The Sun.
London, England, 1842-08-26 00:00:00

TRIAL OF

G. Warboys, knows the prisoner, and believes the
letter produced to be prisoner's writing. •
Inspector Penny—Prisoner said nothing about the

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD COURT.
(IWore Lord AMNGER, Mr. Justice 'WILLIAMS, and
Mr. Baron ROLFE.)
John William Bean, a deformed boy, aged 16, but
\i''llo did not appear more than 10 years of age, his
statnre being such that his head' scarcely appeared,
above the bar, was indicted for a misdemeanor in pre-
tenting.' a pistol loaded wtth gunpowder and wadding,'
• at her Majesty, on the 3d July last.
The prisoner pleaded Not Guilty.
illy.. The Attorney and Solicitor-General, Mr. Adolphus,'
Waddington, and Mr. Russell Gurney, appeared
to conduct the prosecution, and Mr. lIORRY con
_,u -,
etest the defence.
The witnesses on both sides having been ordered to
leave the Court,
_s
he ATTORNEY-GENERAL proceeded to state that
on the 3d of July, as her Majesty was proceeding.
110ni one of her palaces to the other in a carriage,
the prisoner at the bar presented a pistol at her , Ma-
a_hd attempted to discharge it. A person who
tae
be examined before them as a witness snatched.
ta pistol from defendant. Defendant ran away, but
Wastiefe afterwardss apprehended. The person of whom
ino;„illant had purchased the pistol, would also be ex-
tsist"ed; and aletter which defendant had written to his
zisnuersome time previously would be put in in evidence.
Id anything be more calculated to lead to excite-
tnent and tumult than the fact of a person exhibiting
Lloaded pistol in a road where her Majesty was
n g and presenting it at the carriage in which
r b__lsaajesty was ? Could there be any doubt that it
Z.... 8 ,a, high and grievous crime for any person to do
the
„mat it was a misdemeanor ? It was the law of
r_ land that any act calculated to threaten violence
any one, and to alarm the mind of any person so
sr atened, although no blow might be given, was an:
lault. If a pistol were aimed at a person, and he
• ~'Zre, threatened if he did not do some act, that the
trni should be diScharged at him, that was an
▪ • •
"Ile would
whether' the pistol were oaded or not.
would not discuss the point further. The facts,
,e believed, were beyond controversy. There was no
doubt of the fact that the pistol was loaded with pow
aer -
~ and wadding, only there was no ball ; but the
question
was, what was the object ? Was it not to
treat alarm, and thereby to obtain notoriety ?—todo,
as
the prisoner himself said in his letter tohis father,
something desperate?" It would be for the Jury to
ascertain if the facts were proved, and the Learned
JUdgekt would tell them what was the law in that
- srhe Learned Gentleman then called the following.
Witriesses
Charles Edward Dasset examined by the Soma-
Inwt-GENEests...---I am an oil and colourman. I was
St. iwnes's Park stbotrfaaquarter to twelve on Sun-
ITY, July 3. I saw the Royal carriages pass from
~_aekingham Palace to St. James's. I was about half-way
.11?wli the Mall near the watering-place. I did not
`llstinctly see the Queen. There were three carriages,
and she was in the last. She generally is in the last:
18 the lastcarriage passed I observed the prisonercome
front of the crowd and present a pistol at the last
tarriage. He elbowed his way from the back of the
crowd to the front I heard the click of the hammer
strike in the pan, but there was no explosion. I
heard this when the last carriage was passing, and
While he was presenting it. I seized him by the right
aria, and said " How dare you shoot at the Queen ?"
andtook the pistol from him happenedarned round to mybrother
told him what had . After I told my
brother I took the pistol from the prisoner, he made
tt_o' resistance, and said nothing. He drew the pistol
'nth underneath his coat before presenting it. The
roll was so quick I cannot tell how high he elevated
back
pistol—he held it at arm's length, and drew it
vaelt hen the carriage passed. I was about two
Yards and a-half, or three yards, from the carriage.
'there were a great many persons there. I stood to-
wards St. James's Gardens, with my face towards the
Palace. I took the prisoner across the Mall and
°ffered him to Police-constable Heanes, 56 A. A
Feat number of people followed us, and called out to
tlle to give back.the boy his pistol, as they believed it
was_ a hoax. I offered the policeman the pistol.
tie laughed at me, and refused to take it from
the prisoner, and said it did not amount to a charge.
alsooffered him to Axton, 134 A, who also refused
to take him. The pressure of the crowd then became
t° great that he was forced from me and escaped.
t Btlll kept the pistol. I went down the Mall with
the pistol in my hand, and was soon after myself.
taken into custody. The people charged me with
attempting to shoot the Queen. The constable who
kink me took the pistol from me. I was taken to
Csardner's-lane station. After he pulled the trigger,
I saw the pan struck up, and some of the powder fell
°lit. The pan was up when I seized it. I put the
Pan down and drew back the hammer before the con-
stable
took it. In 'other respects it was in the same I
"ate as when I took it from the prisoner. Prisoner
ked me for his pistol again while I had hold of him.
" taw him after when he was taken. I have not the
lest
doubt but that he is the person.
Cross-examined by Mr. Hoaar—The carriages ,
wereoing at a trot. The last carriage was passing
at the time he presented the pistol. The carriage
;vas exactly opposite to him when he pulled the
'rigger. there was a great shouting while I had
hold of the prisoner, and there was a cry that the
pwoi .was not loaded. My uncle was with my
brother and myself. The prisoner pushed and
Pulled from me as the people pushed and pulled.
After he got away he did not follow me or ask
for his pistol. He made off. I did not say anything
about the click to 56 A. Just after the second
Carriage passed I saw him take out his pistol and
Present it at the third.
Frederick Augustus Dassett, examined by Mr.
AboLpilus—l am the brother of the last witness, and
as with him in St. James's Park on the 3d of July.
I was standing at his right hand. I saw him when
her had hold of the prisoner at the bar. The prisoner
had a pistol in his hand. My brother took it from him.
ihe prisoner got away in the crowd. My brother kept
the pistol. The third carriage had passed, and got
three or four yards when he took the pistol. We
Were about three yards from the carriage. My
brother attempted to give prisoner in charge to the
police, but they would not take him. When my It
brother took the pistol from the prisoner the hammer ,
had gone down, and the pan was in the same state it
la When a pistol has gone off. My brother had half-
Cocked the pistol before he was taken by a policeman.
Cross-examined by Mr. Hoility—l had not noticed
the prisoner before. I had hold of the prisoner on
one side. The policeman to whom my brother offered I
the prisoner said, that it did not amount to a charge.
John James examined by Mr. WADDINGTON—I
Inn a carpenter, living ,at 30, North-street, Maida-
hill. am uncle to the last witnesses, and was
With them in the Park on Sunday, the 3d July.
was standing rather behind Charles Dasset, and
close to him when the carriages passed. When the
gird carriage passed Charles held up the prisoner's
hated, and said the boy wants to have a pop at the
Queen. Ile had then hold of the prisoner's wrist. A
pistol was in the prisoner's hand. My nephew.. kept
bold of his wrist, and we all crossed the road to two
Policemen. I saw my nephew take the pistol from
the prisoner as we were crossing th 6 road. I am quite
certain the prisoner is the person. The crowd was
Pressing on my nephew and the prisoner.
W. Jones examined by Mr. R. GURNEY—I am a
wood-carver, residing in Paul-street, Finsbury. I
wag in the Park on 3d July, and saw the Royal car-
riages coming from Buckingham Palace. As soon as
the carriages had passed I saw Charles Dasset in the
act of taking a pistol from a hump-backed boy. The
prisoner is that hump-hacked boy. I saw Dasset take
the prisoner across to a policeman.
Cross-examined—l was nearer Buckingham Palace
than Bassett was.
13y Lord Anrscpit—l saw a lady in the last ear-
. nage with a light blue bonnet, but did not see her face.
J. T. Partridge examined by the ATTORNEY- GE-
NERAL-1 am in the A division of Police. I have
frequently been on duty in the park when the Queen
has been going to the Chapel Royal. On the 3d of
July there were three carriages, and her Majesty was
thetai third carriage, sitting on the right hand side,
near where the prisoner has been stated to have been
'standing. I was -near the Duke of Sutherland's
:house, and saw C. Bassett with a pistol in his hand,
and about 500 persons about him. This was five
nainutes after the Royal carriages had passed. I took
possession of the pistol, and put it in my pocket, 'and
gave it to Inspector Martin, A division. It was partl•

