The National Register.
London, England, 1816-04-01 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

KI N frATON, M 4 ROI 29. —Yesterday was the commission-day
for holding the Assizes for this county, and the Judges arrived
during the coor‘e of the afternoon.
The calender of prisoners is hes'', ; there are five cases or
murder, one of which is for parricide.

CROWN SIDE.
Francis Richards, a pauper in Lambeth poor house, was ca-
pitally cony ieted, under Lord Ellenbormigh's act, of stabbing
and cutting William Dibley. The prosecutor was the baker to
the work-house, and 4th Jan. he went to the prisoner to tell bias
to appear before the committee, there having been some com-
plaint made against him. The prisoner refused to attend, and
swore he would stab any person who should attempt to force
him. The prosecutor attempted to lay hold of hisn, when the
prisoner made several thrusts at him with a knife, one of which
went through the scalp between the flesh and the skull.
SI( Nti.—ATTI.M PT TO MLR neß.—James Hammond and
Tunes Ratford were capitally indicted fur feloniously disc harp.
Mg a loaded gun, on the 28th of Dec. last, at G. C. Knight,
Esq. with intent to kill and murder,
G. C. Knight deposed, that lie resided in the parish of Farn-
ham, in the co. of Surrey. On the evening of the day stated
in the indictment, he a as returning home to his house on horse.
back, and about nine had r: ached nearly Caeksbridge-house,
when he observed three men in the road. A voice from one
on his left said to his companion, " Take hold, take hold !"
while another on the right cried out, Stop, stop !" lie took no
notice however of this, and was proceeding nearly aitreast of
the three men, a hom be had scarcely passed, when a gun was
discharged, and his horse, from the fright, was struck suddenly
still. Witness then looked about, and the assailants were run-
ning away. He hail no knowledge of the parties woo had thus
attacked bite, nor could he distuiaguish any th!ng particular to
their features or persona, from the darkness of the night. He
had Mimed a reward of tOM guineas for the appreheasion of
the otiendei..; but no trace was discovs red of them until March
last, when a person named Whiting, who had been engaged in
the transaction, and who was apprehended upon suspicion of
various felonies, made a confession of the circt ststance, and
became a King's evidence.
George Whtlina (the accomp!ice) deposed, that he knew
Ratford and Hammond tnr about tw lye mouths. demembered
going to the home of the latter some day about Christmas last,
in the evening. tl hitt: he wit.; there, Raiford cause in. One of
them, soon after, went to the house of one CI-milt:nu, and
brought from thence a gun. There was another gun at Ham-
mond s, and Itatfard loaded both with powder and soma shot
tht, then told hint they were going to look after some bacon,
and they all lett the house together. They gut into the tern-
pike road leading to Farnham : here they shortly heard the
approach of a Iverson on horseback. Hammond had preciously
taken the gun from him, which he had 1.41 raal. Ihe horse
having arrived within a few yards nt. them, Hammond, a Ito was
on the right aide, cried out, " hold the reia," 211‘1 secaig tLs
was nut dam, lie said to the gentleman on horsebacks, " stop,
stop " The wattleman in ttttt aliately looked meant, and at the
tit the gun wits discharged. Wittiest oltseia ed that tl e
horse seemed 'mild:ally struck, and he and his companions rats
away. 'lhe gentleman, lota ever, he perceived, went on aga n
in a s cry short time. Why n aitness and his companions ti. d
retreated some distance icto a held, the thriller said to HAM
1 11.011 d. " 1 cannot thick how you could fume to have tired tho
gun." To this Hammond replied, " because I nit :int to base
had him." Ratford, however, as well as a hiess, said chi y
meant no such thing. Hammond said he thought at was either
Mr. Knight or Mr. Simmo»da.
This witness undera ent a long cross-examinatiou, the object
of which was to show that the witness was not entitled rei:a„
on the ground of his being himself a notorious bad character,
being often in custody for various felonies.
The Rev. Dr. Locke, however, the Magistrate alto committed
the prisoners ; Birch, a constable, who bad apprehended theei;
and two persons, named Cranham and Draper, whit had lent
the guns, which were traced to the possession of the prisoner*
at the time the offence was committed, fusty corramorated the
fact', as detailed by the accomplice.
The Jury. having retired about five minutes, returned with a
verdict acquitting Itattind, and finding liammuna
The culprit was recommended to mercy.

POLICE.

GUILDHALL.

William Jones, a man of respectable appearance, was brought
up oil a charge of attempting to obtain mom y uy false pie.
tomes tinder the following circumstances :--lt appeared that
on Friday es ening the prisoner went to the house of Mr. Sea-
brook, a butcher, in Duke.street, West Smithfield, and asked
if Mr. Seabrook was at home. Airs. Seabrook being in the
shop answered in the negative, bnt said lior husband wow.'
soon be in, and begged the prisoner to walk into the parlour.
On his arrival them, lie said he had come to hurt ow a untie
money of Mr. Seabrook, and that his name %Vali Williams.
Seabrook knowing Unit they hail a customer of that name across
Smithfield, she asked him if he was that person. lie said
" yes,' and added, Mr. Seabrook knew Moe s ery welt. Upon
this Mrs. S. asked him how much he wanted, and he answered
20 or SO shillings if she hail so much. the said sire hail, and
was proceeding to the iron sate to get it, wit( n her Inv' band
rapped at tke door. The pristiner opened it to him, and asked
hills very kindly how he did; being answered as poi:rely, •Mr.
Seabrook said lie hail nut the pleasure of know...a his guest:
the prisoner then said " 0 )es you do, my 114111 e IS It ililJll.B,
live across Smithfield." Mr. Scaarook then discovered that he
was au impostor, for lie knew Mr. Williams very well. Mrs.
Seabrook has ing then explained the object
visit, the prisoner said it was u mere joke,
urdulard ill these whims. An office': was ti
he was recognised as having been engaged
bethre. As, howeser, liekmd got ito moue).

euneldrie. and he wAs di.cit4a3t ,I. It. rNyuai
formerly a wan tof some respectability.

110
On Monday, Mr. d.'l'. MllellPtt. a nroprirt,
V noting IntrttigelMH•. or A rermin Interest IA ill
Mr.iS elinriv,il with fort;inv..tawn.. for siewliiipro

the keeper of Co% eut•var.tch wateh-hooNe..
giqrate to he rtheto.il h•not Ihe eorto.s of the
received him iv: a okater 01 ave lai urn.

etiv„ hi. h,,,, H.,y power tit ileum him Any .oo4ei. IL
that on the that 111.1.14110.111...011 4.i the prisoner. in bf. land, tie
Anspirion wrty so :46.1,411‘, 4114, the :NiaVlSlllitle tore
a.imitt4 1 luw to 1,411, MI. Dow u. cm,,/ u,.
auto eflotil. tor his appearain e. Some en eunwaners, how-
eve', istki wards trmispired, whieti 'tinkled the sas.pie.on
much stronger, and he 11r. 0...14 t
he was in Esiglantl, obtained a warrant, and sent it UV..., 114.1dta
lipeCiali to ilt.) SOU 4CIC3 Wimp caluml Lim ..0 he apprtb.:ude4l,.

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