The Sun.
London, England, 1820-03-02 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCB.

COURT OF KING's BENCH,,MARcat 1.
Sittings after Hilary Term, before the_ Lord, Chief Jo,,,ltike

ABBOTT awl a -Co- .anon Jatrv.

FALSE IMPRISONMENT.

LynNS V. B►i•NNFTT AND OTHERS.

This was an octi''n for assault and false
sonment brought by the plaintiff,- who is a 'unt-
idier, againit the delendan's,- Be,nett, Tip et'
Cliuton, uoder the Following, eifcutusHuccF:

The defendant Bennett is a Costorn,home 05.
cer, and ke'eps a shop on Tower-hill lie lt,tt! its
his set vice a young woman, named Jane -Smith.
Who-had quitted that seryice, but whom lie 10.4
for some time suspected of theft in leis shop., sank
whom he found nut to have received 21. hots
a customer of his under false pretences, awl
embezzled the same to her. own account, 04
therefore sent for Clinton, who is a constable iii
his•neighbourbood, for (lie purpose of apprehend!.
tng her, and-appointed to meet him on-Towel'.
bill tot that purpose, at six o'clock in the
ing of the 27th of April, that being a .1-1 v dive
for Jane Smith to be seer that tit
hood. Clinton: accompanied Bennett th;iner rrt
the time appointed ; they saw a young woman
approaching them; and Bennett told Chilton that
was the woman they wanted,: and desired him P 3)
d 9 his 'Ol by taking her into cestody.
person, however, was not Jane Smith, bat
the plaintiff, Sarah Lyons, whO was then :pro'
ceeding to the mornin,,, hu.6iness of her -milk'
walk, -in which she had been employed for six'
teen years before. In vain did shr piotest-slie w 35
not Jane Smith, that her name was 8,T„), Lyons.
end that she was iVell 1004 VII for many year:;
to
be neig hbonthood. A crowd. wasi rapidly. col.
leered, and the defendant Clinton took.the O;4'P"
riff to the shop of a Mr. Wood in the treighbo4l"
hood. t Several persons told the .constable i)er
name was Lyons, bait Tippet, who was show/Pia
to a Mr. Ford, in the neighbourhood, insisted tile
lrlaintiff was. Jane. Smith, who had robbed her 'mos'
ter. The plaintiff's brother and her mother cams/
and in vain warned the defendant Clinton, that bc
was mistaken.. Hetook her to the New Conarde"
where she was detained it. prisoner nearly 7 1400.4/
amongst felons :and persons, of infamous OW
racier. At one o'clock she was taken before 04
Lord Mayor under a charge of felony • Nit ona
being Put to the Bar, Bennett, whci *mended (,(/
substantiate the charge; said she was nor J.ol°
Smith, the persoff meant to be apprehended ; but`
extremely like her. The plaintiff was accordrogli
'discharged. The Lord Mayor remonsirtued ,truss
Bennett upon the rashness of his bringing such
charge against a yOlt9g woman of reputable chi'
racier, and lola him it was not Only f k duty t 4
make all the reparation in, his power by putaireli
declaring in the Newspapers his error, apologising
for the disgrace to which he bad exposed her el%lP'
raster and the injury dime to her feelings. 14
sending her to a common gaol, amongst thieve
and prostitutes, under a charge of felony, bat'
that he ought also to make her some pecuniitri
reparation. But Mr. Bennett refused to make,,
any public explanation or apology. He signifiel!
his readiness, however, to pay 51. to any pall°
charity. The plaiatiff, therefore, was advised to
appeal to the laws for redress; and accordingif
brought the present action.
The plaintiff's Counsel agreed to exclite:l"
name of Clinton from the action, as he was-mei'
ly a constable, anti acting under the direction oil"
positive charge of the other two defendants. •
, he Jury, after a most impartial charge ifo°lll
the Learned Judge, found their verdict for
plaintiff, as against Bennett and Tippet-De
upiges; 501 —Costa, 40s.
No other trial of the least general interest-a!
cured. •

Mr. YouNG and Miss 11ffuNT0N, of Covell!'
varden The:aire, are at this'firne both phiving
Norfolk, the former at Norwich and the f;itei mt