Star.
London, England, 1822-07-24 00:00:00

THE KING V. THONIAS HANFORD.

This was an indictment against the defendant for an assault
upon William Rich, one of the dismounted patrol of the East
Division of Bermondsey Parish.
•
The prosecutor stated that there was a great riot and tumult
in Palmer's-rents, Saow's-fields, and that, in the discharge of his
duty, he was attacked by four or Son people, with kettles, sauce-
pans, brickbats, and stonesc that he had got a female prisoner in
custody when the defendant came up and endeavoured to rescue
her; that the defendant struck prosecutor, and by his conduct and
language excited the other people to acts of violence against him.
Mr. Tocssicen addressed the Jury for the defendant. He
stated that the facts of the case would appear very different when
the Jury had heard the defendant's statement; the facts which
he would prove to them were these. The witness, Mr. Smith,
had, upon the day of the alleged assault, taken unto himself a
wife; the happy bride, however, had unfortunately numbered so
many more years than. the bridegroom, that the match was a sub-
ject of laughter in the neighbourhood ; nevertheless, the inhabit-
ants were not inclined to be wanting in those feelings of respect
which it was usual to pay on such joyous occasions, and, being
people of some discrimination, they were well aware that music
was the most proper food for love, they accordingly, in a large
body, visited the happy bride and bridegroom with a serenade,
composed chiefly of tin kettles, rattles, old saucepans, and a drum.
—Hearing this unirsual display, "vocal and instrumental," the
mother-in-law of the defendant happened to inquire the cause,
when she was told that Mrs. bad married Mr. Smith.—
" Dear me," replied the old lady, " her first husband was as good
a man as could be ; and I am sure he was a most excellent neigh-
bour." Mr. Smith heard these words, and, perhaps, owing to his
spirits being high, he scorned to have his youth and name corn-
pared with any first husband, either alive or dead—indeed, he •
deemed it an insult on his feelings ; be therefore directed the be-
fore-mentioned dismounted patrol of the East Division of Ber-
mondsey parish to take the woman into custody. This the patrol
had already done, when out.canie the defendant, who asked hits
what he had to do with his mother-in-law? to which the patrol
replied, ." what is that to you? if you do not hold your tongue,
I will take you to the watch-house." The defendant replied,
that he would not give him that trouble, for that ht had watched
the prosecutor's (the patrol's) conduct, and was going to the
watch-house to make a charge against him, and accordingly the
defendant walked off to the watch-house. Shortly afterwards
the prosecutor came io, and seeing the defendant there, he was
about to put him into the cage, saying he was the man he had to
complain of; when up comes Mr. Smith, who says to the prose=
cuter, " have you not got somebody in custody ?" " Yes," re-
plies the patrol; then, says Mr. Smith, " we must prefer a charge
against hiss; but as it will not do for me to interfere, you had
better make the charge." The charge was made, but the Con-
stable for the night dismissed it ; it was, however, afterwards re
hewed,; and ,the party held to b5iL Thus, at the suggestion of
the bridegroom, the summit of whose connubial joys had re-
ceived some trifling alloy from the kind attentions of what was
vulgarly termed " a mob," this unfortunate defendant had to ap-
pear here to-day. The Learned Counsel trusted that the Jury
would not countenance proceedings of this sort ; indeed, he could
prove that the defendant had not committed any offence, and ,
therefore could not be punished.
_

The mother-in-law was called, as also another witness; who
proved the Learned Counsel's statement of the transaction, and .
the Jury, without troubling the (7hairrnan to sum up, returned
a verdict of—Not Gutlty. . .
A young lad, 13 years of s;e, was indicted for stealing a
tea-caddy, a sliawl,..nd a hatband, the property of It. Bignell.
Samuel Laver deposed, that on the 4th of July he was at Catno
herwell, when he sew the prisoner and another boy near the prod
secutor's house ; he afterwards saw the prisoner go into the
house and bring out the articles in question ; he gave the caddy
to the other boy, and took the shawl himself. Witness called out,
" Stop thief!" and the prisoner and his companion dropped what
they had got, and ran away. Whiess secured the Fisoner, but
his companion got off. A constable was sent for, and the pd.
sorter was taken to the watch-house. Verdict—Guilty.

Saturday a most extraortlinitry leap was made by a horse to
the possession of Mr. BEARTYINVOIITH, of the Repository, in Bir-
mingham. On the ground being a‘'eurately melsared by some
Gentlemen who witnessed the performance, it was found that
in passing over a bar three feet six inches high, the leap was
takeu at the amazing distance of seventeen feet seven inches
from it, and the whole space of ground covered was nine yards
eight inches. The horse is 15i hands, a::d carried upwards of
kg stone. He was afterwards rode over the same bar several
times, and cleared upwards of eight yards without much effort.
The Bill to prevent the cruel and improper treatment of cattle
passed into a law last Thursday by the House of Lords, enacts
—that if any person shall wantonly and cruelly beat, abuse, or
ill-treat any horse, mare gelding, mule, ass, ox, cow, heifer,
steer, sheep, or other cattle, on complaint made to a Magistrate,
' within whose jurisdiction such offence is committed, within ten
days after, shall forfeit, from X 5 to 10s. the lowest penalty and
on non-payment be subject to be committed to the House of
Correction for any time not exceeding three months.

.
Bow-Svaarr.—Lord CHARLES 13ne.v1cx appeared yesterday
upon a summons to answer the charge of Robert Hanby, his
footman, for assaulting and heating him. The statement of the
complainant, who wits a mere lad, was this :—On Monday Lady
Bentinck came home in her carriage, and when she had entered
the house, be took her Ladyship's shawl, which she had left be-
hind her, froni the carriage into the drawing-room, fearing it
might be lost, or stolen. Lady 11.ntinek seeing this, desired to
know what right he bad to bring her shawl from the carrier*
without being ordered so to du ? and ordered him to take it back,
lie said he was very sorry he had acted wrong, and wotildtakg
care to avoid doing so ip future, but begged to be excused front
taking it back to the carriage, advising her Ladyship to tend it
by her waking-woman. Her Ladyship then desired him to gat
the room, and having informed Lord Charles, (who was form.
nately at home) of the circumstance, his Lordship went down
stairs, and desired bins to leave the house instantly., He re-
fused, demanding first to be Paid a month's wages,is piteagree.
meat, but to this his Lordship would not listen • and *seising
him by the collas, and neatly ilanditing him. tissues him with
.great violence out of the house.—Lord Charles merely eplied to
the charge that the servant had insolently ditobeyed t c cotn-
\
manila of his Lady, who, having communicated tha: fact to him,
he chose to order him to leave the how : he retrofit, and be
certainly did push him out, but not. with great vieleues...-
Mr. llduroutuu., the sitting Magistrate, said, art assaukhad cer-
"'Wbut a nature, that he should only
cell
nanoe to appear at the Sessions its answer any charge-that the
complainant . aright uponY been
the ilrov Ned, oble Deroodant' to eater into his *Wm recess -
choose of ch
to prefer.—Lord pentinuktlid so,
sli,
and the mutter tcrmilmeeil. Or thrl4s*Ful• .
. : . L.--. .:.. - -:: . •1. , • -
.. •:

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