Star.
London, England, 1802-08-21 00:00:00

ESSE7C ASSIZES

MALICIOUSLY SHOOTING.—RIAM DM Was in-
dited for malicioufly and felonionfly (hooting
James Harrington, on the sth of February laff,
by which he was dangcrnufly wounded.
The profectoor said he was game keeper to Mrs.
Chifwell, of Debdin Hall. , He knew the prifoner
well, and had wired him to be imprifoned before
for fnaring game on a Sunday. On the 15th of
February hall, he 11.0 been to a place called Thaelt-
fiead, to fetch home a pointer. It was about nine'
in the evening when he returned : he bad fome
dillictiky to get the dog along ; it made a whining
mile all the way he went. In the midway between
Colfaia's Farm and Tanner's Hill Farm, he re-
ceived a blow on a fadden, which drove him head-
long forward. He could not account for the vio-
knee ; at firtt he was infenfible ; but coming to
himfelf, he haflcned to Debdin Crofs to get affid-
ance, finding himfelf wounded in feveral places.
On examination, it was found he bad been fired at
with a gun loaded with (hot, the contents of which
hat' hit him about the neck and head; a quantity
of !hot was taken out of his necksloth and under.
wriflcoat, and many remained buried in him to
that hour. He was unable to fay who bad (hot'
him ; all he knew was, that the prifoner was at
one Johnfon'h a blackfmitb, at Thackflead, when
be let out to fetch the pointer. He could not be
iniftaken in that particular, as be had known him
for five years.
Henry Wilfon, a boy of 13 years of age, nephew
to Johnlbn the blackfinith,had ken the prifoner at
his uncle's Ihop, the afternoon of the fame day the
gamekeeper was (hot: he overheard a eonverfation
that paffed between the prifoner and his uncle ; in
which the former laid he would (hoot the Debdin
game-keeper, and would go and buy fome powder
and fhot for that purpofe at Thomfon's. He law
him afterwards load a gun with powder and fhot,
and, go away from his uncle's about eight o'clock
at night. He did not fee him till the next morn-
ing, when be came to his uncle's again, and raid
he had (hot the Debdin keeper, and that his gun
bad built in diicharging It. The gun was left
with his uncle to mend. _

James Johnfon, who appeared to he an accom-
plice in the brutal ati, was next examined.' He Paid
the prifoner had come to his houfe at ten o'clock
on the night Mr. Harrington waswounded,and had
told him he had (hot the Debdin keeper. Witnefs
" 1 hope not." He replied, "He ac-
had." Witnefs then raid, " What do you
will become of you ? you will certainly be
xl 1" Prifoner rejoined, " That is no matter
kur's--I want more (hot and powder." Wit.
raid he had none, and he went away. The
morning he came again, and brought a gun;
issrer not whether It was burn he believed it
kagifainea_urndr it mites

Baron MACDONALD informed him, if he continual
prevaricating and fencing with the quettions put to
him, he v..ritilti have him indieted as a principal, , •
and, if found guilty, hanged within 24 hours.)
The witnefs continued, and tonfefledthat Davy
was at his houfe previous to the keeper being (hot I
at, but denied that any converfation like that
which had been detailed by his nephew had taken
place ; on the contrary, all he had fworn to (he
laid) was falfe.
James Sutcliffe was at Thackflead the fame even-
ing that Harrington was shot at. On his return
between nine and ten, be met the prifoner, and mif-
taking him fur his brother, exclaimed, Aye !
' Jemmy ! is it you ?" The priibner faid, " You
are millaken." Witnefs replied, !. Well, I may
be, but I am within one of it." The prifoner had
fomething black in his hand, which looked like a
walking-stick. He afterwards recolleCted that it
was Robert Davy, and noti James, he had fpoken ;
to. He law him the next morning, with a gun on!
his atm, which appeared to be burlt.
Mrs. Tolley lived a {port way from Colrain's
Farm ; and law a man run by her on the night
the game-keeper was lot. She believed that man :
was the priloaer.
Mrs. Bats lived a (mall dittance from the {pot
where Mr. Harrington was thot. She heard a
noire as the clock was hiking nine ; it was the
howl of a dog ; and being fomewhat alarmed, fhe
looked out of the door. While them the taw a
man, dread in a (mock frock leaning: over a
gate, looking towards the road.,ln a-minute or
fo, he dallied over a ltyle; ran A few pacel to-
wards Goffain's Farm, and the heard the report
of a sun. In * few minutes after, the found Mr.
Harrington had been .(hot at and wounded.
Mrs. Francis, who lived upon the fame [pots
gave precifely the fame evidence.,
The prifoner, in his defence, denied any know-
ledge of the crime laid to his charge, and prattled
his innocence. - - -
Baron MACIXINALD obferved, that the crime of
wilfully and mahatma,/ thootinghad very properly
been made a capital offence ; as an inch cafes Goo
alone couii interfere to prevent death—the intent
was the lame. Whoever had (hot in the cafe before
them, the wilful intent seas menden from the effees
produced, and the Jury were called upon tofay if the
prifoner was the guilty perfon? The principal evi-
dence tolead their judgmentswas that of an infant;
and he had ever found that furl evidence was either
the very belt or worst; of that they would have to
decide; and if they found the lad's demeanour and
manner of concluding himttlf the reverie of Jnhn-
fon's,he thought he was entitled to credit,as a more
thamethl witneti never stood up in a box. The
ref! of the evidence he would alfo read to them,and
when he had done fo, it would be for them to fay,
whether or not the charge was brought home to the
prifoner? His Lurd(hip recapitulated the evidence;
and the Jury, after a long confukation,pronounced
the prifoner—Not Guilty; obferving that they did
not think he had been identified fufficiently to in-
duce them with fafety to find any other verdict.
The Judge obferved, that he had that day been
tried twice for his life, and each time had been ac-
quitted for want of evidence. He would advife
him to take care for the future, convinced as he
was,that he was one of the word fellows that ever
infeftqd the county of Eire:.
gobnfoo, the accomplice, was then tried for a
tingle felony, found guilty, and fentenced to be
tram.frorted fir Pm year:.
This fellow's attempt to make the Court believe
his nephew had perjured himfeif cannot be equalled
in the annals of human depravity;—nothing could
be more artlefs than the buy's tale, or bear the fern-
blaitce in a greater degree of honelly and truth.

ensclaii
•
tnally
• think •
• hanged
' of you
nefs fi
next n
• he int