Star.
London, England, 1822-08-15 00:00:00

SUMMER ASSIZES.

IstAIDSTONE. AUGUST Is.
UNDERHILL v. SHORE.
This was an action brought by Mr. Underhill for
an assault committed on him in the Assembly-rooms
at Ramsgate, where a considerable number of the
fashionable residents and visitors were met together,
fur the purposeof electing a Master of the Ceremonies.
Mr. Seijeant Tauriv, who led the case for the plain-
. tiff, stated that, in consequence of the death of Mr.
Clough, preparations were made on the 6th of Octo
ber last, for the election of a new Master. Mr. Hayes
and Mr. Bayley were the- candidates. It was ar-
ranged that those Ladies and Gentlemen, inhabitants
and visitors of the parishes of St. Lawrence and St.
Peter, who were then subscribers, or should subscribe
before six.o'clock on the evening of the ensuing Sa-
turday, should be eligible to vote for the new Master
of the Ceremonies, Lord .and Lady Turner were
then at Ramsgate, and they took a warm interest in
behalf of WI-Hayes. Electors were qualified on both
sides : and by the efforts of Lord and Lady Turner,
a list was given in on the Bth of October, the day of
election, of 76 persons for whom Lord Turner had
paid the subscriptions, as staunch supporters of Mr.
Hayes. This number undoubtedly included many per-
sons, who, though respectable in their respective si-
tuations, could not properly come under the descrip-
tion of the Ladies and Gentlemen of the neighbour,
hood of Ramsgate who were in the habit of frequent,
ing the Assembly-rooms. Upon the day of election
S. Sherwood, Esq. was called to the Chair, who took
that ostensible situation upon an understanding that
after the scrutineers (Mr. Peter Moore for Mr. Hayes,
and Mr. Shore, the defendant, for Mr. Bayley) had
delivered their opinions upon the eligibility of the
persons coming forward to vote, his decision should
be without appeal. In the list of the 76 persons
which was given in by Mr. Peter Moore, as voters
for Mr. Hayes, the plaintiff was included. Upon his
appearing to vote for Mr. Hayes, dissatisfaction was
expressed by the friends of Mr. Bayley. The vote
was argued by the scrutineers, but was finally re-
ceived by the Chairman. Some persons on this, asked
whether Mr. Underhill meant to attend the Assem•
blies? who replied that he should do..as he pleased
upon that subject—he should suit his convenience in
that respect. Being of somewhat diminutive size, an
inquiry took place among the supporters of Mr.
Bayley," Where the little schoolmaster was?" Mr.
Underhill immediately jumped into a chair, calling
opt that there he was, as tall as any of them, and he
could speak as loud. This, it seems, gave some offence
to the polite assemblage, which was further increased
by his going out, and introducing as a voter Mr.
Crickett, a master as well as a jobbing carpenter and
builder, who entered the room in a corduroy waist-
coat and trowsers. Crickett upon being remonstrated
with, retired ; but the full weight of the indignation
of the defendant, and others in the interest of Mr.
Bayley, fell upon the unfortunate plaintiff, who, in
the sight of his wife and daughters, was knocked
down, and pushed out of the room. It was for this
outrage that the action was brought.
S. Sherwood, Esq. examined.—l resided at Rams-
rate last October. On the Bth of that month I took
the chair on the election for a Master of the Cere-
monies. The plaintiff's vote was offered, which I,
accepted. I afterwards saw the defendant seize the
plaintiff by the collar or shoulders, and forcibly urge
him towards the door, upon which great confusion
took place.
Cross-examined.—The persons who attended the
Assembly-rooms were highly respectable; don't know
that Mr. Wells (a person in the list) is a dealer in
sausages; had never seen Mr. Laycock, a journey-
man bricklayer, there ; don't know Mr. Lacey, the
green-grocer; don't know Mr. Crickett has been
fiddling at alehouses; Mr. Moore, upon the evening
of the 6th, brought a list of 76; Mr. Mrs. and Miss
Underhill, were three of the 76; Mr. Hayes is a re-
lation of Lady Turner. Major Colgrave observed,
4, Where is this little schoolmaster, I should like to
see him ?" and the plaintiff, being a little man, jumped
up into a chair, saving " Here he is." Don't remem-
ber his saying, " as good a man as any of you :" he
brought in Mr. Crickett before he was turned out ;
Crickett came in his working dress; though he came
in the dress of a mechanic, he is a master builder and
a. freeholder ; occasionally he does jobbing-work ;
votes were made on both sides, without reference to
its being likely the parties would ever come to the
Assembly ; upon Mr. Crickett being presented as a
voter, there was a murmur of indignation among the
company ; Crickett was reasoned with ; he confessed
that he had no business there, and retired without
offering his vote; did not hear the Ladies appealing
to the defendant to protect them from the insult of
Mr. Underhill's introducing such persons.
Lady Turner was presefit at the election; was em-
iird in collectin; votes for Mr. Hayes; sent the
p tiff in her carriage for Crickett; saw the defend-
ant beat Mr. Underhill ; towards the latter part or
the election she saw Mr. Shore rush past her in a
great passion ; the moment he got to the plaintiff he
took him by the collar, and shook and pushed him,
the whole length of the table; he shook him vio-
lently and beat him; I thought he would be killed ;
there was blood running from his eye ; saw him after-
wards, when he appeared much agitated and hurt.
Peter Moore, Esq. M.P.—Was at Ramsgate at the
time of the election, and at the previous meetings
with respect to it; I was the scrutineer for Mr. Hayes;
Ms. Shore was scrutineer for Mr. Bayley; great ex-,
ertions were made on both sides to get votes; I re-
commended the friends of Mr. Hayes to go round the
town and to bring op all the young people who were
capable of dancing and fit to be in the room to vote;
Mr. Underhill is a very respectable man ; don't know
a more respectable man in all Ramsgate—has been
in the habit of visiting him ; don't know a more use-
ful member of society. Mr. Underhdrs vote was ob- '
jected to by Shore ; it was decided to be agood votes,
previous to his voting he was objected to in very itn-'
proper terms ; ,after his vote had been received stud
those of forty other persons, Mr. Shore darted to-
wards the plaintiff, and said, " t will show youshow
to tura his out, tf yon will assist me." saw him
seize the plaintiff, one of whose daughters was stand-
ing near the chair, and } believe she fainted ; thew
was nothing in the, conduct of the plaintiff to give
. occult* ti? this SkiVaseat k saw him Afterwards,,
and his forehead and face were batter and lidoe4;
1 spoke to the defendant as to what could have