Star.
London, England, 1831-03-16 00:00:00

Wigan. Acquitted.—Michael Carron, 54, with maliciously stabbing
Henry Newell, at Warrington. Acquitted.
BENNETT V. WlLED.—'Phis was an action to recover damages for
an illegal distraint for arrears of rent. The husband of the plaintiff, in
May last, took a small house in Preston, from the defendant, at a rent
of 151. per annum, payable half yearly. The first half year's rent, which
became due in November last, was not paid. In January the husband
died, and his effects became the property of his widow. Immediately
afterwards the defendant distrathed for arrears; but not satisfied with
levying for 71. 10s. his tight to which was not disputed, he distrained
for another quarter's rent, which did not become due for two or
three weeks afterwards, took all the property which was worth coma-
(tenthly more that, the sum he claimed, raid also removed a fixed article
(a boiler) which he had :to legal rigor: to take. and sold the property
seized before the live Jays allowed by law had elapsed. The
defence was, that the diAttaint was made ar the request of the
plaintiff herself ; that 31. as. ant was due ; that the rent was pay-
able
quarterly, and .hat -no excessive distraint or improier chartes
had been made, and that it had not been shown that the plaintiff
had any right of possession in the pvtoperty faired. The latter
point was principally relied on, and produced a lonA legal argu.
meat beta ten Messrs. Pollock and Archibald, who appeareti for the
dcfettdant, and Mr. Attorney.Oeneral ((:lose) and Mr. Eitarkie, who
appeared for the plaintiff. The latter contended that the notice for
distraint nod inventory tlestrilsai die goods as those of Ann, ttere a
sufficient admission on the part of the defendant, that the goods be.
longed to her, and to show that he recognized her as his tenant. The de-
fendant's Counsel contended that this was nut sufficient to show,
.hat the plaintiff had any legal title to the goods. Mr. Jus-
tice Parke, in summing up the evidence said, the principal
points for the consideration of the jury were, whether the goods were
the property of the plaintiff or not, and he observed, that she could have
no legal title to them unless she had taken out letters of administration
to the effects of her deceased husband. If she was not the aehninistra-
trix, she could not recover damages, as the defendant might afterwards
be sued again by the real administrator, if there had been any illegal
and excessive distraint. The jury found for the defendant, and Mr.
Pollock then offered to give up the costs, and all tent subsequently due,
if the plaintiff would give up the possession, and agree to make no fur-
ther demands on the debt. This was agreed to by the plaintiff.
A statement of the number of prisoners in custody in the castle of
Lancaster, on the 4th March :
Male prisoners for trial 0.3 1
Female do.
Male do. on bail
Transports
On various terms of imprisonment
Debtors .....

Total

-.534

There were 96 causes for trial at our Assizes, of which 37 were from
West Daby hundred ; 19 from Lonniele Amoundernesa, Blackburn,
and Leyland hundreds; and 40 from Salford hundred.
P. E. Towneley, Esq. our new high sheriff; has obtained permission
from Dr. Penswick, the 11. C. Bishop of the Northern district, for the
Rev. Mr. Brown, of Lancaster, to say an early mass on the Sundays
during the assizes, to accommodate him (Mr. Towneley), is order that,
having fulfilled the obligation, he could attend the church in his civil
capacity as protector of the judges.
Mecum/Ica AND APPRENTICES' LIBRARY...-The members oil
this excelleht institution will rejoice to hear, that the fund has been
considerably augmented, by the kind donadons given by die Duchess'
of Hamilton, and the Marquis of Douglas and Clydesdale, viz, five gui-
neas each ; besides which, die marquis has desired that his name should
appear upon the list of annual subscribers.
If the great scheme of Reform, in all its bearings, shall ulti-
mately pass the legislature, and the intended disfranchisement
of boroughs take place, the country will be called upon by no
common obligation to support the sound influence of property, to keep
together the different orders of society, and to discourage by every effort
that dismemberment, which is now but too artfully promoted, and which
would array the poor against the rich, and teach the former to bold
lightly the rights of property, and violate with indifference the laws by
which. they are secured.
THE STORY or THE 400 REFORMED FRENCH PRIESTS.—
Sir,—Accounts have: been pnblished in diffkrent papers of " a large
body of reformed priests—of 2,500 priests of their body affiliated with
them throughout France :" That the story of 400 priests in France
having conformed to the Protestant religion gained confirmation by ac-
counts received dailv,from respectable quarters, itc." 1 have been wait-
tins to see the proof of the correctness of those accounts which are now
circulated throughout France and England, but 1 have not as yet seen
it. If the cot respondent who sent the accounts either in a letter
from Paris, or received them from respectable quarters, would give his
mime and directions, all dates, places, and every thing requisite to
establish a milk: proof, he would deliver the public from suspense. As
those reports at., circulated throughout England, and are known even by
children, it is but natural to suppose that they are known throughout
France, especially among the French clergy. 1 have this day, Feb. 13.
1831, seen a French ecclesiastic, who has travelled in ain't:rent parts of
Francs. during this year; has left it only five days ago, and It lust or-
rived in England. His name is Palmon Hely, de Notre Dame, de la
Trappe, du Oar, Diocese d'Amicus, who left France on Thursday,
Feb. 10th, 1331, and arrived in England on the same day. After
having examined his credentials, which are correct, and having put
many questions to hint respecting the 400 reformed priests, &c. he lots
declared to me before three respectable witnesses, that he has neither
seen nor heard any thing at all about the matter. He is still in Staf-
fordshire, and may be consulted and examined by any one who wishes
to ascertain the truth of this statement. From this the public may
judge how far the account of the 400 reformed priests is accurate. I
remain, sir, with every mood wish, yours truly, Lewis GERARD.
—Cob:Wee, Staffordshire Potteries, Feb. 15, 1831.
• GENERAL REGISTER BILLrA very respectable meeting of the
inhabitants of this town was held on Wednesday last, at the Town-
hall, Janes Atkinson, Esq. Mayor in the chair ; whet. a number of re-
solutions (for which see u preceding column) with petitions from both
houses of parliament, were unanimously agreed to, against the bill
lately introduced into the Canino's, fur the general registry of _tide
deeds.

