The National Register.
London, England, 1821-10-28 00:00:00

SURREY SESSIONS.

On Monday these Sessions commenced before Mr. Har-
rison, and a full bench of Magistrates.
Hannah Kinglimn was indicted for assaulting Thomas
Beaks, a butcher, of 11:a!worth.
In her defence she said, that she was first assaulted, and
two witnesses whom she produced said they saw a severe
mark on her arm at the time in question.
She was found Guilty, and sentenced to pay a fine of
eight shillings and sixpence.
James Kent was indicted for assaulting Mr. Thomas, a
respectable licensed victualler, of St. John-street, Horse-
lydown.
in his defence the prisoner recriminated upon the
plaintiff, and brought two witnesses to prove that the
latter was in every way this Aggressor.
Outing the vial three different otters were made to the
defendant, once by Mr. Tuition, and twice tecuisitticniled
by the Chairman, to apologise to Mr. Thomas and pay the
expences, when all further proceedings should be stopped,
which lie altogether retMied.
The Chairainn, in charging the Jury, said, that as the
defendant was determined to abide a verdict, they had
mily to do their duty. Ile thought the assault was a very
brutal and unjustifiable one.
Verdict Gialty.—Sentence two moths imprisonment,
and then to find sureties, himself in 201. and two sureties
in 101. each to keep the peace.
W HUSE/DA , V.—John Baker and James Bradley,
two buys, were convicted turd sentenced to seven years'
transportation, for pit kin, pockets in the Borough.
lisiumh Lord, no inturchting )uung, vuoni:,n, was indicted
fur feloniowly stealing, on the 25th of August last, some
money, the property of Mr. Jennings, butcher, of M Ma orth,
of whom she lived servant.

Mr. Jennings stated, he bud repeatedly missed money, and,
in order to discover the thief, he marked some silver to the
amount of If. IC. which he placed in a wooden howl. On
returning on the evening of the 27th of August, lie missed 7..
6d. in silver out 01 the woodmi bit I, and inuntediately taxed
the prisoner with the robbet y. o.t sending for n constable,
and searching her bos, they found 2s. 6d. of the marked
money, and also a key, which opened the cupboard flow
whence the property was stolen.
The prisoner, who seemed deeply tiffeeted, denied the rob-
bery. Verdict—Guilty.
The ChM, Irian said, that in order to make no example,
and to deter other servants f committing similar of-
fences, he should sentence the prisoner to seven years
taiwportat
The mita tut ate young woman was cart ied from the dock
in convulsions. _ _

John lb:burn vins then placed at the bur, and indicted foe
stealieg, on the Seth of August inst,l7 •otnuu•t of hooks the
pi openly of Air. kind an, bookseller, of 'lie kit! wool.
The pa isomer, in his defence. declared lie found them at
Xewinglou•lurnlnke, lit) tog in the re:oil, and he put lhru I/11
h.. ,Luuldcrr cutitLiv.ng loud( d so to do,

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

The Jury sifter deliberating about lull an Your, acquitted
the pri.oner.
Several convictions for petty thefts took place during the
day.

ESSEX SESSIONS.

FELOWIOUALY GLEANlNG.—Elizabeth Bradfield and
Elizahrth ityalt, two young women of the labouring
class, were indicted for feloniously stealing one peck of
peas in the straw, at Titaxted, on the 29th of August, the
property of Joseph Franklin.
It appeared in evidence that the prosecutor, who is a
farmer at Thaxted, having housed a crop of peas, em-
ployed a woman to glean what remained on the ground,
in order that it might be placed with the rest of the crop.
The prisoners, without the leave of the prosecutor, came
into the field, and tinder pretence of gleaning alter the
crop was carried, collected about a bushel of peas,
which they were in the act of carrying oft when they
were detected by the prosecutor, detained, and now
brought to trial on the charge of feloniously stealing the
same.

The Learned Chairman, in his charge to the Jury, laid
down as a distinct and incontrovertible principle of law,
that to glean corn or other produce from the land, with-
out leave of the farmer, was a klonions act. An env-
moos notion he seas aware, prevailed among►t the poor,
that after a crop is carried they have a right, by ancient
custom, to come noun the farmer's land and glean what is
left behind. No such 'custom existed generally in this
kingdom. It was contrary to every principle of common
sense and reason, and as well might a custom to take any
other part of a man's property be set up. The practice of
gleaning was frequently allowed by farmers by permission,
but was not founded in any custom which could be sup-
ported in law. Possibly, In some parts of the kingdom,
such a custom might be supported, by long and ancient
usage ; bat, as a general custom throughout the kingdom,
it was wholly without foundation.—lf the prisoners in the
present case took the i'eas in question without the farmer's
leave, and with a felonious intention. they would be guilty
of tbe offence charged in the indictment.
The Jury room' both the prisoners Guilty; and the
Court, taking into their consideration the probable
cuniNtance lint they had taken the property under a sup-
-1105.211 right to glean, sentenced them onl) to one mouths
imprisonment in the house of Correction.


Voltfe.