The Sun.
London, England, 1825-10-15 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX ADJOURNED SESSIONS.

John Bearsby the elder, Ann, his wife, fohn Bearsby, the
younger, and Sarah, his wife, and Charles Cheshire, were in-
dicted for unlawfully and riotously assembling in the parish of
St. Pancras, on the 6th of August last. There was a second
•
count, for an assault on Mr. James Hope.
The prosecutor, an appraiser, residing at Somers-town, stat-
ed, that on the day in question, he called at the governess's,
into whose hands had been intrusted a child which he had
every -reason to believe to be his own, for the purpose ofsee-
ing it. - On his asking for it by the name of Maria Hope, the
governess said she had no child of that name in the school,
but witness seeing the child playing with its school-fellows,
immediately recognized her, and called her to him, when he
learnt that the persons who had got possession of her had
placed her in the school untie the name of Maria Bearsby.—
(Here:the witness produced a certificate of baptism, for the
purpose of skewing that the latter was not her real name, but
the Chairman declined reading it.)—The witness proceeded to
state, that the defendants shortly after came up to him, and in
the presenee of the governess, and without receiving any- pro-
vocation, one of them (Bearsby the -younger) struck him a
violent blow on the face, which caused blood to gush from his
nose. The defendants then quitted' the house, but remained
standing at the outside, where they collected a mob, by repre.
senting that witness had gone :to the school to inveigle away
the child for an improper purpose. The consequence was;
that on his coming out of the house, he was followed and hoot.
ed at by, the mob, who succeeded by their threats in inducing
several persons in Cromer-street, into whose shops he fled for
refuge, to refuse suffering him to remain. A peace-officer hap-
rening; however, at last to come by, the mob were compelled.
to disperse.
CmartunAx.—All this affray, if I understand you right,
prose on the account of the child. Prey is there any disputa
between you, as to who is its father ?
Witness.—Oh, no, sir, it cannot be his, for the child is
eleven years old, and .he was only married to its mother last
Christmas.

CHAIRMAN.—That does not exactly follow; but pary
whose child do you consider it to be?
Witness.—Why, Sir, I have every reason to believe it is
mine, and besides I am its godfather, and have brOught it up
eV,-r sines it was 16 months old till about six months beck,
when it was obtainettfront me by stratagem. -Its mother, Mrs.
B. the younger, at the time it was born, lived with we as,
housekeeper.
Cross-examined by Mr. PRENDERGAS7'.--Are you a mar-
ried man ?—I am. ,

How long have you been married P—._ieventeen years.
And yet you have the bad taste to Come forward and avow
this connexion.?

. .
_ .
The prosecutor's wife, who had been standing byastening
to the proceedings, here hastily exclaimed, " More shame for
her, knowing that he wal a married man.'
Witness.-31y being married has nothing to do with this
business.

Mrs. Ann Phelps,' the schoolmistress, said the child was plac-
ed with her by .N.lrs. Bearsby. The prOsecutOr called, and wit.
nods not knowing whatito do', gave the child her bonnet and de-
sired her to run home to her mother. The prosecutor followed
her, and shortly after returned with her, accompanied by the
defendants, one of whom struck him: ' _

The Criainxiii, in summing up, told .the jury this was a
case in which the question about the .possession of the Child
was wholly beyond their jurisdiction. He could readily sup-
pose that Mr. Hope, after. having Lrattf.Y,kt it up till it was
ten years old, and feeling for
.it, as. he says, the affection of
a father, must be very miserable, in being deprived of it,
but that was a matter which they could not. remedy. With
respect. to the assault, there was .no evidence against any
of the defendants, excepting Betirsby the younger, and as re
spected him, it would be for them to give yuck weight to the
testimony of the prosecutor, as, after toe manner in, which it
had been partially contradicted by his witness, they might think
it di served.

Jury iffirnediattly acoitted all the defendants.
Mr. :Hope left the Court.,.xletlaring hi, intention-of applyirg
t the.E.ing's Bench for an habeas carpus to compel the restora-
tion of the child. _

Tand is a very pretty rosy-cheeked
little girl
h gie clllka was
shew in Court;
ss
vry neatly dressed, acd appears to Kaye
been well brought up.