On Sunday afternoon, a party of gentlemen, having been on an
excursion into Cheshire, on their return to Liverpool. about four
o'clock in the afternoon. the gig in which they were in, when opposite
the Prince's Dock parade. upset, and two of the party were drowned.
One of them has left a willow andi five children.
Mr. J. A. Hodgson having, immediately after the decision of the
Committee of the House of Commons in favour of his bd. g the sitting
member, resigned his seat for Wigan, by accepting the stewardship of
the Chiltern Hundreds, a new election took place on Wednesday seek,
and Mr. J. Hodgson Keanky was unanimously chosen.
LANCASTER bianxrra.—Average price of Wheat, per load (4j
Winchester bushels) 41s ; 68s. 1 . per qr ; Re. 7jil. p.r bl. ; Oats,
per load, 265. Od ; 211 s. Sd. per qr. 3s. per hi.: Barky, i,e.m.,ge per
windle, 14s. Sd ; Beans, per laa.t. 23*. 3d.; Oatmeal, pa Lattl, 3.05. to
40s; Butter, per lb. 131 ; Eggs, eighteen for Is ; Potatoes, 12 lb.
for 4d.
lIRIED.—Mr. M. Shaw, surgeon, to Jane. third daughter of
the late Mr. J. Mercer, all of Blackburn—At Eveshant, Mr. J. B.
Brown, to Sophia, eldest daughter of W. hlading,:Esq.—At Downes',
Mr. W. Martin, of Clam:legate, near A inbleside, to Miss Jackson, of
Rayrigg—Mr. M. Hobson, architect, to Miss Smith, eldest daughter
of 6lr. C. Smith, Tuxteth.park.
DIED.—Of the smallpox, Mr Edward Woods, grocer —On
Thursday last, the Rev. John Oathorne, M.A. of Kirkby Lonsdale,
formerly Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, and laic Vicar of Tarvin,
Cheshire. He was just stepping into his car, at Leck House, when he
was seised:with an apoplectic fit, which instantly terminated his life, on
his fifty.fint birth.elay.--At Everton, Mrs. Bickerstalt, relict of Henry
Bickersteth, Esq. surgeon, Kirkby Lonsdale.—At Kendal, aged BS,
Sarah, relict of J. Maude, r.q. banker.—Mr. T. Slater, of Blackburn.
'—At Rothay Cottage, near Ambleside, Lilly, the eldest daughter of
John Law Beetholme. Esq.—Mrs. Ponsonby. a maiden lady, and sister
of the late Miles Ponsonby, Esq. of Haile Hall.—At Workington, Miss
Mary Clwistian, sister to the late J. C. Curwen, Esq. of Workington-
Hall, and M.P. for Cumberland—At Southport, the Rev. Thomas
Ramsden Ashworth, M.A. of Grasmere, and late of Jesus College, I
Cambridge.—At Douglas-bank, near Wigan, Ellen, the wife of Alex-
ander Haliburton, Esq.

WORCESTER HERALD.
Thomas Slaughter, aged 10, a simple looking farming youth, of di-
minutive stature, was placed at the bar, to answer the capital charge of
having wilfully and malicious/7 set fire too wheat rick of the valne of
one hundred pounds, the property of his mistress, Mrs. Rebecca Tom.
Boson, of Elntley Lovett. The circumstances under which the prisoner
was committed upon this serious accusatiutt, were shortly mentioned hi
out last. When arraigned the prisoner pleaded guilty, but, at the earnest
recommit elation of the court, he withdrew such plea, and put himself on
Iris trial.
The Jury having found him Guilty, the Judge told him his life
stood forfeited by the guilty deed, and h was his painful duty to puss
upon him the awful sentence of death. The learned Judge then so-
lemnly admonished the ptisixtur to employ the short time tic had to
live in preparing himself for another world, and concluded by old, ing
the execution of the prisoner in the customary farm. The miserable
delinquent appeared throughout his trial to be greatly dejected, and
fully sensible of the perilous sitttatiou in which lie stood ; but he tbs.
played no increase of fear or emotion on hearing his awful doom inti.
pounced hy the Judge, and left the har a ith a thin and unfalteting step.
The City of Worcester Lent Assizes were gone through Lefore 31r.
Justice Patteson, this morning, and occupied but little more than ten
minutes. The alendar contained two prisoners only. One, Thomas
Darby, aged 10, !tailor, indicted for taking from a hedge a pair of
breeches. The Grand Jury threw out the bill against tine. Darby
pleaded guilty, and,persisting in such plea, it was recorded against
him, and having before been in the city gaol for theft, he was transported
for seven years.
A meeting of the Turnpike Commissioners was held last week, to
consider upon the expediency of an alteration in the road, at the en.
trance of Great Malvern from this city, by which the distance would be
somewhat lessened, and the long and heavy ascent of the Link Hilt