Star.
London, England, 1823-04-05 00:00:00

LEICESTER.

Rama Lliqer, aged 22, was charged with a rape
on Eliza Wright, aged fourteen years, on the9th of
October last. This trial excited a great deal of in-
-1 terest, and attracted a large crowd.
The first witness called was Eliza Wright, the
child. Her statement was clear and intelligent for
her years.. She stated, that oa Wednesday, the 9th
of October last, she was sent by a woman, named
Simmons, from Waltham, die place where she lived,
to Melton, a distance 'of about three miles, with a
bonnet. On her way she hal to pass along a path-1
way through a field, which led to a small wooden
bridge, where also another path, running from ano-
ther direction, terminated. When she an ivei at the
bride she saw a young man sitting on it, as if wait-
ing for her; and as soon as she came up-to him he
souk a basket ft orn Fer hand, and asked her if she
had a father and mother? She said she had a mo-
ther, and a brother and'sister. He then led her along
a pathway, he still keeping hold of the basket. The
time of day might be about twelve o'clock. Whilst
goinr, along, they saw a man coming on the road on
horseback. He gave her her basket, let her hand go,
and as soon as the man on horseback had passed out
of sight he again took her hand, led her to a distance
from the path into the field to a haystack. The re-
maining part of the witness's narrative fully estab-'
.lisped the fact of the full crime being perpetrated.—
When she got to Melton she told Mrs. Simmons that
she would not return• the same way unless some per-
sot would accompany her, as she was very mach
afraid of meeting a man that way. She did not re-
turn that day, but staid and slept with Mary Ormond.
Mrs. Simmons and Mrs. Ormond, and some other
witnesses, described the coming of Eliza Wright on
the day in question; she appeared distressed and ill.
ansl when:brouglitback to Wi4thim the next day by
'the sameitatb, when' they_arrived at the hay-stack,
she burst into team.- Her mother, at that time, was
out nursing; and when she came home, in conse:
queueoolsorne indications, she was induced to make
some- *milks, which led ultimately to the steps
taken against the prisoner.. The girl minutely de-
scribed the dress and person of the man who perpe-
trated the crime, and declared that she would know
I him anywhere. lii the month of March last she and
her mother were at Melton, at a shop, when Eliza
Wright seeing -the prisoner pass by, she instantly
pointed him out as The man. He was accordingly
appreheuded. In the description she gave of the man
who committed the crime, she stated that he was a
fair man, having several remarkable red spots on his''
face. She also stated that he had used a large horse I
comb to remove some loose hay from her cloak; and
it was also in evidence that the path which met the
Waltham-path, at the wooden bridge, led from the
prisoner's father's house, and a person walking that
way could have a full view of any person in the other
path. The girl was firm and unshaken in her decla-
ration as to the identity of the prisoner.
Mr. READER, on the pact of the prisoner, called
John Neape, a young man who was 4 companion
of. the prisoner. He stated that,,On the day when the'
crime was alleged to have bien committed, the pri-
Winer and he had been together at his father's house,
the Blacknioor public-hods*. 'He and the prisoner
met by appointment, which they made the evening
before, to go together on that ever.ing (Wednesday)
to Leicester, to the fair, which was to take place the
next day. In fact, they did not 00, in consequence
of an objection snack .by the prisoner's 'wife. Be
came in the morning of that day, and about teal
o'clock they- began:to play at bowls in the yard of
the illackinoot publichouse, at which they stayed
until twelve, or half-past twelve o'clock. They then
went into the house, in company with a man of the
name ofJoaes; where they had some dinner, in the
presence pf the prisoner's father,- step-mother, and his
sister. they remained there, for about an hour and
a half,- and then went to play at -bowls again, and,'
continued playing until five 'or six o'clock in the
evening. He declared, in the most positive manner,
that he never saw any red spots on the prisoner's face.
The witness, on his cross-examination, stated that
the day became very wet about twelve o'clock, and
that, notwithstanding, they continued at 'playing
bowls; they were wet through. The prisoner was*
a horse-breaker.

Joseph Jones—Was also at the Blackmaor pu'olic!
house on Wednesday, the 9th of October. He played
at bowls with the prisoner and Neape. They went
t 6 dinner in the house. He and the priioner sat
down with his father and mother. Neape did not sit
down, but' had some bread and beef. 'They after-
wards went again to bowls, and continued at them
until five or six o'clock. The prisoner was not out
of his presence from, about eleven till five o'cicrck.
that day. He was positive that the prisoner had no
spots on his face.

The father, steppthotiker, csoufirructi.thc
particular.; statc‘l by the last tiro witnesses, sir !sir as

!they were concerned. They. all concdriea is quiet
ib= the prisoner never had any spots on his face..lt
Was. also stated that he had been married only a fete
months before, but that his wife and he had been in.
timite before the marriage.
Mr. Justice PARK addressed the Jury, and et.
plained at length the law on the question, and pointed
out the bearings of the evidence on both sides witit
much ability. He observed; that the description gin*.
of the man who perpetrated the crime, answered is •
every respect to the appearance of the prisoner, etc,
cept as to the material point of the spots on the fates.
The intelligent manner in which the girl gave her
evidence was very much in favour of the credibilitt,
of her statement, and it was further assisted, so far as •
it affected the prisoner, by two circumstances. Tha4
first was, that the- path-way which led to the woodeu,
iibridge,und joined at that point the path by which thii
.13irl came, proceeded from the direction of "the prir;
'soner's father's home. Nest it appeared that the prig:
soner had made use of a large borse•comb to remove
loose straws from the child's cloak, and it was in evix
dente that he was engaged in taking ewe of hotses..
.I.3nt there was then the united testimony of five or sit
witnesses as to his being at another place at the time
when the crime was alleged to have been cominitte4
It was also alleged by all these itnesses that the
prisoner never had any spots on his face, and it mutt
not be forgotten, that persons of the complexion of
the prisoner were less liable than others' s() eruption;
and red marks on their faces. It was for the Jury,
however, to decide upon the weight of evidence. As.
to the evidence of the girl herself, he had no hesita.
tion in believing all she said. It might be true, and
he was sure it was, that the crime had been perpe.
trated by somebody. • He took it for granted that the
:441 was firmly persuaded that the prisoner was the
man. She might however be mistaken. Mistakes as
to identity were frequent, so that the innocence of
the prisoner was perfectly consistent with the story
of the girl.—The Jury, after some hesitation, brought
in a verdict of—Not Guilty.
lhontas tiolnizom was itulicted, 'on the Ending of a
Coroner's Inquest, for feloniously inflicting with his
hand a Mona' bruise on the head of John Deacn, oa
the 7th July last, of which the said Deac.)ii died the
9th September following.
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