The National Register.
London, England, 1821-09-30 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY SESSIONS.

-rem—
TEESDAV, SEPT. 25.—EMBEZZLEMENT.—John Wickin
was indicted for secreting and embezzliug, on the IC.II of
April last, IL, the property of Isis master, John Leslie.
The prosecutor gave his evidence in a very peculiar
manlier, evidently labouring under some mental embar-
rassment. He stated, that he was a coalAnerchant, and
that the prisoner was in his employ as a elm k. Previous
to the Itith el April, a debt was owed to witness from a
Mos. Smits'. it was customary for the clerk to enter
every night in a book what he had received in the
course et the day, and this entry witness was in the
eonstant habit of signing every evening when he received
the money. On the !Gib of April no entry was made of
the receipt of 11. horn Mrs Smith, but on the 7th of Alay
there was an entry of 11. 11.;:., which constituted the whole
sum which Wit: due from Mrs. Smith.

Cross-examined.—He only received 103. on the 7th of
May. lie irmeinbeied examining the copy of the cash-
book.

Mrs. Smith proved that she paid the prisoner a 11. note
cm the day in question. On the ith May she made a se-
tom; payment of 10s, to the prisoner, and a third offs. ou
the stli June. The whole automated to 11. Ills. which was
ail she owed to the prosecutor.
A clerk to Mr. Leslie was then called. He corroborated
the testimony of the prosecutor. There was an entry of
the whole sum of I I. I9s, on the 7th of May, but no entry
of 11. on the 16th of Apt il.
On the cross-examination of the witness by Mr. Adol•
pints relative to his belief in the New Testament, whether
lie believed it to be a revelation from God, the winless
(who was a very young man) hesitated at first in answer-
ing the question. Out its being again pressed, he said that
he could not say he did not believe iu it ; and bring still
fut titer questioned, he replied, " Yes, 1 do believe that it
is a revelation from Gel." Being asked why he did not
before answer the question, the witness said that he did
not exactly understand the question when it was first put
to him. In this answer he still persisted, when again
asked the question.
Mr. Adolphus was proceeding to ask the witness ruttier
as to his belief in the Scriptures, when he was interrupted
by Mr. Andrews, who took au objection to the question.
Mr. Adolphus.—This is the first time I ever heard an
infidel defended.

The case for the prosecution being conchvled, Mr.
Adolphus advised the poisoner to make no defence. There
%VIP seven is iiiiesses to the eiaracter of the prisoner, but
the leal tied counsel retused to call any of them.
'1 he Jury, after a short consideration, foimd the pri-
soner guilty.
Adolphus hoped the Court would, in passing its
judgment, consi ler that there were seven witnesses who
were ready to have given the prisoner an excellent cha-
racter.

Mr. Andrews win proceeding to open the case against
the prisoner upon another indictment, but was inter-
rupted by the Judge on the bench, who declared it to be
unnecessary.
Samuel Webb, a very young respectable looking lad,
was ind!cted for stealing sonic cotton hanging at the door
of a linen-draper's shop. The evidence against the pri-
soner was vet y clear, and he way Pound guilty. Several
witnesses gave the prisoner an excellent character for
honesty, and his master undertook to receive him again
into his employ.
Mr. Arabin, alto presided as the Recorder's deputy,
told the prisoner that he bad been convicted upon the
clearest evidence, and that he had subjected himself to
the punishment of transportation for seven years. The
Court, however, in consideration of his tender age, and
the good character he had received, would pass a very
lenient sentence. It was necessary that some punishment
should be inflicted, to deter others front committing such
offences. The sentence of the Court therefore was, that
he be privately whipped, and then discharged.
ellt I.I)STICA Li MG.—Matilda Dowd, aged 25, sins indicted
for stealing the female child of Frederick Win. Smith, with
intent to deprive him of the possession of the same.
F. W. Smith deposed, that on the 19th of August he lived
at No. 2, Queen-street, Clerkenwell. Ile had a daughter
named Louisa, aged i years. About half.past seven in the
evening of the 19th of August, he was told that Ids child
had been taken away by a woman who was then in custody.
The a itiless immediately nut out, and saw the prisoner and
his child is King-street. The prisoner was then in cibtody.
lie had seen his child un the same evening ht six o'clock.
Aim loskett deposed, that she lived next door to the iast
iii Queen-street. About half-past six 1111 the evening
of the 19th of August, she saw the prisoner at :qr. Smith's
door. beckoning to the child, who ass iu the parlour. The
itne,s stein ul doors, hut came out again in about two
initiates, a hemp she saw the prisoner leading the child dela it
Queele,treet.

