Star.
London, England, 1824-12-22 00:00:00

COURT OF KING'S BENCH-THIS DAY.

PERJURY.
THE KING V. EX-SHERIPP PARKINS.
Mr. SCARLET! said, this was an indictment against
the defendant, Mr. Joseph Wilfred Pat kins, for per-
jury. if there was one crime in civil society which
requited to be put down more than another, it was
perji;ry The object of civil government was to pro-
tect men in the peaceful enjoyment of their rights.
The crime of perjury aimed at the foundation of civil
and criminal laws. This was one of the most serious'
offences that ever came berme a Court of Justice.
Some time, ago a man named Byrne was invited to
England, and a subscription was raised for him. The
defendant was charged with not accounting for the
subset iption received on Byrne's account. Pat kins was
obliged to meet the charge, and in the view of excul-
pation, took several papers to Mr. Thwaites, pro-
prietor of the Morning Herald, for publication.—
Mr. Thwaites was of opinion they ought not to be,
published. Mr. Parkins then called upon Mr. Thwaites,'
accompanied by a Mr. Swift, who had been an attorney's
clerk. Mr. Thwaites was then in a weak state of health,
and by no means a match for Parkins. Mr. Thwaites
informed him the papers were not then in his pnssession:
he had left them at home. Mr. Par kins sat down, and
refused to quit the Office until be received them. Mr.
Swift also came in, and conducted himself in the same
way. Mr. Thwaites, thus menaced by these two ruffians,
rung the bell, and called several men from the composing
room. In their presence,Pat kins and Stir ift n ere requested
to quit the chamber. They refused, and were turned out.
In the endeavour of Parkin to return, he was seized
by a man, whoM Parkins, a strong man, threw down
smite. The scuffles extended to the street, and Mr.
Parkins was taken to the watch-house. PArkins, who
was particular Alma his money, did not bring an ac-
tion, but Swift was made plaintiff in an action against
Mr. Thwaites, and two others, for an assault. The
defendants put a justification on the record, namely
that the plaintiffs refused to leave the office, and were
therefore turned out. Mr. Parkins was examined at
the trial. His examination turned on the question
whether Mr. Thwaites did not desire or request Swift
and Parkins to leave the room ? He said certainly
not. He was then asked, whether he was not told if
he did not leave the room he should be turned out ?
He said certainly not; that" he never knocked a man
down stairs, and that he did not endeavour to return to
the room. " This fellow," said Mr. Scat lett, had the
audacity, on his oath, to deny all this ; the result was,
that several witnesses were called for the defendant,
which induced the Jury to find for the defendant.—
What did this man do ? Witnesses were called whose
testimony bore on several parts of the case, and he
and. Swift went to the Sessions, and indicted every one

of the adverse witnesses trJr perjury. That indictment
had been removed to this Court, and was then
pending. It had been said the defendant was not right
in his mind: he wished Mr. Parkins would go to issue
on that point, because the cunning and adroitness of
Mr. Parkins would never be found in a man that was
mad. The man Swiß was nothing more than an
agent of Parkins. He would never answer the ques-
tion who was his employer, before Parkins. This was
the nature of the case. If this defendant had a mali-
cious motive in bringing the action in the name of
another man, there certainly could not be a case
in which a prosecution for perjury, would be more sa-
lutary. The prosecution was instituted on public
grounds only.
Mr. SCARLETT now called the following witnesses:
Mr. Thomas Nilson, clerk in the office of Mr. Har-
mer, produced the record of the trial of Svr ift v.Thwaites.
—The record being read, stated that the plaintiff was
Charles Swift, and the defendant Mr. Thwaites.
John Cooke, short-hand writer, took a note in short-
hand of the proceedings in the case of Swift v. Thwaites.
Tile witness read his notes, and particularly Parkin's
evidence, which was to the effect stated by the Learned
Counsel.
Mr. Henry Thwaites examined—He was one of the
proprietors of the Morning Herald, in April last. He
remembered Mr. Parkins coming to the office. In the
first instance, he came himself. He came about twelve
at night. The witness was then engaged in the business
of the office. Parkins sat down in a chair and asked for
some papers. Swift came in three or tour minutes after.
The witness did not know Swift. He frequently de-
sired them to quit the room. He rang the bell. He
had previously requested them to leave the room. Ile
rang in consequence of the insolent manner of Mr.
Parkins and Swift. The bell was rung before any hand
was raised against them. They were repeatedly re-
quested by several persons to quit the office. The wit-
ness gave directions to have them turned out of the
room. Nothing was said by himself, but others said,
if you do not go quietly, you must take the conse-
quence. He did not recollect anything Swift said, be-
fore he was turned out. The witness told Parkins he
had not the papers there.' He was not aware of Par-
kins's intention to come that evening. The witness was
defendant in the action brought by Swift.
Mr. C. F. WILLIAMS said, Mr. Parkins had desired

him to ask the Court whether Mr. Parkins could put
questions as well as his Counsel ?
The LORD CHILI JUSTICE said, he had never
,known an instance of a person who had employed

