The Sun.
London, England, 1824-07-24 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER SESSIONS—(Tuis DAY.)

LIFE 1! WESTM I NST L rt.--John IVest and
Robert Courcy were put to the bar on an indict-
ment charging them with a violent assault on the
person of Wm. Ludford, on the 10th May last, at
Stretton Ground, Westminster. The parties in
this case were master tradesmen residing on the
above spot, but, from some unexplained cause,
they quarrelled on the above day, and the con-
sequence was, a general fight took place. As
usual, there was considerable contradictory
swearing on both sides, which proved to complete
demonstration that a little knowledge of the law
is a dangerous thing. In the end it turned out
that the prosecutor was the first aggressor, and
the Jury accordingly acquitted both the pri-
soners.

SHAMEFUL OUTRAGE.—George King was put
to the bar on an indictment charging him with a most wanton
and shameful outrage on the person of a respectable lady named
Mary Thompson. The prosecutrix was walking up Parlia-
ment-street, on the Bth of May last, when the defertdant, who,
it seemed, had taken quantum skfficit of potent liquor, came
up to her and assaulted her in the most indelicate manner.—
Assistance at length came to her, and the prisoner received on
the spot from the hands of a gentleman a very proper chastise-
ment, and was then lodged in the watch-house, where he re-
mained until the following clay. The Jury found him guilty,
and he was allowed to speak to the prosecutrix, who consented
to his giving 101. to a Charity.
COMMTSBIONF:ns for PAytKa and LioitTram the
PARIfli of ST. 51ARGARET'S, IVesUllinster, at the Suit of
—IURAriAAt.

This was an appeal, under the Act of
Parlia-
ment, by the plainitiff, to recover a due compensation for some
land belonging to the plaintiff in Alilhank.street,
minter, which had been taken by the Commissioners to widen
the street under the late improvements.—The plaintiff' in this
case was the lineal descendant, in the third line of Lord Cro.
well,. and the sum sought to be recovered was till.,—the m
Com-
missioners having offered only 3501, for it.
As usual on such occasions, witnesses were called on both
sides to prove; on the part of the plaintiff; the'value, and on
the other that the sum offered was a sufficient compensation.
There was rather a novel feature is this case, namiely, that
the plaintiff had neglected to employ Counsel in the case until
this morning, and had he even, until the',;lltry had been. sworn,
employed.a Sat veyor.
Mr. Howell, the surveyor for the Conitissioners,, gave the
astrigs_ftet sum of NAL for the whole. On the part of the
plaintiff the sum of : 6801. was awarded. • A`Verybmg. :discus.
sion took place.on the question, and in the end ther4ury found
a verdict, finding the valuation at Three Ilutaliett and Ninety-
one Pounds.

ALARMING' AND DIiiTUUCTIVE
morning about four o'clock the inhabitants of
Chancery lane were awakened from their sleep
by the alarm of the watchmen's rattles ; and
cries of " Fire, fire!" resounded from hundreds
collected at that early hour. Indeed one of the
fiercest tires broke out at the bottom of the house,
117, Chancery-lane (The Dairy), and in a fevr
minutes the adjoining houses of Mr. Bailey and
Mr. Newman were in flames. The premises were
built of wood, and the destructive element raged
with terrific fury.
An Inquisition was on Thursday evening
taken before THOMAS STIRLING, Esq., at the King's /lead
Tavern, Islington, on the body of Miss Mary Ann Mills,
who was tbund drowned in the New River. It appeared
that the 'body was found in the course of. Tuesday, in the
a
part of the river near the City-road, by person who was
walking along its bank, and who, happening to see something
floating a little below the surface, procured a drag, and suc-
ceeded in bringing the body ashore. Bound the lyft arm a
piece of string was tied, and to which was suspended a
heavy weight of lead. The body was conveyed to Islington
Church. and was owned the following day. Mrs. Mans.
field, of 2.23, Oxford-street, stated, that the deceased had re.
aided with her for four years past in quality of companion, and
that during that period she had always conducted herself witk
the greatest propriety. She went out on the Friday preced-
ing without saying where she was going to, since when she
had not seen her. For about live or six days previously
witness observed her to be rather fretful, but still did not
entertain the most distant idea of her being capable of com-
mitting suicide. The Coroner and Jury expressed anxiety t
know whether she lied been seen by qpy person near the place
where the body was found, anti also' whether any evidence
mid be obtained as to whence the piece of lead had been pro.
cured which was found fastened round hernia ; but it appeared
that the beadle, although diligent in his 'inquiries, had not been
able to collect any further intelligence. The Coroner summed
up the evidence, and the Jury, after consulting for a short time,
returned'a verdict of " Found Drowned."

DISTRESS IN MuttiNnAn.—A. few days ago
we endeavoured to direct the at eati, n of the Government .and
the country to the distressed state of the poor in this and the
adjoining counties, but more especially in this town and neigh.
bourhood ; it is now with pleasure we announce that a requisi
tion, signed by the Clergymen and respectable inhabitants of
this town, has bacn laid before J. C. livorts, Esq., Chief Ma-
gistrate, requesting him to convene a meeting of the inhabitants
on as early a day as possible, to take into consideration the
miserably distressed state of the classes, and others of this
town and vicinity, and to devise some mode for their immediate
relief. We feel ourselves altogether unable to give even an out-
line of the accumulated distress experienced by the poor in
this WWII and neighbourhood, nor could we have conceiv-
ed, had we not been eye-witnesses of it, how human beings
could possibly exist under such aggravated and increasing
privation.; it is no uncommon thing for whole families to sub-
sist for 48 hours on one scanty meal, consisting chiefly of wild,
unnutricloits, and unwholesome vegetables; others pining away
under diseases produced by actual want, or the use of such per.
nicious food; in shorts to• particularise, would be sufficient to
" harrow up the soul.' Muningar Journal.)