. It appeared by the
Lflilawits produced that Priogle had, on the gth of
July last, at nine at night, been stationed on the Pier
at M.t.gitie to watch for smugglers, the night being
dark he overheard • conversation of some persons,

whom he could not Dee, but which he conceived
alluded to himself. and immediately after he was
addressed by the Defendant Draper, who asked
him if he was the Captain of the Dover vessel then
lying in the Roads. Pringle's answer not being
very civil, high words muse, which being heard by
another of the Severn's crew (Collins) who was
posted et a short distance from the Pier ; he came
up, and on his informing Draper that Pringle was
there on his duty, he went away, but shortly after-
wards returned with Franklin, the other De-
fendant, to whom he gave in custody both Pringle
and Collins, who were detained in the cage all
night, sod only discharged the next morning on
going before a Magistrate.
Mr. ADOLPHUS was heard for the Defendant
Draper (Franklin not having been brought up fur
judgment, on account of the dangerous state of his
health). Several affidavits were put in and read ;
one of them was signed by a great number of the
respectable inhabitants of Marg.-de, hearing testi-
mony to the good character of the Defendant, and
the others testifying to the inebriety of both Prin-
gle and Collins when they were taken into custody.
The Learned Gentleman urged this circumstance
with considerable force end address. _ .

The SOLICITOR-GIMSAL Was beard in reply,

... _ . ..
and referred to the affidavit of the Officer of the
Severn, who had posted the men, and had seen them
several bona afterwards, so late as ten o'clock, at
which time they did sot appear to him to be ID..

toxicated.
The Defendant was sentenced to pay a fine of
-took ■nd be insprilioned till such fine be paid.
THE RING R. ROBERT GARDNER.

This Defendant was tried at the last Assizes at
•Mridstone before the Lord Chief Baron end found
of obstructing the officers of his Majesty's
:hip Severn iu the execution of their duty of assist-
tug the officers of the revenue in the prevention of
smuggling. Defendant's offence had proceeded no
farther than a threat of violence during the time
when the officers were ensiled in searching his
yodel.
The, Court sentenced him to pay a fine of 20!.
and to be committed to custody till such tine be

THE KING sr. PETIft ATKINS.
This Defendant bad been indicted, and suffered
Indictees% by default, for en assault on Wm. Ha-
milton, Mc of the crew or his Maieaty's ship Scorns,
employed iu the prevention of smuggling.
The Souctvoa-GENitasi., in praying the judg-
ment of the Court. observed. that although these
offences against individuals might appear trifling,
yet their Lordships would be pleased to remember,
that this was an assault on au individual belonging
to a vessel, rendered obnoxious to certain persons
from the nature of the duty on which it was em-
trio) ed ; and that a seaman belonging to that ship
had been shot in the orris day on the beach at Deal,
si.il no discovery Lad ever been made of the perpe-
trator of that offence.
The Defendant was sentenced to be imprisoned
three months, and afterwards enter into recogni-
sance*, himself in 501. and two sureties in YU.
each.

TUS KIND V. JOISPU AND MINIM CLARKS.
OWENS PUBLICATIONS.
This was a presecntion instituted by the Society
for the Suppression et Vice. The Defendants were
father sad ma • the furuser was indicted for selling
on &wens bask, and the latter for disposing of a
prima of the same mature. They Lad both pleaded
guilty to the Mimosas preferred against them.
Mr. Guassir. in preying the judgment of the
Court so the two Defesdmits on the floor, said, be
lead mach rather, with the pesiaission of their
Lordships, that the indictment should not be reed,
tree is hailed number of persons then present;

far the subject was of so very gross and indecent a
nature. that it could not be seen oithost some dr.
sere of contamination. He hardly tired address
the Court on the iticalcalsble mischiefs likely to
ensue from persons not keeping a regular shop or
place of trade ; going hawking about publications
of the nature of these under prosecution. As the
miscliiefs were very great. so also was the d►fculty
of detection considerably increased by this itinerant
dealing in moral poison. 'Fbe profitson this ne.
furious traffic were certainly considerable. and it
appeared the elder Defendant had bees, carrying it
on for a very long space of time, and had also ini-
tiated his son into the business, who was not so
young but he must he thought fully responsible
for his own acts. It added to the guilt of the De-
fendants, that, together with their •hominoble reti-
cles, they had intermixed certain bo►ks of • laud-
able nature, such as religious tracts. under cover
of which they were the better enabled to make their
way into seminaries for the education of youths.
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICII intimated. that the
communication which had been made to Mr. Jus-
tice Best, by letter from the Defesulants. had better
be made to the Solicitor fur the prosecution.
This communication was shewn to Mr. Gurney,
and was an offer to give up the printers of the works
which were now under prosecution; but Mr. Gur-
ney declined having any thing to do with it, and '
pressed for the judgment of the Court ou the two
Defendants.
The elder Prisoner. on being asked if he had any
thing to soy in mitigation of punishment, confessed
his guilt, but said, that so far from it having been
a gainful trade to him, he had not been long out
of a workhouse. He had always endeavoured to
■void letting his son know where the works were to
be procured, but he had watched him. and found
out the place. He did not say this as wishing to
implicate his son deeper than he was at p►esent,
nor to shelter himself; he acknowledged himself by
far the most guilty, and if there was any difference
in the punishment, be begged the Court to award
the greater to him.
Henry Clarke said. that he had served his Ma-
jesty, and been wounded on board a man of war ; on
being discharged. in the year 1115, he had • great
difficulty in procuring employment; but at last he
got on board • ship going to America. and on his
return nearly lost the use of his limbs; and being
unable to do any bard labour, it was under the
presiore of extreme distress that he had resorted to
tint mode of getting his living.
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE—" We see sorry for
your distress. but people must be ',revealed from
getting a livelihood by debauching the morals of
the younger blanches of the community."
The Defendant resumed. and concluded by say.
ing, that be had not twenty shillings or • friend in
the world ; if he had he need not hare lain two
months in prison for a bailable offence. He threw
himself on the mercy of the Court.
Jr veph Clarke—" I know that the Society for
the Suppression of Vice have been at • great ex-
pense in prosecuting for thine offence', and as I
am acquainted with all the printers of such things,
1 should—"
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICR--" That is a matter
for the consideration of the Prosecutors."

Mr. Justice BATLEY. in palming the sentence of
the Court on the Defendants, expatiated on the
destructive consequences arising to youth in parti-
cular, from the spreading of such publications. and
the utter loos of character to the miserable vender.
of them. The sentence of the Court was that
Joseph Clarke should be imprisoned in the House
of Correction in ColdbothArlds, for 18 mouths,
and at the end of that time enter into recognizance*
for his good behaviour fur five years ; and that
Henry Clarke should be imprisoned in the same
place for nine months, and afterwards enter into
the same recogoisauces.

Joseph Clarke--" My Lo►d. this is as bad as a
sentence of death to me."

Mr. Justice BATLZY44 Sir. you do not know
how many persons you base sentenced to death."
The Court broke up at five o'clock.