The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-14 00:00:00

COMMON PLEAS-;THIS DA Y).

Lord Chief Justice Wilde and a special jury were
engaged the whole day in the trial of an action for an
alleged illegal distraint under a fiat of bankruptcy. 'Th••
case, which was of no interest except to the parties con-
cerned, was not concluded at the rising of the Court.

CRIMINAL COURT.—(THIS DAY. 3
OLD COURT.
The second session of the present mayoralty was
opened this morning.
Mr. Samuel Taylor, of 2, George-court, Drury-lane,
printer of the Patents Journal, was indicted for the
publication of a libel on Mr Vincent Price, late the
secretary of the London Mechanics' Benefit Institution,
ascribing to him motives of personal interest in the
establishment of the society, and describing him as unfit
from ignorance for the situation which he held.
Mr. Ilorry was retained for the prosecution, and Mr.
Robinson for the defendant.
Mr. Thomas Henry Smith, of Rider's-court, Leicester-
square, an ivory turner, stated that he was a member of
the committee of the London Mechanics' Benefit Insti-
tution, and testified his belief that the description which
appeared in the report that emanated from Mr.
Taylor's printing-office could only refer to the founder,
Mr. Price, and no one else. To .dr. Robinson's cross-
examination, he replied that he was a member
of the committee, but that several secessions had
been made from the society since . his installation in
office, so that the committee could not be identified.
George Henry Brankes, a member of the committee,
said that, though constant in his attendance, there were
three or four members that he had never met with.
The policeman proved the identity of Mr. Taylor as
the printer of the libel.
The publication of the alleged libel having been
proved,
Mr ROBINSON submitted that Mr. Price had neither
proved that he was the secretary of the society, nor
that the society itself was a legal society. To make it,
the latter, it ought to have been registered under 7th
and Bth Victoria, c. 110, a. 2. ; but this objection being
overruled by the Judge, Mr. Robinson addressed the
jury for the defence. He was prepared to prove that
the libel was inserted in the journal, if libel it was, with-
out any countenance, or even partisanship, of the de-
fendant. This was a sufficient defence both in
law and equity ; but there was a further proof in the
readiness of the defendant to give every information that
could be desired by the prosecutor, so as to enable him
to get at the real author. Mr. Taylor had printed only
two or three numbers of this journal, and could not
possibly have either interest or motive to prejudice the
character of the prosecutor. He then called
George Wilson Bartlett, clerk to Mr. Warnford, the
prosecutor's attorney, who proved that he had called upon
Mr. Taylor, at the instance of Mr. Price, to complain of
the libel, when the former stated that he was quite ready
to give up the name of the author, but must first have an
interview with him. At a subsequent meeting with Mr.
Warnford, on the 3d of October, in Holborn, Mr. Taylor
had expressly stated who was the author, and that
two persons in his employment could prove the hand-
writing of that gentleman, as exhibited in the copy of
the libel.
Thomas Payne, a compositor in the employment of
Mr. Taylor, who had been employed on this journal
proved that the copy came into the office on a Wednes
day evening, when Mr. Taylor was away from home. -
Mr. Simpson, the overseer for Mr. Taylor, confirmed
the evidence of the last witness.
Mr. HORRY replied.
The COMMISSIONER summed up, stating that the jury
must be clearly satisfied that there was a mischievous
intention in the defendant, as also that he was the actual
printer and publisher, before they could convict.
After a short consultation the jury returned a verdict
of Not guilty.