George Hart deposed, that on Sunday, the 19th of August,
he V/716 pawing through Uosweld net walking toward. Old.
street with 14 child in her arms. His intention war. (howl'
towards the child by its crying to he taken home. The wit-
ness addressed the prisoner, and told her to take the child
halite. She said the was going home. The w itness then
asked her where she lived, and the sold iu Holborn. The
itness told the prisoner she was not going in the direction
Inwards Hidhion, She t hen Gilid she lived in Ilattonsgai den.
in answer to another question from the witness, the poisoner
said the child tai her own. The condo(( of the 'prisoner
induced the witness to believe that she had stolen the di
and he in consequence took the prisoner into custody. A
crowd collected round them, mid among them was a little
girl, who stated that he had seen the child in Queen street,
whit her it was taken.

Samuel Dribble, a constable, who took the prisoner into
deposed that the prisoner stated that die (took the
child from the corner of kid Lion street, Holborn, and that
vhr her•eiflivid in lienristreet, Ilatton•garden.
The prisoner in her defence said that she found the child
in the sheets and that she was endetteous IN to find
out ill>

The Jury, %% ithout a moment% hebitution, found the pri.
i one r—guilty.

WEDNE4DAT, SEPT. '2O.

Joseph Wince, a person Most respectably connected,
was lint to the bar, charged with having stolen on the th
of the present mouth an iron stove, value 51. the property
of John M'Nally.
The principal witness in this case was W. Kelly, a boy
about limo teen, alto swine lie saw. the prisoner take the
stove and rue up a court with it. Witness followed him
and di mantled the property. l'i isoncr threw it down ant.
►eturned with a ittiess to his nester's Clint,, where he was
taken into custody. This testimony was attempted to be
CUI lag/fah d by the witeof the prosecutor, Mrs. M'Nally.

THE NATION4L. REGIS!.

s,-on behalf of the prisoner, eross-examin.
ed these witnesses, and in so doing elicited from them the
most unequivocal proofs of there not being a shadow of
pretence for the proseciition. They grossly pres :ideated
iii every part of the evidence now given, with that which
they stated before the magistrate. Several persons of the
greatest respectability, gave the prisoner a most irre-
proachable character, and the Jury instantly acquitted

The Learned Judge (Arrabiu) ordered the boy, Kelly,
to be placed in the box, and after commenting at much
length on the enormity of the offence he had committed,
ordered him into custody; at the same time assuring hint
that he would be prosecuted, at the expence of the county,
of wilful and corrupt perjury.
Mrs. M‘Nally, the wife of the prosecutor, was then or-
dered to stand up; the court told her that she was less ex-
cusable than the boy, but she had made the discovery in
time to prevent her committal for perjury, but the shut=
fling 1113111ln in which she had given her evidence could
not be overlooked. The Court would, therefore, commit
her for contempt. She was instantly taken into custody,
and conveyed to Newgate by the officer of the Court.
The Learned Judge said, it was the most disgraceful
exhibition he had ever witnessed.
The Recorder then passed the dreadful sentence of
death upon 22 convicts.
Twenty-five were ordered to be transported for life.
One for fourteen years.
Sixty for seven years.
Seveu were or-tiered to be imprisoned in the House of
Correction for London, and sixty for iontiiisoinnent in the
House of Correction fur Middlesex, several of whom were
to be publicly and privately atipped ; several were
tined ls. each, two judgments were reviled, and 29
were discharged by proclamation.