Star.
London, England, 1805-01-17 00:00:00

ADIIIIILIL Tr SESSIONS.

BIPORE SIRWILLIAM SCOTT. SIR Iterintr MURIA,
AND Sit SIMOM•Lt BLANC.

After the ufnal furmsluxd been gone through, Sir
Wm. Scot? delivered the charge to the Grand Jury,
in which he informed them of the offences which
were to comebefore them; and concluded by fay ing,
that their own experience would be the belt guide
they could poflibly have in the Wind's which was for
their confederation. Only four bills were delivered
to them, three of which were found.

Benjamia Waterberfe, and 9 &sr. ettateihry, the for-
mer a boy of 16 and the latter of 13 years of age,
were put to the bar, indieed for that they, on the
nth of Sept. about ha:f a mile from the harbour of
Weymouth, and within the jurifdiflion of the Admi-
ralty Court, did damage a certain trefrel called a (loop
(the property of Benjamin Kerrage), by making and
boring two holes, one of them in and through the
Rarbnard fide, and the other in and through the
larboard fide, by mtans of which the was in great
danger of finking and being loft,
Mr. GURNEY Opened the cafe on the part of the
rofecution, and Mr. Ka P P Rated it.

Patrick Hodge, mailer of the Hoop called the Five
Brothers, e,r)f e.. 1, that nn the 9th of September
was lying about hail a mile fromWeymouth harbour,
in five and a halt fathoms water, laden with Rene,
and in good condition. It would not have taken
more than a charter of an hour to pump out the
water fhe would make in twenty-four hours. At ten
o'clock on the morning of the 9th, he tried her
pump, and found her dry. In the courfe of the
day he came on fluire, and left the prifoners on board
to take care of her. One of the ptifoners was an ap•
prentice, and the other he had taken in on trial. He
came down in the evening, and hailed the limp, but
received no aufwer. He then hailed a man of war's
boat, which was paffing, and (be fent the prifoners
on (bore to him, in the (loop's boat. He went on
board with the mate—and having heaved the anchor,
hoißed the jib-fail for the purpofe of going into the
harbour; but the veffel would not fail, and he found
(he was waterlogged, and that fhe had four feet
water in the hold. He then ran her on (bore, at
the fouth fide of the harbour, to prevent her fink-
ing in deep water, and fent for the owner and Come
other hands to help at the pump. About ten at
night he faw the prifoners on board; but having
gone into the hold to fee where the water came in,
the prifoners went on Wore in the boat, and were
not taken for two days after. The (loop was not
cleared out till five in the morning. He then went
into the hold, and found the lining had been torn
away from her bottom, and two holes bored through
the outficle plank, one at the (larboard, and the
other at the larboard fide. He raid he had no
doubt but that it was in confequence of thefe holes
that the Blip was water-logged—and, be believed, if
he had not come on board at the time he did, the lief-
fel would have funk in lefts than half an hour.

Benjamin Kerridge fupported the evidence of the
preceding witnefs. He was the owner of the veffel,
and was fent for by Hodge, about nine o'clock in
the evening of the isth of September. The (loop
was then juft a-ground, in the lower harbour. When
he came on board he faw Waterhonftr, who told
him his matter fail the fhip was finking. He then
went on fiwre for more affiftance to clear the fhip,
and when he returned the prifoners were gone.—
Having cleared the 'hip, and repaired the damage
it had luftained, the mailer and owner went on thore
and fet off to Dorchetler in prink of the prifoners.
From thence they went to Blandford, where they
met the ptiforer Canterbury, who, upon fecing
them, ran away down a bye-pal:lige, but they foon
came up with and feized him. Upon the owner's
atking him how he could damage the (hip in the
manner he had done, and then run away? the boy
cried. Being informed that Waterhoufe was not far
off, they fet off for Wimbourne, where they difco-
vered him—and upon alk.ng him refpeaing the holes
he alto began to cry, but made no anfwer. They
were then both conveyed to Weymouth, and taken
before the t lagittrates, when they made a coufelfien
of the whole particulars,
Thomas Clarke, clerk to the Town-clerk of Wey.
mouth, was next called. He was prcfent at the ex-
min t:inn of the priloners on the loth of Septem-
ber Taft. He fwnre to the confelton of the prili ners,
law them let Uttir marks to it, and the Mayor lign it.
Mr. Jultice Ls BLANC than addrelfed the Jury, and
laid down the law to them as founded on the ttattne
of 33Geo. 111. which relates to perfuns who wilfully
and malicioufly injure a velfel by any means except-
ing by fire, which is provided fur bT another ftatute,
and fenteuccs the culprit to be transported for a term
tot lets thau 7, or snore titan 14 years.
The Jury rc:ired—and, in about a quarter of an
hour, found then both—Guilty.
Sir. Wm. Sco rr then pronounced the judgment
of the Court, and, after an oppropriate admoni-
tion, kntenced the prifoners tc—fourteen year, tranf-
portation. _ _ _ -

The other ptifonersagainft whom bills were found,
not being as yet brought up from the JiCerent fea-
ports, where they ate in ecnfiniment—the Court
adjourned a: an early hour.