The Sun.
London, England, 1832-08-23 00:00:00

SUMMER ASSIZES.

WESTERN CIRCUIT—WELLS, Ace. 20.
EXTRAORDINAY CASE.
William Gray, described as a jeweller, and to all
appearance a respectable man, was placed at the
bar, charged with having stolen eight watches, one
hundred yards of silk, one hundred yards of satin,
three boxes, six waistcoat pieces, twenty lace veils,
twenty lockets, and twenty gold chains, the property
of John Tanner and Charles Tanner.
Mr. GUNNING, having briefly opened the case,
called
James Lansdowne (porter to the prosecutors, the
carriers at Bath) : The prisoner came to the waggon
office at Bath about nine in the morning of the 21st
of February; he was dressed in a drab great coat;
he asked if there were riot three boxes left there in
the name of Barnett; he pointed out two of them
himself, and said he wished the three to be taken to
the Full Moon, as he was going to Bristol as fast as
he could ; the boxes were taken to the Full Moon,
and left with the prisoner; prisoner took off the
direction card from one of the boxes, and gave it to the
witness, saying that his residence was on the back
of the card; the direction on the boxes was " S.
Barnett, Van Office, Bath, to be left till called for."
Cross-examined—ls positive it was about nine in
the morning • prisoner had on a very dark drab
great coat ; knows him by his features; he had
large whiskers on in February; prisoner was brought
to Bath by Rutliven, the Bow-street officer, arid
was pointed out to witness as being the man; he
had never seen him before the 21st of February;
witness saw prisoner in London about May.
Re-examined—When witness first saw prisoner
in London he (prisoner) was not in custody, no more
than with the Bow•street officer.
Joseph Billings (another porter) gave similar tes-
timony ; prisoner had not any spectacles on.
Joseph Higgs (clerk to prosecutors)—Remem-
bered a person coming for some boxes - cannot
swear positively that it was the prisoner; but from
his appearance he believes him to be the man; he
had on whiskers; he gave witness a receipt for the
goods, which he signed " S. Barnett."
o S. Barnett—Carried on the business of a silk-
mercer and jeweller in Conduit-street, Bond-street,
Loudon. Seat three boxes to the office of Messrs.
Tanner, in Bath, in January last; two of which
were sent the early part, arid one the latter end of
January ; they contained silk, satin, blond lace, veils,
ribbons, and jewellery; there were nine watches in
a blue leather case, which he saw at Bristol on 28th
or 29th of May, at the George Inn; has known the
Prisoner fifteen years ; he had been occasionally at
witness's house ;,he had no authority to receive the
boxes; had never seen him wearing whiskers.
Crross-examined—Always considered prisoner
very respectable.
By the COURT—The prisoner used to job in the
jewellery and silk•mercery trade; the receipt for the
goods was not in the prisoner's hand-writing; the
value of the property was about 7001.
Charles Tanner, one of the prosecutors—Barnett
came to him on 28th February, and asked for the
boxes ; witness told him a person had fetched them
away-
Sarah Shuddock—Was waiter at the George Inn,
Temple-gate, Bristol, in February ; received a small
box from the prisoner the latter end of February;
he came by a pair-horse coach from Bath ; he had
on a dark stuff cloak, lined inside with red ; he
brought three boxes with him; he had dark whiskers
and spectacles; witness observed he was a very
Jew•looking gentleman, and had a long nose; he
told me to keep the
.box till he came down by the
coach; witnesi- opened the box, it had divisions for

six watches; gave it the porter, Richard Sennett ;
prisoner left in the afternoon.

Cross-examined—The prisoner is the man.