Counsel being at liberty it put questions, gilt he irtrobi
allow it in this instance.
Air. PARKINS then took his seat by his Comet, and
cross•esamined Mr. Thwaites. The witness had beori
proprietor of Me Herald since 1818. Before that he
transacted business for his father, at Manchester. He
was then asked, who assisted him in getting up the
Morning Herald IP—The witness said, a Gentleman
named Ratcliffe was editor. He knew Mr. Wallace,
who at one time was eJitor of the paper.
The Lotto CRISP JIJSTICI said, the questions Were
a waste of the public time.
The witness resumed. He generally attended the
Morning Herald to do business about ten at night. It
was about ten or eleven when he went to the office on
the night Parkins called. Parkins had sent articles to
him.. He told Mr. Parkins if he sent him only cop'cs
of articles he sent to all the papers they mere of ,•()
value to him. He never wade a proposition to wit,ress,
to write down Cobbelt. When he came into the rot th,
Mr. Pal kips asked him for the papers, and there was a
warmth in his manner that witness bad never seen before.
—There were three chairs in the room. Parkins came into the
room, asked for papers, and on his saying he had them not there,
Parkins said impudently that witness had them therein the drawers.
Swift did net come in with Parkins, His belief was, that it was
the intention of Parkins and Swift to insult him, as Barry
O'Meara did the brother Of the Editor of the Tones He was
struck by the audacious behaviour of Parkins, and his insolent va-
gabond attitude. Mr. Robeson or Mr. Dwyer came into the room
when he rang the bell. P.trkins had refused to go, and was turned
out. Mr. Parkins never corrected the writings of the witness.
--Ile did not see any one strike Parkins. They laid hold of him.
Witness told the Magistrate, at the Police Office,:that Parkins had
brought some prize-fighter, seme blackguard.
Mr. PARKINS—A prize-fighter is not a blackguard ; did you not
swear I brought a prize-fighter. ? Answer. I do not recollect swear-
ing anything of the kind.
Re-examined by Mr. &Austere—lie said Swift was above his
own size.
Mr. Ricummen, Clerk to the Magistrates at Bow street, pro-
duced a book, by which[ it appeared that Parkins was brought frogs
the Watch-house on the 18th of April. That was the ordinary
mode of entering charges front the watch house.
Mr. Robert Bell examined.—He was a Reporter to the Herald
in April, 182.3. Ile was writing in the front room, looking into
Catherine-street. ?Ir. Thwaites generally sat in the Editor's room.
On the night he was there, he heard Mr. Thwaites, in a loud tone
of voice, desire some one to gait his room ; the desire was uttered
more than once; he heard no answer given. Before the bell ring,
be went in to see what was the matter; he saw Mr. Parkins, anti
another whom he did not know; lie did not see the mart's face. Ile
just opened the door, and, when he saw_ it was Parkins, retired.
When the bell rang, persons came down, and the witness sa
remove Parkins, who made great resistance against those who el,-
deavoured to remove him ; agreat straggle took place on the stairs.
Cross-examined by Mr. PARICINS.—The witness is Editor and
part proprietor of the Dispeta (a Paper produced by Mr. Parkins).
'The witness was asked whether an article in that Paper, which was
in the Dispatch, had been inserted by him ? The witness said it was
pirt in by his order. Mr. Harmer wasa proprietor of the Dispatch.
The witness ma not then employed upon theHerrekl. In 1816, he
was appointed Reporter of the Herald, and continued on it antis the
end of thelast Session of Parliament. On the night Parkies was
turned out, several Gentlemen were writing in the front room. Par-
kins made a violent resistance, and was taken down st.:irs by
seven or eight:persons. The witness had no hostility against the de-
fendant. lie had never placarded him about the streets of London.
He was not the friend of Parkins.
The trial was still proceeding *hen oar Paper went to press.
The Court is excessively crowded. If the trial is concluded in
time, we shall stop the press to give the verdict.