Star.
London, England, 1809-07-03 00:00:00

HARWICH, JULY c

Sailed yesterday the King George, Captain SAmq•
DELS; with mails and passengers for Gottenburgh.—
Arri ved the Laic, Captain Dad., with mails and
passengers, from Heligoland.
FROM LLOYD'S DIST.

GRAVESEND, JULY 2.—Arrived the Hamilton Moore, Beck- ,
with, front Boston ; Jane, Coley, from Norfolk ; Figleaf, Wesson,
from New York; Sarah, Murray, from Rio Janeiro ; and Mar-
garetha Berthier, Jeiiz, from Malaga. Sailed the Good Intent,
Lambert, for Berbice ; Ebenezer, Allen, for Newfoundland ;
Alexander, Sands ; Lovely Ann, Webster; Ply, Sleightholns
;
s>•d Thistle, Marshal, for Heligoland.

OLD Laz.zr. ✓ar 1.

NMI Miry mil, who we* apprellebded some time since for
maliciously shooting at some risen who were on the outside of her
uncle'a palings, in the parish of Sunbury, was put to the bar, in
order to take her trial for the offence. She walked into Court in
a firm and collected manner, though apparently a little alarmed.
She stood capitally indicted, under the statute, commonly called
Lord Ellenbonnigh's Art, for that she, having in her hand a loaded
gun, did maliciously shoot at Robert Coombe*, with intent him to
kill and murder.
Robert Coombes deposed he lives at Sunbury, and is a fish-
monger. On Sunday, the 14th day of May last, about six o'clock
in the evening, he was walking in Kempton Park, together with'
Joseph Constable, Henry Parker, William Stapleton, and Henry
Hanson. He heard a gun go off. He went up to the place whence
he thought the shot came. He saw the place in the paling thro'
which the ball had passed. The prisoner was standing on the in-
side, in the premises belonging to her uncle. Mr. Rolfe. She had
a gun in her hand. He asked her what she had been doing ? she
said she knew perfectly well. He told her she was doing very
wrong, and if she were to do it again, be would go over the pal-
ing and take the gun from her. She had her maid with her, and
she asked her what impertinent fellow that was ? and, turning to
him, said, " if you do not go about your business, I will take the
liberty of firing at you." He said, " You may do as you like,
I shall not go." -She directed the gun at him, and snapped it
three times, but it would not go off ; she took it from her
shoulder, and, opening the pan, found she bad forgot to
prime it. She then asked her maid for the powder-horn, which
she gave her. She put some powder into the parr, and shut it. He
saw all this—he saw the powder. Paiker begged him to get be.
hind a tree, or she would shoot bins—he did so. In a few se-
conds be looked on oae side the tree, and saw the gun directed
towards him; when she saw his head she then discharged the gun
at him. He imreedi e.ely got over tho paling, and took the gun
from her. He then wets_ to the spot where the ball had come
through on the first shot—she follewed. He threatened he would
take out e warrant against her—she said he might do so if he
liked, but she would as soon shoot him as not. He, on the next
day, procured a warrant. He did not examine the tree, behind
which he had stood. He saw her put shot into the gun—she
poured it out of a shot-belt, without measuring it—this was im-
nsediately before the List time she fired—it was before the gun
missed fire. He had no conversation with Cm r risoner, either
before or since the transaction took place.—The witness, at the
conclusion of his direct examination, presented a paper to the
Learned Judge, who, upon lookipg it over, toll him it was of no
use upon the present occasion. Previous to his cross-examination
by Mr. Gu a ta t Y, Counsel fair Miss Yorke, a model, in wood, of
ithe premises, was produced, for the purpose of enabling the Court
and hry, by reference to it, to understand the relative situation
of the parties. Upon his cross-examination, he said he used to
carry ish about the country, in a cart, for the support of an aged
father and mother and family. Part of Kempton Park belonged
to Mr. Hill, and part to Rolfe. The fence (as marked on the
model) divided their grounds. There were trees on Mr. Hill's
side of the fence, where he was; they were very large ones, about
et feet, or 4 feet in diameter. The tree behind which he got was
three yards from the paling, and about 15 from where the Pri-
soner stood. He was sure he saw her put the powder into the
pan out of the powder-born. Parker and he afierwatds went to
the George puhlic.house in the neighbourhood; he did nor send
Parket to the Prisoner for the purpose of extorting money from
her. He took the. gun to the public-house—be afterwards re-
turned anti took the piece of paling the ball had gone through,
and put another in its plane. He was positive he used no ill lan-
stage whatever to Miss Yorke, or any other than what he had
already stated. He believed he threw a piece of the paling at her,
after she bad fired at him, being apprehensive she was about to
load the gun again. He took out the warrant the following day,
(Monday), on Tuesday a hearing was appointed at Bow-street,'
foe the Friday following. He came to town on that day, but did
not appear before the Magistrate ; lw denied he received any
money for the purpose of absenting himself, but did so because
he was advised to go home. He did quarrel with Parker on their
way home and stript to fight with bins, but it was not about any
money. He *did not know that he ever laid any wager that he
would convict Miss Yorke, but he was told this morning that he
bad laid a pot of sixpenny, not that he would convict her, but that'