Joseph Mayle, street-porter at the Albion, Bris-
tol—Saw prisoner at the top of Broad-street, Bris-
tol, the latter end of February, inquiring what time
the London coaches left; he took his place by the
Old a.mpauy's coach ; saw prisoner nailing a di-
rection on the boxes at the George, it was " Mr.
Williams;" took the boxes to the coach-office;
prisoner had on a dark cloak and a pair of spec-
tacles, which witness thought would not fall off his
nose very easily ; he had dark whiskers.
Cross-examined—Had not been drinking lately.
Wm. Hall, Mayor's officer at Bath—When pri-
soner was coming from before the Magistrates at
Bath, in custody of witness, Barnett shook hands
with him, and said—" My dear Gray, I am sorry
for you, I don't believe you ever did it : keep up
your spirits, and I'll do all I can fur you."
George White—Was in the employ of Barnett
in February last; had seen the prisoner there several
times, and had seen him write ; this receipt he be-
lieved to be in Gray's hand-writing; had seen him
come to Barnett's with whiskers, but never saw him
with spectacles.
The box was identified as belonging to Barnett.
This closed the prosecutor's case.
The prisoner, upon being called on for his de-
fence, read a very long account of himself from a
written paper, in which he declared before God that
he was innocent ; and stated the evidence which he
should bring forward.
Mr. JEREMY, with whom was Mr. ERLE, called
the prisoner's witnesses.
John Jazarus—Was a jeweller, in Duke-street,
Manchester-square ; had known the prisoner sixteen
or seventeen years ; prisoner's father had carried
on business in the Strand ; prisoner had assisted
witness in his business; did so in February; he
did not miss one day during that month ; prisoner
accompanied witness to a club held at the Castle
Tavern, Castle-street, Regent-street, on Tuesday,
Feb. 21; witness recollected the day from two cir-
cumstances—first, that his wife had just been con-
fined, and was averse to his going; and, secondly,
that he was president that night, which he had never
been at that house any other evening; witness made
an engagement for all who were present to meet him
at Mr. Gerr's, the Albion Tavern, Duke-street,
Grosvenor-square; Gray was there also; witness
was chairman, and Gray deputy; in consequence of
something the prisoner told witness, he accompa-
nied him to endeavour to find Ruthven, the Bow-
street officer; followed him to several places, but at
length found him at Bow-street; never knew him
to wear dark whiskers; no part of the receipt is in
prisoner's hand-writing, or at all resembling it ; he
is not of the Jewish persuasion ; never heard any-
thing derogatory to his character; he was secretary,
under Mr. Egerton, to the Theatrizal Fund.
Cross-examined—l have been unfortunate in
business; saw prisoner in Ilchester gaol; came from
London purposely; saw him there again, and also at
Wells; is brother-in-law of Barnett ; there was sing-
ing at the club.
Joseph Littlewood—Keeps the Castle Tavern ;
recollects Lazarus taking the chair or► the 21st Fe-
bruary; does not know Gray.
Mr. Peace—ls a jeweller in Durham-street,
Strand; was at the Castle the same evening as La-
zarus took the chair; Gray was there; never heard
any thing of prisoner but what was perfectly hottest.
Cross-examined—Never knew him wear whiskers.
James Gerr—Keeps the Albion Tavern ; Gray
was at his club on the 21st; entries were made in a
book, from which it appeared what officers were
present on certain nights; Gray's name was there
as vice-president on the 21st February; af►er Gray's
name I think the word is Vizard ; it did not appear
to him to be like " fined "—it meant Vizsrd,
the tyler.

Thomas Harrington Wilson, a perfumer and hair-
dresser, at 7, South Arcade, West Strand, used to
cut his hair; never knew him have black whiskers ;
whiskers are easily taken off and put on—they are
easily detected.
William Harrison, in the half-pay o dice—Has
known the prisoner eleven or twelve years; always
considered him a very honest conscientious man.
Robert Badkin—l live at 19, Henrietta-street,
Covent-garden, and am a boot-maker. I have
known prisoner ever since he was born. His cha-
racter has been as good as that of any man I know
in the world. I never heard ofa stain on it in my
life, and I have known him placed in situations of
trust.

His LORDSHIP then proceeded to sum up at very
great length; and the Jury, having considered for
some time, returned a verdict of Guilty. The pri-
soner upon hearing the verdict became dreadfully
agitated; and upon the officer of the Court asking
him what he had to say why the Court shonld not
give him judgment, he said—My Lord, as I have
before stated, I declare before God I am innocent.
I have never been guilty of any crime. My wit-
rieSSt S, who are all respectable persons, state that I
was in London at the time that the robbery was
committed. I have a wife and two children who
will be deprived of a protector.

