The Sun.
London, England, 1823-09-16 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY.

TRIAL OP CAHIJAC ANT) BEEMAN.

Yesterday' rtionias Beeman and John Colts= tiere indicted,
the former for stealing on the 16th of July 106 printed books,
value 21., the property of Mr. Benjamin Hensley, and the
lattat for receiving the said books, knowing them to be stolen.
Mr. Anotant tra stated the case for the prosecution, and
called the following. evidence
Mr. Benjamin Bentley deposed, that he was a printer in Bolt-
port, Fleet-street. He employed the prisoner Beeman as ware.
houseman. About the latter end of June, the witness printed an
octavo edition of Lingard's History of England, for Mr. Maw-
man the bookseller. Beeman collated the work, and therefore had
Access to it. In consequence of information which the witness re-
ceived, he took, stock of the work, about the end 'of August, and
found that he had lost from 15 to 20 copies, each copy contain-
ing 8 volumes. On the bth of August, the witness accom-
panied Mr. Fellowes (Mr. Newt }man's foreman) to Cahuac's
shop in Blackman-street, in the Borough. In answer to some
questions of the witness, Cahuac said he had several of the
octavo' copies of Lingard's History, et' 3i. • per copy. The
witness then left the shop, and joined Mr. Fellowes, who had
been waiting outside, but shortly after again entered it in com-
pany with Mr. Fellowes. Mr. Fellowes, addressing Calmar,
said, he heard that he was offering Lingard's History for sale
at a very reduced price, which appeared the inure extraordinary
as he (Cahuac) was present at Mr. 3L.winan's sale about a
month before, and refused to purchase any ccrpies of the
work. Cahuac appeared confuted, and said that he bad only
two copies to sell. • Mr. FelloWes replied, that he knew that
Cahuac had offered a respectable bookseller 6 copies only a day
or two before: Cahuac, being pressed, said he had purchased
six copies at 21. 10s. per copy, of a man who had brought them
to his shop; but he neither knew the man's name nor address.
Cahuac afterwards said that this man was a messenger at the
King's Bench prison, and that he sold the book on behallT of a
prisoner there; but upon being asked to go to the King's Bench,
and point out the messenger, lie observed that he did not know
the man was a messenger, at the Icing's Bench, but only that
he said he was.
In his cross-examination, the Witness stated that when he ac
companied Mr. Fellowes to Cahuac's shop, he did not know
that any copies of Lingard's History were missing from his
warehouse. The witness printed from between 1,015 to 1,025
copies of Lingard's History for Mr. Mawman. The lowest
price at which Mr. Mawman's Lingard's Iliatory was sold, to
his knowledge, was 3/., with a bonus of 4 per cent. to those
who took 24 copies The witness employed upwards of 100
men, and they all had access to the work.
Mr. Benjamin Fellowes, the foreman of Mr. Mawman, of
Ludgate-street, deposed, that Mr. Mawman was the proprietor
of LingarcPs History of Bnghtad. Some time during last
Spring, Mr. Mawman published an octavo edition of the work,
and previously to its being produced, he had what is called
a " trade dinner," at which it is usual 'to fix the price of
fbrthcoming works. The lowest price fixed for the sale of
the new edition of Lingard's History was 3/. per copy, with
a bonus of 4 per cent. to those who took 25 copies. This
price was to be given for the work in sheets. The next trade
price was 3/. Bs, to those who took less than 25 copies. The
retail price in boards was fixed at 41. 16s. After the trade dinner
405 copies were delivered to Mr. Mawman by Mr. Bentley.
The trade dinner took place on the 23d of April, and the
book was published on the 234 of June. The work has newer
declined in price from that time. Mr. Cahuac was present at
Mr. Mawman's trade dinner, and refused to purchase any of
the work. In consequence of information which the witness
received from a'bookaeller named Dowding, he examined Mr.
Mawman's stock,• and found no copies of Lingard's History
wanting. The remainder of the witness's testimony was in
corroboration of what Mr. Hensley had stated respecting the
proceedings in Cahuac's shop. Ile also stated that he found
three copies of Lingard's History at the shop of Mr. Renshaw,
a bookseller, in Fleet-street.
John Clinton, a constable, deposed that he apprehended
'Beeman on the 14th of Auguat, and searched him. Beeman
denied that he had any fob; but when the witness discovered
it, he said that there was nothing in it. The witness, however,
turned the fob out, and found two papers in it, which Beeman
said were memorandums referring to transactions that occurred
3 years back. The witness searched the prisoner's lodgings,
and there found a piece of paper. (The witness here produced
the two papers which he had foupd in the prisoner's fob, and
that which he found at his lodgings.) On the 16th of August
the witness searched Cahtiac' house, but found no copies of
Lingard's History.
John Dowding, a bookseller in Netvgate.street, deposed,
that about the 20th of "July, Callus; called at his shorat
offered 6 copies of Lingard's Itistory, fivo edition, at 2!. Bs. per
copy. The witness declined purchasing the books, and sent to
I inform Mr. Mawman of the circumstance.
James Cooper, a bookseller in Fisher's-altos, Water-lane,
proved that the writing on the'paper found in Beeman's lodg-
ings was his. On the 18th of July the witness bought of Air.
Cahuac, at his shop, six copies of Lingard's History, octavo
edition, at 2/. 10s. Only five copies were delivered to the wit-
nets ; three of these lie exchanged with Mr. Renshaw-, of
Flat-street, for Comyn's Digest. The other two copies he
sent to Mr. Agg, a bookbinder, to be bound. Mre Agg re-
turned them, saying they were imperfect. The witness made
out a list of the sheets which were wanting (this was-the paper
found in Beeman's lodgings.) He took the list to Cahuac, and
Cahuac said he would procure the sheets to make the copies
perfect. Some time after, however, Cahuac called at the wit-
ness's shop, and said he would take back the imperfect (*pies
of Lingard: History, When the witness accordingly delivered
them to him.

