The National Register.
London, England, 1822-09-01 00:00:00

N SIDE.

ASSAULT ON A GIRL lIINDER TEN YEARS OR AoE.—John
Hull, aged 36, was indicted for a most atrocious assault upon
Eleanor Mercer, at Woolley.
The indictment was only for the misdemeanor, the Grand Jury
hating thrown out the bill for the capital Wiener.
Mr. }Wilcock stated the case. Eleanor Mercer, a very in-
teresting little girl, stated what happened to her with great
clearness. The prisoner wet her on the road near }Holey, en
the 261150 f March, and after enquiring the way to the next pub-
lic house, be pulled her into a shippon (a shed for cattle), and
there accomplished tis brutal purpose ; and he stopped her
mouth with hay , on coming out she met Betty Oakes. to whom
she told what had happened to her, and the priaouer was taken
into custody.
111 r. Ashworth cross examined the witness, but she did not
vary in the slightest degree in her evidecce.
Betty Oakes and Alice Mercer, the child's mother, proved
the complaints made by the child, and the situation in which
she had been found.
Mr. Howarden, a surgeon, deposed to the state in which the
child was found, after the abominable usage which she received
from the prisoner.
Mr. Ashworth defended the prisoner at considerable length.
and argued with much ingenuity ou the improbability of the
crime having been committed under such eircumatauceS.
Mr. Baron Wood was about to 113t11 up the case, but the Jury
declared themselves satistied, and instantly fulled the prisoner
Guilty.
Mr. Baron Woo—" A very proper verdict, Gentlemen."
Mt: ti ns.e.—John Wolfenden, aged 26, was put upon his triai
for the murder of Eliza Ann Dunwell, at Hoyttm, on the Coro-
ner's inquest, the Grand Jury having thrown out the bill, the
charge was, that the prisoner bad caused the death of the di -
I ceased, his apprentice, by excessive work and insufficiency of

food.
Thomas Radcliff.—l live in Royton, I was appointed with
others to inspect the different parish apprenticeships in May last.
We went to Wolfenden's, a weaver. We found the deceased
sitting on a loom in a quite emaciated state ; we went from the
cellar to where Wolfemlen was. N e had made inquiries of her
as to what quantity of work she did , she wove two yards and
a half a day of fustian: She was about ten years of age. That
was not a proper quantity of work for her age, even if she was
well and hearty. She was unfit for work of any kind. I told
bins so. He said he hail put her to bobbin winding, but she
was too weak for the child, being a lusty child, sod she preferred
weaving. I asked her to weave and she did, with the greatest
exertion, but with the greatest difficulty. I took her up in my
arms, and thougld she was not 201 h. weight.
John Cay, overacer.—She appeared in a very emaciated state.
unlit for labour of any kind. Wolfenden said she looked. badly
11 when he took her an apprentice, but he had been told by the
OV era of Leeds that she had been abort of meat, and if he
would take her she world come round. I went again to see her
on tlis tith of July. She was at a winding engine, quite in a
wont out state. Wolfenden seemed very willing that the in-
denture should be cancelled, and to give money to the township
for the purpose. On the Idth she was taken to Rochdale.—
The magistrates ordered me to take -.are of her, and that Wok
I ',deo should pay the expences. She had done more work
than a child of her age, in health, ought to do. I weave, but
have no apprentices.
Margaret Mellor.—The girl, after she was removed, was sent
live with tile. She lookvil almost done. She lived ten days.
By Mr. Williams.— She was consumptive.
Mr. W. Taylor considered her to he in the last staged A pul-
monary consumption. She died iu nine days alter. Extraor-
dinary labour would contribute to bring on the consumptive.
Cross-examined.—lt might have arises from natural dispo-
sition.
Mr. Baron Wood.—l dont consider this a case of murder or
of manslaughter. It is very proper that parish-oflicers should
look after these poor apprentice'', but there appears to have
been no culpable negligence, much less any design to destroy
the lite of the deceased on the part of the prisoner—Not Guilty•
Fontilifa.—Thomas Pendlebury, aged 16, aid Win. Cruse-
land, aged 38, were charged with Lavin forged a tub of e).-
change for 191. 15it, 611, with intent to defrAnl Mesa's. Davies
of I.ivespool.
Mr. Clarke stated the ease.—James Dutton, an accomplice,
carried on the trade of tallow chandler at Manchester ; I.new
Pendlebury ; left Manchester with hint and Crossland, on the
2d of April , met a man named White on the road, AN bite
said he had been doing business at Wan ington, hut could not.
We all four got ou the coach when it overtook us. NVe got to
Liverpool : and went brat to a public house kept by Hurst, .tad
then to another Lept rak Minsbull. Pendlebury ed for •

-