Star.
London, England, 1823-02-21 00:00:00

one of the most tfeacherbus theiriatiis-Ithat he hja
ever found in any witness ; and, if. so, what credit
could be due to the stated rectifietichis a such a
Man, at a &Suttee of title orten years Ps:Ail 'man,
foo,.who kOurd liet read, • could at leastfoi to
his' a4fEilavit of 1814 he had affixed his signatarel:—
and if this inconsistency or singularity, call-it which
you will, be taken into the consideration of the linty,
in connection. with the astonishing inwerlittiOn 'of
the memory of the witness, there was byt one con-
clusion at which they could arrive, and that was to
discredit the evidence of such a man as t;)tally nn=
Wofthy of weighing anything in the judeilent that.
was to guide theM to their most itispoitain decision.
Nor was Mills the only one in this discreditable situa-
tion. Poor was exactly in a similar situatitnt, and
merited a similar treatment at the hands of the Jury.
Secks, too—that most audacious alehouse man, keep-
ing the public-house, in Baker-street, Whitechapel—
this freeholder of Aliddlesex—( Mr. Bytig • hmg,lted)
this man, «110 has a vote for that important county

INV $e Itt t f ilil li tit for Itrintlitlittn to hdeb Iri His
podho at one time. (a laugh.)
Mr. George Palmer was next examlnect—lle acid I,is *tiler,
11R. ?Meat!, /tad doted Ira Mb thrtlatiltr'i Were lolled
ttf oo thei 6thl August to !Mike Lord- Portamoutla's will; never
hici conieraitron. with Iris I.prd-drip re pectin; the Thnsons
France was d cleft 'ln Mr. Ranson's' ollfee *heir 'Marts
Isle acting for Lady Portsmoutb ; went to Mr. Skirrow, and
kilitiainttd him that h'e sivanted to see Lord Portsmouth. Mr.
Skirtchviald bts Lordship had gone to I lertsboarhe, and wit-
ness did. not erre bin). Dlr.. Skiro4w gave hint a check upon
Tirtationhilils foe 21/4..`11Q, Which he received ; the draft was
3l'Vled by MY. N. Viikfwes.
By the Jury. When the proceedings were going on respect-
ing a fOrdier n;Ainitsqitin, received .instructilnis from Lord
Portamanth, and then went to Hurtsbourne in December, 1515,
and remained there six days; Mr. 11.iiis, the II ,w-street 11/..igis-
ltrate, was there, assisting in framing :be affidavits there were
rtwepty people at a time ht ifitiher ; if there had been any dif-
fetence in the Instntitions he had received from Lord and Lady
Portsmouth, he certainly should have httended to Lord Ports-
mouth; bad his Lordship's instructions in writing ; those in.truc-
dons were perfectly rational; did not witness any of his emote-
ments, was principally engaged in framing the affidavits; several
persons came for the purpose Of framing affidavits.; op to the year
1517, elwiri considered the firm as his Lordship's Solicitors;
ihe expressed strong indication against Mr. Newton Fellowes,
When he Was at Ihrtsbefurne but never coinitlained airairiO Me
conduct of the 'Hanson fato‘ly. ¶l. once carte to drink tea
with witness; he was not accompanied by Alder, Charles
son, or Lady Portsnininh; never 54%/1 M.ss conduct himself fami-
liarly with the servants ; when there was a dinner 'party, his .
Lordship drank wine sod water; the servants never found it
necessaty to check the couversation' when there was, wlarge
party; Lady Purtimouth was not at the table; he diSplaYed a
weak mind; did not recollect his Lordship's ever speak* to
him upon any other subject than the one respecting the affili-
Nils ; could not state the conversation thit occurred at tea, bOt
it was chiefly 'unon butillness; never heard him name-Xider until
just before this basiness commenced,; Eras seen men %Atli Weaker
minds than Lord Portsmouth, and Noblemen too—(a laugh.)
Adjourned at four o'clock.