letter.
.(The letter, which has already appeared in The Sun,
was put in and read. In it the prisoner says he is
seeking einployment, which, if he failed in obtainingi,
he would not be dishonest, though he might be des-
perate, and announces his determination never-to re-
turn home.)
W. J. Bird examined by Mr. WADDINGTON—I am
a general salesman, living at 26, ExmOutk-street. I
sold a pistol to the prisoner ; the one produced is it.
It was about the latter end of June. Some days after
he came to my, shOp and brought the pistol, he said the
pistol would not strike fire. I think it.was on the
Thursday or • Friday before Sunday, July 3. There
was noilint in it then. I put him the flint in. He
gave a penny for it. He gave me 3s. for the pistol.
It is a very old pistol, and rather rusty, but it can be,
discharged. •
Cross'sexamihed—l „think it would .go off in its
present state, I•shOuld not think that the powder
produced, with wadding and tobaccospipe, would do
any harm at a distance of three yards.
13y the COURT—The explosion might alarm any
body not aware of it. • .
G. J. Whitmore examined by Mr. GURNEY-14w
known`prisoner four years. I live opposite his father's.
Oa the Friday week, before he • was apprehended, he
came to me and said he had a pistol up stairs ; he
brought it down,and'shoWed it me.' I oiled it up for
him, putt would not clean it. That was on the Satur-
day. I returned it to him on the 'Nionday following;
it was very rustY. There was no flint to it. then. He
said it had been given to him, but would not tell me
by whom. This is the pistol ; I know it by a dent I
made in trying to unscrew it.
Cross-examined--1 do not think the lock is strong
enough to go off; I got a spark from it:
'Benjamin 'James, - examined by the Attorney-
General-4 am One of the domestic servants of her
Maiesty., is attendance on her. Majesty she
was going to chapel on Sunday, the 3d of July. I
was _on the third'carriage. Her Majesty was in that
carriage in her usual place on the right hand side of
Prince-Alberti with her face to the horses.
By the Couay —lt was a close carriage.
Cross• examined—The windows were down.
J. Webb, examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL—
_I am a:policeman. I apprehended the prisoner. He told
me he had been ,to Barnsburyrpark. I asked him if
liehad been any where else? He said no. I appre--.
herided him at nine o'clock-. on the, night of Sunday,
the 3d of July. .
Thirelosed the case 6-ir7the CrOwn.
.Mr. HoRRY objectectlO-.the indictinht, that if the
prisoner intended to assault the Queen, the crime was
high treason, and: therefore he could not be indicted
for a misdemeanour, inasmuch as a conviction for a
misdedieiiholir coulrT ilk he pleaded iii bai to an in-
dictment for high treason. The second count laid
that the prisoner had .pointed a pistol at a certain car-
riage, the Queen being in it. That, he submitted,
constituted no offence, either at common or statute
law. He also submitted that the prisoner could not
be convicted of an assault, because it was in
evidence that whatever was in the pistol
could not reach her Majesty, and there was
no evidence of an assault having been committed.
Her Majesty was unconscious of what had happened,
and there was no instance of a person being convicted
of an assault, when the •partrussaulted-avas 'uncon-.
seious of it. Neither was there any evidence to sho'w
that any terror had been excited in the mind of any
one. He was not aware that merely once discharging
a pistol in a thoroughfare was a misdemeanour.
Lord ABINGER said it could not be called high trea-
son if there was no attempt upon the life of the
Queen. If a pistol were pointed at a carriage
there was no offence in it, but if persons were in the
carriage there was strong presumption that an assault
was intended. The second-count was clearly sustain-
able. Any attempt to molest or insult the Sovereign
was a misdemeanor. It was within his memory that
a man was indicted for grinning at George the "'bird
as he passed through the Park to open Parliament. if
it were thought the objection with regard to high
treason was sustainable, it might be brought before a
higher Court by writ of error: He could see no rea-
son for stopping the case.
Mr. Justice WILLIAMS could not assent to the pro-
positions attempted to be laid down by the Learned
Counsel for the prisoner. The conduct of the prisoner
was calculated to create terror and alarm amongst the
liege subjects of the Queen. There was abundant
eviden'.'e to be submitted to the Jury.
Mr. Baron ROLFE was entirely of the same opinion.
It was impossible to say that the offence laid in the
second count did not constitute a misdemeanor.
The whole of the objections having been overruled,
Mr. HORRY addressed the Jury in behalf of the
prisoner. They had first to consider if the prisoner
had assaulted the Queen, there being two other
persons in the carriage with her Majesty. There
must have been something extremely ridiculous alsout.
the whole transaction, to account for the shouting and
laughing with which all the parties were greeted. It
was also curious that there were ne..persons called but
the person who had taken the prisoner. All such
attempts had before been greeted with yells. There
must have been something to account for the laughter
with which this attempt was greeted. It could only
be accounted for on the supposition that in the
opinion of all those present there was no danger, but
that the whole transaction was ridiculous from be-
ginning to end. it was strange that there was no
corroboration of the evidence of the Dassets.
What was there ,to prevent basset from
seizing the prisoner's arm before he pulled
the trigger? The evidence of Bassett was so con-
tradictory, that it threw doubt upon his accuracy.
-It :Was singular that none of the .-aaj,Wases, except
Charles Bassett, saw the prisoner present 'the pistol.
If any corroborative evidence had existed, it would
have been produced ; and had they not a right to as-
sume that young Bassett had confounded an event
which he thought about to happen with the event it -
self? Was it not possible that Bassett, by seiz-
ing • the prisoner's wrist, might have raised
the pistol himself ? They must be thoroughly
Satisfied that the prisoner raised his arm,
pointed the pistol, and attempted to fire it before
Bassett took it away from him. If the prisoner had
intended to assault the Queen, could he not have at-
tempted
it on the previous Sunday—he had his pistol
then ? If he had intended injury to any one, would
he have asked Bassett for his pistol ? The supposition
that he intended to obtain notoriety was destroyed
by the fact that he went away. If there had
been any attempt of the nature imputed to
the prisoner, could they imagine that the policeman
would have refused to take the prisoner in charge?
If the prisoner did • not present the pistol, and did not
fire it, they could not convict him. Ile should pro
duce to them the testimony of two witnesseS' to prove
that he did not do so, and then they would have the
evidence of two witnesses against the unsupported and
uncorroborated testimony of one Witness. The first
witness he would produce was standing near the par-
ties at the time, andif the pistol had been presented
he must, in all probability, have seen it. The next
witness saw the prisoner having a pistol in his hand,
loosely and carelessly, and never presented it until
Bassett took hold of his arm. Both these witnesses
volunteered their evidence, and had sought out the pri-
soner's father, to let him know the real state of the case.
He would also call some witnesses .to character, who
would state that Bean was a mild inoffensive boy, and
one of the last who would create a disturbance. The
prisoner was afflicted with -a spinal complaint, in con-
sequence of which he was at times very melancholy,
and his allusion to something desperate, in the letter
which had been put in, might mean something despe-
rate towards himself. If he had meant something
desperate 'against the Queen he would have taken
more effectual means to carry his. intentions into ef-
fect. The Learned Counsel then called the following
witnesses •
Mr. Henry Hawks.—l live at 21, Brunswick-place,
City-road. I was in the Park on the 3d July. I saw
the Royal carriages there. I first saw Bean and Das-
settirinnediately after the last carriage had passed. I
saw the elder Bassett taking the prisoner unto the
middle of the road. Dassett had a pistol in his hand.
Dassett said something to the effect that
he had- taken the pistol from the pri-
soner. I was - standing • behind a little boy,
ahoutsix feet from Dassett and Bean' when I first-saw
-their. They were on my right hand. I was on the
side of St. James's-park facing the Green-park.
Masett and Bean Went. in front, a few seconds after
the carriage passed. I was looking at the carriage.
I did not :see anybody put out their arm, and present
a pistol. It one had done so, in all probability I
Should have seen it. . After they left the two po'ice-
men, Bean and Dassett were separated. Beau was fol-
lowing V the Side of DELiskt.. Hemight have got away.
I headed Dassett and Bean. I was some few yards
from them. I saw Dassett playing with the pistol—
examining the pan. Bassett seemed to treat the
matter lightly. lie was laughing and' smiling. The
people about did so to ; among them, myself.
By the COURT—My back was turned to them, but
•I-tdrired round occasionally-, • - •• •
Cross-examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL—•I
was standing towards St. James's Park, looking
towards the road where the carriages would pass. I
was on the same side with Bassett and the prisoner.
i disdaNnvotnesietehethem r tihnerheulnittliel thte4hestleftstahwe loinfethem
I
was in the, middle of the roac;l, a few seconds after the.
third carriage had passed.
By one of the Jury-,I did net hear any laughing
before
po°hrtt°2-1I filva: at e:
Mr.
tihewßatimin Running Horse,
thisThotinranas transaction
Duke-street, Grosvenor-square.
on the 3d of July. I saw Bean and Dassett the Park
saw the Royal carriages. I noticed Bean and Dassett
some minutes before. • I was standing near them.
Bean was holding a pistol carelessly in his hand—he
held the stook in his lia4d tie muzzle to the

