Star.
London, England, 1822-07-22 00:00:00

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NOSTUAMPTON, JULY le:
axis ZEIT OP CLERGY.
A niost remarkable; and perhaps unprecedented
nuance of this clerical immunity from punishment
being twice prayed by a culprit occurred this day.
As will be seen by the following report, a Jury were
twice sworn in the case. First, to try the prisoner
on the indictment; and secondly, to try whether the
identical prisoner had or had not already taken the
benefit of Clergy.
Williams Smith, aged 20, was convicted of stealing
a shirt and other articles cif wearing apparel, the
proyerty of John Kean. When called up for judg-
ment, he knelt down in the usual:way, and prayed
the benefit of Clergy.
The Judge was abo
nt to pus sentence as in case of
grand larceny, but was informed that the prisoner
had on a former conviction received the benefit of
Clergy, and had been sentenced to four months' im-
prisonment.—On this communication the Learned
JudLe ordered him to be placed among the capital
eorWtcts.—The prisoner then put in a plea, denying
that he was the person so convicted, which was fol-
lowed by a replicittiou.—The replication'and certifi
cater having been read,
Mr. James Sheriff wss sworn—I 4 I ant the Governor Or Ayles-
bury jail. The prisoner at the bar was convicted at the Lent
Assizes, 1821, and sentencedto four months' imprisonment, for
stealing bacon, the property d Wm. ('hard. At the time of
that conviction he prayed fecund received the benefit of Clergy."
Mr. Justice Best observed, that this was the first
time, during a long professional life,. that he had
known a Jury called on to decide a point like the
present. The prisoner had that day been convicted
of a ekrical offence, and prayed for the benefit of
Clergy, but it had been clearly proved by the evi-
dence of Mr. Sheriff, who could not be mistaken, that
he had been convicted, and received the benefit pre-
scribed by the humanity of the law. It is clearly laid
down, that no person could receive the benefit more
than once, and if he was convicted of a second of-
fence, however trivial, he was precluded, and that
offence became capital. He had never known such
a ease go to the consideration of a Jury—it was there-
&We fosr them to judge whether the prisoner had re-
ceived the benefit of Clergy or not.
The Jury returned a verdict in the affirmative.
9edrence of death was then passed on the priscner,
in a most impresiive manner, and his Lordship hoped
bib example would operate on the minds of others,
and prevent a repetition of crime.
A RELIGIOUS IMPOSTOR.
John Watson, aged 39, and Eliza Worthy, aged 17,
were indicted for stealing a quantity of wearing ap-
parel and other articles, from the dwelling-house of
John Wilson. This case excited Considerable curio-
sity. The male prisoner obtained lodgings at the
house of the prosecutor, where he remained-two days,
and appeared extremely attentive to the duties of
religion. He found his way, however, on the second
night, to the bed-room of the girl Worthy, and, under
promise of marriage, persuaded her to elope with him
during Mrs. Wilson's absence. He took care, how-
ever, previously, to break open the drawers, and carry
off some valuable property, which was subsequently
'Mind in his possession, and the fugitives were taken
into custody.
The girl's mistress gave her a most excellent cha-
teeter, on account of which she was sentenced to only
six months' imprisonment; and Watson, after a strong
animadversion by the Judge on the hypocritical pre-
tence on which he seduced the girl, was sentenced to
seven years transportation.
William Meadows, the younger, William Gent, the
younger, Redmond Middleton, Thomas Bate*, Robert
i'Vcrd, and (Jades James, indicted for a rape on
Ann Newman, were put to the bar.
The particulars of this offence, committed on the
person of a young woman near Wellingborough, in
this county, are already before the Public, and must
be in general recollection. In reporting this trial, we
shall therefore state the evidence and the result as
concisely as possible, with a view to avoid giving
that shuck to decency and Moral feeling which the
detail of an enormity so grossly outraging every feel-
ing of humanity would necessarily excite.
Ann Newman, the prosecutrix, stated the facts of
the outrage committed, in a manner which excited
universal sympathy.
The Learned JUDGE was indefatigable in sifting
the testimony 'with the most scrupulous caution, and
after elaborately detailing to the Jury every fact
which had been stated in evidence, and pointing out
the weight and bearing of it, as well in favour of the
prisoners as against them, the Jury, under the direc-
tions of his Lordship, acquitted Ward, and found a
verdict of Guilty against the other five, on whom
sentence of death was immediately passed.
The whole of the capital convicts were reprieved
before the Judge left the town.

OXFORD, JULY 19.
NIWTON V. SEELY.

This was an action upon the warranty of a horse.
The facts of the case, as proved, were, that Mr. New-
ton had purchased of the defendant, a horse-dealer,
fer 151. a grey horse, warranted sound, with which
he afterwards became dissatisfied, and agreed to re-
turn it to the defendant on receiving a chesnut mare.
After keeping the chesnut mare for some time, she fell
down and broke herknees ; the plaintiff then returned
her is the defendant, insisting that she was not sound,
far that blindness had caused the accident. The de-
fendant refusing to take back the mare, the present
action was brought. The evidence was of a most
contradictory nature, and the Jury, under Mr. Ba-
ron Gsaaow's direction, immediately found a ver-
dict for the defendant.

CROWN SIDE.
Mot Matthews. was indiited for a highway robbery
committed on a waggoner named Joseph Thomas,
early in the morning. of the 29th of March, at Net.
tlebed-hill, under circumstances of peculiar violence.
The-prosecutor gave the following account of tho
transaction:—On Thursday, the 28th of March,he
was proddingwith hit waggon to London' frogs'
Orford.. and arrived at the London side of-Dorchester.
bridge about a quarter before ten. in the evening. At
thisflace be was joined by a man who asked per.
mission to ride in the waggon : he said he could Apt
make.room then, but if the man would -walk to Shil.
lingflrrd, he would then let him ride. • To this the
and walked beside the waggon to
dittance of about a :foie:. At Milling,ti
to refresh 410 horses ;hind whU7

M; •.'

stranger agreed,
ford, laomasstoppe