The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-01-22 00:00:00

INTERESTING TRIAL -A FF.LONY UNDER PRE-

TEM:F. OF FAIR PLAY.

Jelin Manning, a person in the habit of attend-
ing fairs, and solperititending the several Karina
played between fools mid rogues. wits placed at the
bar upon a charge of robbery. declared to he com-
mitted under the pretext of fair play.
The Court was much crowded, and the greatest
interest existed during the trial, which was to de-
cide whether the common practices at fairs and
merry meetings weir to he abridged by the law. It
was the first indictment of the kind, and the result
gave the utmost satisfaction.
'rile indictment charged Manning with having
stolen a 10/. Bank of Eligla•ool note from one Bal•
lingorl, Bailiff to u Mr. Cox, of Ryegate, ut Ewrll
Fair.

The Pro'secutor's account, which watt not n very
clear one, until the rubbish of it ams removed by
Mr. HARRISON. the Chaitinam stated, that he
went to Ewell Fair in Oetolser lust, taking with
lam 911. of his twister's mon.y, and noire of his
own. lii patistrig through the fair lie obseived
several pi None playing at cops and hall, a game
of which he koewr nothing, and taking a fancy
to the method of wit 00000 ig which presented its. It
to I • , lie pulled his master's y out of his
pocket, Hod offered ID bet that the ball was not
under the 181151411 e our. of three clips. Ile hr 1.1 a
ten imuml Murk note in 11115 1ia1.41, but did not
hold it long, for the Prisoner, alio seemed to he
a mare !onkel-oil, mid mot at a! I concerned in the
game, snatched it and Ma 11111 with the greatest
velocity . get the horses. At that moment, as
if the a hole bumbles% was a plan for robbery, the
players derineipil, kicking about the cops and
balls, and the Prosecutor was left alone gaping
about in astonishment. After .s tone he met
a constable, to about lie mentimied the (Amnon-
stance, and from whom he received the mood
prompt assiAltice. He never saw the note again,
but atter room search he found the Prisoner, who
mode several ineffectual u.tetupte to e,cape at the
George public-house, where lir secured I and
delivering lims to the constable, had the giatilica-
tiros of seeing him caged.
In the witness'. cross-examination by the Pri-
*rower Comisel, lie said positively that he was look-
stag at the cups and balls, and saying that lie would
bet, without being tikrii up in hie offer °la wager,
when the Prisoner musician the mite from him. Ifr
also said that the Prisoner, upon flailing himself
pursued by a constable, betrayed the greatest dal 111,
and hid himself to a stable at the (*.rouge.
Tile next witness, a very important one, for his
testimony was opposed to the statement of some of
the gang to which the Pris.itier belonged, was Win.
Furors, it boy about 14 years of age. fl, was, he
maid, accidentally attracted at Ewell Fair to nue %pot
.shire the cups and balls were exhibited ; w,.s pip.-
seesed of nu money, and merely observed what was
going forwaid. The Prosecutor, in Ins presence,
took a Bin.k note nut of Ins pocket, and the Psi-
NMI r illbta sit ly mai died it atilt took to Ina 1e.., 1..
All ham' who wettird to he concerned in the ;;:cue
ran off, leaving the instruments of the game to
confusion. There was a crowd about the place, mid
pulled the aitiiess out of it soon alter, and
ollered limo mapetice provided he would not say
word about the matter. Witness refused to take
the sixpence, and on tinditig the Prosecutor, went
twilit him and the constable to the George public-
! ttttt se, where they laid hands tipon the Pitsolier,
who took oust a 1/. note, and offered it to time can-
stable if he would let him off. The constable re-
lu•rd to take a bribe.

(ham hi+ cros►-examination, the witneis said he
net er heard any our say, that Ilillitigal had losst the
10/. sit the game. Ile remembered a remarkable
observation of the publican, Upon ►rrnng that the
Prisoner was charged 6' Ile is ust have stolen
sususeiliing, or lie would out have been in such a
hurry."
The evidence for the Prisoner was as follows :

‘Volloilo %Vary°le deposed, that the Prosecutor
gave a 10/. Byegate note to the stakeholder, to
bold upiiii a wager to that a ((((( unt with a mall
monied Barret, who was playing at the game. Fer-
goyim was the name the ottakeloolder. %Viten the
mutter was decided, the htskeholder gave the note
to Buret, who put it in his pocket and walked
away, without shewiiig any inclination to run. All
was lair play.
John Ferguson stated, that the Prosecutor first
offered to het a 5/. note, mid afterwaids upon being
advised out to do so, that he pulled out a 10/. mile,
which be uagrreal with a snail who was playing
at cups and balls. The ry was put into the
witness's hands by the Prosecutor, rod covered
by the plater with trio I/. motes. The player said,
" 1 win if the ball is moiler the middle cup ;" to
which the Prosecutor assented. The cup was token
tip, rood the ball occupied the spare. The *inlets
therefore gave she %to/. to Barret, who won the
motley and walked away with it. The witness ad-
mitted that lie was no partuership wash Ballet, a Mall
mimed Tucker, allil another, who weir in the habit
of travelling from place to place with eartheiswaie.
A respectable person said, that Ilse Poisoner had
lived wills him and act. d well, but it was smite
time ago. Ile knew the Poisoner to be out of et erk
for some time.
The Counsel for the Prisoner laboured hard to
cumvince Ilia Jury, from the evuletice they had
heard, that the money hail hens lost at the game,
and therefore., mitt gli the limner might appeur
fratithiletit, it was evident the 1:0111H-Uel1011 of fe-
lony could out hr put own' it.
'the CHAIRMAN 10eg4til leave to 1111'111111 the
lebortirrl Coutmel, ti • in hp. chaige to the Jun. hr
should treat the etil,ject in a sine rlitli-reot manner.
Ile tie whole of the evidence fill' the
Poisoner, oelative to the pal uvular tiansioction, ex-
restively liable to tospicion, rein if the otiteltis.ent
and consistent statement of Furors were nut impute d
to it ; for it was cvoleut that the partivi by whom the
stud by 1111 111e.111% I 1111 l est Droste obit. •utirs et!,
were at thr lair fur the t•itipitte of takiiig in the too.
wavy. Ferguson's clatiacter he considered as hal
as could he. The Jury, sue order u. septa the
situ)'
would be obliged I i re.olit to ti e
evidence of Fuentes, who aa, a ditiolett shed tyre-
tutor, and stewed to hate dCleti with the UtlllOV t
propriety.
The Jury pronnui.ceil a seillict of (;Nikjf.

%Ir. 11..R1L1•u5. tittine4l,as y proliOUtaCtd Sea.-

fence. Ile hoped it would operate ai a wari,iitz to
the multitudes who vibited fairs for tle oarth,%e r
roblimg tinder the cover of g.imoi4. tlw
rolihely itself would have some etr,et
Were look enough to sport with th it (11V,I 111113 e y. 4,r
knaves enough to sport with th.it ol tlo it
" The sentence of the Court up,'
sling, 109 thiat you lw tmst.ported beyond the be4l for
the tern, of seven years."
The Prmiontior was refused his expetoir.. The
other witnesses fur the prosecution received the;rs.