The Sun.
London, England, 1829-03-09 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

BOARD OF EXCISE, NlARcii 7.

John Evans was charged with making soap with-
out entering the same at the Excise Office.
The COURT condemned the articles seized, and
fined the defendant 504

Mr. Mitchel Robaris, a tea-dealer, living in East-
cheap, appeared to answer a charge of having re-
ceived 161 b. of tea without a permit.
The COURT said he had no right to receive tea,
although it was merely borrowed, without a permit,
and ordered it to be condemned.

SURREY SESSIONS, MA ca 7.

MR. PEEL'S CRIMINAL LAWS.

John Jones, Henry Mills, and Charles Newland,
three youths, were indicted for stealing a number of
live pigeons in the London-road, on the 28th of
February last.

Zhe case was clearly proved against the two first
prisoners, they having represented, when selling the
pigeons, that they were their own property; but
against. Newland there was no proof he had acted
with Jones or Mills, he having sold one pigeon, which
he stated he had caught, but which was proved to be
incapable of flying.
The prisoners being charged in one indictment, a
protracted discussion took place on the bench as to
its validity, arising from their being no proof of the
prisoner Newland having acted with Jones and Mills,
as inferred in the indictment. There appeared to be
a difference of opinion amongst the magistrates pre•
sent, and Mr. Lawson, the clerk of the peace, read
the clauses of Mr. Peel's uew act.

The CHAIRMAN, after a long conference with his
brother magistrates, addressed the jury, and said, that
after the best consideration they could give the case,
it was determined to submit it to the jury. Mr.
Peel's new act had provided, that if persons had
stolen property in their possession, they might be
indicted as receivers, or for the substantive offence of
stealing. It certainly would have been better ill the
present case to have drawn out two indictments,
but he did think there was sufficient evidence to in-
culpate all the prisoners.
The Jury, after a short consultation, returned a
verdict of Guilty generally.
There were nearly 100 indictments during these
sessions.

LENT ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD.--MARCH 6.

Janes Barker, a decent-looking countryman,
aged 29, was capitally charged with having feloni-
ously assaulted Mary Ann Saunders.
Mary Ann Saunders, a pale, delicate-looking girl
of 17, examined. She was respectably attired, and
wore a black bonnet, and a blue silk shawl with a
flowered border. She said, I was brought up in
the charity-school, at Oxford, and after that I went
into the service of Mr. Looker, who is an attorney
in Oxford. Mr. Looker is married, and has a fa-
mily. After that I came home to wait upon my
mother who was ill. I remember the day on which
the prisoner came to our house with Mrs. Tippins.
He said he had no doubt I should do for the place
they had been talking of. He said it was eight
pounds a year wages, and I was to have the privi-
lege of selling the meat after it came front table,
which would be worth, at least, five shillings a week
more. After .my godmother had gone I agreed to
go with the prisoner in half an hour. In about that
time started for the purpose, as I thought, of going
to Beckley; however, he told me we should not
have to walk far, as his mistress was. in Oxford
with a horse and gig. When we got to the Cape
of Good Hope public-house, the prisoner asked me
to go in to wait his mistress's coming with the
gig. I went in, and he called for a pint of
beer. We stayed there a quarter of an hour. I
did not drink any thing. At the end of the quar-
ter of an hour he said we must go on, and
his mistress would overtake us. We went on about
a hundred yards, and then coming to another pub-
lic-house he recommended me to drink. After some
little time I consented to drink some gin and water.
I drank a large glass of gin and water, which the
prisoner paid for. We stayed there half an hour,
and when we left the lamps were just lighted. We
proceeded a mile and a half along the turnpike road,
and then turned up Barton-lane, and proceeded to
the bottom of that lane, and up some fields. The
prisoner said that the way across the fields was a
mile and a half nearer than along the road. After
passing across three large fields we came to a gate.
The prisoner got over it and told me to follow him.
Up to this time the prisoner had behaved with pro-
priety. We proceeded down by the hedge side
and the prisoner made au attack upon me. It was
quite dark by this time. I begged him to let me go.
He would not let me, and I cried murder. The
prisoner said if I would not be quiet he would stop
my mouth. I was very much agitated, and I re-
sisted as much as I could, but he continued his as-
saults, and unfortunately succeeded.
The Jury, after a short consultation, found the pri-
soner Guilty.
As soon as the verdict was returned, Mr. Justice
PARK proceed to pass sentence of Death upon the
prisoner, earnestly advising him to make his peace
with his Maker, as he could expect no mercy on
this side of the grave.

APPLEBY, FEB. 28.

William Jennings, aged 17, was put to the bar,
charged with committing a rape on the body of
Agnes Curnthwaite, in the burgh of Kirby, in Ken-
dal, on Sunday, the 15th of February last.
COURTESAY, for the prosecution, stated the
facts of the case, and then called

Agnes Cornthwaite.—[She appeared a respect-
able, rather good-looking young woman, and gave
her evidence in a very becoming manner.]—l am 21
years of age. On the 15th of February last, I was
in the service of Mr. William Atkinson, of Hay
Close, near Kendal. I had leave to go out on that
day, which was a Sunday, to see my father, who
resides in Kendal. On my return home, about seven
o'clock in the evening, my mother set inc part of the
way-7-as far as the Lowther Aims. There are two
reads leading from Kendal to my master's house,—
the one-a piblic thoroughfare, and the other a pri-
vate footpath. My mother advised me to go by the
footpath, as she thought it safer, and it was the
nearer way. It is hilly land. When I had got
about ten yards on try way, I heard some one be-
hind me, and on looking back, saw a tall slender
young man, who came up to me. He put his left
arm round my waist, and asked me where I was
going. I said I was going home. He then offered
to accompany me, but I (helloed, saying, I did not
know him. We had proceeded 15 or 20 yards
during this conversation. When we had got about
half way up a hill which lay in my road, he Aced
if I vas going to let him * * #. I inquired
what he meant by beginning in that way ? and told
him to hold off me, or I ‘vould scream out. Ile at-
tempted to trip me up then, but I struggled so that
he did not get me down. I screamed out—he told
one to hold my noise, and he would do me no harm.
We struggled on 4 few yards, and then he tripped
me ttp, and fell upon me. He had a dark coat on
and light trowsers. Upon my screaming out, he
rose up on his knees, and taking something out of
his pocket, which I believed to be a knife, be held
it over his head, and swore if I screamed again be
would stab it to my heart. Another person then
came upon my right hand side—he struck me, and
said " -- you hold your noise, and let him-have
it quietly !" When I was held fast in this manner,
I told them, if they would let me go, I would give
them everything f had.
(Tlle Counsel for the prosecution here put several
questions to witness, in order to elucidate more
dearly the commission of the crime, the answers to
which were not flt to meet the public eye.)
When the first man got up I tried to rise also, but
lie held me down, until the second had treated me
in the same manner. I then saw a third person ap-
pear on my left hand side—he called to the second,
saying " damn thee, thou is long." He also pro-