The National Register.
London, England, 1821-02-04 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL BGISTERR

Mr. Matryatt addressed the Jury ens behalf of the
defendant, and contended, thst supposing the allegations
in the declaration were sasisfactorily made out, it was
a case in which the plaintiff could not sustain a claim to
damages. No witnesses were called, nor was the slight-
est attempt made to impeach the character of the
The Chief Justice in his charge to the Jury, made a
great many sensible remarks on the circumstances of the
case, observing upon the question of damages, that the
Jury would take into consideration, the circumstances
of the young lady's mother giving her consent to the
courtship without previously informing herself, whether
it wos made with theeoncurrence and al:probation of the
defendant's family and friends. The Jury would give
such temperate damages as the facts of the case seemed
to warrant in their view of its justice.
The Jury found a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages
1001,,

Volice.

-ow-
HO W.STR EET.

SINGULAR DEPRAVITY IN A YOUTH.—OII Wed-
nesday a buy, named William Lake, only 12 years of
age, was brought up in the custody of Nicholls, the
" conductor, charged with stealing a gold watch and ap-
pendages, the property of Mr. Stewart.
Mr. Stewart, it appeared, is a lodger its the house of
Mrs. Dodd, in Nord !Kirland Street, Strand, and the
prisoner was a footboy there. Ott Tuesday evening,
that gentleman on going to bed left his watch hanging
over the mantle-piece its the drawing-route, and when
he went to look for it the tiext 'routing it was gone.—
He asked the prisoner if he knew any thing about the
watch, and he said, with much seeming nariete,—
" Dear me, Mr. Stewart, have you lost your watch? It
is very odd—hut I can assure, upon toy honour, I know
nothing about it." Mr. Stewart said it was a most ex-
traordinary circumstance, and the prisoner rebut
that nobody went out of the house that morning but
Mary's (meaning the maid servant) brother, who had
paid his sister au early visit, and added many remarks,
the drift of which was, that no one but this boy could
have taken the watch. Nicholls was sent for, and he
went to the main servant's parents, where he saw her
brother, and questioned him, but was convinced, from
his manner, that he knew nothing of the robbery. He
then went to the prisoners' mother's lodgings, and ques-
tioned her, but she denied all knowledge of the watch,
or of any other property. The officer, however, saw a
valuable portrait act in gold. hanging ou the mantle-
p_iece, and guessing that it might have come from Mrs.
Dodd's, he took it away, and it proved to belong to
Mr. Stewart, who had missed it for some time.
The officer when he returned to Mrs. Dodd's shewed
him NI r. Stewart's portrait, upon which lie fell upon
his kness, and begging for mercy said, he would tell
where the watch was if forgiveness was promised to
lihn. A promise was made, and he conducted the
officer in a cellar, where the W..11;:!1 was found. He
confessed in the coarse of convers.niou that he took
the watch while Mary's brother was in the house, in
the hope that suspicion would fall upon hint.
Ile was brought here in custody, hut Mr. Stewart
being uttwilling to prosecute, he sv..s discharged, with
311 admonition.
The discovery that had been mode however induced
Mrs. Dodd to examine her plate, &c. and she missed
five or six silver spoons, a gold broach set in pearls, anti
other articles of value. Nicholls went again on Friday
to the prisoner's mother, who the mun.ent she saw him,
said " I know what you are come.ffir," and gave hint
a silver spoon, which she declared she loond in hvr
son's pocket, when he came after been discharged.
The officer took the young del:nquent and the mother
into custody. The silver spoon was one of them missed
by Mrs. Dodd; and Nicholls its consequence of some-
thing that fell from the boy, searched a tub in which
Mrs. Dodirs servants threw broken victuals, and found
there another of the spoons.
The mother, it appeared, was in the habit of fetch-
ing away the contents of this tub for her pigs.
The boy was fully committed for trial, and the ma-
ther was discharged with a severe rebuke from the
magistrate, who was of opinion that the evidence would
not be sufficient to convict her as the receiver.

The Judges met on Thursday morning, and chose
their respective Spring Circuits as tbllows:—
Noarm.E—i.old Chief Justice Abbott, and Mr. Baron Graham.
itrsi..twn--Loril Chief Justice Dallas, and Mr. Justice Rich-
ardson.
Home—Lord Chief Baron, and Mr. Baron Wood.
NORTHERN—Mr. Justice Bayley, and sir. Justice Best.
Oironn--Mr. Justice Park, and Mr. Baron Garrow.
WESTEMX—Mr. Justice Holroyd, and Mr. Justice Dacron

On Monday sennight Mr. John 'Mira, of Norwich
was knocked down in Chapel-field, and his poeltet-
book, containing 16081. in notes, taken trims him.—lt
appears that Mr. Thortell was enticed by a fabricated
note, on his arrival from London by the day coach, to
call on Mr. Bolingbroke, near Chapel-field ; and on his
returning a woman accosted hint, whom he did not
know, and with whom he walked into Chapel-field,
when he was violently struck in the face by mime person,
and knocked down and robbed , his pocket, containing
the property, was cut Open, and a wound was inflicted
in the right stile, apparently done with a pen-knife. Mr.
T. was taken so unawares and so severely struck, that he
was stunned, and Isad no power to defend himself. The
evening was so extremely dark and fuggy, that he could
not distinguish the wonian's face. Mr. T. had taken
this sum from Messrs. Leaf and Co. of London, to
whom he had bold a large quantity of bombasin goods.
It is hoped that as 13 of the 1001. Batik of England notes
are inuorsed with Mr. Tliunell's Haute, the ctllains will
be detected,

