The Sun.
London, England, 1827-08-21 00:00:00

SHIPPING IN TELLIGENCE-(T MS DAY.)

FROM LLOYD'S.

DEAL, AUG. 20,--Wind E.N.E.—Sailed his Ma-
jesty's ship Rattlesnake, for the River.
PORTSMOUTH, AuG. 20.—Wind N.E. to N.—
Arrived the Milo, Winslow, for China; Acasta,
Parry, for New York. Four Russian line-of-battle
ships, four frigates, and one corvette, sailed this
afternoon for the Mediterranean ; the remainder of
the squadron will return to Cronstadt in a few days.

PLYMOUTH, AUG. 18.—Wiud E.N.E.—Arrived
the Nimble, from Rip ; sailed the Flushing, Kemp,
Lisbon.

FALMOUTLI, AUG. 19.—Wind .--Arrived the
Unity, Fox, from Quebec; sailed the Bolivar, Hur-
tall, for North America ; and Thomas, Battersby, for
Quebec.

PARIS, AUG. 18.--The Hopper, Malander, from
Nantes to St. Übes, was wrecked on the Sarcelli,
the 4th inst.

The Emma, Frost, from St. John's, . New Bruns-
wick, is supposed to be arrived off Rye.

ASSIZES.-(RECEIVED THIS DAY.

HOME CIRCUIT.-MAIDSTONE, AUG. 20.
RAPE.

Michael Ryan, aged 33, Thomas 0' Connell, 27, and
Martin Norton, 18, all Irish soldiers, were capitally in-
dicted for a rape on the person of Elizabeth Sheer, at
Chatham, on the 9th of June last.

The two latter prisoners were present at the time of the
offence, and indicted for aidirg and assisting Michael Ryan
to effect his purpose.
.Mr. LAW stated the case, and observed that they had a
question to try which involved the best interests of society,
and also the lives of three prisoners at the bar. He re-
minded them that a general cases of rape the
proof was confine:' i he evidence of the prose-
cutrix. In such however, it would be more cha-
ritable to suppose ,-.17.at a woman had submitted to the
solicitations of the man, than to decide that the man had
forgotten what was due to himself, to humanity, and to
the other sex. In this case, however, he should
be able to prove the fact by corroborative evidence.
Ile then stated that his client was the wife of a ma-
riner at Chatham, and the mother of two children;
and also the facts of the case as proved by the following
vvitnesses:

Elizabeth Skeer was then called and sworn. She ap-
peared a, well-looking woman, of decent appearance, and •
gave her evidence tremblingly but without hesitation.
She stated, that she was the wife of John Sheer, a mariner
at Chatham.. On Saturday the 9th June, she left /ner
horse between nine and ten o'clock at• night, in company
with Hannah Goddard. Went up Heaviside-lane, leaving
Mrs. Goddard at the upper end of the lane. She found
several persons passini„ and turned up into Fort Pitt. In
turning to go away she met three soldiers ; the three pri-
soners were these men. They all came up and took
hold of her. She begged them to let her co, as she
told them she was a married woman. Two of them
let her go, but the third kept hold of her. That
Ras the prisoner Ryan. He dragged her to a corner,
and when she told him that she was a married woman he
said that be did not care. He then dragged her along and
pulled her down; the two others were standing very near
at the time ; she called out " murder," and screamed out
°nee ; Ryan said, that he did not care about the screaming,
he would have what he desired ; she struggled to get away,
and he said t'i.at if she screamed and made a noise he
Would kill She hare described the accomplish-
ment of the capital offence, during which she strug-
gled to get up, and he kept fiacing her down with his
hand swearing dreadfully at the time. He had accorn-
Plished the capital offence. In getti.,7 •ip he held her
down while O'Connell proceeded t,- t.iel'e the same pur-
pose; she then struggled again; he (( a't;onnell) told her,
that if she lay still he would give her a shading ; she begged
of him to let her go to her children, as she did not want him
or his shilling, and was a married woman; he replied, that
she should not till he pleased ; before Rvan got up O'Con-
nell was standing in readiness to sacceed him ; she scream-
ed cut again, and tried to get up, and an old gentleman
cattle up ; the two prisoners who were standing struck
hirn, and after knocking him about a great deal, he got
Tway, and returned with two men, who were forced
to drag O'Connell from her by main force ; she
Wu injured in her health by the prisoners. The old
man came up when Ryan was with her, but when
he returned with assistance O'Connell was with her. ,;,.fines
Vishenden was one who came to her assistance, and stvv
her home. She then stated to him how she had been
use, She saw O'Connell and Norton on the.next ant-ro-
in& One was in the guard-Louse, and the other in the
black-hole of the barracks. Was certain they were the
same men, as it was a moonlight night, and she saw them
distinctly. When O'Connell was dragged from her he was
taken to the black-hole. She then saw a centinel, whom
she asked if he had heard her scream ; he replied he had ;
his name is Michael Meara ; he was near enough to bear
her. The menwere drawn up on the Sunday morning, and
she walked along them to discover if the man was there ; there
were a great number of men drawn up, and she did not see hint
then, but saw him alone on the Monday, when he was
fetched to her from the black hole. Was sure he was
the man. She pointed out one who was like the man,
but found he was not so when she examined his features.
By Ryan—On the Sunday morning he (Ryan) did not
step out of the rank to ask her if he was the man.
O'Connell—How far was Norton from you when you
laid down for me?

