Star.
London, England, 1826-11-17 00:00:00

CORONER FOIL STAFFORD•

Mr. AGAR was heard on this matter, in decidi-g
which the Chancellor had also required the assistance of
the Chief Justices. The petition prayed that the Court
would declare the election of Mr. Dent, whom the
Sheriff had returned as duly appointed Coroner for
Stafford, should he declared void. There were two
points upon which the prayer of the petition was
founded. The first was, that Mr. Dent was not pos-
sessed of such a qnalification in property as was required
by the Act of Parliament, which declared that no per-
son should be eligible to the office of Coroner, unless he
had land within the county for which he was chosen,
sufficient to satisfy all manner of persons. The second
point w ts, that the election had not taken place a:WAIL
the period limited for th .t put pose, by the statute regu-
lating such eh ctions.
The Lotto CHaateera.ms requested the Counsel to confine himself
to the latter point.
Mr. AGAR went on to say, that by the Act of the
58th Geo. HI. tire Shet iff, were required to proceed to
the election of Coroner at the County Court next after
the receipt of the writ directed to him for that purpose.
unless such County Court should happen to fall within
six days after receipt of the writ. In this case, the
Sheriff received the writ on the Ist of April, and the
next County Court was appointed for the 13th of the
same month, on which day he ought to have proceeded
to t'.e election. The Sheriff, however, neglected to do,
so, and adjourned the Court to the '27th, and on that
day the election was held. The Counsel contended at
great length, that this was in violation of the Act of
Parliament, and that, as the provisions of that Act were
imperative, the election was therefore void.
Mr. %VHEATLItY, for the Coroner, argued that there
had been no material deviation from the enactments of
the statute. The Sheriff had complied with the provi-
sions, so far as was necessary ; for at the County Court
held on the 13th of April, he had read the writ,,and so
had proceeded in the election, which was completed on
the 27th of the same month, pursuant to an adjourn-
ment. 'The Sheriff had clearly a right to adjourn the
Court, and he acted not only according to the meaning
but within the letter of the Act.
Mr. Lovas:, for the Sheriff, argued on the same side.
Mr. Aux* having replied,
The Loan CHANCZLLOI/ then requested the Chief Justices to give
their opinions on the point which had been argued.
Sir W. D. Bear then said, that having been called
upon, he declared it to be his decided opinion that the
election was void. The directions of the Act of Parlia-
ment were explicit, and it was quite clear that the Sheriff
ought to have proceeded with the election on the 13th.
It appeared that this had not been done, and conse-
quently that the proceedings which had been taken,being
unauthorised by the Act of Par liament,were wholly void.
Sir C. ABBOTT expressed his opinion to the same effect.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said that he concurred en-
tirely in the opinion which had been expressed by the

leo
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Learned Judges, that the election most be declared void,
and 0%4' had been his strong impresten from the gat.
As ffltt was a question of great importance in the elec-
tion of Coroners, he had thought it right to give as great
authority to its decision as he could borrow from tbi
opinions which he had had the honour to receive. The
election must, therefore, be declared void, and a new
writ issued for the election of a Coroner.
COURT OF ICING'S BENCH, Nov. 16.

a..

This was what is termed a day of judgment in the
Court of King's Bench, and a number of prisoners were
brought up to receive the sentence of the Court upon
conviction of offences against the Revenue.
The Attorney General appeared for the first time since his promo.
tion, as the public prosecutor. The Solicitor General was also
in Court.

THE MEG V. THOMAS WCOD.

The SOLICITOR GENERAL moved the judgment of the
Coln on thr defendant. who had been found 'guilty of
I fiering a bribe to an officer on the Preventive Service.
After the affi Javits had been read, he said, the vast
number of informations of this description lately tried,
made it necessary to mark the offence with severity,
otherwise the Preventive Service would be useless. The
defendant bad offered 101. for every 100 tubs, he might
be allayed to land from the boat upon the beach where
the officer was stationed.

The Court sentenced the defendant to be impctioned one month
iu Horsham Gaol.

Hcn•y Simmerist, John Dealman, and Win. Young,
were brought up to receive the judgment of the Court,
having pleaded guilty to an information charging them
with a conspiracy to run into this kingdom smuggled
goods, and that one of them, Simmerist, had attempted
to bribe one of the Coast Blockade men:

The judgment of the Court was, that the defendants
be imprisoned in Horsham Gaol three months, and-give
security for their good behaviour for three yews, them.
selves in qok each, and two sureties in 101. each.

Ir