Star.
London, England, 1822-01-29 00:00:00

SOUTIIWARK SESSIONS.

Yesterday these Sessions were opened before the
Right Hon. the Loan MAYOR, the Sheriffs, the COM-
MON SERJRANT, Aldermen Woos and SMITH.
James Saigon and Thomas Poat were tried upon
an indictment for having had in their possession a
quantity of Sissies stores, they sot being Contractors.
The Jury found Sellison Guilty, but acquitted Poat.
The COURT sentenced Sellison to be imprisoned for
six months, and to be publicly whipped.
Thomas Iliggias was indicted for stealing four
ounces of silver, the property of D. Fowell, Esq.
The prosecutor stated that he lives at No. 22, Ni-
cholas-lane; and, en the 20th of October, he returned,
with Mrs. Fowell, in the Eclipse steam-boat, from
Margate. On their arrival, at night, opposite the
Tower, a number of watermen came to assist the
passengers on shore. He had on board a box, con
taming plate and clothes to the value of £2OO. He
had seen it at the time of their arrival. In about half
an hour after, looking for his luggage, he discovered
that it had disappeared.
Mrs. Fowell stated, that she recollected the pri-
soner as one of those watermen who came to assist
passengers on shore. She was sure he was the man,
although he was now very differently dressed: there
was a silver tea-pot and pepper-box amongst the
plate in the box.
Mr. Roberts, a silversmith, stated, that on the 22d ,
of October, the Monday after the Saturday when the
robbery was committed, the prisoner offered him for
sale a silver tea-pot and pepper-box, beaten up in a
mass, as if for the purpose of destroying the identity.
When asked how he became possessed of them ? he
answered they were his fathers; but giving no clear
account why he had beaten them up, the witness gave
him in custody of an officer.
An officer deposed, that the prisoner told him that
he had picked up the property at the water-side, on
Sunday night.
The articles were identified by the prosecutor, by
several marks which had not been obliterated.

The prisoner, in his defence, repeated his story of'
having found the plate, and denied that he had given
any other account to the silversmith.

Several witnesses were called to prove an alibi, but
they contradicted each other. These witnesses gave
him a good character.
The Jury found him guilty, but recommended him
to mercy on account of his excellent character.
The Commux &MEANT said, the Court were al-
ways ready to pay deference to the recommendations
of the Jury, but great lenity had already been shewn
to the prisoner, by not indicting him for the capital
offence ; and the circumstances under which the rob-
bery was committed were such as rendered it impos-
sible for the Court, in the exercise of their duty to the
Public, to overlook or mitigate the punishment: they
' therefore found it their duty to sentence him to be
transported for seven years.

ATTEMPT TO BREAK OUT OF NEWGATE.—SatIlr-
day night a daring attempt was made by 13 convicts,
under sentence of transportation, to break out of this
prison. On Sunday morning the turnkeys went to
one of the north wards near Newgate-street, and on
letting out the above culprits, they observed some
mortar and lime on the floor. Upon examining the
place, they found a 44 horse bedstead" raised up,
which they removed, and discovered a hole, two feet
square, in the wall, penetrating even to the outer
stone work. This circumstance being communicated
to Mr. BROWN, the Governor, he instantly made every
inquiry; but the convicts all denied any knowledge
of the transaction ; however, he threatened to confine
them in separate cells, and feed them on bread and
water, when one of them confessed the ringleaders to
be three desperate ruffians, named Foley, Pc? ceval, and
Davis, the first under sentence of transportation for
seven years, for robbing Mr. Alderman WOOD'S bro-
ther ; the second for life, for a burglary ; and the
last, for 14 years, for forging the mark of the Gold-
smiths Company. They immediately had:body irons
placed upon them, and were put in another ward from
the other ten. Mr. BROWN then informed them that he
had orders from Government to send off convicts,
and in consequence.of their conduct, they might rest
assured they should not be twenty-four hours longer
in Newgate. Foley d—d him, and told him to do
his worst; however, they began to feel the inconve-
nience of body irons, and yesterday morning ad-
dressed the following letter, literally as we give it, to
Mr. BROWN : " Newgate, Jan. 28,1822.
" Sot— We, the undersigned, most humbly beg, of your
great kindness, to unburden us with the body irons • we also
wish you, Sir, to understand, that we regret our foolish at-
tempt, and shall feel ever grateful should you so far condescend
to relieve us.—With much humility we beg leave to subscribe
ourselves, your mast obedient servants,
" JOSEPH FOLEY.
" WILLIAM PERCEVAL.
"W. R. 11. %OWN, Esq." " ROBERT DAVIS.
The other men have since confessed that the three
ringleaders stood over them with large knives, and
swore the first man that gave an alarm they would
butcher on the spot. They accomplished their work by
taking the winder of the range, and expected to have
succeeded through the stone work on Sunday night,
had not the discovery of their design taken place. The
above convicts, with twenty-two others, were last
night sent off to the hulks at Sheerness, escorted by
a party of Dragoons.