examined' in lily presence, but not unloaded.
- - Cross-examined—The Prince was on the left of her
• Majesty.
• George Martin examined by.. the SOLICTTOR-Gi-
'z-
tt NERAL—I am an Inspector of the police. I was• on.
duty in St. James's Park on the 3d of July. I
saw ,Dassett in custody, and went with him to
Atl4:k• the station-house. A great crowd followed him.
Partridge
said
me a pistol, which
.I Produce, and
Ild,:„.sti; which he said he had taken from basset. drew the
'ii;cl 4- charge. There -was powder —coarse powder in it, paper
. rammed down, and some pieces of pipe and gravel..
There was not as much powder as would constitute an
ordinary charge. The bits of pipe were small, and
over the paper; the charge of powder was about halfthe
ordinary charge. The pieces of pipe fell out when
the pistol was turned down. They were about the
size of small .shot. I then drew the paper with the
raniroud, and poured the powder out. There were a few .
grains of powder adhering to the pan, as if it had
' been recently primed. The pistol was cocked when I
received it. • (The pistol was here produced. It is a
common screw, barrel, flint, and hammer pocket-
a_,.;+pist9l). The lock of the pistol appeared to have been
recently oiled, and t' ;e flint recently put in.
- W. Penny examined by Mr. ADou'uns—l am an
Inspector of the G division of police, I produce n
letter which I obtained from the prisoner's father. 1
iwow Oath tllefstiva 104*

