The Sun.
London, England, 1826-09-25 00:00:00

OLD BAILtY—(Tyls D.4tY)

OLD COURT.
(Before the Ricouimu and a Middlesex Jury.)
HIGHWAY ROBBERY.
Stephen Leak, senior, Stephen Leak, junior, and
Joseph Cold, were indicted for feloniously assaulting
Thomas Hobley on the King's highway, on the 13th
September, in the parish of Chiswick, and taking
from him one tea-tray, value ss.
The prosecutor lives at 38, Great Guildford-street,
Southwark, and stated, that on the night laid in the
indictment he was returning from Brentford fair ; he
had with him a tea-tray, and when about half a mile
from Brentford, he was attacked by the prisoners at the
bar. The tray was on his head ; Leak, the elder, hit
it and tilted it, but witness caught it and prevented it
from falling ; he replaced it on his head ; one of the
prisoners came beilind him and struck the tray
again;. witness turned round and saw the elder
Leak standing in a fighting position ; witness
said, i‘ if you strike me, I'll chop you down with the
tray." A person of the name of Wilson at this time
came up, who was knocked down by the elder Leak,
and immediately afterwards witness himself was Icn ocked
down by the same person. He got up, and was
knocked down repeatedly. When on the ground was
violently struck by various persons ; was sure the Leaks
were two of those who struck him when on the ground,
and had every reason to believe that Gold was another,
but could not swear to him. Was positive, however,
that he was of the party. When witness was rising,
and lifting the tray with him, one of the party said—
" don't let the kellow have it," but "could not say
whose expression this was. Was knocked down a,,gain,
and felt the tray violently pulled from him. Vas
struck after he was on the ground again. Got up,
ran away to Turnham-green for assistance, leaving the
prisoners in a contest with some other persons whom
they had attacked. When at a distance, heard the cry
of murder proceeding from where he left them, and
hesitated whether he should return or not, but did not.
The prisoners were taken into custody early in the
monling, with another person, who was discharged at
the Police office in consequence of no one being able
to swear to him.

Cross-examined by Mr.'CRZSWZLL.--Had' been
at the Fair all day selling pastry. Had not drank
more than two pints of beer. Witness was returning
home in company with six others. This was not a
general fight. Witness had not more than one round
with the eder Leak. One of his friends was engaged
with Gold. The other five were not fighting ;. they
were not assisting. Witness could not swear whether
they were standing by looking on. Heard since that
the prisoners live at Turnham-green. Saw them after
the affray going home, but they had not the tray.
Besides witness a friends, the party was increased by
about half a dozen other persons +dm came up. Some
of the prisoners might have been severelybeaten. Would
not swear that they had black eyes when at the Police-
office. All witness's party consisted of firemen.
Thos. Wilson, a baker, living in Fen-court, Miles-
lane, went to the fair about three o'clock, to sell plumb-
cakes ; left the fair about half past eleven ; was per-
feetly sober; did not know the prosecutor before; saw
the prosecutor on the road, anci.a tray knocked off his
head, but by whom he could not swear. Saw a per-
son named Freeland with the prosecutor. Freeland
called out, 4, Wilson, come up, we are attacked ";
went up, and was immediately struck by the, elder
Leak.

By Mr. CRESSWELL-ThiS was not a regular fight;
witness pulled off his coat, and fought in his own
defence; had three rounds, and then he thought he
had had enough. There were six in the prosecutor's
party.; mould not swear that the other persons did not
fight. . .

—Other pie and plumb-cake venders, (as they styled
themselves) gave evidence to the above effect.
The Jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
The REcommt ordered the prisoners to be de-
tained, and to be tried for an assault on Wm. Freeland,
one of the witnesses on the last trial, and robbing
him (W. Freeland) of a ftir cap.
The prosecutor stated that he lost his cap in the
affray, and had never found it since. He repeated
his former statement of having been violently as-
saulted.

The RECORDER did his utmost to' get the Jury to
infer that the intent of attacking Freeland was felo-
nious, but the Jury returned a verdiet.of Not Guilty.

HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

John Westity was indicted—for feloniously assault-
ing William M‘Donald on the King's highway, in
Whitechapel, putting him in fear, and taking from his
person a steel watch, chain and key, value Si., his
property.
The prosecutor stated that he was an engineer, living
at Stratford. On the night in question he was re-
turning home from on board a steam;boat ; in White-
chapel be was pushed against by the prisoner, who
begged pardon, but came u to him again and
snatched at witness's watch, w'hiich broke the ring of
the watch, and the chain and key were taken away.
By the Prisoner—Was not drunk; had been drink-
ing some brandy and water and porter ; had all his
senses about him.

The Watchman said, when he took the prisoner
into custody, upon the prosecutor calling out " watch,"
and giving charge of him, he desired to be searched ;
when he was searched at the watch-house nothing was
on him ; the prosecutor had evidently been
drinking, but certainly appeared to have all his senses
about him.

The prisoner said that the prosecutor was intoxi-
cated ; that he first came against him (the prisoner);
that be had been upon an errand, and had never been
guilty of any offence ; his friend had been in attend-
ance for many days to appear on his behalf; but being
very poor,
ploojur,ry returned had been
una able
:ort(olicatppoef artil so to-day.
Guilty
of stealing
from the person!
The RECORDER said, that the sentence of the
Court was, that the prisoner should be transported be-
vend the seas during the term of his natural life. The
Iteconler.now stated to the Jury that he had the plea-
sure of informing them the business was got through,
and therefore he dismissed them with thanks.

EDWARD HALL CAMPBELL, Esq., of Noweastje.
upon-Tyne, who for many ygoirs held the rank of
he discharged, with equal credit to himself,
Major in the Tyne Yeomanry Hussars (the duties of
winch dace
and satisfaction to the corps), has been appointed by
tbe Lord lieutenant of the County of Durham, to, tho
command of the ltegimcott vim Lieutermit-Colonel
Sir Thomas Burden, deco-set'.

In consequence of the proprietors of several facto-
ries in Manchester and Oldham having reduced the
rate of wages, the work-people have turned Out, and
the masters having employed females to supply their
places, much disturbance has taken heweee the
new and the old hanc4,,Muichatcr Gazette.