Star.
London, England, 1818-09-09 00:00:00

LONDON SESSIO-NS, SEPT. 7.

• These Sessions were held yesterday in the Court of i
King's Bench, Guildhall, preparatory to the com-
mencement of the Old Bailey Sessions on Wednesday
next. The Lord Mayor, the Common Serjeant, and
several Aldermen, were present. The Recorder was
absent from indisposition.
• After the Grand Jury had been sworn in, the Com-
MON SIRJSANT addressed them. Helamented that the
calendar before hint presented such an unprecedented
list of prisoners, and so great a body of crime. The
list of persons committeJ for alledged offences in the
'city of London more than doubled the number which
had on former occasions, been sent before the Grand
Jury : but he was happy to say, that the C2FIS did
not present to him much of the nature of atrocity or
enormity. He would only call their attention to a
point frequently omitted to be laid down to the
Grand Jury. They were now a complete Jury of
twenty-three, and by the Jury no bill could be re-
turned by them as true, unless a majority of twelve'
agreei upon it. It often happened that some of the
Juro:s lett the room, by which means the original
number was lessened. In such a case thty were
bound to return their bills, or ignore them by a ma,
jority of twelve also; any contrary proceeding would
be irregular.
MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, SEPT. 7.

This day the Sessions commenced before FRANcis
CONST' Esq. the newly-elected Chairman, and a full
bench of Magistrates.
The Chairman, in his address to the Grand Jury,
took occasion amongst other things to notice the non-
at:endance of several gentlemen, and observed he
would not remit the fines for non-attendance, unless
strong reasons for the absence of such individuals
were assigned.
James Phillips, and Anne his wife, were indicted
for a riot.—The prosecutor, John Barnard, stated,
that he kept a straw-bonnet warehouse, in South-
street, Manchester-square. The defendants were of
the same business, and lived in the same street. On
the day mentioned in the indictment they came to the
prosecutor's l Juse, knocked at the door, and Mrs. Phil-
lips, who was far advanced in her pregnancy, was
very abusive. This collected a large crowd about
the door, and was the riot complained of. On the
cross-examination of the prosecutor, .it appeared no
person took any part in the disturbance except the
two della) laats.
TIC CHAIR:IAN observed, that to constitute a riot
time must be more than two persons concerned, and
therefo• a the defendants must be acquitted.—Verdict,

Not Guilty.
William Jr!,:hell was indicted for an assault on W.
Clarke. The prosecutor, it appeal-el:I; held the office
of cow-keeper and cattle driver on nornsey-common,
under the provisions of the recent act passed for en-
closing that common, and 'under which various al-
lotments of land have been made to individuals, •
though not yet enclosed. Oa the morning of the
alleged assault, the defendant, who is a copyholder,
had turned some cattle on the common ; the prose-
cutor observing diem straying on•a part of the com-
mon Which had been allotted to other persons, at•
tnupted to drive them off ; the defendant came up at
the time, and desired him to, desist; the prosecutor
not doing so, he attempted to drive a chaise in which
was riding over him, and struck him several times
with his whip.
The defendant in his defence, contended that he
had a right to turn his cattle on any part of the
common which was not enclosed, and to resist the
prosecutor turning then; off.
The CHAIRMAN observed, all the Jury had to con-
sider on this occasion was, whether the assault had
been committed? The question of right was a ques-
tion of law to be decided -in another shape.
The Jury found the defendant Guilty, and the
Court set:unwed lam to pay a fine of 1:10.