ground. I Was a feW feet behind him.
-1 obSerired him in consequence. After the
carriages had passed, I saw Dassett " lay
hold of his arm. The carriages had passed bet ween
thirty and forty yards, as near as I can say. Had the
prisoner presented a pistol I must have seen him,
if I had not .been blind. I did not see him pre-
sent it. Dassett took the pistol from hini. I can-
not say if he 'raised Bean's -arm or not. Dassett
took the pistol. from him, and held it up.: Hetwisted the pistol out ;of Bean's hand. , As
soon as Dassett" had taken the pistol he
advanced towards a policeman, and said, "here
is a lad 'that wants to" have a pop at
her Majesty." When I'heard that, I turned to the
policeman and smiled, as did the people present. I
afterwards went tow aids' Constitution- hill, and saw the
prisoner and-Dassett. No one appeared to me to have
hold of Bean, and I think he might have got away.
Mr. Thomas Vosport, crosssexamined by the SO-
LICITOR-GENERAL—I am a journeyman painter, I am
out of employ, and was at the time. I have been em-
ployed four days since, and only four day's. I had
previously, been in employ in April and May, and
have been out of work since. I went to the Park
merely for a walk. I was not expecting to see the
Queen. I did not know she Was going to Church
until I came into the Park. I was not a great way
from BUckingham Palace. I wasnear the first seat
going from Buckingham to Si. James's Palace, in the
road. I was more than the width of the Court from
Buckingham Palace; I was about ten or twelve feet
from the watering place towards St. James's Palace.
I could see the grand gate of Buckingham Palace
from the place where I stood. I saw Bean when the
carriages came out and kept an eye upon him the
whole time. I did so because,' saw he had a pistol. I
said nothing to him nor to any other person about it.
I did'pot mention it to any one.
. Lord ABI?iGER—Did it strike you as something
extraordinary ? Witness—lt did so.
. Lord ABINGER—Did it not occur to you to tell
any body of it'? Witness—l Waited to see the result
of it. ; ' .
Lord ABINGER—Oh, you did.
Cross-examimition resumed—l kept my eye on
'him for 20 minutes. I was about three feet from him.
I cannot say whether there was any person between
him 'and me.. There was an assemblage of people
around the prisoner and me; but I cannot, say who
was. There were several persons standing near
me. . I - did not point out the pistol to any
sine. "I' was standing about three feet from Bean.
Dassett seemed to be. standing to the front of the
prisoner. I cannot say .if he was standing nearer
the prisoner 11140 was. I saw him before he took
the pistol from the prisoner. There was nothing ou
of the common that made me' observe him. He was
standing in front of the prisoner, and I was standing
at the prisoner's side. 1 cannot say whether I was.
the next 'person to thernisOner or 'not. It might-be-
five or six minutes after the carriage had passed before
Dassett seized the priSoner's arm. The carriages had
passed some time. I was standing looking at the pri-
soner after the carriages had passed. Dassett was
standing in front of the prisoner when he seized him.
'He turned round to take hold of him. He was stand-
ing between the prisoner and the carriage when it
passed. I was at the side. I did not notice if any
body was in it. I saw Bean walking down towards
time Palace .very leisurely,• as if he might have gone
away if he cnos,e. 1 cannot say if Dassett had
hold of him. He was walking in company with
1 (lid not see him go away out of the Park without
Dassett. I did not see DaSsett taken into custody.
I returned home to Brown-street, Grosvenor-square,
where I live. I heard nothing of any inquiry until
the next day, when 'I was in the Park. I said I
wished to sc e the boy's father. I went to the Home-
office. I give information to the boy's uncle that
day. I w:-.s not taken to the Home-office or the Ma-
gistrates. I was not examined by any attorney before
I came here.
Re-examined—l wentto the station-house the next
day after I had seen the crowd •at the Home-office,
and told a policeman I wanted to find out the resi-
dence of the father. I got the father's address, and
told him what I had seen. .
Lord ABINGER—You. say you. were in the Park,
'that you placed yourself in such 'a pogition to
see the carriages, that you saw the pri-
soner with a pistol in his hand, and that you
waited to see the result. What result were you wait-
ing to see ? Witness—l wished to see if any attempt
would be made.
Lord Anisi9En—What attempt ? Witness—That
I cannot say. •
Lord ABINGER—Yes, you can. Witness (hesitat-
ingly)—l could not say if any attempt was to be
made to attack her Majesty.
Lord ABINGER—Oh, no ; of course you could not.
But you can tell what you were waiting to see ?--
The witness remained silent. •
Lord ABINGER—You were waiting to see the re-
sult. Now I ask what result you were waiting to
see.?.. Witness—Lest any attempt should be made.
Lord ABINGER—What attempt ? Witness—l did
not know that the boy was going to make any at-
tempt to attack the Queen.
Lord ABINGER—Of course you did not, but you
waited to see if he would do it or not: If you saw
this boy standing with a pistol in his hand for ten
minutes before the Royal carriages passed, and you
were waiting, as you say, to see the result, did it
never strike you that you ought to seize the boy
yourself, to prevent his doing mischief ?—The witness
(after a pause)-1 did not know if he intended to do
mischief or not.
Lord ABINGER—But you had some doubts as to
what he intended? The Witness—l did not give all
thought about it.
Lord ABINGER—But kept your eye on the boy to
liwatcli. the result.
your Lordship have the good-
ness to ask the witness if he was not watching the
' prisoner, in order to seize his arm if he should make
any attempt.. •
Lord ABINGER—No, I shall not, Mr. Horry ; nor
would I permit you to' put a leading question of that
sort. Any Man having a spark of loyalty, or of
common humanity, and placed in such
,a situation,
would uct have hesitated to interfere.
Several, witnesses to character, including the pri-
soner's father and uncle, having been examined,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL rose to reply. With
regard to the_ law of the case he thought there could
be no doubt, and it would be for the Jury to decide
on the facts laid before them, in evidence, whether
the prisoner had committed the offence imputed to him.
All the witnesses agreed that the prisoner was in the
crowd with a loaded pistol in his hand. The witness
Vosport stated that he had waited ten minutes watch-
ing the result. At that time '.Vosport did not know
but what the pistol might be a most perfect weapon,
and yet there be remained watching the result. The
Learned Counsel for the defence had commented upon
the expression made use of by the prisoner in his
letter, as to his doing something
,desperate, as if it
alluded to some attempt on his own life. It would be
for the Jury to say whether all the' circumstances of
-the case did not prove that the intention of the pri-
soner was to do something desperate against her
Majesty. It was also in evidence, that when ques-
tioned as to where he had passed Sunday morning, he
gave a false account of himself. He entirely acquitted
the prisoner of any design upon the life of her Ma-
jesty, therefore there was no necessity to prove that,
he took any aim, but he was charged with a design
to create alarni and' confusion, and his attempting to
discharge the pistol was sufficient to support that
charge. With regard to the contradiction which had
been attempted to be set up, he would observe that
the evidence of the witness Hawkes corroborated the
evidence of Dassett in every particular; and with re-
gard to the other witness, Vosport, he would ask them ,
if they could believe his story, or take the suppositions
of his. Learned Friend, in opposition to the direct
testimony of the witnesses for the Crown ? Withregard
•to the laughter among the crowd, he could easily ima-
gine how, in the minds of the vulgar, the appearance of
such a person as the prisoner in connexion with such a
charge might excite feelings. of ridicule, but he was
as capable of doing mischief with a pistol as if he were
double his present stature. With regard to the wit-
ness Vosport, if his story were true, he stood self-cons
victed of the most unheard of, the most culpable in-
difference, if not of something worse. It was easier
to understand the crime_ of treason than to understand
what could induce Vosport to wait quietly, as he said,
to see the result. Who couldhelieve. that the prisoner
went there and stood openly in that way with a pistol
in his hand, or that any man stood there quietly
watching him. The conduct of the man who could
stand quietly watching in that way was calculated to
excite feelings of the deepest indignation. Why, it
almost amounted to misprison of treason. The solution
of the whole was this, that the story told by Vosport
was a fabrication from beginning to end. It was impos-
sible to come to any other conclusion. If they be-
lieved the evidence of the Dassetts and their uncle, it
would be their duty to find the prisoner guilty. The
case became one of much more serious moment, from
the extraordinary story told by the witness Vosport.
Ile left the case in the hands of the Jury, satisfied
that they would do justice.... •
• Lord ABINGER summed upthe case, and said, that
any attempt to insult or to turn the Sovereign into ridi-
cule, or to use irreverent language of the Sovereign,
or 'to annoy Or insult the Sovereign in any
way was a misdemeanour, If the Jury were of
opinion that the intention of the prisoner was to at-
tenpt the life of the Sovereign, he must be acquitted
of this charge, because then his crime would amount
to high treason. If they should be of opinion that
his'intention was to molest the Queen, or to create a
disturbance, or to draw upon himself public attention,
the Jury would find him guilty. They must form their
opinion of the prisoner's intention from the facts laid
before, them in the evidence. With regard to the
first count, he did not think there was• sufficient evi-
dence to provi that the prisoner intended to assault
der Majesty, The secvs count charged higt with

