The National Register.
London, England, 1822-11-10 00:00:00

THE KING v. .101.1FVL.

Mr. Sergi ant Pell slated, that this was a quo warrant° in-
formation, tried before Mr. Justice Burrough, at W nichester,
milting on the defendant to show by what authority he exercised
the (Alice of mayor of Peterstield ; a verdict bar log been gis en
fur the defendant, the learned couusel moved fora rule to show
cause why a verdict should nut be entered for the Crown.--
The issue was respertinc, the manner in which persons voted at
the courts Peet. The defendant acted as steward of the 1111111. r.
011 the trial he, Mr. Sergeant Pell, contended the esidt nee of
custom ass too slight to sustain the verdict for the defendant.
The Jury found for the defendant under the direction of the
Judge i and the Court was now moved limn A mistlii cation of

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

the Judge. Objection was taken on the trill to the return
being made by the steward, the bailiff bein., the proper person
to make the return ; by that means the Cord of the Manor,
having authority over the steward would exercise that influence
which he would not possess over the
The Court held that the steward of the manor, according to
the customs of the court-leet in general, would necessarily no-
minate those who were to serve on a jury.
Mr. Sergeant Pell contended, that a custom for 20 years was
insufficient evidence to sustain the direction given to the Jory
by the learned Judge. In the King and Bingham (2d East.)
an objection was taken to the returning officer nominating the
Jury.
11r. Justice Bayley.—lf the steward presided u Judge, he
would have en opnrtunity of judging whether the bailiff bad
chosen proper persons.
The Court granted a rule to show cause.
TUE KING G. WADDINGTON.
The defendant. at the rising of the Court, presented himself
to address the Court.

The Lord ChiefJustioe.—We can not hear you now.
Waddington—bly Lord, if you do not bear toe Bow it will
be too late.
Chief Justice.—What do you mean to move
Waddingion.-7A new trivl.
. . . .

Cl~inf Justice—Theu Jou are not too late. More it another
day.
The Judges left the Court, and Waddington walked away.

COURT OP COMMON PLEAS.
MONDAY, Nov. 4.
STEER/ V. HEATHEIELD AND ANOTHER.
This was an action directed by the Vice Chancellor to try the
•alidity of a petitioning creditor'7'debt, upon which a commis-
sion of bankruptcy was founded, against Mr. Holdiag, late a
wine merchant, in the month of August, ls2l. In support of
this petitioning creditor's debt, and the act of bankruptcy on
the part of Holding, two witnesses were examined who deposed
to the facts. _ _

Ou the other side it was contended at considerable length,
that the petitioning creditor's debt was assi.med tor a collusive
object ; because, when a former commission of bankrupt
(afterwards superseded) was issuid against the saute party, the
present petitioning creditor did not then claim to be a creditor
upon the estate.
The Jury fused a verdict in favour of the validity of the peti-
tioning creditor's debt, and consegnectly in support of the com-
mission.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

On Thursday night as inquest was held at the sign of the
Black Si% au, in Berniondsey-street, on the body of Mr. James
Kidd, formerly a sail-maker is Rochester, Kent, who had lately
retired from business, and was iu very affluent circumstances.
The lirst witness called was William Brown, • painter and
glazier, who deposed that on Wednesday last, at about a
quarter before one o'clock, he was sitting ley the fire-side in the
shop of Mr. James, a hairdresser, of No. 154, Bermondsey-
street, and heard the door suddenly pushed open ; on taming
round lie taw the deceased rush in, instantly snatch up a razor
which lay on the window board on the right hand side, and
without uttering • word to any person applied it to his throat
and drew it across. The witness saw the blood gush from the
wound, and immediately ran out of the shop for medical aid,—
On his return with Dr. Bulled& the deceased was lying on his
bark on the floor in the shop. lie was lifted up, but he ap-
peared to be quite dead.
Joseph James deposed, that he lives at No. 151, 11.2rmond-
sey-street, and is a barber and hairdresser. Ile was sitting in
his shop a. the time the deceased rushed in. The witness rose
immediately fur the purpose of attending to him, but before be
bad time to get across the shop the deceased hastily took up a
razor, with which he instantly gave his throat a dreadful back-
handed gash. The witness immediately after the deed, aeized
the fatal instrument from his hand. The blood issued in • strrum
front the wound, and the witness caught him in his arms as he
was falling, and laid him on a bench and Tall oll' for assistance.
The deceased was in the last agonies on witness's return, and
died a few minutes afterwards. The witness added, that his
clothes were covered with blood whilst in the act of assistiog
the deceased to the bench.

