The Sun.
London, England, 1830-08-21 00:00:00

SUMMER ASSIZES.

WESTERN CIRCUIT—WELLS, Ava. 18.
John Coles, a labouring man, aged 21, was capi-
tally indicted for having robbed Edward Hill of 2/.,
by threatening to accuse him of an abominable
offence.

The prosecutor, a respectable-looking person, had
lived as butler with Lord Mountsandford for the last
18 years. On the night of the 18th of March last
lie met the prisoner opposite the door of a public-
house at Bishop Sutton, in this county, and after
repeated threats, the particulars of which he de-
tailed, he was induced to give him a shilling in the
first instance, in order to avoid the dreadful imputa-
tion which the prisoner sought to fix upon his cha-
racter, if the demand was not complied with. At
first Coles said he would be perfectly satisfied with a
shilling, as that would be sufficient to get him
something to drink; but in a few minutes after.
wards he extorted an additional sixpence from the
prosecutor. In the course of the following evening
Coles went to Lord Mountsandford's house, and
sent in for the prosecutor, who, on seeing him, told
him to go abouthis business, as he was resolved
to have nothing more to say to him. Upon this
Coles replied that, unless he got some more money,
he would go to a constable and have the prose-
cutor taken into custody, at the same time stating
again the nature of the charge which he intended to
make against him. The prosecutor told him if he
only spoke the truth, he (the prosecutor) had no-
thing to fear, and then in vain implored him to con-
sider the situation in which he was placed, for bis
character would be ruined for ever if there was any
suspicion of such an offence cast upon it, and
he was the more anxious, at the particular time, as
his master was absent from home. It further ap-
peared from his evidence that a sum of 2/. was sub-
sequently extorted from him, and the prisoner, not
content with that, afterwards raised his demand to
20/. When Lord Mountsandford returned home, re-
ports of the transaction reached his ears, and he told
Hill he must instantly vindicate his character by
bringing the party to justice. Coles, therefore, was
taken into custody, and one of the witnesses against
him swore to having heard him make use of these
words in reference to the charge, " It was for the
money I done it."

Virdict—Guilty. Sentence, of death was ordered
to be recorded; but Mr. Baron VAUGHAN told him
that his life would be spared, at the same time he
must prepare to leave this country for life.
During the examination of one of the witnesses,
some difference arose between two of the Counsel,
Mr. Moody and Mr. Jeremy, when
Mr. Baron VAUGHAN said, in a good-humoured
manner—" Gentlemen, if you cannot agree, I am
afraid I must exercise my authority, and muzzle you
both."

Upon this a .Juryman exclaimed, in a tone of con-
scious importance, that made every body ht the
Court laugh--." We wish very much that the
Counsel would leave off squabbling, and attend to
their business as they ought to do."

Robert Jenkins, Charley Stuart, George Whites
Wm. Reece, John Gray, James Burrow, and Samuel
Solomon, were capitally indicted for, having felo-
niously assaulted George Selman, and robbed him of
305., several bottles of wine, and other articles.
The Jury acquitted all the prisoners of the capital
charge, except Jenkins, against whom sentence of
death was recorded. The Learned Judge telling
him, however, that the punishment would be com-
muted to transportation for life. The other pri-
soners were ordered to be detained on an indictment
for a riot and assault.