an attempt to create an alarm; and to violate' the
public peace of the realm. Now, if they were of
opinion that his attempting to discharge a pistol at her
Majesty's carriage, her Majesty being in the carriage,
was calculated to excite alarm, then, in that event,
they would find him guilty. (His Lordship then went
through the evidence' commenting on it as he proceeded.)
With regard to the laughter and shouting and ridi-
dule among the crowd, he could only conclude that
those who laughed were ignorant ..of the facts of the
case. If they were acquainted with those facts the
only other.conclusion they could come to would be
that those who laughed had no objection to the at-
tempt, an idea in which no loyal subject could indulge.
He therefore took it for grantedl that they were
ignorant of the circumstances of the attempt. 'With
regard to the evidence for the defence, that of Hawkes
did not contradict the evidence far the prosecution,
but if they believed that of Vosport, they must acquit
the prisoner. This man was a most extraordinary
w.t.iess—his evidence was criminatory of himself, and
he (Lord Abinger) should not be doing his duty if
he did not say that a man seeing a person standing in
a crowd, with a pistol in his hand in the road through
which he knew the Royal carriages were about to
pass, who, instead of giving an alarm, waited quietly
by to see the result, was guilty of misprision' of
treason. Vosport stated that he kept his eye on misprision'
prisoner the whole time, and that if he had presented
the pistol lie must have seen it. Now if that fellow's
statement was true it was a contradiction of the evi-
dence of Dassett ; but Vosport was contradicted by
all the other witnesses, and also by Hawkes, the other
witness for the defence, and it would be for the Jury
to say if they could attach any weight to the testi-
mony of a fellow who had criminated himself in the
way that Vosport had done. They were to exercise
their own judgment on the facts of the case, and to
decide accordingly.
The Jury without leaving the box, found the pri-
soner Guilty on the second count of the indictment.
The Judges haVing consulted,
Lord ABINGER, in passing sentence, said that the
prisoner had been convicted of an attempt to alarm
the Queen, by attempting to discharge a pistol loaded.
with powder and wadding. If he had succeeded in
exploding the pistol, he would have harassed and
alarmed her Majesty. Of that no ,one could
have the smallest doubt. What would have been
the consternation of her Majesty at finding among
her subjects one who had the audacity to discharge a
loaded pistol at her for the purpose of alarming her?
What must have been the feelings of her loyal sub-
jrcts at a disturbance of the peace of such a nature?
That the attempt was highly criminal no one
could doubt, and the verdict of the Jury
corresponded with the impression produced
on the mind of every one who had heard the evidence.
What should be said of one who, in his wanton, ca-
pricious mood, in order to obtain an ignominious no-
tcrlety, had.made.sueh„an.atteqp,V.
_He wished he
could say that at the time the prisoner committed
offence, the law had passed an adequate punishment.
If any persons should imitate the prisoner's example,
he would now obtain an infamous notoriety by being
whipped at the cart's tail. The sentence of the Court
was, that he be imprisoned in her Majesty's gaol of
Newgate for eighteen calendar months.
[lt will be remembered that The Sun was the
first Journal which gave any authentic particulars of
the prisoner, on the day after the attempt made in
the Park, and when public curiosity was greatly ex-
cited on the subject. Mr. Hilton, whose conduct in
giving information to Inspector Russell we then
mentioned, has since received a letter from the
Secretary of State, in approval of his conduct, as well
as one from Mr. Anson, on the part of Prince Albert.]

