Star.
London, England, 1822-09-16 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.

Saturday, James TVrif,ht, a miserable looking old
man, aged 94, stood indicted for an assault upon the
person of Eliza Harris, a little girl, nine years old.
Mr. ADOLPHUS stated the case for the prosecution.
He observed, that the parents of the little prosccutrix
were persons of respectable character, although in
the humble walk of life, the father being coachman
to a foreign Nobleman, residing sometimes at Rich-
mond, and at other times at Par son's-green, at which
place the defendant was keeping the house and garden
of a Gentleman who was absent. On the 2d of Au-
gust the little girl was sent by her mother on an er-
rand to the father, some short distance; but being
alarmed at the time she stayed, the mother went in
search of her. Amongst other places, she rung at
the garden-gate of the house in which the defendant
was residing. A little boy answered the door, and,
upon inquiring, he told her that he had seen her little
girl, and that she was either in the house or garden.
She searched the garden and the lower rooms of the
house, but to no purpose. At length the defendant
appeared ; she inquired of him where her child was ?
but he denied that she had been there at all. This
naturally roused her suspicion, and she insisted upon
going all over the house, but this the old man re-
tused. At this moment a Gentleman named Yol ke
came past the door ; she stopped him; told him her
case, and implored his assistance.' Mr. Yorke went
with her to the defendant, and insisted upon going
with the mother through every part of the house.
The old man strongly resisted this; but Mr. Yorke
was not to be trifled with; he therefore forced his way
into the house, and upon the second floor they met
the little child in a state of great agitation, coming
out of a bed-room. They gave the old man into the
custody of a constable; and upon questioning the
child, it appeared that the old fellow had met her re-
turning from her father, and induced her to go into
the garden under the pretence of giving her fruit,
and subsequently took her up stairs, saying he would
give her some peaches The Learned
Gentleman then proceeded to make some very Judi-
' cious remarks upon the law applicable to the present
case, and concluded by observing, that if the irtstruc-,
dons he had received were true, there could not be
any doubt of the prisoner's guilt.
Mrs. Harris, the child's mother, together with the
little child and Mr. Yorke, were severally examined,
but their evidence was a complete echo of the Learned
Counsel's statement. It is worthy of remark that
Mr. Alley, who was the prisoner's Counsel, did not
put a single question to either of the witnesses..
Mr. ALLEY addressed the Jury for the defendant
in a very low tone of voice. He implored them to
cast away all prejudice from their minis; he re-
marked upon the great improbability of a man of the
defendants advanced age-attempting the criine im-
puted to him ; and concluded by contending that, if
all the evidence was true, there was not sufficient
le4al proof to sustain the present indictment.
two witnesses were called to defendant's character.
The CHAIRMAN summed up the evidence. He re-
marked that a most strong proof of the prisoner's
guilt was the fact of his denying the child to have
been in the house.
The Jury found the prisoner Guilty.
The CHAIRMAN, in passing sentence upon the de-
fendant, observed that it was dif4cult to apportion
adequate punishment to such a crime, for were he to
do so, looking at the defendant's advanced age, -it
might cost him his life. Under these circumstances
the judgment of the Court was, that the defendant
should be sent to solitary confinement in the House
of Correction for two months.

ECCLESIASTI.C.AL PE amo Vows:
The Used Chancellor lad appointed, the Re*. John Alines.
Gtaliatn, Fellow of Queen's College, Cambkidgerso theVitawagis
F oldie Church of the Holy Trinky, York.
The Rev. 8.11110,1 Savory, M.A. to dm Vicarage of Houghton
Juni ilarpley, Norfolk. •
Ttse Rev. John Glanville, to the Perpetual Cure of St. Ga.•
main's, end the Rectory of Jaeobanivl Cornwall.
The Rev. A. C. Player, M.A. to the Lasing of Heade** is
the catinty of Kent.
The Rev. S Itedhesd,to the Vicarage of Calverley, Yorksbkce
The Rev. Matthew Cheater, to the Perpetual Curacy of &-
Helen's Auckland, Dtchant.
An Irbil Paper The-fo/loWlirg promotions are swabs
of in the highest circles, as those likely to take place to cense.%
quence of the deprivation of the Bishop of elagher t The Bioko,
of Down to be translated to (Uglier ; the Dean of St. Patricies•
to be the new Bishop; the Hon. and Rev: Mr. PeintruKto be
I)ean of St. Patrick's; and Mr. Plunkett's Wm to Inerothe Paris&
of lit. Anne, in kis stead."

A poor fellow, a well-known character, wherba•
for many years stood at the top of Buckingham',
street, Strand, selling gingerbread, lemon cakes, ace,
who uent by the nick name of Joe the Biker, ye3tefr
day morning, as usual, received his breakfast from•
his wife, and having ate it withi good apretite, he-
!exclaimed 14 Well, I have had a good tuck oat," iit:-
staittly dropped down, and expired without a groan.

Wednesday evening, an Inquest was held at the
Duke of Cumberland public-house, in Cumberland-
street, Manchester, on the body of Mr. AlezanJer
Major, who was found dead in Roston-street, Par-
iili E nt-street, early the same morning. A verdict,
orded—" That the deceased died in conse-
of a diseased brain and lungs, and not firm
y violence done to him by any person whomsoever.'

Maxston-liousx—Saturday, J. Feener was brought up on a
charge of felony. The prisoner is an old soldier, and having
been requested by a comrade who had lust his arm to fetch
him a shirt from a trunk at his lodgings, went there, and find..
ing the box also contained 50 dollars andu good 'flock of deaths,
stripped it entirely of its contents, and absconded. Wbtm met
with in Thames-street, ►e had one of the complainant's shirts
then on his person.—The LORD Alwros said, he was surpriszd
witness so scandalous a transaction. It would scarcely be be.
lieved, that a stout young fellow like the prisoner would take to
base an advantage of an unfortunate comrade, with whom he
had fought side by side, and who had met with so severe a mis-
fortune in battle.—He was remanded.