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protestations after the verdict of the Jury, and they
would be much better spared. The:Jury have paid a
most careful consideration to the evidence on both
sides, and their solemn verdict is, that the witnesses
on the part of the prosecution have not been mis-
taken in swearing positively to you, and that there
are such improbabilities and strange things in the
evidence given by your witnesses, that they cannot
give the story they tell implicit credit. It is a very
affecting spectacle to see a man of your time of
life, who appears to have received a good education,
and to have talents that might have served him for
better purposes, convicted of such an offence
as that of taking upon himself a name
that did not belong to him, and, under the
pretence of that name, getting possession of
boxes which, according to the evidence cf Barnett,
contained property of no less value than 6001., or
7001. It must follow, it cannot be otherwise, that
from the verdict the Jury have pronounced, they
have disbelieved the evidence your witnesses have
given: however respectable you may call them, or
suppose them to be, there are so many strange mat-
ters in the account they have given, that the Jury
have not been willing to believe that which they
have stated. It is impossible for me to say whether
you suborned them. (Prisoner—My Lord, I never
saw any of them during my confinement.) It ap-
pears from the evidence of one of your witnesses,
that he has seen you no less than three times in
the gaol at Ilchester, and twice since you have been
at Wells, therefore you had better not make such con-
tradictions. 1 know not whether you suborned the
witnesses, or whether they have come here of their
own accord, telling these improbable stories of your
having been at two different clubs on two several
nights, and that you found Lazarus chairman both
nights; all this is not impossible to have hap-
pened, but coupled with other matters, it possesses
such a strong degree of improbability, that the Jury
have come to the conclusion that they have not
spoken the truth. lam not now charging you with it,
I have no right to do so, bnt I am sorry to say, that
to the offence of which yon have been convicted, has
been superadded the offence of wilful perjury. The
judgment of the.Court_ is, that you be transpotted
for the term of seven years.
Prisonerl am (crying)—Pray,li my Lord, have mercy
upon
indeed 1 am not.
ot
The orisot,er was then removed in a most piteous
state of dis,ress.

This trial had excited the greatest interest, the Court
was crowded during the whole time it lasted ; and
although it commenced at 1 o'clock, it did not con-
clude till after 9. The general opinion is, that the
prisoner did not reap the benefit of the robbery him-
self, but that he acted for, and was made the dupe
of, other parties. Taking all the circumstances

HULL MARKET-Aug. 21.

Wheat, Old - - - --:s 5Ss. 60s. —.New --s. 60s. 655.
Foreign —s. 50s. 545. In bond....—s. —s, .—s,
Oats, Poland ....... —s. 20s. 22s Old —B. —s. 245.
Small or Feed.... —s. 18s 20s
Foreign —s. 165. 186
--s. --s. --s.
Barley, Norf. & Sut ... —s 0.3.3. 365. Linc. & %Vold —s. 36s 3Ss.
Foreign
—s. -• 6. —s.
Beans 335. 365. 283. Foreign —s. 325. 345.
Pease, White —s. 385. 40a. Grey —s. —B. —6.
Tares —s. —s. —B. Foreign .s. 30s. 365.
Rapeseed, in bond none. Free, per last —I. 26!. Os.

DUMFRIES MA]
S. d. s.d.

!tKETS.-Aug. 15.

Wheat, Imp. Bush 7 9 tot3olßutter, 16oz.
Barley ......
Oats ........ 2 2 2 6 Beef, per lb.
Flour, 111 b.
Oatmeal
Potatoes, cwt.

B.d. B.d.
0 0 to 0 0
00 00
04 05
04 00
04 05
07 0 9

At Paisley the Reform Jubilee has been sus•
pended for a time, partly en account of the prevalence of
cholera in this city, and partly owing to the depression of
trade in that town. The idea of holding a jubilee at a
suitable time is not given up however.—Caledonian
Mercury.