if she was convicted she would be cast for death. He never said
he could swear away a life or two.
Question by the COURT.—Why did you not get behind the
Liege lateen first you saw the gun presented at you ?—Because I
was not friginened ; .1 would sooner lose my life than be MO*.
toed at or run away front a woman.
C.3URT.—Yet at last you condescended to get behind a tree !
. Henry Parker, the next witness, is a carpenter, residing at Sun-
berg. He was in the park at the time, he saw Miss Yorke in the
padlock with a gun in her hand, holding it to her shoulder; she
tote: it duwn ; her servant came up with something in her hand,
be did not then know what. This was before the first shot was
fired. She seemed to prime the piece, and put it to her shoulder
again. He walked towards her to see what she was about, and
immediately the gun went off ; the ball passed through the paling,
two or three paces before him; he saw the dust flyby the hall
striking the gravel of the road ; he went up tb her and asked her,
whom she was firing at She said it was no business of his. He
said she bad like to have shot him as he was passing along the
road; she was then in the act of putting powder into the gen ;
he saw her do it; she appeared in a passion, and said to him, if he
interrupted her in her private walks, she would take the liberty
of firing at him ; she lifted thegun, and he got behind a tree ; sham
called to the girl fur shot, which she. poured into the gun out of/
the shot-belt—she was still In a passion; at this time Richard
Coombes came up ; he said he would get over the paling, and take
the gun from her; she asked who he was ? her servant replied,
she did not know; she said she would take the liberty of firing
at him ; however, Coombes toll her she might fire if she liked ;
she took up the piece and aimed at him; she snapped it three
times, but it would not go off; she took it from her shoulder, and
called to her servant for powder ; she printed it, and presented
again at him; the witness then called out to hint, " For Gon's
sake get out of the way, or she will blow your brains out." He
did so ; he got in a rage, and made a bit of a more front behind
the tree, and she fired at him; Coombes then attempted to get
over the paling, a piece of it broke in his band, and he threw it at
her; he then got over the paling, and the witness, fearing he
would be rash, got over also, and laid hold of the gun ; she was
In a violent passion • he let go the gun, and Coombes took it from
her; she said she fiend at him for trespassing; the witness would
have given her the gun back again, but she threatened if she had
It she would lire again. Seeing her so rash, he got back again
over the paling, and left her there. He saw her two or three
times since ; twice at Bow-street °like. He had a conversation
with her once. She sent for him to a public-helm at the top of.
Bow-street, for the purpose of making it up. She asked him what
he would take to snake it up ?• He said he could do nothing; she
should have considered before she acted so. She replied," Don't.
tell me of before, but what you can do now.".—Coombes was
called into the room to her, and he left it.
Upon his cross-examination by Mr. I.loeteen ra, he said Coombes
was brought in while he was in the room ; he was not in com-
pany with Coombe* In the Park, but met him. there. 'l'he height
of the paling, which he measured, was four feet five inches, and
the trees were very large, so as to be capable of protecting any
one taking shelter behind them; thirty or forty yards farther back
from the paling the shot struck against a tree in the direction, viz.!
teen or eighteen ft et from the ground; be himself picked up sonietl
pieces of the branches, which he supposed were broken off by the
shot; be himself pointed out to Mr. Rolfe afterwards where
Coombes stood; he examined the tree, and there was no shot I
lodged in it, nor was there any in the paling ; there were several
expressions made use of, and there were such things as bad words
passed, but not before the gun was snapped; she placed the gun
to her shoulder as well as be could. He was at Bow-street on the
Friday, but did not come forward to be examined ; Mr. Rolfe
had sent Saunders, his steward, to keep him away. He denied
receiving any money, but some was forced on his wife; he did
not receive £l5, nor any pa-t of it; nor did he say that 410
would not do, but that ;615 would satisfy him; neltbet did he
refuse a note on Mr. Rolfe to that amount, saying he must have
cash. There was a calculation made of their expences, and the
`draft
was offered for at, but he refused it. He persisted in de-
claring he had never received any money. They dead together
' on their way home, and Coorebes and he quarrelled; this was on
the Monday. It was not any thing relative to this business they
' quarrelled about; but Coombes .was very drunk; he wanted to
get off the grass where he. was lying, arid he ttruckehim.
Lavender, the Bow-street Officer, produced the gun, which
had bees deposited in bis custody.
William Stapleton, Joseph. Constable, and Henry Hanson,
merely deposed to some of the most material of the preseding
facts. The last witness, upon kis cross examination by Mr. Gur-
oey, swore, that he went home from. town with Coombes and
Parker ; they quarrelled on the way ; the former stript to fight,
wad the latter struck bin). He did not know which of them
stoke in pertictdar ; but both of three said the ether bad far-

