The National Register.
London, England, 1818-11-02 00:00:00

TRIAL OF MR. HUNT.

Monday morning the Middlesex Sessions commenced at
Hicks's Hall, before F. Court, Esq. (the Chairman),aud a full
Bench of Magistrates.
The first case w.is the trial of Mr. Hunt, for an assault
upon V. G. Dowling, on the Stit of September, in St. Cle-
ment's Church-yard.
Before the trial came on, Mr. Hunt, who sat at the Barrls-
tet s table, rose and said—Mr. Chairman, I am here to day to
stand my trial for an assault, and I have an application to
make to the Court for my own protection. A person who
sits opposite me has just made use of the following expres-
sion ; "I see the demagogue' How, is first on the list ; I hope
he'll be transported." I therefore apply to the Court, whether
such language is to be tolerated, when applied to a man *4111)
is here brought before a jury of his country. I understand
tile person is u Ban ister. Ido not know whether he is or
not; but I appeal to the Court, whether I ant not to be pro-
tected from such langnage.
Mr. Alley, who was of Counsel for Mr. Dowling, rose and
that any expression which might have fallen front his
Learned Friend, whu was a Banister, could not have been
intencicd fur Mr. Hunt's car. _ _

Mr. Jessup, who was the Gentleman alluded to, and who
sat at the table, but was not dressed in his wig and goon,
said, that he did not mean to be overheard by Mr. Hunt in
any thing he might have said ; whatever had been his con-
versation, it was not, he assured the Court, intended for Mr.
Hunt's rae.

Mr. Hunt—l think you did address your language to me.
It certainly, was uttered loud enough to be heard by any one
around here.

Mr. Alley interposed. and desired that Mr. Hunt
not interrupt the proceedings of the Court by complaints of
this
Mr. am addressing the Chairman, and not you,
Fir ; and it is to hitt instructiods, not to yours, that I shall pay
tl.ferettee.

-
The Chairman—hlr. Hunt, you must he aware that nothing
can arise in your particular ease %%bidh could justify the
slightest indecorum towards you, standing as you do. 'Flue
Court is always must ausions to accommodate every defendant,
as far as it can be dune with propriety , but, on the
other hand, it cannot well take notice of pulsate con-
versations, whatever they happen to be ; and I am
sorry that the seat in which you sit had placed you near
enough to overhear any thing wlritl. might have been said by
the geof lemon opposite to y nu. It is true, that the Court
generally allows a delendent to sit at the table, either for the
purpose of bring ticar his Counsel, or any particular I; tend
"1,0110 assistance he may want. I think. on ittleetiott,
you most be of opinion. that such expressions as these you
have alluded to could not, by passibikty, have beeti meant
for the public ear. The Gentleman to whom you ascribe
tuem could nut possibly have publicly Imiartleil them oil the
.•ve of a defendant's trial. I eau give you tio assistance tinder
:hreircunt-taoces that you say tease °eruct ed.
Mr. Alley—Mr. limit, as you have thought proper to over-
hear a private cons, rsation, and then make it the ground Of
J public eompiattit, you most now quit your seat and stand at
the liar, as all other defendants usually do.
The Chairman—l ,rut I.llly wiry that any thing should have
of mrrell to have math Mr. taunt's application, Uf )001's, Mr.
Alley, necesvarv.
Mr. Atte y- Mr. Hoot, you must go to the Ira.
Mr. 1-Itint—l tell you, Mat I shall attend to the
Chairman, and itsit to !ion.
Mi. Alley—Then, if you choose to be insolent, I must
more the Court that yolk be indeed at the 1.1,11'. The Court
atilt exereke its jitristlietwit towards you as it wuald to ally
other defendant,
!'4r. limit --I neither give nor take insolence : I 4111 ad.
dressing the Coot t.
Si.-. Sketch:is) (one of the NtiOstratcs on the lienelt)—l
flint:. Mr. limit uti!:,;it to be pot to the bar. It is an indoil-
Ft tire to stilow a it, fis 11,14111 to sit es here he does—mid, sifter
what has just passed, I he hail better illiasme his place.
Nis% Must ,11:1111 LION' sill,. gi eat submission to the de-
rimiest of the Chairman : and as "dr. Atli., has litalle Ibis 4P-
p1ie.11101.1,1, In soy tutu, ask of the Court 10 Ilr 11141111111,4 to
remain whets 1.1 in, its inslidgetice, and not to be pia to the
where 1 could have Ito cons etitetiee of taking elutes of the
(*vide nee.
1 he Chairman interposiml„ and directed the Clerk of Ar_
to teal over toe aail eructed with the