Star.
London, England, 1831-07-06 00:00:00

MULE SESSIONS.

Fourteen Years—Wm. Betchey, stealing fowls from Ro-
bert Marshall, of Stratford-on-Avon ; Thomas Baker, steal.
ins veal and butter from Joseph Williams, of Birmingham;
Joseph Malin, stealing fowls from Wm. Garner, of North-
field ; Henry Hall, stealing a watch from James Jones, of
Brmingbam ; Samuel Richards, stealing money from John
Griffiths, of Birmingham.
Seven Years.—Thomas Partridge. stealing bread from
Richard Welch, of Birmingham ; George Walton, stealing
a cheese from Robert White, of Birmingham ; William
Leather and James Ross, stealing veal and butter from Jo.
seph Williams, of Birmingham ; John Hayes, stealing car-
penter's tools from Thorns. Houseman, of Birmingham ;
Joseph Woodcock, stealing a handkerchief from Joseph
Moore, of Birmingham ; Samuel Chinn, stealing a fowl
from John Bailey, of Aston; John Gatley, stealing wearing
apparel from Isaac Hodson, of Middleton; James Massey,
stealing money from Thomas Biggs, of Birmingham,
ICharles Thetwell, stealing a calf's skin from M illiatn
Whateley, of Wellsbourne ; Maria Eaves and Caroline Bat.
kin, stealing money from Edward Garner, of Birmingham;
William Nicholls, stealing a watch from John Hawkins, of
Birming ; Samuel Fisher, for a felony ; Ebenezer Stephen
Tatham, stealing a pair of bracelets from William Henry
Betts, of Warwick.
The Quitman, in charging the Grand Jury said, he was
very sorry that so long a =lender, containing not less than
lit prisoners, was presented for their consideration. He
regretted this the mere, as although the present sessions
were a fortnight earlier than formerly, yet the number of
cases was the same. No. only was there an evident increase
of crime in this county, but a corresponding increase was ob-
servable throughout the whole kingdom. On reference to
the Parliamentary returns for the last seven years, 115.000
prisoners had been tried for felony ; of whom 80000 had
been convicted. Nearly one-third, therefore, had, by an
acquittal, no bill, or no prosecution, been again set at liberty
in the world. It was impossible, in his opinion, that 35,000
persons could pass through a prison without some degree
of contamination. What the Legislature would do in this
respect, he could not tell ; but an amendment of the law.
was highly necessary. Two or three years ago the counties
of Warwick, Worcester, and Stafford, unanimously peti-
tioned for an alteration of the law as it regarded the vial and
punishment of juvenile offenders. In consequence of this
petition Parliament appointed a committee; which com-
mittee, after a laborious investigation, advised a more sum.
wary mode of proceeding. Notwithstanding this recom-
mendation, nothing as yet had been done, and the report to
which he alluded now remained a dead letter among the
records of Parliament. He again repeated, what the new or
any future Parliament would do, he knew not ; but unless
some prompt measures were speedily adopted, crime he feared
would go on increasing from year to year, in a most alarm-
ing degree.
WORCLJTELSMIRE Stsstows.—These Sessions com-
menced on Monday, before Sir C. Smith, Bart. Chairman,
and a full bench of Magistrates.—The Magistrates resolved
that the New County Courts shall be built upon the land
belonging to the county, adjoining the County Gaol. By
this arrangement, not only will the cost of a site, amounting
to 5,0001. be saved, hut other expenses will be avoided, in-
eluding that for conveying prisoners from the Gaol for trial
Lodgings for the Judges will be attached.