The Sun.
London, England, 1832-07-30 00:00:00

SUMMER ASSIZES.

WESTERN CIRCUIT—DORCHRSTER,JuLr 28
James Davis and Charles Basconzbe were in-
dicted fur having, on the 28th of June last, at Wes,
Lulworth, feloniously assembled, with other per-
sons unknown, armed with fire-arms and other offen-
sive weapons, in order to aid and assist in the run-
ning and earr3ing away certain prohibited goods—
namely, 88 gallons of brandy, which are liable to
pay certain duties to the Customs.

- After hearing evidence, the Jury gave a verdict
of Acquittal.
__._

The cholera is raging to such an extent in Devon-
shire, that the Mayor of Exeter has communicated
the fact to the Judges, who have transmitted such
letter to Lord Melbourne.

H OME CIRCUIT-CHELMSFORD, JULY 27.

lIANCOCK V.' BEARLOCK, JUN.

This was an action brought to, recover damages
for defamation. The parties both resided at Rom-
ford. The plaintiff was an active vestryman, and
had been engaged in assisting at meetings on poli-
tical subjects, especially on the subject of tithes.
The defendant was lessee of tithes under New
College, Oxford. The libellous matter complained
of appeared in the Oxford Herald, in the form of a
letter to the Editor, saying, that the Romford
Meeting had been got up by a speculating hirer of
tithes, and the perpetrator of a most diabolical act,
which had lately been of frequent occurrence
throughout the kingdom. There was also verbal
slander complained of, imputing the authorship and
signature of one of the notorious " Swing" letters
to the plaintiff.

The. Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, giv.
ing him 20s. damages.

NORFOLK CIRCUIT, JuLr 28.

William Stroger and Benjamin Edwards were
indicted for setting fire to the barns, stacks, &c., of
Adolphus Stanford, Esq., on the 30th of April last.
About midnight of the day mentioned in the in-
dictment, the prosecutor was awakened by his
mother bursting into his room and alarming him by
the news that his premises were again of,
fire; for it appeared that twice before, within a
period of two years, Mr. Stanford's property had
been set on fire. He rushed as fast as he could to
the place where the fire was raging, and was at the
spot in sufficient time to observe that it had com-
menced at the end of his cart-shed, where some
whin (furze) faggots, which formed the fence, had
been kindled. To connect the prisoners with it, it
was proved that they and some other persons were
drinking and smoking at the Crown public-house
the greater part of the evening of the fire, and that
their conduct was of a very suspicious character.
They went in and out several times, and about half-
past eleven o'clock they both left. Stroger re-
turned in a few minutes, and again went out, saying
he should "go home to supper." He was absent
about a quarter of an hour, and on his return he
called for some beer, observing to the landlady, that
lie had had the best supper he had ever had; and
whilst he was speaking, the girl who was bringing
the beer saw the fire,andgave the alarm. They all then
left, and about two hours afterwards, when Stronger
and some other persons were re-assembled at the
Crown, the landlady said to him that she wondered
lw had not seen the fire, as he came in just at the time;
to which he replied, that it was so dark he could
not. The conversation then turned on the circum-
stances of the fire; and on a person present remark-
ing that it was a great pity it had been done, as
Stanford was a good sort of a man enough, Stroger
answered, that he was one of the biggest rascals cn
the face of God's earth, and neither man, woman,
nor child in the parish would give him a good word,
and the sooner he was out of the parish the better.
It was further shown, that the ostler of the Crown
overheard him say to Edwards and two other men,
on the evening of the fire, "D—n old Stanford's
old limbs ; he's a good friend of mine, and before
I'll submit to be overcome by a parish, I'll have
my throat cut." He almost immediately add d,
after some intervening observatiosts, " It won't take
five minutes." Hearing this, and seeing them about
to leave the house, the ostler concealed himself i►► a
shed; and as Stroger and two other persons passed
by, he heard the prisoner Stroger repeat, that it
would not take five minutes, and in about ten
minutes, after this the fire broke out. As against
Edwards, the evidence, in addition to the above,
was, that about midnight he woke a person who
lodged under the same roof that he did, by "banging"
against the outer door with considerable and unusual
vehemence, and loudly demanded to be admitted. He
seemed to be in a great hurry, and when his wife
went down and let him in, he said, " D—n it, can't
you hear ?" and went in; but immediately the
alarm of fire was given, and he again left the house,