George Cooper, the brother of the last witness, paned that
five copies of Lingard's History were delivered at. his brother's
shop, one copy by
,111 r. Cahuac, and the four other'S by Calluses
son.

Agg, a bookbinder, deßosed that he received five copies
of Liugard's 1/Vitory to put into boards. Only three of the
copies were perfect. The witness made out a list of the
perfections of the remaining copies., which he gave to Mr.
Cooper. One of the pagers found in Beeman's fob was 'hewn
to the witness, who rdentified it as the list of imperfections
which he had drawn up.
Mr. Renshaw, the bookselles, in Fleet-street, merely proved
that he received three copies of Lingard's4fisloyy from Mr.
Cooper.
James Clapperton, a servant in the employ. of Mt. Bensley,
deposed that about the latter end of July he found a paper on
Beeman's desk. 'A paper was handed to the witness, which he
said was the paper whirls he had found obi Beeman's desk. He
believed the writing on the paper to be that of Beeman. "The
paper was lying openly pn the desk, and. the witness placed
it on a peg, from which Beeman might, if he had pleased,
have removed it.

The written -Paper referral to was here read by the clerk,
and purported to. be, a list of. imperfection; ID some copies of
din era'! firistory, which lied been sold by Mr. Mawman to A
bookseller named-, Anderson, in Piccadilly.
Alt: Anderson, a bookiellei, in Piccadilly,-proved that, be
bad not in 41,r bought any, copies of Lirsgq,d's History of
Mr. Mawman, and that he had nevcr sent a hat of: imperfec-
tions in that work to Mr. Hensley.
This, was the case for the.proseoution.

The counsel for the prisoner asked' he Court, whether it was
'of opinion that there was sufficient evidence: to 'justify theput.
tiny; of the prisoners on their defence.
The Court. replied in the afflrrnative, and accordingly called
on the prisoners .for their defence.
Beeman, &tibia defence, said tlia.t it was impossible that be
could have taken any property front Mr. Bensley'a premises,
because he never-loft them exeopt in company with other per.
sans. 11,0 never say( Caltuao until be was-In custody.
Caltuac read a written.defonco, In which he solemnly, deelar.
ad. that he had purchased the books, in the way. of trade, and
that he' had never known Beeman
until after • h-e was appre-
hended, and he. also complained of the harsh conduct of the
prosecutprs, _

Several respectableiwitnessea gavk a good character to Bee.
think not lest than
Pul:papneadir:tri iuniTegilligalfnottllaletruac(w.B 311°"Id

The RUPIIDER then proceeded to aum up the evidence,
and concluded ata.quarter pact one.o7ol9ck,
The Jury then retired, and preci.tely at two o'clock returned.
into Cotirt. The Foreman, aatiresaing the Bench, said, he was
inattitetad by his brothenjuiorc- to exprese their sincere regret
that they could not.conacientiously declare the men at the.bar,
who hid received so high a character, innocent of the charge
which, had'been brought against- them. He then returned a
verdot-nr,eitilty, but recommended the prisoners to mercy, on
account of thcirprevipue_good character.

In the course of the, day the Grand Jury entered the Court,
and the Fnremin, addressing the bench, said that they had
pre,sentgd, al); thevhille which
li bad been brought-before them—
They licLalao visited.the gaol, and begged Mtn to exereatheir
"satisfaction atits State, anti at the management of the culprits,
lusticalsslobserv24--" Gentlemen, if you have pre:-
`sented. all your b4ls!l you are.discharged front futither attend-
ance, Your country is obliged to you for your services, and
particnlatirlbr visiting the gall. 1 ant convinced that In pro.
portion as the prisoners are kept in proper order, the numbtr of
prisoners will besonsiderably reduced.

A liburnum tree in front of the house, No. 17,
Growenor-plact, has t out a r::=fuslou oi% new bloom'
with tbesefe74l d ap.hrott. flu var yr..so Lis the omit of Juts
kat