The National Register.
London, England, 1822-12-08 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

KI74G'S situ's v. SILANT VESSILS.

Tur,DAv, DR% 3.—John Wat►on and Joseph Ilinchin were
indicted for assaulting Robert White, a seaman belonging to
the Perseus receiving ship, stationed off the Tower, to receive
',Winner's for the navy.
..... . .

liS wax • prosecution directed by the Lotds of the Admi-
rah) , tile assault havi::g arisen ont of a practice on the part of
the commanders of the steam-vessels plying between London
and Margate, making their vessels fast to the mooring chains of
Cm Perseus, and rtatiouing themselves between that vessel and
th Tower wharf.

Robert White, a seaman belonging to the Prestos. sworn,
deposed, that oil the evening of the 20th of September he saw
two of the crew of the Eclipse steam packet from Margate, get
into her boat, and make the vessel fast to the moorings of the
Perseus, which had been repeatedly prohibited. Ile and an-
other were sent in one of the Perseus's boats to cut nil the
hawser, and as they approached fur that purpose, the people
belonging to the Eclipse hailed them, and threatened to throw
teem overboard if they attempted to cast the hawser off.—
Nk hen they readied the hawser, a boat wss sent from the
E. lip r, an; live or silt hands Flom her jumped into the ...'er-
seds,'s host, and the defendant NVatson attacked him, beat him,
knocked his hat overboard, tore his shirt to pieces, and Vail
tried to throw him overboard. Ile had pot used any abusive
language, nor Isad his compaction to the crew of the steam-
vessel. The Eclpve was made fa t to the buoy of the Per-
seris's moorings, which is a Ling's buoy.
Mr. 'Robert Conotaings, gunner of the Porsous, and Mr.
Mavne, master's mate, cumuli:me] this evidence.
This was the case for the prosecution.
Mr. Walford addressed the Jury for the defence. lie said
eat he should prove the whole affray to have arisen oat of the
piecipitacion of the commanding officer in senclieg a man with
It knife to cut away the hawser of the Eclipse uithout timely
warning, Cie consequence of which would have been the most
immitieut 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 t. tiger, hastened to prevent it, in doing which lie
received a cat on the hand from the knife, and a blow with an
oar, which cause., others to fly to his assistance, and the scuffle
ensued. These 140 ii were proved by several passengers.
The Undress,' uharged the Jury, observing, that if there had
been an established rule that no vessei should make fast to
the moorings of the Pei-seas, and the Captain of the stectn-
vessel was aware of that rule, arl knew that in so doing his
rope would be cut, he would have been responsible for all the
dorteger and mischief to which by so doing lie exposed his vessel
and passengers. If, however, it was a mere matter of capriole).
a regulation soonetiones enforced, end at others relaxed, he could
not but think it savoured of over-officiousness, vu .tretwousli to
enforce it at that moment when the consequences were likely to
be so serious. It was for the Jury Iv say, upon the evidence
before them, od which side the first assault was committed ;
and if they were of opinion that it commenced out the part of
the 111011 belonging to the Perserc by cutting the defendant
with Iris knife, they must acquit both the defendants.
'floe Jury, %iliumt a moment's hesitation, returned a verdict
of acquittal of both defendants: