Star.
London, England, 1817-08-11 00:00:00

EXPART! BRIART.

The Lotto CHANCELLOR said, he did not know
what indictment -was intended to be preferred against
Mr. Briant in this case, nor did he wish to know ;
but he thou,•ht the question ought to he settled at
law. With respect to the younger Mr. Briant, the
assignees had offered to restore the furniture they had
taken, which be claimed as his property, provided he
would make an affidavit that it was really his. With
respect to.ti.e elder Mr. Briant, whose property had
also been seized by. the assignees, there was Arintafes
die evidence that the property so seized was his. He
(the Lord Chancellor) did not.think that the assig-
nees of a bankrupt could seize his property villas-oil.
but he thought they might seize it waiter. For this
reason, he would only give the assignees a case to try
how far they were justified in thus seizing mellittr.
Mr. MONTAGUE said, that question had been deci-
ded on the present Assizes
Mr. HAUT wished to know what order his Lord-
ship would be pleased to make with respect to open-
ing a bag, sealed up, which had been seized by the
assignees amongst Mr. Btiant's property, and which
he had dared them, at their peril to open, as con-
, taining confidential papers belonging to his clients,
he being himself a Solicitor?
The LOltD CHANCELLOR thought the better way
would be to open it before Mr. Montague and Mr.
Horne; but that was found to be impracticable, as
they were.both of Counsel for the assignees.
Mr. MONTAGUE, after some conversation, in which

it wag proposed to open this bag before different
Gentlemen at the Chancery Bar, none of whom, it
was suggested, would like to act on such an occa-
sion. offered to have the bag opened before his 1
Lord-
ship's Secretary, and to have accurate list taken
of all the contents of it. As to these contents, they
know very well that they consisted of the title-deeds
of Briant's estate, which new belonged to the assig.
nees, for the benefit of his creditors.
The LORD CUANaILLoR thought the admission of
Mr Briant, that the bag contained one article of his,
would be enough for the purposes of the indictment.
Mr. NIONTAOUIC Sdid, with submission, that it
would not be sufficient, inasmuch as it was his duty
to make out as good a case for Mr. Stewart (the as-
signee) as he could ; and that could only be done by
shewing that the whole, or at least the greater part,
of the contents of the bag, belonged to Mr. Brunt.
Sit &MM. ortoltlLLY said, the qufition only was,
whether assignees had, or had not, a right to seise
lan the confidential papers belonging to clients of a',
professional man, who had bad the misfortune to be-
come a bankrupt.
The LORD Cm smcarzon, after some further con-
versation. directed that the bag should be opened at
twelve o'clock to-day in the Secretary of Bankrupt's
Office, and a list taken of its contents, notice of the
order being served today on Mr. Briant's Counsel
and Mr. Briant's servant being in Court, that was
deemed sufficient service of notice on him.

•
.*ARWICIC ASSIZES, AUGUST T.
A ease tried this morning in the Criminal court
excited much interest. A whole family of Shannans,
father and three sons, and another family, the master
and two approatices, his brothers-in•law, had been
charged with; having stolen 52 bushels of oats; and
24 bushels of peas, from the barn of Thomas
Richards, at Kenilworth, on the night of the 25th of
March. William Shaman, the father, and John
Shannan, his con, farmers at Hockley and Rowing-
ton ; John Rose, wheelwright, at Packton; and John
Smith, his brother-in-law, were taken into custody.
William Shannan, jun. Thomas Shaman, and Jo-
seph Smith, escaped, and have never since been seen.
John Smith died in custody, after be bad turned
King's evidence, and made a full declaration on
oath before a Magistrate, and in presence of the other
prisoners. When the two Shannans and Rose were
brought up for trial, some discussion took place on'
the admissibility of Smith's deposition. Mr. Clarke
ordered it to be read as evidence subject to subpicion,
and requiring confirmation. It set forth that the
whole plan was arranged in old Rose's house, where
old Shannan was present; and Joseph Smith was or-
dered to go through the county to see what was to
be seen. That all of them, excepting old Shannan,
went on the night of the 25th, and carried away the
corn in a waggon belonging to old Shannan. and
that his brother ran off as soon as they heard of old
Shannan': arrest. In every point to which evidence
could be called, the deposition was confirmed. The
waggon was distinctly traced to Shannan's barn in
Rowington, the corn was found in that barn, and the
four hursekwere seen in stable ungeared at six in the
morning. When the constable took old Shannan, in
Hockley, he protested he was innocent 1 as they
walked along, he exclaimed—" Oh, my boys, my
boys 1" Soon after he said—" Take and shoot
me." Old Shanuan and old Rose now again pro-
tested at the bir they were innocent. Young Shim-
pan said he went merely to see where his brother and
Smith were going with the horses.
Several witnesses, and among them the chaplain
of the county, and vicar of Rowington, whose glebe
is farmed by old Shuman, gave the highest charac-
ter to Sharman; and most of them spoke to Rose's
character.
The Amos summed up the evidence with great
,clearness, and at coatiderable length. The Jury, in
,less than three minutes, returned a verdict of Guilty
against all the three prisoners.
Old Shaman is rather l'grave and respectable-
looking man. Young Shannan is s good-looking
and modest loath. He was much affected, and
could be scarcely got to say a word for himself. His
-

father urged Tvll what you know ; tell the
truth." Rose's appearance and looks would certainly
do no discredit to better conduct.

When the three were afterwards placed at the bir,
old Shannan Was much agitated ; Rose was deeply
depressed, but more composed ; yount, Viannan con-
tinued sobbing and weeping• in real affliction.
Mr. CLARKC addressed them to this ptirport:—
" It is most painful for me to address persons of
your rank in life, placed in the situation in which ynu
now stand. William Shannan and John ito.:e, you'
were in circumstances far above want, and it is diffi-
cult to conceive what motive, but mere wickedness,
could have prompted you to act as you have done ;
yet you can on theft by wholesale. The Jury ap-
pear to have felt no doubt of your y uilt . You, Wil-
liam Shannan, seem to have been the contriver and
insti,lator of the whole ; I see you are much affected
weu converted wish grief) and it is no wonder,
when you not orly Sod yourself in such a situation,
but see your son at your right hand, who his come
to this condition by acting upon the principles which
he derived from you, and which you inculcated not
only by your sentiments but by your conduct. The
sentence upon you three is, that you be transported
for seven years."
A more affecting scene could scarcely be represen-
ted to the imagination than the Court actually exhi-
bited during this address. The grey-headed father,'
whose features as well as dress, spewed him to have
lived in comfortable circu rstances, violently agita-
ted with groans and tears ; the son, a very ingenuous
looking boy, evidently more concerned for his father
than for himself ; a venerable old Clergyman, who
had borne testimony to the old man's character as
the pride of his flock, standing at the cornet of the
bench and looking anxiously at old Sharman,, till the
flow of tears obliged him to hide his face ; all the
circumstances were such as forced tears of sympathe-
tic sorrow from the eyes of every spectator.

AUGUST 8.

TRIAL OF ABRAHAM THORNTON FOR THE MURDER OF