The National Register.
London, England, 1822-01-13 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

On Monday last these Sessions commenced before N.
Court, Esq. who presided as Chairman, and a numerous
Bench of i‘lagistrates.
ASSAULT AND FALSE IMPRISONMENT OP BOW.
STREET OFFICERS.
After the Juries were swill', and sonic cases of petty
assault disposed of,
Charles Mott. William Butler, and John James
Dutich, three respectable inhabitants of Whitechapel,
were put on their trial for a mithemeatior, in assaulting
and falesely imprisoning Thomas Gooding and ---
Ashelhy, both Bow-street patrole.
Mr. Alley stated the case for the prosecution, in which
he enforced with great earnestness the necessity of pro-
tecting officers in the discharge of their ditty. to whom
eves), honest man was indebted, fur the protection of his
person and property.
Gooding deposed, that he was in company
with Ashelby on ding, as Bow4treet patrol, ott the Coto-
mercial-road, about a quarter before twelve o'clock at
night on the night of the 7th of November. Aslieltiy,
who was a short distance before littn,saw a woman with
a bundle under her cloak, which he asked her to shoe,
saying he was a peace officer, but she refused. Mr.
Butler, one of the defendants, was standing at his door
at the time, and came up to them and said, g* Officers,
you have exceeded your duty." 'l' he woman said she
would go to the toll-house, which was near. and would
there show her bundle. She did so; it contained two
bed ticks, which she told where she had bought, and
also where she lived ; after which, Ashelby and witness
said they were satisfied, and she might go away. The
three defendants had come with diem to the toll-house,
and Dutch asked witness Isis name, which he refused to
tell. Mott then took witness by the collar, and all the
' defendants said the woman must give charge of hint.--
A mob collected, and the woman gave charge of witness
and Ashelby to a watchman, who took them to a watch-
house, where the woman at first refused to
.sign the
charge, but being pressed by the defendants, did ago
They were both detained an hour, till the officer of the
Met came.
the witnesses was cross4xamined by Mr. Adolph"
who was Counsel for the defendant Mott, and by Mr.
Chaes hillip, who ws Counsel for the other
at.
The witP nessess adulateda that the defattlaut4 Woe at.

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te, - s •
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respectable housekeepers, and that while they were
detaiii.ll at the watch-house, lie proposed that all the
company present, including the defendants, should join
to send tor drink. Ilv would not swear, that when lie
was atiaclo'd at the la-house to tell his name, he would
see them all befine he would tell his name:

Ashel'.l the other vrosecittor, corroborated the first
Witness.

The watchman and officers at the watch-house, proved
such of tire facts SWANd by the first witness as took place
in their piesence.
Mr. Adolphus and Mr. Phillip; addressed the Jury in
eloquent speeches for the defendants. They contended
that their cheats haul only interfered as men of honour
and feeling, to preserve a respectable female from the
insults oh hardened thief-takers ; and that the prosecu-
tion was a speculation to obtain money.
M rs..lames, the female who had the bundle, stated
that it was bout eleven o'clock when she was (OW thing
house to Poplar, where she lived, and was attacked 1.1,
Asheltry, who did not say he was an officer, nor spew
Iris staff, but said she would give him the bundle she
bad under her cloak. She took him for a thief, and
refused; but offired to go to the toll-house, which was
near. Ashelby pulled her very much, when the defen-
dant Butler came up, mid YOu use the woolan
unkindly." She then went with the prosecutors to the
tollhouse, where they examined her bundle, and saw
she was well-known to the collector, and desired her to
go. She asked who and what they were, and they re-
fused to tell their names. She then gave charge of them
to the watch.
Mr. Alley then addressed the Jury for the prosecution,
defending the conduct of the prosecutors, and said
hey must be protected as useful cats to keep off vermin.
The Chairman charged the Jury that the officers must
be protected in the discharge of their duty.
The Jury, after deliberating about half au hour, found
all the defendants Guilty.
This cause, which appeared to excite great interest oc-
cupied the Court front twelve to tix o'clock.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9.—Edward Beddcll, G orge
Chambers, and John Moore, were indicted for assaulting