( Mr. Ikllish laughed A-Mr:it:o74le, too, was. a
freeholder of Middlesex, but he hoped that 'the oaths
and votes of the generality of suth freeholders were
worth something more than that. of this -publican—
sinner he would not call him—but he had sworn most
positively that Lord I'. was so rank a fool as not to
know the sun from the Moon. The next witness Was
the sleek Mr. Green, and he could not but observe,
that he was a gentleman of a sallow face, of most
demure countenance, of hair diagonally combed over
his forehead and his ears, and when lie neard him al-
lude to the late Countess as a Lady of blessed me-
mory, the curtain was withdrawn, the truth came
out ; and in a cross-examination, the witness acknow-
ledged himself to be a Wesleyan Methodist! The
Learned Serjeant. dwelt very much on the altered
and deteriorated state of Lord Portsmouth's mind
since his return from Edinburgh, which he attri-
buted to the treatment Lord Portsmouth had received
since that-Period. After he had been taken front
. Edinburgh a fiabetsseerptis had been granted,and then
Lord Portsmouth had been minutelyexamined by Mr.
Justice'Bayley, who hadiecided that he had a will of
his own, and must be allowed to go wherever he pleased.
Lord Ports:nooth might even return, if he liked, to
the misery from which he had escaped. This was so
late as the Bth of July, 182'2. The Learned Counsel
then examined Mr. Skirrow's evidertce, and shewed
that the very attempt to persuade t Ird Portsmouth
to leave Edinburgh was, on the part of the persons
who attempted it, a proof that they were convinced
of his Lordship's sanity. It had been said, " oppres,
sion Will make a 'irise man mad." Imprisoned, and
corroded by the daily torture to which he was sub-
ject, no wonder it a mind, originally weak, should
become violently deranged.. 'lt had riot,'
hOtvever,
*prod-tried' that effect completely. - How &Sciatic:was
to detect *the state of any man s
,mindbovt- nimbly
the object eluded their
-touch, might be obieried &dm
the derelictions of mind in 'Wan of •ilie iteateA• Men
that ever I i

CRIM CON.

; a 10:Tc-re-Devi votE /*Meryl, Wu. deiiestat.'• •
Tat:ital. an *iii4plei.theli.ii*orier orEitAteletisrfthere
orlliatkiitfabfainarfitin" which
scerileJ more MCI m-aclne.st than ;enithing 'eke. •In
18$x4, the cOnifictl'orPi;-irKa.inouth MIS as
different' from what it hitd tieeplestibiiei in tonrt.
as daylikht from the obsegrity of night. The Learned
:Setjeant,-after -sdrile itirtfiefabservations, called the
'following witnesses:

