Star.
London, England, 1808-03-17 00:00:00

ASSIZES,

READING ASSIZES.
THE KING V. SWALLOW AND OTHEHS.
This cause was of considerable importance to the 1 :
anny, and the result of it will prove a wholesome
lesson to Constables in general, not to forget the laws
of humanity in what thy conceive the execution of
their duty.
It was tried before Mr. Justice CHANII3RE ; wherein
two Troopers of the Blues, stationed at Reading,
were prosecutors, and several Constables, (during the
Mayoralty of Mr. Martin Annesley,) defendants.—
Mr. DAuxeny very ably opened the cause on the part
of the military, justly expatiating on the good conduct
of the troops ; and stated that his instructions from
the commanding officer were, to offer the constables an
opportunity of avoiding an exposition of their conduct
by an acknowledgment of having acted improperly
towards the military. No offer cf contrition coming
from the constables, the evidence on the part of the
prosecution commenced ; which spoke so decide
ardly
against the conduct of te constables, (particully
one Jordan, a butcher, whose inhuman conduct ex-
cited indignation,) as to induce their Counsel to offer
a s'um of money on the part of the defendants, as a
compensatica to the two soldiers for the injury sus-
tained ; provided the commanding officer would stay
further proceedings ; which was humanely acceded
to. Twenty guineas was the compensation agreed
upon. The event proved highly satisfactory to a
crowded Court.

WINCHESTER ASSIZES, MARCH it.
RAPE.
Adjutant Job, Fader, of the Royal Marine Corps,
was indicted for assaulting and committing a rape on
Elizabeth Stapleford, a young woman of 18 years of
age, on the eve nii,g of the kth of November last, at the
Marine Barracks, Portsmouth.
Mr. DAMFIER opened the prosecution with a very
brief statement, and observed that the facts as proved
would appear more strong and impressive than any
thing he could urge. It would appear that the mo-
ther of the unfortunate girl was a widow, with three
daughters, who maintained themselves by their in-
dustry. They wok in needlework. The prisoner
was a very young man, an Officer of Marines. He ,
had paid particular attention to die unfortunate pro-
secutrix, and in fact had gained her affections and
confidence so far, that she had ofuni had
.the impru-
dence to walk alone with him, before he committed
the horrid deed. It would appear that no fault at-
tached to the prosccutrix ; that she could not be charged
Ps accessary to the offence ; but that it was committed
on the part of the prisoner with the greatest brutality.
Elizabeth Stapleford, a most interesting looking
girl, deposed, that she lived in Portsmouth, near the
Marine Barracks ; her mother was a widow, and the
witness and two elder sisters took in needle work for
a maintenance.
She gave an account of his having committed the
offence in his own loom in the Barracks, and that she
made great noise, and resisted to the utmost.
Mr. Br R not'oiis in defence on the part of the priso-
scner, read a letter which the prosecutrix had acknow-
ledged to he her hand-writing. It was directed to
Adjutant John Faden, Marine Barracks, and dated
November 3, 1807, without a signature,
He's gone, gone, the y. 'nth
The thought, the wretched thought, distracts my head ;
Wtore shall I turn toe, whither shall I stray,
To some secluded spot bend my way ;
He's gone, he's gone, break, break, my stubborn heart,
For Death's more welcome than with him to part.
What pleasure is there in the shady grove,
Since I no long! r meet the youth I love ?
Return, return, my Fatten, Oh ! return,
'Tis thy lost calls thee, 'tis thy love that mourns,
Oh! come and cheer me, with one kind embrace,
Let pity smile upon thy heav'uly face,
Contented then, I'd join my heart to death,
And gaze, and love thee, 'till I lose my breath.
Mr. BURROUCIIS said, he expected that after the
Court and Jury had heard that letter read, it would
be unnecessary to go into detail ; but if the Court
wished it, he had a great number of witnesses to call.
Mr. Serjeant NIA RSHALT. intimated, that he thought
it necessary he should go into detail of evidence.
Several persons then swore, that they were in the
adjoining apartments to Lieutenant Faden, and that
they heard no noise on the evening of the pretended
assault.
Mr. Serjeant MARSHALL summed up the evidence.
The letter, he thought, was nearly an answer to the
prosecution. Such a letter, written by a young wo-
man, in an inferior situation, to a man in a sphere
above her, almost sheaved that she was ready to fall
into his arms. He concluded by observing, that the.'
question for the Jury to consider was, whether she
was ravished by brutal force? and if they thought she
was, they would find the prisoner guilty ; but if they
thought she met his embraces half-way, they would
give their verdict Not Guilty.
The Jury immediately gave their verdict—Not
Guilty.

vi rv:
Lately, in Oford, the Rev. Dr. Chapman, many years Presi-
dent of • Iti; .1 t y Cntlege.

MARR lED.
yesterd,xy George Alone, 3.lnjor of the 9th Re?iment of
Foot, to D.lits Cotlierine. Brown, nicr.c. to NielsulAs Brown, Esq. of
liecles, is the County of lierwick.