William Winder.
The prosecutor, who is a licensed victualler, stated,
that he summoned Budded to toe County Court of
Requests lilt a debt he owed [inn, and obtained a decree
against butt. Betide!! caine to the Court, accompanied
by the other two defendants, and i aaaa nediately on coming
out they all three commenced abusing him in the grossest
manner. Betidell spit in his face, and Chambers, whom
lie had never seen before, said he would give the prose-
cutor Id. if he'd fight him. The prosecutor said they
were three scamps, and he'd have noti lill g to do whit
them. Chambers instantly struck hint a blow that broke
the bridge of his nose, and knocked him down, where
Chambers struck hint again.
Mr. Walford, who was counsel for the prosecution,
was about to speak to evidence, when the Jury declared
tiny were fully satisfied of the guilt of the prisoners.
The judgment of the Court was, that Edward Belden
should be imprisoned in the House of Correction, and
kept on the county allowance for six weeks ; that
George Chambers should be imprisoned for the same
time, and in same manner ; and that John Nlote should
be imprisoned in the same manner for fourteen days.
After all the appeal causes had been disposed of, two
women were tried, 011 the prosecution of the Mint, for
ninon% counterfeit money.
Margaret Crowley was convicted of tittering two bad
h. If-crowns, and sentenced to ail mouths imprisonment
Mr each, and to find security for her own good behaviour
for two years.
Ann Jackson was found guilty of passing two bad
sovereigns, and sentenced to a like punithment.
This prisoner appeared somewhat above die common
class, and refused to give any other account of herself
than that she was the wife of a lawyer's clerk.

GROSS ASSAULT AND OUTRAGe.--OD Wednesday
cot 'ling. as Staples, an officer belonging to the Mary-le-
bone Police, was proceeding towards home, wilt his
wife and family, near Button-square, New-road, he was
surrounded by a banditti of fellows, shunt 1b iu number,
who pushed and insulted theta with the tso grow,
abusive langnage, and pushed them lorward. The ruf-
fians pulled them about, and nearly tore all the clothes
from Staples back the ollicer with great fortitude bore
all the insults, and never mentioned who tie ws, until
coming to a watchman, he requested his assistance to
drive them off; bat the ruffians levelled the watchman
to the ground by the blow of a stick. Staples then de-
clared who he was, and sprung the watchman's rattle ;
several other watchmen coming to his assistance, a gene-
ral conflict ensued between the fellows, and the wa•ch-
men who at length overpowered the refractory gang,
t.iking nine of the most violent into custody. Olt %
to tile watch-house a general battle took place, and three
succeeded in making turir escape. The remainder till•
derwent an examination before Mr. Dyer, the sitting
magistrate at Marlborough-street, who ordered theta to
fitta bail for the gross and unprovoked assault.

On Sunday morning four prisoner effected their escape
from St. Augustine's gaol, Canterbury, by forcing the
stones of their cell, amt making a breach in the walls;
one, however, shortly returned, and delivered hiniselt
up. As stlon as their escape was discotered, the ohliitcrs
were un the alert, and traced the fugitives up the road ;
they were seen in Ewersham, and had put their shirts
over their prison clothes, which appearing like a gaber-
dine, enabled them to pass unsuspected. They were
traced to Suxkbury Valley, which they passed uu horse-
back, having borrowed horses on the road. Here all
trace of them was lust.

The wet weather has destroyed the potatoes very ge-
nerally hi Irelmid,and girat apprehensions arc eutcrt lined
of famine in that country. From the Lind to mouth
—tched population live, when a
,urs, they are absolutely without

i

way in which the wretCho
calatnity of this kind occurs,
resource.