The National Register.
London, England, 1818-01-25 00:00:00

SURREY SESSIONS.

John Manning, a person in the habit of attending fairs
and superintending the several games played tin such occa-
sions, was placed at the bar upon a charge of ro:e4ery, de-
clared to be coattail:teal nattier the pretext of fair play.
The indictment charged Maiming wills having rtuitn a 101.
Bank of England note from one Basingliall, Bailiff to a Mr.
Cox, of liyegate, at Ewelkfaty.
'I he prosecutor stated, that he went to Ewell-fair in Octo.
ber last, taking with him 211. of laic mastcr•s money, sod
none of his own. In passing through the fair lie observed
several persons playing at cups'and balls, a game of which h•
knew nothing, and taking a fancy to the method of winuidg
which presented itself to him, pulled his masters money out
of his pocket, and offered to bet that the ball was not mailer
the middle one of three cops. He held a 101. Bank note in
his hand, bat did not hold it long, for the prisoner,who seemed
to be a mere looker ou, and not all concerned in the game,
snatched it and ran with the greatest velocity among the
horses. At that moment, as if the whole business was a plait
for robbery,. the players decamped, kicking about tile cups
and balls, and the prosecutor gaping with • astonishment.
After a short time he meta constable, to whom he iberill ioned
the circumstance, and from whom he received the most
prompt assistance. He never saw the noteagain, hot after
some search lie found the prisoner, who made several ineffec-
tual attempts to escape, at the George public-house, sa here
he secured him, and delivering hint to the constitute had the
gratification of seeing him caged.
The next witness was Nitalliatis Furness, a boy about It
years of age. He was, he said,: accidently attracted at Ewell-
fair, to the spot where the cups and balls were exhibited.;
was possessed of no money, and merely observed what was
going forward. The prosecutor, in his presence, took at
Al:ink-note out of his pocket, and the prisoner instantly
snatched it and took to his heels. All those who seemed to
be coucerned.in the game ran oil leaviug the lusts nments of
the game in confusion. There was a crowd about the place,
and Manning pulled the witness out of it soon afteroind
offered him sixpence provided he would nut say a word
about the matter. Witness refused to take the sixpence, and
on lin ling the prosecutor, went wills him and the constable to
the George public-house, where they laid they hands upon
the prisoner, who took out a 21. note, and offered it to the
constable it' lie would let hint tiff: The constable refused to
take the bribe.

The evidciice for the prisoner, and Counsel, laboured hard
to convince the jury that the money had been lost at the game,
and therefore, although the manner might appear frandtilent,
it was evident the construction of felony could not be pat
upon it.

The Chairman treated the subject in a very different man-
ner. lie considered the whole of the evidence fur the pri.
sutler relative tirtlie particular transactions excessively liable
to suspicion, even it' the intelligent and consistent statement
of Furness were not opposed to it ; fur it was evidint that
the patties by whom the silly, and by no means honest, pro-
secutor suffered, woe at the fair for the purpose of taking
in the unwary. Ferguson's character he considered as bad
as could be. The Jury, in order to acquit the prisoner,
would be obliged to deny ail credit to the evidence of Furuess,
a Ito was a disinterested spectator, and seemed to have acted
with the utmost propriety.
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty.
Mr. Harrison immediately pronounced sentence. lie hoped
it would operate as a warning to the multitudes who visited
fairs fur the purpose of robbing under the cover of gaining,
and that the robbery itself would have some effect upon
those who were tools enough to sport with their own money,
or knaves enough to sport with that of their masters. " The
sentence of the Cowl upon you, John Manning is, that you
be transported beyond the seas fur the term of foul teen
years.

M. Melling, Landscape..painter to his 'Majesty the King of
France, had the honour of presenting the follow Mg pictures :
View of the scat of (Jostle iu England, vi here his
Majesty had resided for IS months. View of the seat of
Hartwell, near lesuury, the • esidence of his Majesty for
several years; and a picturesque slew of %Vat iek Castle.—
With all of which his Majesty was pleated to (Apt ss his pct.
feet balisfaction.---Fievi peel%
A dreadful event lately took place in the neighbourhood of Cu.
tris, in France. The Gend'arnierieofthat town had raveivsal order'
to arroit in ids house the Stew N. conacnintAl to death Jro coots.
mazy. His house stood lay itself in the open Ilchls. They sum-
moned him to surrender. lle tanned hiniselt with a mail, Half open.
ed the door, and pierced M. Andoui, Brigadier, Witll two bullets.
The brother in law of the Sicur N. and his domestics wished to sup.
Man him in the resistance lie made; but the Genit'arines tired, and
mortally•woitudell two of them. 'Floe 5.10 seeing that they we:c pre-
paring to sct tire to the house, exhorted his father not to ptoioog a
ttielesi resistance.—•• Yeas, any son," said his father, •' 1 ant about
to give myself up ;" and immediately blew out his brains.
Monday an inquzst was held at the Queen's Head, in Ddrkhouie..
lane, Billingsgate, on the body of J. Garlick. atal 14. IL appeared
that the deceased, in company with others, had returned from Graves.
end in a fishing boat. It was late at night, and being wet to tlse
skin, the others took their clothes oil and rive them to thedeceased
to carry Mame, and his eyes being.tiazzied ;suing frcen the lira, he
walLd into the 'water and was drowWai. Verdict— Accidental
I).ath.

Abort 5 o'clock on Wedne-day aftPrnoon. tadie Harrow-road,
where a waggon, heavily laden, happen:Et to stop fur WM: Hulce I
fine boy about tour years of age I)..eig at play, unpere. t. al by aby
person twisted the iron chain at the knit 01 tile waggon, w ach passwf
oetwcett thn spokes of mac of tile wheels, round his neck. The wed-
goner drove on his tcum, when the untertunatexiiihro bead era
eoz.tpletely beveled from the body.