_ .
Witness—A very little distance.
O'Connell—Did I not give you a sixpence?
Witness—No.

By the Coun;—Could not say how far it was from the
Place where she left Mrs. Goddard. The latter must have
heard her call out. There were no houses nearer than
Fort Pitt. Had just effected the purpose for which she
went down the lane, when the soldiers met her. She was
then just coming away. Was certain that the first one
(Ryan) effected his purpose. Her husband was on guard
on that day.
Hannah Goddard in part confiqued this testimony, and
added, that when she saw the prosecutrix at eleven o'clock
the latter laughed and told her what had happened. Had
never stated before, that Mrs. Skeer had laughed.
By the COURT.—She made no complaint of having been
injured.
By Mr. L.aw.—She said that she should not have
minded it if they had not dashed her down and been so
rough with her. Had not said before the Magistrate that
Mrs. Skeer laughed. When witness first saw her, she
(witness) said to her, " I can't think where you have
stayed." Prosecutrix said she had met with three soldiers
as she was at the top of the lane; they had ill used hen--
She stated how they had ill-used her. A gentleman was
with her then. He went to see her home. Witneee
went home with them to the prosecutrix's house. There
did not seem to be much the matter with her.
By the Counr—She said that they dashed I d leer ' n
with a vengeance. She said that she would not have
eared if they had noz 'lashed her down in the Way they
did, and behaved ec rk ue,l!:y. Witness did not say so be-
fore the Magistrate.
JohnShilleto passing Fort Pitt on the 9th of June,
and
heard a cry, as of some person in distress. Went in
that direction, and sails, two soldiers, who 'immediately
rushed upon himhim violently as h,
e knocked him down, and kicked
called, aansdnul the ground. Witness heard
" murder !"
named Fishenden atveindtSfor assistance. Met two
persons,
Sparkes, who returned with
him. The wittness here stated that the prisoner O'Con-
nell was lying ith the proseentrix
separated from her by main forCe"d was obliged to be
with all his strength. The two otheerheersloupersto then
ran away. When O'Connell was torn from
the persons, and was knocked down and secure:
bystruck at
them,
in the guard-house of Fort Pitt. At the time the
up, the prosecutrix called out to them—.... Help , for.
sake." O'Connell did not seem intoxicated at the time
God's
Witness was about 20 yards from the spot when he 'Zs.
heard the woman (4 out. Saw Ryan on the Monday
morning, when he went there with the prosecutrix. He
believed Ryan to be the man, because when witness
had
asked him why he had beaten him (witne,r) so, Ryan
replied, " Why I'm beaten worse.
By the COURT.—There arc no houses nearer than the
Went some distance before 1,
guardhouse. --0 met
Fishenden and Sparkes, who were coming from the market.
Heard but one cry.
The prisoner Ryan.—Did I strike you ?
Witness.—You struck and kicked me.
jam" Fishenden was called to the assistance of Mrs.
Skeer by the last witness. Saw the prosecutrix home ;
she seemed very weak and ready to faint.
John Spades was called, and corroborated the evidence•
of the two last witnesses, as to the securing O'Connell, &c.
Michael Meara was sentinel on the above night at Fort
Pitt ; about ten o'clock he heard a noise mine from the di-
el.totion of Heaviside-lane; it seemed se if persons were
'lining. O'Connell was brought :9 the guard-house by
sme three last witnesses.
t
4 y h heard " der . ,he
not have left If
hishe poad st without anmur order.o called
Did not