The Sun.
London, England, 1826-08-04 00:00:00

were indicted for a highway robbery, committed by them
upon the person of John M'Master, at three o'clock, on
the morning of the 18th of March last.
In giving this evidence, and on his cross-examination,
the prosecutor spoke so much of not stretching his con-
science, that -Mr. Justice Park at last remarked that he
often. thought those people who talked the least about their
consciences minded them the most. The prosecutor
swore that a man named Stuart, who he had been in com-
pany with was very drunk, but that he himself was per-
fectly sober.
Stuart, on being examined, varied a little from M'Mas-
ter's statement; and, from his testimony, it hardly seemed
possible that the prosecutor could have been quite sober.
A boy named Reed, who had been brought' up by Ha-
beas Corpus from the, city gaol, behaved with great impu-
dence. He swore that he was present on the morning in
question, and saw the prosecutor beaten by the two male
prisoners, and that afterwards the female prisoner told
him to call upon her the next day at two o'clock, but that
he called at eight in the morning,'when she showed him a
silver watch, and told him that he might do.what he
pleased with it; that this watch afterwards proved to be
the prosecutor's awl that when the constable came to
him (Reed), and asked whether he had such a watch, he
said, yes, and gave it up at once. When Reed was cross-
examined by Mr. D. F. Jones, he used every effort to
elude the questions. He was finally compelled to answer,
and then it appeared that he had been four times confined
for stealing watches—three times in this county, and once
in Northumberland. On being questioned by the Judge,
he said the robbery took place about three in the morning.
He could not give any particular reason for being out at
that hour.
The prisoners severally denied the crime With which
they were charged.
Mr. Justice Park having summed up the evidence, told
the Jury that they must be assisted in determining this
case, by observing the manlier in which the witnesses that
had been examined had given their testimony. If (as he
feared was the case) they saw no reason to believe that
Reed, seeing the prosecutor and his companion much
affected with liquor, had followed them, till the disturb-
ance made by Stuart at the prisoners' house had offered
him an opportunity to commit the robbery, they would
acquit the prisoners. If, on the other hand, they thought
they could rely on the prosecutor's statement, they would
give a verdict of guilty.
The Jury deliberated for about five minutes, and then
acquitted the prisoners.

MONMOUTH, W - EDNESDAY, AUG. 2.
' CROWN SIDE.
Mr. J. Morgan, one of the proprietors and the conduc-
ing manager of the Gas Works at Newport, in this county,.
was indicted for an assault with intent to commit a rape
upon Martha Reece, a smart-looking girl, 16 years of age,
who was a neighbour's servant, in the habit of going to
Mr. Morgan's premises to purchase coke for her mistress.
Mr. Russell stated the case for the prosecution, as it was
detailed in the following evidence :
The prosecutrix was examined at considerable length,'
and her evidence was, that her mistress had sent her to
.buy a basket of coke at Mr. Morgan's store-yard; that
Mr. Morgan had taken her into his store, and there made
the assault which was described in the indictment. She,
;however, succeeded in preventing his intention, but never-
theless remained for the coke, took it from Mr. Morgan,
borrowed one of his baskets, and carried it back again the
same evening to the yard. She never left the premises
smirking and laughing, or spoke to Mr. Morgan when she
returned the basket. She complained to her mistress on
the same evening, but never went before a magistrate, her
father being told that it was better to keep the case for
the assizes.
The next witness was Dinah Roberts, who stated that
the prosecutrix had been her servant in her shop at New-
port. She remembered sending her for some coke to Mr.
Morgan's ; and also, that when she returned, she was in
very low spirits. and in about an hour she went into a
strong fit, and it required the aid of several persons to
hold her. She had lived with witness four years, and
never been in fits before.
Charles Reece, the father of the prosecutrix' said, that
soon after this business, he was accosted by the defendant,
who said, " Reece, I understand you are much annoyed
at what passed between your daughter and me. Why,' I
have only kissed her." Witness answered, " You have
not only done that, but nearly killed her."' " Well," said
Morgan, " I shall give her a pound." Witness walked
away.
In his cross-examination he said, that his daughter never
went before a Magistrate at Newport about this matter,
because that was the advice of Mr. Smith, the attorney,
who desired them to keep it for the assizes. Witness, such
had been his worse luck, was certainly a plaintiff, in a
Court of Justice in an action of trim. con. about his pre-
sent wife, with whom, however, he had since resumed co-
habitation.
Mr. 'Phillips addressed the Jury for the defendant, and
enlarged upon the character of the family of the prosecu-
trix, and the singular conduct of the girl herself, who never
went before a magistrate, and this was said to have been
according to the advice of Mr. Smith, the attorney. (Mr.
Smith, who sat behind Mr. Phillips, here interrupted him,
and said, that such had been his advice, and he was ready
to avow it.) Mr. Phillips here said, that if Mr: Smith
had acted in such a manner, he had not only violated his
duty, but pronounced a libel upon the magistracy of New-
port, for it implied their corruption ; the first impulse of
injury was complaint, and an attorney alive to the interests
of his client, would have instantly recommended inquiry
before a justice, for the better assurance that the offender
should not escape.

IfF,FENCE.

Benjamin Mills, who belonged to the estahlishment
the Newport Gas Works, :01 which Mr. Morgan was a
partner and superintendent, proved that the windows of
the retort-house were open at the time in question, so.
that any voice within could be easily heard without.
William Davis knew Martha Reece, and saw her in Mr 4
Morgan's gas works on the 25th of January last, at a little
after four o'clock in the evening. She could not have
been longer on the premises than five or ten minutes. She
came in without a basket, and went out with one fin,
coke upon her head, without the least appearance of dis.
order upon her dress. Instead of crying, she was laugh.
ing, and witness said, " Martha, you are merry this
evening.
Elizabeth Davis also knew the prosecutrix, who told
her a few days after she said the thing happened, that if
she did not get a few pounds from Mr. Morgan, she would
hang him.
The Mayor and Coroner of Newport, the High Sheriff
of the, county of Monmouth, and several other persons of
consideration, gave Mr. Morgan the highest character for
general purity'.of conduct.
Mr. Russell, for the prosecution,' replied to evidence.
Mr. Justice Burrough said, that in cases of this nature
it behoved juries to watch very closely the evidence of the
prosecutrix, for upon that chiefly depended the ground-
work of their verdict. He then summed up the whole of
the evidence, and the jury,
ion, acquitted the prisoner.
after's' few minutes' consults,-

CIVIL SIDE.
Mr. Baron (,farrow was engaged in hearing civil ousel
during the day, which were entirely devoid of general in.
terest, and the business of this Court Wall also finished.