The National Register.
London, England, 1823-03-16 00:00:00

ASSIZ I INTELLIGENCE.

ESSEX.
Clitimeneo, Marten ll.—The Asehes for this county
commenced here to-day, before the Lord chid Baton on the
Crown side, and Mr. Baron Graham on the. Civil side. In
both Courts the business is very light compared with the for-
user assizes, there being only 40 eases in the gaol calendar,
and 13 eutries in the cause paper.
CIVIL SIDE.
actiticrioa.—coi CC o. DOWN'. •
This was an action againat the defendant for seducing the
• plaintirs.daughter, Whereby he lost her-services.
The case was, that the plaintiff was a 'stiller, at Great Tot-
ham, in this county, and also a public house The de-
firmlaut, a man upwards of d 0 years of age, was also a ini ler
do the same 'Wage, and was in the habit of drinking at plain-
titre house, insaltirls fills. Lucy Royce, a young woman of 17,
assisted her father as a servant, and attended in the bar.
About two years since the defendant became acquainted with.
Miss Royce. Its order to effect his base purposes he prevailed
upon her to visit him at the cottage of a woman, named Smith,
a tenant of his. The latt,tr, it was said, had lent herself to
the rain of the girl, by going out of the way, leaving the par-
ties together. About Michaelmas, 1521, the defindatit ac-
complished the ruin of the unhappy girl at tlds cottage; the
oonsequence was, that at Michaelmas followiug she became,
the mother of an infant. For the they of services thus occa-
sioned to the plaintiff, and the expellees during the illness of
tile young woman, this action wae•brought.
Miss Lucy Royce, a gild of interesting appesiance and con-
aiderable beauty, deposer, that she became acquainted with
this defeudant in. consequence of his coming to her father's
Nib icehouse to drink. The defendant lived shout a quarter of
s mile from her father's dwelling. A woman, named Smith,
occupied a eottageof the defendant. 'Witness used to go fre-
quently of an evening to visit her sister, who married a Mr.
*.retry. Is, lu way home she had to call at Mrs. Smith's
cottage, where she often met the defendant. Mrs. Snail' used
to lease them Mime WIICII the defendant came in. An intimacy
welts formed, and about Michaelmas, 1524, the defendant ef-
feciml bee ruin. She sonlianed to meet him at Mrs. Smith's
'from that them till June last year, during which time the im-
proper intimacy was continued. In September last she be-
came a mother.
Mr. Brown, a farmer at Great Totham, proved that-the de-
. fendant was a upwards of forty. He owned a mill, and
was Maffeity gmadatircumstaiscea.
This was the case for the plaintiff.
The defence was, that there had been no seduction on the
part of ibe defendant ; that it was even a doubtful matter
ovbether lae was the father of the child, inasmuoh as the young,
lady had been familiar with other men before the connection
. was formed with the defendant.
"Mr. 'ready replied, on the part 'of the plaintiff, and urged
that the defence set up was wholly improbable, and that the
statement of Mr. Benjamin Gentry was so infamous as to be
totally unworthy of credit. Him in hied that the cutithiot •tat
t the defendant in thus attempting to attack the character of the
your; woman, whose ruin be had effected, was.a considerable
aggravation of damages.
Mr. Baron Graham summed. up the case for the Joey.
The Jury found their verdict for the pliiintlff-I-Datuages 1001
baciers. v. BICISMORE.
CHELMSFORD, AIARCII 12.—This was an action of assault
and battery,. to which the defendant pleaded Not Guilty.
Mr. Marryat and Mr., Platt conducted the plaintiff's case,
and Mr. Gurney thredefe whet's.
The parties were oath 1.04-rulers at Braintree, in this
county. In April last they met opposite the Horn Inn, at
„Braintree, when an old grudge was revived, in which the
defendant alyeared 10 be the aggressor. The plaintiff was
pushed with some violence, mad he was retiring from a contest
.of greater violence, which appeared probable, when the de-
fendant pursued I sod knocked him down. He fell senseless
.on the moment in the gaiety.) of the inn, and in the fall his
head wax cut. As soon as he recovered, the defendant said
lie was certain he should have to pay for it, and as lie was de-
termined to have his peenyweeth, ' lie renewed the attack,
..and IMat the -plaintiff most unmercifully. Some bye-standers
stimuli' him from farther violence.
•It was urged in defence, that the violence complained of by
.1•• ipleiatiff arose from sadden. ierilation, and not from any
premeditated ill-will on the part of the defendant. No wit-
sissies were called to answer the plaintiff's case, and
.The jury, under thilearned judge's directions, found their
.verdict for the plaintiff—Dania2es 201.
.CROWN SIDE.
r Charles Patient, was indicted f. r stealing, at Bradfield, on
the 23d of November last, a sheep, the property of Charles
The case was made out principally by the evidence of
an accomplice, who was thuitted approver, who being cor-
rohurated in co:lateral points, the prisoner was found Guilty—
Death.
Edward May, William•Seanders, and William Griffiths,
were indicted for assaulting Mary Gates, on the King's high-
way at Woodford, on the 25th of Noveinher, putting her in
fear, and forcibly taking from her an umbrella.
it appeared, in evidence, that the 'prwiecutrix, who was a
servant girl, was, on the day mentioned iu the indictment,'
going from Rumford to Woodford. lo her way she was at-
Am:Led by the prisoners, near Wanatead House. They threw
her down, and took away her umbrella. She bad in her pos-
aemiun a beadle, containing apparel, which they also seized,
SIMI were carrytng it off, when, in consequence of her screams
bringing a waggoner to the spot, they ran off into-the Forest,
leaving the bundle behind. The waggoner pursued the pri-
soners, and overtook them. They threw the umbrella into a
ditch. Two of them *ere secured, and the other made Ids•
escape, but was shortly afterwards apprehended by a man on
horseback. The proseeutria swore to the identity of the pri-
soners, and her tesiiiiiimy was confirmed by the other witnesses.
The jury, under the Chief Baron's directions, found the
.prisoners Guilty—Death.

THE 6:13.0 D. SARAH COWTHORN AND ANOTHER.

Cnchmseos D. MARCH M.—This was an indictment spinet
Sarah, the wife of John Cowthorn, late keeper of the Clieltus—
ford House of Correction, ands turnkey of the same prison,
named Dawson, for barbarity end cruelty towards an unhappy
man, nanted Henry Finch, who bad been committed to their'
custody.—The indictment contained three counts—the first
charging that the defendants lied assaulted Finch, by
,placing
fetters an chains upon him under colour of their isitustion as
servants to Mr. Cowthorn ; the second for assaulting him un-
der pretence of correction ; and the third fora common assault.
It appeared that the unfortunate man Finch had been.eous-
milted to the house of Correction for safe custody, in conse-
quence of mental derangement. The atrocities alleged in the
indictment were committed in the absence of Cawthorn, the
keeper of the prison. who bad left the Holm of Correction to
enjoy a holiday of three weeks. It appears That Finch's de-
4nro A ii,:e :v