Star.
London, England, 1815-09-21 00:00:00

MIDDLASEX SESSIONS.

Tuesday limes and Sewell Mitchell were indicted for
attempting to drown Sarah Mitchell, :he daughter of
the latter prisoner, achild not inorethan 12 monthsold.
Mr. John Cockshot, a wharfinger residing at Poplar,
stated that between eight and nine o'clock in the even-
ing of the 7th of duly, he thierved the prisoners c3ll
ing a boat at Black wall. The woman at this time had
a child under her shawl, apparently about 12 months
old. When the beat pulled up the man took the child
and went. on board. When in the boat be held the
child ic a careless manner on the side near the water,
and several by-standers called our that lie would let
it fall. NVitness ran to 'the boat, and called to him
to take the child ful tiler in, when to his astonishment,
he observed it was naked except its shirt and cap.—
The prisoner abused him, and asked him what business
he had with the child. The woman was at this time,
getting into the boat, and said her husband was not
going to hurt the child, but only to frighten it. The
witness and others, however, insisted on its being
taken further into the boat, and at, last the prisoner,
though very reluctantly, complied. The boat then put
off, but did not go far from shore, the boatman pat
back again, saying he did not like their conduce. add
would not take them at that time of the evening.
They came on shore where the witness still was, when
James Mitchell abused him grossly for interfering at
all with them or the child. Some persons in the mean
time sent for a constable, and they, were both taken
into custody.
Wood, the constable, stated, that at the time be
took the prisoners into custody, he found all the
clothes belonging to the infant, except a cap and one
shoe, concealed in the prisoner Mitchell's liar.
Mr. Weak, constable of Poplar, stated, that when
the prisoners were brought in the child was script,
,and a waterman had it wrapt up in his jacket. He
ordered the prisoner to be searched, when the child's
cap and one shoe were found in his breeches pocket.
The cap was quite wet. Previous to taking them be-
fore a Magistrate next morning, witness was remon-
strating with them on their inhuman attempt, when
the woman said, 44 We have done wrong, but pray
shield us from the people." There was at this time'
a great crowd on the outside of the watch-house.
On the part of the prisonerp, a man named John
Mitchell was called, who stated, that Mrs. Mitchell
lodged at his house when the child was born, and for
some months afterwards ; her husband was at the
time in a French prison ; the child was not his, the.
father if it was mate of a ship. She was very fond of
the chilii and se was her husband ; they all pawed

; 7

•
the evening at the witness's toile en the Gth of July,'
the night before this circttmstance toak place.
The Chairman summed up the evidence, and the
Jury atter a short deliberation found 'a verdict of
Guilty.—•The.Conrt sentenced them to be confined
in the House of Correction two years, and to be kept
to bard labour.—The child was in Court ; it is at
present under the care of the Parish Officers of
Poplar.
UNIMPLOYED SEAMlN.—Yesterday Thos Greenlore
was indicted for having, on the Nth of August, to.
gether with several other persons, to the number if
fifty or sixty, made a riot and distnibance at the
London Docks.—The defendant pleaded Guilty.
Mr..PooLze, on the part of the prosecution, stated,
that this was the first of the kind which had been in•
stituted, and that it was carried on by the London
Dock Company. The disturbance was m ide by a
number of seamen, amongst whoa was the prisoner,
going down to the Dock, and forcing their way on
board the vessels lying there, inquiring what vessels
had foreign seamen on board? and wherever they dis-
covered any, obliging them to quit the ships. The
Company had instituted the present prosecution, not
so much with a view of punishing the defendant, as
to spew to these misguided men, that they must no
persevere in such conduct id future, but at the tisk of
severe punishment; and they would now recommend
his case to the humane consideration of the Court,
and suggested that he should now be suffered to go
at large on his own recognizance. .
)Tie Cower upon this iceiimmendation, alter a
suitable admonition to the prisoner, ordered bun to be
discharged on his own recognizance.