111111,11 himself. The conversation began eis:Jut an onelf—i (4. ter
was given to Parker's wife. Coombe", ;routed flee half of
Parker was not agreeable to it. His wife had got it, aad he
knew nothiag about it. He acid not think either of thsn was b
liquor at the time.
Here the evidence on the port of the prose7ution closed
The Prisofler, upon bring called upon by the C..urt u site chose
to say any thing in her defence, &Awed, in so low R tone of
voice that it was necessary to repeat it atter her, that she did ant
point the gun at Coombe', nor did she intend to hit him; he !And
used very gross and insolent language to her, and shentcrely fired
the gun with intent to frighten him.
Elizabeth Ton, her servant, was stalled ; she was along with
her mistress on the Sunday when she fired ; she had no powder
and shot till after the first fire; sheherself blotted them to her.
The shot was in a belt, but the powder she brought loose in a
paper; she swore positively there was. no powder-horn: Her
mistress put the powder into the gun wall bee fingers out of the
paper, and the shot out of the belt. Thogetwee no paper put I.
between the powder and the shot, naellistshe ever draw the ram.
rod (which was now drawn oat of its place in the gun, as proslu•
cod by Lavender, and was found to have beet' broken off full
four inches short of its length, and of course useless for the put.
pose) ; she then snapped it, the muzzle pointing towards the
ground. Coombes peeped out from behind the tree, cad said—
" You can't fire it, there is nothing in it." To which her Mis-
tress replied—" If you stand, I will shew you what I Can do."—
She then fired. The gun was certainly pointed towards the tree,
but she could not say at hint. She did not wait to see the re-
mainder.
Mr. Rolfe, the prisoner's uncle, examined the place as pointed
out to him by Parker, and there was no mark of shot either in
the tree or in the paling. It was not possible for any one standing
where she stood to hoer one situated where Coombes was, over
the paling, owing to itt height, four feet nine inches dice?, and
nine inches open work at the top, making, in the whole, five fret
six inches. The gen itself was of a peculiar construction, so as to
prime itself by throwing the powder into the barrel. He was pis.
sitive there was no tree nearer than t5O yards, in the direction
where Coombes stood, nor did he ever hear of the circumstance
of any tree being hit, till he heard it this day stated in Court.
He bore testimouy to the character of his niece for good temper.
The son of this witness did the same.

The Learned Jt'nc& recapitulated the whole of the evidence to
the Jury, laying down the law of Lord Ellenborough's Act upon
the case, commenting upon it as he went along; and the Jury,
without a moment's hesitation, pronounced their verdict—Not
Guilty.
Miss Yorke then modestly curtsied to the Court, and retired.
She was dressed, rather muffled, in black, and was attended into
the Court, and during her stay, by a female servant.
The Court was crowad at an early bout with an uncommonly
genteel usemblage of people, particularly with females of the
most beautiful and elegant appearance, litho Sucked there to Wit-
ness the singular trial of this young Lady.