The. first was ?slr. Thomas Prince, who stated that he was a
solicitor of the firm of Palmer and France, Bedford-row; had
the copy of a judgment obtained from the Crown Office, when
a'person named Scilaz was found guilt, of attempting to extort
money from Lord Portsmouth, and ant appearing to receive
judgment be was outlawed ; was present at the trial in West-
minster 11411; Lord Portsmouth was the prosecuting party, be-
fore Lord Ellenborough and a Special Jury, Mr. Adam and
blri Gime* were his Counsel ; Lord POrtanciath wai examined ;
the Dean of Exeter was called to prove the hind writing of De-
fendant; his Lordship was examined by Baron Garrow, Justices
Best and Ilurrough, and Lord Erskine, asrd cross-examined; the
defendant was found guilty.
•Cross:examined.—Lord Portsmouth had an impediment in his
Speech. The defence was, that as Lord Porfsmboth owed bitt.
the money, the defendant was only asking for his right. be-
fendant said his Lordship bad given him a bUnd or two for money.
Lord Portsmouth was required to explain it. The questions
-asked were as many as forty or fifty. Considered himself Lord .
Portsmouth's Solicitor; had no special authority or written
wards from his tordihip. Appeared in CoUrt by the direction
of the Lord i7hancellor ; it was ordered by his Lordship that •
Palirier and France-shotild act is Lord Ports Mouth's 'Artornies.
Conducted Lady Portsmouth's defence before ; hlr. Serjeant
Cross took her Ladyship's affidavit ; did not attend Mr. Alder
when he prepared her affidavit; did not prepare the affidavits of
the Hanson family; Mr. Hanson prepared them himself; pre-
pared as many, he believed, as twenty affidavits; generally speak-
ing, prepared 'the affidavits in opposition to the Petition. There
was an order for Lady l'ortsmouth's Solicitor to attend.
Ire.examined.—Did not conduct this case for any other per-
son than Lord Portsmouth.
By the JURT.—Was present during the whole of the trial.
Lord Portsmouth conceived th:f moral turpitude of the crime of
which be had been accused, and considered it a great indignity.
His Lordship answered the questions respecting the bonds,
shortly and clearly. bid not know whose hand-writing the bonds
were ; had not had the honour of seeing Lord Portsmouth since
1816. Lord Portsmouth had an impediment in his speech when
first witness knew him in 1801. In 1816, saw no visible change
in his Lordship's intellect during: the whole of my communica-
tions'with him. Gave the Solicitors notice that we wished to
see him, but were nut permitted. In July, went down Witlya
writ of Habeas Corpus, at the suit of Mr. N.•Fratisoo' to the
house of Mr. Skirrow, but could apt see his. Lordship. Did'not'
think it necessary to write to Ililic.PiastaiuOuth under. the-pecu-
liar circuinsiaiices of the case. o reason was Wen I'uithe.re-
fusal to see laird Portsmouth. Witness said•he cause at the in-
st,;iice of I.ord P.irtsmOuth'sibrialer,Tuiwis
, In the last -411,19=4. ..of Lord i!ortmuoutfr
1140 3"13*F0 reit:44l/1-71r P?rr! aftg,iidi-ivil 1813
• ag!klitl k 4.; by she steed of t 199, a
.tbe. estates of itol9 Ports-
gionth,,were_.ciapvexptl, to
,trustees ; the d;i4s*Were 'signed by
I.Lord Portsmoutii and the, trustees.

4,4)91/10?*14F.
principally

jOs porri
tsprix hirlu
Attfii~pth4 Xrct
1611144
ret ke hel h

and Ashmore

son wts ple
aid}
i n ••••Ise' t
rtog 1100%liglitt;sioi. Oeikifndlit.'firlis.h *Wiese
*a seam' biin ; beard Gird POrtsnioutktriakis
' observations upon his Ida accounts i • he.ssinuld /trinity *le*test
the 14ssisi and &Ise tr.r.oppiirgin ; Lord Portsmouth cinder-
ittond s