NEW COURT.
(Before the COMMON SERGEANT.)
The cases that came before this Court in the early
part of the day were of the most trifling description.
Caroline Cameron, 36, was indicted for stealing on
the Bth of June a gown, a piece of, linen, one piece
of diaper, and a piece of muslin, of the value of 31.,
the property of William Corbett Smith, her master.
The Jury acquitted the prisoner.
Anne Clarke, a common prostitute, was indicted for
stealing a watch, the property of John Monro, from
his person.
The Jury having convicted the prisoner,
The COURT sentenced her to six months' impri-
sonment and hard labour.
• Edward Elmes, 41, was convicted of stealing 71bs.
of tobacco, value 18s., the property of Joseph Ryder,
and another.
The COURT sentenced him to three months' impri-
sonment and hard labour.
Elizabeth Williams, a girl of the town, was con-
victed of stealing a piirse, containing three sovereigns
and six shillings, the property of James Hird.
It appeaared that on the night in question the pro-
secutor was returning home through Piccadilly, when
he was accosted by the prisoner, whom he in vain
attempted to get rid of. Two men, with whom it was
supposed the prisoner was in league, came up shortly
afterwards and knocked the prosecutor down, after
which he discovered that he had lost his purse.
The COURT sentenced her to ten years' transpor-
tation.
Wm. Tucker, a respectable young min in appear—
ance pleaded guilty to an indictment, charging him
with, stealing a cup and a crucifix of the value of
181. 10s., the property of Samuel Luke Pratt, his
master.
The COURT respited the sentence till the next ses-
sion, in order to give the prisoner an opportunity of
informing the prosecutor where the stolen pro-
perty was.
There were two other indictments against the pri-.
soner.
James Herbert, 16, was convicted of embezzling
135., the property of Edwin Burgess, his master.
The COURT sentenced him to seven years transpor-
tation. He had been previously convicted in Surrey
of stealing a pair of boots belonging•to his master.
A person who stated that he had known the prisoner
from his birth to the present time, and that he had
always borne a good character, was ordered by the
Common Sergeant into custody, in consequence of
having perjured himself.
Ann Collins was convicted of stealing one habit-
shirt, two pieces of ribbon, and one veil, value 25., the
property of Henry Clayton, her master, and one pair
of gloves, value 18d., the property of William Henry
Clayton.
The COURT sentenced her to six weeks imprison-
ment and hard labour.
John Barr, 55, a labourer, was indicted with steal-
ing 11b. of copper, the property of George Bruce ;
and two shoes, the property of George Vernon ; and
one shirt and two stockings, the property of Frederick
Moore, in a vessel in the port of London.
The Jury found the prisoner guilty, and the Court
sentenced -him to three months' imprisonment and
hard labour.
Elizabeth Coventry, 16, was convicted of stealing a
gown, bonnet, and shawl, value 155., the property of
Elizabeth Gladman.
The COURT sentenced her to two months imprison-
ment and hard labour.
Dennis Brown, •11, was convicted of stealing a till
containing 2/., the property of Mr. Curryer.
The COURT sentenced him to one month's impri-
sonment, the first and last week in solitary confine-
ment, and to be once well whipped.
Samuel Dickinson, a well-dressed young man, was
indicted for stealing forty-seven yards of silk, a
shawl, two pairs of stockings, and other articles, value
141. and upwards, the property of Griffith Thomas,'
his master.
The prisoner having pleaded guilty, the prosecutor,
stated that he had 30/. yearly, together with board
and lodging.
The COMMON SERGEANT observed in passing sen-
tence that no class of persons were better off than
servants in such establishments, and therefore with
them the plea of necessity was out of the question.
The Learned Judge then sentenced the prisoner to
seven years' transportation.
James Jones, a genteelly-dressed person, who was
the servant of a gentleman named Horne, was in-
dicted for stealing silver spoons, forks, and other
plate, value 151., the property of his employer.—This
prisoner also pleaded guilty.
The COMMON SERGEANT said this was u similar
case to the last, and he • should, therefore, pass the
same sentence. The prisoner was then sentenced to
seven years' transportation.
Edward 11P Gill, 33, and James Perkins, 33, were
indicted for stealing a diamond brooch, value 151., the
property of Henry Peckham, from his person.
Mr. Bodkin appeared for the prosecution ; and
Messrs. Phillips, Clarkson, and Payne, for the pri-