Elizabeth Ward, a chambermaid at the Bricklayer's Arms.
deposed, that on Tuesday night, about ten o'clock, the de-
ceased came to the house, and naked for a bed. lie went iiito
the coffee-room, and some of the gentlemen present spoke to
him, but he returned no answer, and appeared very strange—
neither did lie call for any retreshineut. After sitting about
ten minutes, be desired that be might be shown to big bed-room
—the witness lighted him up stairs, and on the following morn-
ing about ten o'clock she YAW him standing at the head of the
staircase with his body leaning over the banisters and his band
up to his head. lie complained °flies Mg a headache, and asked
if any person had been inquiring for him down stairs. lle
then inquired what noise was that in the front of the house, and
was answered that it was the bustle of the coaches coming to
and leaving London. Ile desired the witness to walk into the
room hz had slept in, saying, I bled a good deal iu the night
on the pillow, but if you turn it up you will God some recoils-
pence for the trouble I have given you." The witness went
into the room, and saw the pillow bloody, and underneath
found a shilling. The pillow case Vl2/{ here produced, and ex-
hibited a quantity of blood, from which circumstance it ap-
peared that the unfortunate man had made an attempt on his
life in the course of the night. In answer to a questmu (ruin
the Coroner, the witness admitted the deceased looked very
wild about the eyes, and appeared to he in a low desponding
state. The deceased left the house soon after. The witness
identified the boots now produced with the tops sprinkled with
blood, as the pair worn at the Bricklayers' Anus by the de-
ceased. . _

Mr. Ilenry Robert Payne examined.—lle said that he had
been acquainted with the deceased flout his childhood. The
deceased had lived at Rochester, and bed 'lately retired from
business on a set,, good property. There had been an estrange-
lIMA in the conduct of lite deceased for home time past, which
was perceptible to many of his friends, hut they had no idea
that it proceeded from insanity. The witness soon after the
catastrophe of the late Marquis of Londonderry was in conver-
sation will' the deceased, the latter, in alluding to that event,
remarked, that we were not our own keepers, and that we
could sot tell how soon it might be the case with onrselt es."—
The witness had a conversation with the deceased a few day,:
ago, in which the latter spoke rationally, and In alluding to
his property said, it was not at all embarrassed. The witnesa
farther said that the deceased apt.eareo to he in a low du tirosid-
Mg state since the death of his father, which took place about
12 months ago.
Dowsed, a watchman of Rochester, deposed that on Tues-
day utorning hut, the tleceaied rimmed his window about five
o'clock in the mottling mid called 111111. lie mnmed the street
door, and dialled Ili, want.* to wahi 111 and search the lams:,

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for he the (deceased) was certain that there were persons con-
cealed in his home. The witness looked about, bet could sea
no one. The deceasest then took witness up stairs to Lis bed
room, and said that coaches, SN LerlbArrews, serpents, crackers,
and smi:pers, had been rosining aid chasing atter him all night
long. He then listened, and asked witoess if he did mot bear
groaning under the bed, and said, " Look, here are two beds,
they mean to smother we." lye then led witness out into the
yard, and made him starch all over tbe outhouses, frequently
exclaiming, " I know there are people congealed." lie begged
of witness to remain with him until day-light, and witness left
him about balfpast six o'clock.
The Coroner maimed up the evident's), and observed, that it
was evident the deceased bad laboured under a deranged intel-
lect at the time of his death.

The Jury immediately returned a verdict of liumnity.