,

14th Deter/titer; when site anent away. The defend-
, ant generally came into the house a • little before-or
after, but never with her ; he was very well Wan:slated
With the plaintiff, used to sit iit eiim Oily with Min ;
they wept to the Flay once together, and they went
once a week to Dr. Hardy's Philosophical Lectureeln
Thornhaugh-street ; they lived very happily LT t
as man and wife, they *ere both fond or their aigian.
Cross-examined.—Never saw plaintiff beat his Wife,
nor saw her run out of the house for pi/nest/oh; the
phantiff's ; Wife- had three sisters, they were ell Mir-
e-red, they'didliot very often cattle there ; knew Mary
tirbe lay baltrag seen her come to do some wink for
latis:Etlieridgeabut in no other manner. 'Mn Cope-
land had married one of Mrs.'Flight's • sisters, ithd
used very near, ,
Ma. rlaraffitattian, • a fclioorm aster at Edgware,
hid been I'ooM:stel3 acquainted with the plaintiff•for
thilast'fiveor six years ; had vilutnted the eon atvlt-
nen': wife; visited theM, and both made the pinball's
treniae theirhOme when in town ; always thought hey
lived most happily together, and had held tip the
father as a worthy example to the son.
• Mr. John Sannders, a jeteeller and gold,mith in
Oxford-street, had known the plaintiff and his stile;
had been an inmate in their house for a'week togetaltar;
he spoke in the 'highest terms of both Mr. and Mrs.
Flight; had been introduced to the defendant by'the
plaintiff, who seemed to be on most intimate terms
with him; had gone With them together to Da. Hardy's
Lectures; the defendant was 'about 35 years old, and
the plaintiff about 37 ; the defendant was omi-tarried;
defendant always appeared like a gentleman.
Mrs. Elizabeth Asker, a niece of the plaintiff's,
knew Mrs. Flight before her marriage ; her name
was Elizabeth Benatead.—This witness confirmed
the evidence of the others as to the state of happi-
COURT OF COMMON' PLEAS, FEBRUARY 20. . . nest in which the plaintiff and his wife lived 'Mrs.
FI.IGHT V. WILLATTS. Flight had a mother, who was paralytic, whom she
Mr. Serjeant VAUGHAN stated the case to th ur kisye iisitert twice a week. On the 20th of October, 182/,
This was an action,brought against the defenda to witness was comin up Oxford-street, and observed
recover from him damages for criminal conveesattea,
the defendant and'Mrs. Flight walking together arra-
with the plaintiff's wife. The plaintiff kept a live:la-in-arm ;it was about half-past. nine in the evening.
stable and wine vaults in Tottenham Court-road, and Curiosity induced witness to follow them, as' she
the defendant had been an officer in the Excise, but expected Mrs. Fright would, have' been at her mot
had now retired on the invalided list. The plaintiff titer's at the time; they turned down- Poland-Meet,
married at the age of twenty-one, and the lady, who
going ditough many courts, and when they sot to
was about two years younger, was possessed of great Itae end of Carlisle•street, they put down their urn-
personal charms, and was, %pal the defendant slept brella ;it was raining a little. Witness went-to a
in to change her conduct, a vktuotts and affectionate door, and saw them go up some steps at a doer at
wife. • She had borne the plaintiff three children, the the end of Carlisle Street,. the furthest from Man-
eldest of whoriaawas now about sixteen or seventeen street; they looked up the street to see whether
years of age. 'a'vo of these unfortunate children any body sas watching; they then went up a
were daughters, and if anything could aggravate thoroueltfue, going up to Oxford-sticet, the house
such a case us this, it was the seduction of the wife, where the witness was standing was two doors from
at the time when her children, but more especially her the thorotaghlare ; they then went into the house,
daughters, required the constant and vigilant attention and the door was shut; clidaeot notice.a number on
of their parent in the discharge of her maternal duties the door ; a itness waited 'about tee Minutes, ant
He was sure that the Jury would feel that, hoaever they did 'not come out Again ; witness went 'AA-.
aUM without children might suffer by such an act, wards with her own mother, and :hewed her' the
yet that he was comparatively in a happy •iittietioti house; the thoroughfare was only a footosastege;
to that in which a father was placed who beheld his the house was a double-house, with two (loot-a;
daughters deprived of the support ofa a tender mother,. the door where they went in was nearest to Car-
and eaposed to the scorn, or scornful pity, of:. world lisle-itriet ; witness had previously seen •the tafen-
too ready to remember the mother's misconduct to dant and Mrs. Flight together at half-past elleain
their prejudice, and to visit her sins upon their heeds? at. night in Goodge-street-athat occasioned witness
This atm had however, aaother cause which tirietaied to watch them when she saw diem in Oxford-
it with a deeper dye. The defendant was,Or kreien4ed street ; they parted then at John-street ; Mrs. Flight
to have been, thehosnm friend of the-plaintiff ; cam- Went' to het 'sisters, '•ind defendant to the plaintiff's;
gently at his holt*, be associated the plaintiff with the house had two doors, one df the doors was lailf
himself in his amusements, and even in the iniptoyee open i there was an inner door, at which they
ments of his mind. It would he proved thatihei had knocked ; the outer dobr concealed them, but did not
,;.. .
gone to the play together, and defendant eallee *once I shut close; the inner door was shut; witness obseried
week to take plaintiff to hear Philosophical Lectures. afterwards thatahe house had green Venetian blinds,
Happy would it have been had the dead:Meat- which were let down; witness had seen the plaintiff
and defendant shaking hands together on the most
tended to the moral of philosphy—had holistesied to
the still small !Mice of virtue, and refrained from
friendly terms.
committing a crime which had involveda whole 'fa-
Mrs. Etheridge, the mother of the last witness,