soners.
The case appeared to have excited a great deal of
interest among those who were acquainted with
gambling-houses, as many of those species of gentry
were present during the whole day ; their curiosity,
however, was doomed to receive a regular damper,
for on the prisoners being =aired,
Mr BODKIN stated, that after carefully recding
and considering the depositions, from which it ap-
peared that the prisoners and" the prosecutor had
been together on the evening in qUestion,, he did not
think he could ask the Jury to convict the prisomrs
he should therefore retire from the prosecution.
The prisoners were therefore acquitted.
ROBBERY AT THE " MORNING ADVERTISER."—
David Healey, aged 36, was indicted for stealing a
quantity of lead pipe, the
_property of G. Walters,l
Esq., the Governor of the Licensed Victuallers' So-
ciety, and others, on the 18th of July last.
SI F. Blake, Esq., the Secretary to the Society,
produced the charter of incorporation, which con:
tained a clause empowering the Governor, Secretary,
&c., to sue and prosecute in tl,-.e mine and on behalf
of the Society.
A young man stated that early on the morning of
the 18th July he saw the prisoner leaving the Adver-
tiser.office abruptly, and suspecting something wrong,
he g'_ave information to a lad named Waite.
Waite otoit44 that he waa employed in the suclizie.

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST 26, 1842.

Sentence deferred.
THIRD COURT.

room, and from the information he received from the
last witness he followed the prisoner to a marine-
store shop kept by a woman named Clark ; witness
did not see the prisoner give her any lead, but Mrs.
Clark showed him some. _ .

Mrs. Clarke, on being called, said she bought some
lead from a man in the morning, but she would not
swear the prisoner was that person.
The Jury found the prisoner Guilty, and
The Com sentenced him to six month's imprison.
ment and hard labour in Giltspur-street Compter.
EXTENSIVE ROBBERY BY A CLERK.— William
llooton, a genteelly dressed young man, was indicted
for stealing bank notes for 2001., 50/., and 101., and
gold and silver coin to the amount of nearly 51., the
property of Messrs. Pugh and Vincent, his masters.
Mr. Clarkson appeared for the prosecution, and Mr.
Ballantyne defended the prisoner.
Mr. Charles Pugh stated that he was in partner-
ship with Mr. Vincent in the business of wine mer-
chants, and the prisoner had been iu their service to
October last. On the Ist of that month, witness gave
him a cheque on their hanker for 2641. 155., with in-
structions to get it cashed, and pay the amount for
wine duties. The prisoner returned, and stated thar
he had done as he had been desired. He remained
.at the office all that day, but _did • not return again.
A fter leaving on that evening, witness did not dis-
cover his retreat until July ..last, when he found him
at Margate.
The case was clearly proved, against the prisoner,
and the Jury. found.him guilty. - ' •

