Star.
London, England, 1822-04-12 00:00:00

WF.STMINSTER SESSIONS.

Yesterday these Sessions commenced, when It'd.
lians Xelly was indicted for fraudulently obtaining.;
from Mary Burke, ss.
The prosecutriz stated, that she was the widow of
a seaman, and had a son about 18 years of age,
'now serving on board the Topaze frigate, in India:
In February last she went to the Navy Office to in:
quire if her son would soon come home. She could
get no satisfactory answer, and was returning, when
the prisoner asked her, if she had got her business
settled. She said she had not, and told him her
story. He told her, it would be foolish "to spoil
the sheep far a ha'p'orth of tar," and said, that for
the value of 3s. 6d. or so, he could get her business
done. They walked on together, and he afterwards
said that she mus: bring her papers the next day,
and for 7s. he would get her 1:4. or £5, and all the
intelligence she could wish for about her son. She
had not a sixpence in the world; but having toll
her story to her landlady, the latter lent her a gown
to pawn for ss. which she did, and the next day
took it to the prisoner, telling him that was all she
could procure. He said his name was Smith, that
he belonged to the Admiralty, and that he would
make application on her behalf to the First Lord._
She was to meet him that day week, and did so,
but he put her off from time to time, and she pro.
cured a letter to he written to Lcrd Melville, who
issued orders that the prisoner should be apprehended
and prosecuted.
Mr. Buckland, Chief Messenger to the Admiralty,
swore that the prisoner did not belong to the Admi-
ralty, and that he had no power to procure money
from that E,tablishment.

The prisoner, in a written defence, crnleavoured to
convince the Jury that he had merely acted the part
of an honest agent in the affair, and declared that he
had received le money, not to procure Mrs. But ke
pecuniary aid, but to obtain admission for a child cf
her's into Greenwich Hospital.
Mrs. Burke said this was totally untrue. She had
only a little girl with her, who was insane.
The prisoner was found Guilty, and sentenced to
'six months' imprisonment, the Chairman telling him
that nothing but his extreme age (78 years) saved
him from transportation.
Catlicrine Edwards, an aged woman, was indicted
for assaulting S. Plank and W. Wales, Officers of
Marlborough-street, in the execution of their duty.—
The defendant keeps a marine store in Shepherd'.
market, and information being given that a quantity
of bars of iron which had been stolen were concealed
there, a search-watraut was given to Plank and
Wales. Vs hen they entered the house, they found
the defendant meltiag lead in a frying pan, and When
they told their business, she seized Plank by
throat, and she 'and her daughter assaulted and
abused both the Officers in the grossest manner.
Mr. ALLEY called five witnesses, who swore that
the Officers committed the first assault, and condncted
themselves with unnecessary violence. One of them,
a journeyman baker, named Laurence, behaved with
such levity, and prevaricated so grossly, as to call
forth severe animadversions from the Court. While
the worthy Chairman was summing op the evidence,
this man placed himself in a conspicuous pa: t ~t the
Court, and laughed in the most impudent mtnner.
The defendant was found Guilty, and sentenced to
one month's imprisonment.