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HIGHWAY Hoeszer.—On Saturday se'nnight, about
half past six o'clock in the eveuing, as Mr. Charles
Simpson, of Derby, was returning from As`sborne. he
I.
was stopped on the turnpike road near the brook between
IBowbridge and Mockworth, by three men, who seized
his horse's bridle, one of them exclaiming' " D—n you,.
now we have you, deliver." Mr. Simpson immediately
gave up his bill-case to them, containing eleven
one-pound notes, a promisory note for MI., memo-
randums, &c. One ultimo' said, " You have not given
us all," and, proceeding to search him, they further took
from him a small empty purse and his watch, and then
told hint he might go about his business. Mr. Simpson •
made the hest of his way to Derby, and gave notice of
of robbery to Mr. James Johnson, at the turnpike
house, describing the men as nearly as he could. Mr.
Johnson's son Thomas, who lives in the parish of Mar-
lector), calling soon afterwards at his father's, on his
return from Derby, where he had been marketing, was
told of the circumstance, and on his way homeward',
went into Mr. Mundy's plantation, which adjoins the
turnpike road to watch if any suspicious persons came
on the road. After waiting some time and feeling him-
self unwell, he turned towards home, and passing
through a field which adjoins Mr. Mundy's park, he
observed three men approaching him in a direction
leading front a hovel, and, on meeting them, one of then,.
said to him," God bless, you, put us into a roud,.fvr we
are heitightedand lost." Johnson asked bow they came
there, as- there was no road through. the field; on which-
they said " that they did not know," and told him they
were going to Burton, Johnson noticing that the dress of
one of them answered to, the description given by Mr.
Simpson to his father, and in, the hope of securing their
apprehension, told them he could show them two roads,
hot one of them bLatig over a commun, they might gee
lost, and if they would go with hint near to Derby he
would put their, iu the right way; to which they kon-
semed. He directly led them down 1%.1r. Mundy's park
by the side of the plantation, and brought them into the
turnpike road leading to Derby, and through the toll
gate kept by his father, where he left a basket he had
with him, proceeded with them towards Derby, where
he intended to get assistance to secure them. About SO
yards from the gate he met his father, to whom he said
" Mr. Johnson, I have left my basket at your house ; you
will take care of it." His father expecting who his com-
panions were, got a neighbour to accompany him, and
followed diem. On arriving at the end of the town.
Jainism' said to them, " Now gentlemen, this is the
road, you cannot get out ;" and putting them on the
Uttoxeter road, and having immediately obtained the
necessary assistance at the Wheel Inn, set off in pursuit.
They were soon overtaken, when Johnson seized one
of :hem, and the other two ran away and got over a fence
into a garden adjoining the road, where they were both
apprehended. ('he prisoners were con% e)ed tG the
Wheel 11111, where one of them was identified by Mr.
Sampson, but mine of Ms property being found upon
them, search was made at the place where they were
secured, and the eleven oneapound notes, the promissory
mite, and the purse was found on the ground, and the
watch was also discovered neat the spot on the following
mornitig. A final examination of the prisoners took place
on Tuesday, when they were all fully committed for trial
at the next Assizes.

EXEcOrrosrs.—On Wednesday morning at an early
hour the scaffold was erected opposite the debtors'.door,
Newgate, and an immense crowd assembled near the
spot for the purpose of viewing the awful ceremony of
the execution of the live unhappy individuals condemn-
ed to suffer the sentence of the law. The deepest in--
terest was excited upon this occasion, in consequence of
the extreme youth and respectability of some of the
parties At about half past seven o'clock the sheriffs',
accompanied by the proper officers attended the prison.
The sheriffs, &v. proceeded to the press-yard; on enter-
ing of which they beheld one of the prisoners. Martin
a Jew, was sitting upon a form, and agreeably to
the practice of his religion, he had suffered his beard
to grow to a considerable length ; he was accompanied
by two Priests, and they joined each oilier in prayer in
the Hebrew tongue. Johnson, a youth about 18 years
of age, of prepossessing appearance, was brought in
ironed, auil crying. Re was very fervent in his prayer.
Reeves was brought in nest; he was resolute at first,
but ultimately prayed fervently. He was no more than
18 years of age also. Davies, a vety prepos,essing lad,
was next brought in. He was convulsed with grief so
I touch, that he was deprived of utterance. He was,oll ly
15 years of age last Pebruary ; but had been guilty of
many crimes, although yorilig. He had been before in
Newgate on various charges. In consequence of his
youth, Ids Case was represented to Lord Siditiouth and
Iris ;Maj. sty. Nli. Pollon attended on his Ladsfiti,,
who waj !I grieved that liothilig could be done for
the pi noner. The increase of crime among youth sv.is
sit very .real, alit! hit Loot:Any having received a num-
ber of letters, praying him to I.rotect tile public loon
the attacks of the daring robbers, he could not possibly
interfere further, trostitig the example would have an
effect on youths. 'loom, a ling looking young man, of
gentlemanly appearance, was next brought in; he was
greatly depressed, and after having his irons knocked
oil, he told the Sheriffs that he forgave his prosecutors,
amid hoped they should die as happy as he shoidd. The
prisoners after this were conducted to the seaffold.—
'llsey were all very penitent, 311ticotiducted theutselv<a
with great decorum. The ropes being adjusted, the
fatal opal was gicell, and they were launched into
eternity. They died without a struggle. Jus. White,
fur whom a death-warialit had been received by the
Sheriffs, and who hail been cm:tit:led of a higliwav-
robbery in Wardour-street, from SOMA'
which were discovered in his favour, .vas repoev,l.
Joist before the criminals were turned oil, a VA/Wig,
slipped front the parapet of the u ali of the Se•si
blouse-yard, and fall:oil on the pat IriCtoßA 1.5
head in a dreadlul manta. lie v. As takcu to the :11.),-
1,1141.

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