may in distress, 'and covered 4lil) disgrace a woman, and sister Oldie plaintiff, was acquainted •with' Mrs.
who, but for his villainy, would have been an orna- Flight berme her marriage; hid lived in the house
meat to society, and a support and consolation to with them during the last five years ; the plaintiff'and
her lalicted &mimed and childien. The Learned his wife lived very happily together.
Serjeant thee went into a detail of the case, such as John Housemen, a watchman, remembered seeing
the plaintiff walking tip and down Catlisle-street on
was afterwards 'primed in evidence; and alluding tit
an expression of "the defendant's, who, on being the night of December 14, 1621 ; he told him to move
asked whether he had not gone into a house of ill ',off, but in consequence of somethieg which passed
fame with the plaintiff's wife, replied that he had, between them suffered him to remain; knew a hone
but it was only for the purpose of having some in Carlisle-street (No. 11) which had •one outer door
'conversation with her.—" Conversation, indeed!" open, and an inner door shut; Nos. 11 and 12 formed
- Yes, Gentlemen, he said conversation, but I think one house; witness had been inside; Ann Hansen
you will tell him by your verdict that it was cn-
had the care of the house ; had seen Ladies and taeti-
a
minal conversation, and that a man who thus robs tlemen go into the house; on the night of the 14th of
and watch-
December, some time after the plaintiff another of his own peace of mind and the af-
man had been' talking together, there was 'a riot' in
fection of his wife shall not do so with impunity.
The crime in this case has been committed after the' the street, and witheii tame np, 'when a 'Gentleman
parties have lived happily together for 17 years, and charged witness with the pliadtiff ; lalitietiff retorted
I the cargo, and witness took' them all to the wateh-
contmitted, too, by a man whose visits were permitted
under the idea of friendship—a friend had robbed his house together.
friend of everything that was dear to him. The alai* Ann Manion deposed to the patties coming to a
tiff may indeed say, ' If mine enemy had done this hiatise'of illaraine inCarlisle:street, where witness was
servant, and passang some time together. 'Mit aelts
I could have borne' the dishonour, but thou art my.
familiar friend:—Gentlemen, I leave you, under all on the evening of the /4th December, 1821.
the circumstances, to punish with due severity such Some other witnesses having been called, whose
deceitful, such treacherous friendship." testimony went to establish the adulterous intercourse,
I Mralarainwell, a • wine-merchant, in Greek-street, Mr. Serjeant I3os A Santa rose for the defence. He
agreed with his Learned Friend when he stated' thatan
bad kneels the plaintiff and his wife for the last -
no cases did damages vary so mutts ai in eases''of the
seventeen peals; he had seen them abot:t twice a
Month during the Whole of that time, they always present description. He also agreed with 'Mm wiles
Ire said, that if the husband were guilty of neglector
*clued to live 'very happily together ; they had three
children, cite boy and two girls ; the girls were now ill treatment, damages should be considerably 414421-
A/out 14'and 13 years _of 'age, and the boy about 16 ; lashed. If the fact of adultery were established, he
they addressed each other in the most familiar and would wove an adulterous intercourse by' the'Plaifttiff.
itffectionate terms ;• both seemed ray fond of their He would also rove a long series of brntai acteranc_
children, smd•Mrs. Plight was particularly attentive He would. prove that she was frequently ataligedno
in the.'discharge of het maternal ditties. quit his house and go to a friend's, covered with hibbd.
Mr. Jamey tkagar, a 'distiller; at Pimlico, a°"°' Damage; should be proportionate to the means of the
borated the statement of 'the •foritser as to both the , defetidaraa. and he could assure the Jury that his
eiarents*fondness for their children. highest eallaty in t'ieLlsteite had Oil y 'been. T6ot. Fier
Anne Haley had lived servant with the. plaintiff annum, and that hearabliowbia'thearivilidlist:friarn
about. a. year ; knew the defendant,. who generally the treatment he hadexperietteed ae thd katilficill.e
came about eight or nine at night. Ou N'aedoesdaya plaintiff, who, by thus taking The law into his own
and Saturdays he came--about eleven or half-past liatursi had lessened 'the defendant's ability to pay
eleven. Mts. Plight-had a motbeauffected with -Tiara-- deniagel; if; indeed, whis Other conduit,•he laid not
lysis, who she visited. every Wednesday and Same :pi-ea-Wiled hl'eneelt frcerratitiafftl44 *tn. •' '
day ; when witness first went to live at
.plaintiff's. • sêvena WiniesitiWare'theri;cailed tolpratee sheen
'Mrs: Plight generally dressed an.: heramoruing-dresaaareataseat of -die plaintiff. It was stated thaahe lad
wilen.she vititedlagamother ; ax drat time she used to fraqueratay tara.ten kie.wife ; that he had as ftequeaaiy
go up stairs on her return? and came down in her'
asked bar-deessaathical leas better diem her rodraing. out'
of •anamptnperhattise, 41a wh ell' hil'otr'eltittisi:.
tili. sAtkildrire
~ciinitie:saelvdithwisilierii7;:bfiett
_all;
the:.
tb.e.ii.e7
1.77
.:00.: :1.11t.g
Ilte4s aliut strbsequehtla sheused to dreis in bet best,:
atliel iliaitys'llad dean' uhder - tettitents 'for' those -.3tr.- Sealant varwataradne raireeti ratty;
' .0))1ilic/5 'th't *Med' ad'ltfaitiaaahti led *it. tile,sur/iirs,frll orn.tlCe- case. ,‘be,yroslAL bye ot.tbe Jury to v.)::-
• • • -- • : 'I ~ " *net the d`rtende whdhladbeeii ofkted: 5110ot,CoUltsatitive
•hei --- ► sue am aya., alaaaatuate eilinaeoseirsi est ittealass .Of 4!timagn vfatin -he
.4 iktrusmit oq--„-;0„,,,I. tstrooi-statoi. affwion .ivispikpred •by-Wptoin-
‘ mid: :Caine oleatailheaesartaihataawria, cliareedinatalieeheNaat
Mahets.,ada,aratee Was' aerterantla bumf Salo ' Mi siseetiavaationo • It
. . 7 .. - - . 7. . : . • ..
' .
"* - - ' : •

