The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-27 00:00:00

This being the last case on the list, the Court rose.

CRIMINAL COURT—(THIS DAY.)
OLD COURT.
(Before Lord Chief Justice DExmAN.)
His Lordship entered the Court and took his seat at
10 o'clock.

THE SLAVE TRADE ON THE COAST OF
AFRICA.
Mr. PRENDERGAST and Mr. CLARESON appeared to
make an application on the part of Captain Thomas
Jennings, late of the Augusta, who was charged with
slave trading on the Coast of Africa.
Mr. PRENDERGAST prayed that his Lordship would
enter at once upon the trial this session, or at least fix a
time for it, as Mr. Jennings's character and prospects
were greatly injured while the present charge of felony
was kept suspended over his head. The injury was the
greater, as that gentleman solemnly protested that the
accusation was a most unfounded one.
Mr. PAYNE opposed the application upon an affidavit
of Sir George Stevens, which was read to the Court. It
would be quite impossible to proceed with the trial until
the presence of Captain Hill, who was at present in com-
mand at the Bolam River, could be had in this country.
That would, at the lowest computation, involve a delay
of six months, and on that ground he moved that the
application be dismissed, and a postponement granted for
that time.
Lord DENMAN said that Captain Jennings bad already
urged a plea in another Court, that he had been already
tried for this, offence, which plea had been dismissed.
Had it, however, been held good, there would have
been no necessity for Captain Hill's evidence in the case;
but now that officer's evidence was indispensable. He
would, therefore, order that the trial take place in the
coming January Sessions.
Three young men, labourers, named William Sadd,
Henry Clow, and George Henry Vaughan, were indicted
for feloniously assaulting John Augustus Lock, with in-
tent to murder him. A second count charged them with
a common assault.
Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Doane appeared for the prose.
cution ; Mr. Prendergast for the prisoner Sadd, Mr.
Payne for Clow, and Mr. Ballantine for Vaughan.
The person assaulted, John Augustus Locke, a sworn
constable at Nicholson's wharf, had taken a drunken
person into custody for obstructing the business there,
and while conveying him to the station-house, he was
surrounded by a mob, among which the prisoners were
conspicuous who committed the assault complained of,
and released the prisoner. They were at a subsequent
period taken into custody. The prisoners were this day
tried for the common assault only.
Evidence having been given, and the counsel for the
prisoners having severally addressed the jury,
Lord DENMAN summed up, and the jury, after con-
sulting together, returned a verdict of Guilty against
Henry Clow, but recommended him to mercy on account
of previous good character, and Acquitted the other two.
His LORDSHIP then said that the prisoner had been eon-
victed of a brutal and cowardly assault, but in considera-
tion of the good character he had received, and the recom-
mendation of the jury, the punishment inflicted would be
lighter than the crime deserved. The sentence was that
he be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for six calendar
months, and at the end of that period enter into his own
recognizances in 50/. to keep the peace for two years.
The additional charges upon the calendar since last
Monday are twenty-seven, consisting principally of lar-
cenies from houses and from the person. No charges of
a particularly heavy character are added.

-
CLERK_ENWELL.—(THIS DAY.)
Two men named Bryant, and one named Lynch, were
charged with lighting a fire in an uninhabited house, the
property of the Globe Insurance-office. Lynch was
further charged with violently assaulting police-constable
Moss, G 195, and police-sergeant G 3.
It appeared from the evidence that about ten weeks
ago an extensive warehouse was bnrned down in Back-
hill, Clerkenwell. It was insured in the Globe Insurance-
office, and is now in process of re-erection by that esta-
blishment. Last night, Moss being on duty in Back-
hill, saw a fire on the first floor of the warehouse, and
on climbing up to the first floor, saw a large fire in the
room immediately over one of the large wooden beams,
and all the chips and shavings in the neighbourhood of
it. The inhabitants of the adjoining houses were startled
out of sleep by the flames and smoke. Moss sprung his
rattle, obtained assistance, and extinguished the fire.
There was neither grate nor hearthstone in the room,
and there can be no doubt but for the timely arrival
of the constable, the whole premises would have been
consumed. The men were under the influence of liquor,
and Lynch kicked the constables so violently that Moss
was almost disabled, and sergeant G 3 much hurt. Lynch
could not be removed to the station-house until his arms
and legs were fettered.

The two Bryants were in default of fine sentenced to
ten days' imprisonment, and Lynch to three weeks.