Star.
London, England, 1824-07-31 00:00:00

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101.-

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCr.
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. . HERTFORD, JULY So.
Jaws Harris, James. Davis, and Jaines Unit:, were
arraigned upon an indictment for a burglary in the
dwelling-house of J. Haines, steward of Ettil Cowper,
at Hertingfordbury, Ana stealing Bank notes and other
valuables to a large amount, the property of his Lordship.
The prisoners pleaded not guilty ; but in consequence
re the expected length of time which the case was likely
to take up, the trial was postponed until to-morrow
'morning, at eight o'clock.
The Cotter then proceeded to the folloaing case of
burglary, which has excited considerable interest in
the County :
William 411 NY-shall the elder, William Marshall the
younger, and John Cartwright, were indicted for bur-
glariously breaking and enter ing the dwelling-house of
Charles Gordon, Esq. at Berkhampstead, in the night of
the 17th March last, aid stealing therein various arti-
cles of gold and silver plate, and Bank notes and gold
coin to A considerable amount.
Mr. Serjeant 'FADDY and Mr. Bern:snick conducted
the prosecution. The Learned Serjeant gave to the Jury
an outline of the case. In the evening of the 17th of
March, when the prosecutor and his family retired to
rest, the house was fastened. At an early hour the fol
lowing morning, when the gardener came to his work
on the premises, he discovered that the house had been
entered at the pantry window and robbed. He imme-
diately aroused the heti or servant, when it was disco-
vered that various al titles of plate were stolen from the
butler's pantry, and that the prosecutor's library had
been entered, and his desk, containing thirty•two gui-
neas, nine half-guineas, four seven-shilling pieces, and
Inurteen five-pound Bank of Euglend notes, were miss-
ing. Upon the lawn before the house the desk was
found, broken open, the valuable contents gone, and the
papers scattered on the ground. The butler's box had
also been broken open, and a pair of his smell-clothes
were missing, but they were afterwards found upon a
fence treat the house. Suspicion falling upon the pri-
soners, they were apprehended on suspicion .f this and',
other robberies. The accomplice, Ingram, was now to
'be admitted as an approver; but the Learned Serjeant
warned the Jury that they ought to receive his evidence
with great caution, for although a competent witness in
ipoint of law, yet as he was deeply interested himself
in avoiding the consequences of his oven crimes, it be-
hoved them to watch firs evidence with jealousy, and
not give him full credence, unless. he was coirobo•
rated by other circumstances, which would be proved
in evidence, by unsuspected testimony. The accomplice
.Ingram would state that the prisoners and himself had
planned the robbery in London, at the suggestion of
Marshall the elder, who, having been a servant of the
prosecutor, was well acquainted with his late master's
premises, and had basely used that knowledge to effect
the heinous crime with which he now stood charged.—
Having planned the robbery, they met together at Writ-
lord on the 17th March, and thence proceeded to the
prosecutor's house at Berkhampsted, and after the fa-
mily had retired :o rest, they proceeded to effect the
robbery, under the direction of Marshall the eldeet An
entrance was effected at the pantry window, and'after
plundering the house of the property mentioned in the
indictment, they returned to London by the St. Alban's
coach. In their way they shared the gold coin which
had•been stolen. The rest of the property they dis-
p-sed of to a Jew, named Barnett, in Catherine-wheel-
'alley, 13ishopsgate-street, and divided the proceeds
amongst them —These erre the leading circumstances
of the accomplice's sect y, and it he should be confirmed,
as no doubt he would in many of the facts he would
. state, the duty of the Jury would be, to pronounce their
verdict according to the evidence.
Charles Gordon, Esq. the prosecutor, who appeared
to be advanced in years, proved that the desk in cities-
arm had been on his library table on the evening of the
17th of March. It contained the monies aril bank-
notes mentioned in the indictment ; it also contained a
pocket-bock and tin case. He saw the desk lying on
the lawn next morning, robbed of its contents. The '
prisoner William Marshall, the elder, had lived with
him as a set var,t.
John Ingram, the accomplice, was then examined.
In the commencement of his evidence he was manifestly
trying to hang back, and appeared disinclined to say
anything affectt,ig the prisoners. He was warned by
the Learned judge, that he must speak the truth, and
tell the »Is .le stet y ; for if, a. his Lordship told him,
there vt as any shuffling or attempt at evasion, he would
not receive that protection which the law held out to
him as an approver. lie should still he tried for this
offence, and therefore he gave his testimony with a to• e
about his neck. The witness said he wished to tell the
truth, to the best of his recollection. He said fie re- .
membered going with the three prisoners to a house at
Bei klranrpstead, but he had not the least recollection of
the day, nor even of the month ; be bad met them se-
veral times before at the Cock public-house, in a street
at the back of the Haymarket, the name of which be din
not recollect ; he accompanied the prisoner Car is right
from London; they started together from Oztor Uroad,
in the moi ning, by the Watford coach; they met the two
Marshals at Watford, where they stopped by appoint-
ment; they went to a public house at Watford and had
refreshment. Having quitted the house they went down
a lane, and came to a hovel near a Gentleman's house.
They sat down a considerable time under the hovel,
and from thence they proceeded to the house, which
they entered. They got over the garden-wall first ;
there was some kind of glass frame and a net in the gar-
den; and he thought they tossed them into the pond,
nt was not sure; he thought he might seriture to say
that they tossed them into the pond. So many things
occurred since that he could nut recollect; he thought
be tossed them himself into the pond; indeed he could',
venture to say that he did ; he could not carry the cir-
cumstances exactly in his memory. They proceeded
then to the house. The prisoner, Wm. Mar•ball the
elder, strewed him the pantry window, and all round the
house. They were all intoxicated at the time.
The reluctance of the w itness to say anything against
his accomplices again became manifest, and the Judge
warned him of the consequences if he did not speak the
whale truth.
He then burst into tears, and addressing the Judge
said--,, In the unfortunate situation in which I am
placed, I find it difficult to bring myself to say
anything against my fellow-men at the bar, it goes
against my heart; it is my duty to do so, and I mean
to speak the truths I hope your Lordship will have
mercy upon them: lam truly sorry for the WA) for
they are not persons of the worst character."
The Junog told him he, as a witness, coat* make no
bargains wish a Court of Justice; be mutt tell the
truth, or forfeit his own claim to mercy. ',:. '
Tile witness then proceeded with more fftedom to