Star.
London, England, 1824-03-29 00:00:00

YORK.

Edmund. Smith was indicted for feloniously killing,
and slaying George Sergeant and Edward Barker Lloyd,
two preachers in the Methodist connection, on the 28th
of July last.
Stephen Wilson sworn.—l am a Wesleyan preacher.
The '2Bth of July last I travelled on the coach from
Huddersfield to Hatifai. The prisoner drove it on that
d:, y. Mr. George Sergeant, the deceased, was an out-
side passenger with me. There were eight outside and
five inside passengers, and a great quantity of luggage
on the roof. When we reached Shelley-bank-hill the
prisoner drove at a pretty brisk rate. When we got to
the top of the hill, one of the passengers, a Mr. Picars,
desired the prisoner to lock the wheel, but he said it was
not necessary. He then drove down the hill with the
greatest rapidity, whipping the horses at a great rate. I
could not see whether they were galloping or not.•-:-
Being much alarmed, I held by the iron, and bad my
side turned to the horses. • He must have been going at
the rate of 14 or 15 miles an hour. When he reached
the bottom of the hill there was a turn in the road lead-
ing to the bridge, and the coach was there upset. I was
thrown against the battlements of the bridge, and was
rendered insensible for some time. Mr. Sergeant, the
deceased, was taken into a neighbouring house, appa-
rently in the greatest bodily pain. The coach was put
to rights in about half an hour, and the whole party,
with the exception of Mr. Sergeant and Mr. Lloyd,
proceeded on their journey. .
In cross-examination, the witness said that there was
a jetty or break in the road to carry off rain, a little
before they came to the turn on the road.
Ttk o other Methodist preachers, who were also pro-
, ceeding to the Conference at Sheffield, corroborated the
'testimony of last witness, and attributed the overthrow
of the coach to the intempetate haste with which the
coachman drove it. -

A surgeon, who attended Mr. George Sergeant, stated
the injury which he sustained, and attributed his death
to that cause.—This was the case for the prosecution.
The prisoner put in a written statement, which was
read in his defence. He expressed his regret at the ac-
cident, and attributed it to one of his horses .getting
restive in going down the hill. He stated that he and
his father had been reduced to beggary from a state of
comparative affluence, in order to make compensation
to the individuals injured by the accident.
The following witnesses were called for the defence:
Edward Vickers—l was a passenger on the outside of
the Huddersfield coach on the day in question. I rode
on the coach-bor with the prisoner. The Shelley-bank-
hill is not very steep. The prisoner was sober, and drove
most carefully until he came to the bill. When going
down the hill cne of the wheelers made a false step.—
The coach wheel then got into a gap. The coach was
jerked out, and went on two wheels until it was over-
thrown. Just after we passed the gap, the prisoner said,
" Take care of yourselves—we shall soon be over." I
was much hurt, but I must say that I did not see any
thing to blame in the conduct of the driver. •I anti-
bored the accident to the coach being top heavy.
Several other witnesses were called, who stated that
it was not usual for any coachman to lock the wheel on
going down the hill.
Mr. Justice Hotnovri summed up the, evidence most
impartially, and left the contradictory statements of the
witnesses to the decision of the Jury.—After a consul-
tation of two hours, the Jury returned with a verdict
of Arland.

ACTION OP TRW/

V. DOBSON.

The defendant was in the habit of coursing on the plaintiff's
ground, which became so disagreeable to him, that be had a notice
served on the defendant to desist. Evidence was given of his Slav-
in.,' entered the plaintiff's lands after this notice, and killing a hare
thereon.—Verdi:t, is. damages.
Mr. Justice Earner said he felt it imperative on him to certify
fon the costs in this action.