timouth and the, trustees.
a
~ ..
OE Wife 41440). it' Or witSeui those'...,
were
. _
mortgages to the late ard's-datighleis • -
s port, to reist:thspahstn,is.siop A.. the 4cori
.. ncel-
(ias 4)14 Act-been. ktife-.to obtain ads, to -client,
61441,
rs. 'grciii4 maiii.salii io-'l..bio Mali). . 1
i - • Ititk:aaici; fiisit 'he allat'uTi`tb giCaitte Taes;.
orct . eciliai 14;4. &id.
... ...
....
....... ,
..
itiood •tt Ipielf n for teta ro4„,.thi.from
!he h.stliVi lye& ha •.. 4 -.cicirt 'Wired Wen. "Pew,
ore to be the Goliefthii:o LotdArriiitley ; 'Nfelfan-
Ile 4teily solither -`, irter the Commission was issued;
1 etalfalitettini• Lord l'atinttonih f iri it ittimildereil
Oklutill of seintr'nilnd,i)ut ttoi.tatlable of _managing
$.4101.,:f.0icl ..Y.otisseouth lbOkeld tier. the i)apers as,

.c. ,s••. - •••• --antr always-nag. ctean • tmacr • irtnesika wi
4010 d lateart a farm as•well as auy: elan melte tine witness . , . •• • t •
Last rpm Oita, aseuiad mare thritisearadclit4l ecatore n 41‘Vnice eliCtited*not to 4c 16;e:turrs te
Aistik Sad itatittatiArpgsetpanipaidisigiahnie Ittlit ilis:C*les ( nees tip suspect hevioi4 sae
Hannan taitillistmeatepwn Ow; 5412430: calleJ for itiight, enttep atairs,, Aix* off ker
ship, !sbiktlis-alf‘r!" 11417)tanc ii•4lloll•7lPEAucisl tbd-ricitigPV,agEtsr4fesskti !ta4 ve,04,41ar bal,dress; ndt
,fret jalalco-1.3=41126 *Q-411-t,...,241-I'neralitYstiv tororto4Abidut ctoui anifAtii di
s,
'that Mid TortsatoutS await in Itis pc.c..in‘;WW:t ;