In consequence of the great number of cases for
trial, and the important character of many of them,
Mr. Baron ROLFE sat this afternoon in the Judge's
parlour, a jury having been especially summoned for
the purpose.
(Before Mr. Baron ROLFE.)
MERDER.—Dennis Clements., a sea-faring man, 68
years of age, was indicted for the wilful murder of
Bridgett Clements, alias Holloway.
Mr. Bodkin conducted the prosecution.
_Sophia Vincent stated. that ..she-.was a married
woman and lived in Smith's-rents, Greenwich.' The
prisoner was a pensioner in the Hospital, and conse-
quently could only visit the deceased at particular
periods. She and the prisoner were frequently in
the habit of quarrelling when they met, and witness
often heard what passed, through the partition.
On Sunday. night she heard them quarrelling; there
was a sealing, and witness heard the deceased cry
murder, at first loudly, and then more indistinctly.
The sound became gradually more faint, and at last
ceased altogether, and the prisoner left the apartment.
After this witness left her room, and informed Mrs.
Smith, who lived on the ground floor, of what she had
heard, and afterwards she returned •to her room for
the night. The next morning she went into the room
of the deceased-and found her in-bed undressed. She
'itielwed witness some bruises on her left side, and
stated that the prisoner had knocked her down and
punched her with his fists for sometime, she also said
she was sure her ribs were broken, and that she was
dying; at this time she was so weak she could hardly
speak. This occurred on Monday the 10th of July ;
on the 12th and 13th the deceased went out, but she
died on the latter day.
Susan Mary Matthews lived under the room of the
last witness., On the evening of the 10th of July,
she heard the deceased call out, " Oh, you infernal
rogue, you have done it at last—you have killed me."
The prisoner, who was on the landing, replied, " Serve
you right, you infernal b—." The deceased was
very ill next morning, lingered, and got worse, until
she died on the Thursday.
Susan Mary Smith lived in the same house as the
deceased and the two last witnesses. On the Sunday
night she heard part of the quarrel, and on the fol-
lowing morning she visited the deceased in her room.
She found her suffering severely from a large bruise on
her left side, and there were also bruises on her chest;
she continued to get worse every day. On the day of
her death the prisoner came into witness's room,
about eight o'clock, and said coolly, " She's gone."
He was asked whether he meant that she was gone
to the union workhouse, to which he replied "No,
she is dead." Witness went up stairs and found her
lying with her injured side exposed.
Mr. Robert Mitchell, who resided at Greenwich,
stated that on Thursday, the 14th of July, he was
called upon by the prisoner who asked him to give a
certificate of the death of a woman. He went to
see the body, the appearance of which, coupled with
the assertion of the people of the house, led him to
believe that she came to her death unfairly, he there-
fore refused to sign a certificate, and he was directed
to make a post mortem examination by the Coroner,
upon which he found the left side in a bruised state
from the shoulder to the pelvis and there were also
several bruises on other parts of the body.. Another
surgeon of the name of Burrage, confirmed Mr.
Mitchell's statement.
The LEARNED JUDGE summed up the case, and
the Jury, after ashort deliberation, found the prisoner
guilty of manslaughter, but recommended him to
mercy, on account of his age.
Mr- Baron ROLFE then sentenced the prisoner to
two-years imprisonment in the House of Correction,
at Maidstone, observing that, but for the kind recom-
mendation of the Jury, he should have ordered the
prisoner to be transported for a term that would,
probably, have exceeded the days that remained to
him.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
CLERKELV WELL.
Thomas Hewson Hazell was charged with an ag-
gravated assault on the person of John Shearman,
IC o. 15, Cumberland-row, Islington.
The certificate of Surgeon Dobbin was handed in,
which certified that the life of Shearman was in danger.
The father of Shearman (who is a boy about eleven
years of age) came forward in a state of great afflic-
tion, and depose 1 that on the previous evening his son
was standing on Islington-green, when he saw a horse
going to the pound. He went up, and innocently
struck the horse,on the side with his cap. The horse
belonged to the prisoner, who immediately ran up,
knocked the boy down with his clenched fist, and then
kicked him on the head.
Mr. COMBE told the prisoner, that if the boy died,
he would be tried for wilful murder. He therefore
advised him to be very cautious in what he should say.
The prisoner denied strikifig him ; he only fell
over him.
A policeman deposed that the boy was carried in a
state of insensibility to his own home.
. The Magistrate refused bail, and the prisoner was
then remanded.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Bristol, August 23.
BISHOP V. CASE.
Mr. Erie and Mr. Barstow were counsel for the
plaintiff, and Mr. Crowder and Mr. Kinglake for the
defendant.
This was an action to recover damages for a libel,
and for a malicious prosecution. The plaintiff was a
baker and cabinet-maker at Frome, in which town
also the defendant was a tradesman. The defendant
had inserted an article in the Hue and Cry, offering a
reward for the apprehension of the plaintiff, alleging
that he had committed an act of felony, and had ab-
sconded. The defendant also caused a warrant to be
issued against the plaintiff for felony, and the plain-
tiff had, in consequence, given himself up to the police-
officers. It was further alleged that the plaintiff had
sustained special damage, in consequence of the ids
or the defendant, inasmuch as he had been a con-
tractor for the supply of articles to the Poor-law
Union, and it was necessary to have sureties for the
due performance of the contracts; but the plaintiff
could not now obtain such sureties.
Evidence was produced showing the libel, the war-
rant, and surrender of the plaintiff, his being taken
before the Magistrates, who dismissed the complaint.
And his former sureties swore, that in consequence of
that libel and the warrant, they had declined again

becoming sureties for him.
Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN left these questions for the
consideration of the Jury-Ist, whether the publica-
tion of the libel had been brought home to the de-
fendant; if they thought it had, then, 2d, whether
they considered there was any malice ; and 3d, what
damages they thought the plaintiff had sustained.
The Jury found that the publication was proved,
but that there was an absence of malice, and that the
plaintiff had sustained damage to the amount of 40s.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT—York, August 23.
CIVIL SlDE—(Before Lord DENMAN.)
SAMPSON V. BENTLEY.
This was an action for assault and battery.
Mr. Knowles and Mr. Cleasby conducted the case
of the plaintiff, and Mr. Dundas the defence.
It appeared that the defendant is a tinman at Hud-
dersfield, at which place the defendant, who is a gen-
tleman, by profession, lives also. The defendant being
person of independent property, has (said the
Learned Counsel) nothing to do but to amuse him-
self, though in the present instance he had extended
his amusement beyond what the convenience of the
plaintiff, or the law, could warrant. He was well
Acquainted -with the.plaintiff, and though there was a
oxide difference. between .their respective stations in
life, they were upon terms of familiarity and friend-
ship. On the 7th of July last they were out fishing,
and rain coming on drove both plaintiff and defendant,
as well as several other persons, to a public-house
called the Red Lion, at a place called Lockwood.
There they remained some hours, and it seemed that
some at least of the party, and the defendant amongst
the number, got both merry and mellow. Somebody's
legs were tied to the table, but singularly enough none of
the witnesses knew whose legs. However from some
cause or other, which nobody seemed to know, and
which nobody would explain if' they could, the de-
fendant suddenly fell upon the plaintiff and struck
him several violent blows. He was both younger and
stouter than the defendant, and no resistance WIUS
I made, nor was any very serious damage dope.