The National Register.
London, England, 1821-02-18 00:00:00

CRIPPII O. ROTHWALL AND ANOTRIR.

This was an action against the late Sheriffs of London,
for the escape of a prisoner upon mesne process.
Mr. Casherd, in opening the case, said that the action
was only nominally taken against the respectable persons
who appeared as defendants, the party interested being
Mr. Michael Weaton,horse.dealer, of London-wall. Mr.
Weston having accepted two bills of exchange for 2501.
drawn by a person of the name of Marsden, was, upon
those bills, arrested by the holder, Mr. Cripps. The
Sheriff, however, instead of holding the person of
Weston, or taking from him a bail-bond, suffered him
to go at large; and Mr. Cripps, being by that neglect
defeated in obtaining his money, now brought his
action.
Mr. Gurney, for the defence, called Mr. Michael
Weston and his son, who proved that Cripps had con-
sented to withdraw the action ; and that it was in con-
sequence of such consent that no bail had been taken.—
'rimy runner said that the bills in question had merely
been accepted for the accommodation of Marsden ; and
that, since the alleged escape, Weston, the father, had
been living, and carrying on business, at the same place,
and in the saute manlier, as he had befote been accus-
tomed to do.

Mr. Casberd, in reply, insisted that horse.dealers had
more liberty of conscience than other men, and that their
evidence should be received with much qualification.
The Chief Justice told the jury, that if they should
discredit the evidence of Weston and his son, then the
plaintiff would be entitled to their verdict. It should
be remembered, however, that NVeston the elder was,
and, since the escape, had been, forthcoming; that the
plaintiff might at once, if he had thought fit, have ar-
rested him a second time ; and tit t, consequently,
nothing had been really lost but 111. I 55., the expences
of the original process, which had failed.—Verdlct for
the defendant.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY I`✓.
BENNETT V. COLYVAR.

This action was brought by the plaintifi, a stable-
keeper, against the Hon. G. Colyvar, otherwise Lord
Milsintown, to recover 2701. for the keep of horses, at
the rate of 4s. 6a. per day. The Jury found a verdict
for the plaintiff. Damages 24.51.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14.
BREACH OF rROMISZ or MARRIAGE.
WATTS F. PLATT.

Sergeant Pell stated the facts of the plaintiff's case,
which were briefly these :—The parties live at \Vest
Drayton, and are in an humble line of life. In the year
1812 the defendant, George Platt, a farmer, met Jeminta
Watts the plaintiff, at a dance at her uncle's, who kept
the six-bells, public house, after which he visited her at
the cottage of her mother, a very poor woman. She
was then about 18, and he under 30 years of age. The
mother at first wished her daughter to decline his ac-
quaintance, as she did not consider her a suitable match
for a person in such good circumstances as the defem.
dant. Ile, however, persevered, declaring that it was
his intention to marry her, and actually purchased the
ring for that purpose. The courtahip continued for
upwards of eight years, until the defendant, without as-
signing any cause, took it into his head to marry another
WOMIIII. After which he still attempted to continue his
visits, and upon being upbraided by the plaintiff with his
breach of faith towards her, he protested with tears in
his eyes that his misconduct had been productive of snore
unhappiness to himself than to her. Phis was the sub-
stance of the case proved by the mother, sifter, and uncle
of the plaintiff, from whom, upon cross-examination it
was attempted to be extracted that she had pe:mitted
the defendant to take liberties of All improper kind with
her. These attempts, however, totally failed, the girl's
conduct appearing to have beets most unexceptionable.
Sergeant Vaughan addressed the jury on behalf of the
defendant, but called no se

The learned Judge (Dallas), in his charge, observed,
in indignant language, upon the unmanly and cruel
defence, attempted to be set up by the defendant, in
endeavouring, after imputing to her the poverty of her
parents, to prove his own infamy in seducing her its
tier mother's house, which defence had not only
but ought to recoil with vengence upon his own head.
The Jury then found a verdict for the plaintiff-4)a.
males