The Sun.
London, England, 1802-10-13 00:00:00

OCTOBER 12.

A case of some importance to the Commercial
World was tried this day. '
.A man of the name of Cowen, together with his
son, and jams Lewin, were indiaed for forcibly
entering the premises of Marcus. Hayman, in the
parill of Bermondsey. There were five counts in

the: indiettnent--first, for forcibly entering the pre-
mises; and secondly, for a riotous and tumultuous
assembling,: to the alarm of the. neighbours, :and
in violation of the King's peace ; the other counts
chprging them.,,vith asoa4lts, &c.
•From the •evidence kiiiren by Marcus layman,
it appeared,•'tha't 'hiniself,' the Defendant Cowen
the elder, and a,:than of the name of Swarti, who

had absconded, were in partnership in the ..manu-
fa&uring of -Spanish leather. That he, Hayman,
prior to !the commencement of the business, hired
certain premises in Bermondsey, for the purpose of
carrying on the trade ; that on 'the aBth of. May
last, the Defendants had forcibly entered the pre-
mises, of which he claimed the right of exclusive
possession, and breaking open the locks- of sundry
places, had taken away a large quantity of skins,
Rrc. and had so much impaired and damaged the
premises as to cost him Sol. to get them put in a
proper state

John Osterman deposed, he was a servant in the
_ concern ; and that on the day named in the in-
didtnent, a man with a waggon and three horses
knocked at the gate, who said he came by the di-
reaion of Mr. Cowen to take away the skins.—
The Witness said he should not allow any thing to•
be taken ofF the premises, unless Mr. Hayman
was present. About - seven o'clock the same:
evening Mr. Cowen obtained entrance by a back
way, and forcibly 'opened the gate, by which
means the other two Defendants' got in ; that he
refused to assist Cowen in removing any of the
goods. Shortly after which, between twenty, and
thirty Soldiers, &c. came in, and were encouraged
and direded by Cowen to load the_ cart :with. the
skins, &c. That he in the first instance atterripted
to prevent their 'going up into the warehouse, for
Which he was 'assaulted ' by the younger COwen.
On his cross-examination he confessed he considered •
himself as much the servant of Cowen as of Hay-
man; that he understood them to be Partners,
and had received wages from each of them.
John Wicks gave a similar evidence, but being
entrusted with the key of the dying-room,. which
they broke open, he told Cowen, that in removing
the skins while in that unfinished state, they would
not only be spoiled, but that they were 'liable to
seizure, from not having the King's mark on them.
He also considered Cowen, as a Joint Master with
the others.

Some Witnesses who lived in the neighbourhood
were called.to prove the riot, and the alarm which
suchan:assemblao-be of people colle&ed together had
occasioned ; and the Landlord who lett the premises
to Hayman proved his- having 'paid the rent for
them; but it. turned out he had also received a por-
tion of the. rent from Cowen.
Mr. IVlAtuttoTT here-addressed the Court for the
Defendants, and submitted whether the first counts
in the Indietment hicrnot failed, as there was no
evidence of. any riot having been committed ; and
that with respect} to the forcible entry, the Wit:
nesses for the Prosecution had Completely proved
the joint-possession, and it was a knoWn Let, -that
a man, could not make a forcible entry upon his
own premises. He should, if the Court thought
with hiM, that the principal charges in the India_
ment had not in the least been proved, not call
any witnesses, though he was in possession of evi-
dence to prove, that all the money. (to .a consi-
derable amount) advanced, had been advanced by
Cowen, and that it was in consequence of his hav-
ing received intimation, at several different' times,
that the two Partners, Hayman and Swartz, were
carrying the skins off the Prem4es as fast as they
were finished, he had had recourse to taking away
what was left, which had been seized by the Ex-
cise ; but on a proper representation being made
to the. Board were given up; finished, and the duty
paid.
he CHAIRMAN told the Jury he agreed with the
Learned Counsel, that-the 'first charges- 'lad in- no
way been proved, as the premisesand property were
as much. belonging to Mr. Cowen as to Hayman.—
The Jury accordingly found film Nst G dilty. • ,

We mentioned on Saturday, that at the late Barn..
staple fair, a gang. of pickpockets were very adive ;
and that amongst the sufferers was Mr. Higman,
of Crediton, who lost his pocket-book, containing
drafts and bills to the amount of t c Si. Next day
two men, supposed to belong to the same gang,
were seen at Crediton fair, and had -nearly picked
-the pocket of a farmer <who had just received 40
guineas .or sheep : as the farmer had the good for-
tune to- save his cash, he suffered them to escape ;
but afraid of being ;rpprehended, they took horses,
and rode off towards Somerset. As soon as Mr.
Higman heard of this, he set, out for Taunton, and
next morning, on his- return, about a' mile from
Taunton, he met a suspicious person on a :small
poney. On questioning him about Barn.taple fair,
mid asking him if he was not there, he gave evasive
answers, and alighted ; but Higman sec.ired him.
Two of Major \Vane's Yeomanry Cavalry passing
by, they conveyed him to Taunton. On him were
found a Weymouth, a Trowbridge, and sonic other
small bills, with about four guineas and sorry si ver.
A suspicion arose that he might havedropped'some.
thing, on, which search was immediatel7 mode, and
on the very spot was .found a draft for 301. which
Higman has sworn to• He is committed to Wil-
ton gaol for further examination he says his name
is William Brown, of Not iingiimn, aboar 30 ye at,
of age : his left hand "appears to have been cut o
scalded, as his fingers are much crooked. He rode
a small chesnut • policy mare; about twelve •hands
high, tour years old, --small blaze down her fore-
head.