Star.
London, England, 1817-10-21 00:00:00

SURREY SESSIONS.

HZASEMONGLR-LANE, OCTOBER 10.

This day the adjourned Sessions commenced before
Haashoc, Esq. Chairman, and a full Bench of
Magistrates.
Jorefth Mason was indicted for assaulting George
Clarke on the 2tith of April last. It appeared front
the evidence that on the day in question, which was
Whit Monday, there were a variety of sports exhi-
bited at the Lark, in Larkhall-lane ; amongst other'
interesting exhibitions were donkey races, and the
brother of the defendant had two racers started fur
the plate ; one chancing to be the favourite animal
the prosecutor had made considerable bets upon it.
The horses started, and all was anxious expectation,
when, from certain appearances, the prosecutor sus-
pecting the defendant wanted to make a losing gam!,
I and that, instead of impelling he restrained his steed,
took the liberty of inflicting some severe wounds on
poor Neddy's sides to add to his speed. This attack
on his animal irritated the defendant, who, in his
turn, applied his switch whip to the face and sides
of the prosecutor, and this was the assault com-
plained of.—The Jury found defendant Guilty, and
the Court sentenced hint to pay a fine of £2O to
the King.
The Defendant was then indicted for an assault on
Anp, the wife of the last prosecutor. From the pin-
secutties statement, it appeared that she, interfering
to protect her husband against Mason's attack, was
herself knocked down by the defendant several times.
The defendant called withesses to prove he was much
abused by the prosecuttix, and that the first assault
was committed on him by Clark, the prosecntrix's
husbane, who struck him several times with the hat:-
dle of a whip, which he had in his hand at the time.
The Jury, upon this contradictory evidence, found
the defendant—Not Guilty.

At the Sessions for Berkshire, held at Abingdon,
on Tuesday, Elijah and Elitha Whiting, for stealing
seven pieces of elm timber, sawn into rails, the pro-
perty of Mr. Eaton, of Sparsholt. were sentenced to
be imprisoned six months to hard labour, and pub-
licly flogged.
Monday se'nnight, N illwm Wright was committed
to Lewes House of Correction, charged with stealing
a goose, the property of Mr. Charles Saxby, of Rod-
mei. The priscina was taken up on the m
oose
f his wife, who made two pies of the stolen goose,
but owing to some disagreement on the subject, re-
fused to bake them, whereupon the husband turned
cook; but while he was attending to the business of
the oven, his teattiostious rib went to Mr. Saxby, and
impeached him of the theft, with a view, as she says,
of giving a timely check to his pilfering habits, by
subjecting him to a mall punishment, the smart of
which might deter him from the commission of higher
crimes, anJ ultimately save him from the gallows
At the Cornwall County Sessions, on Thursday
last; several persons, stating themselves to be seamen,
travelling in search et employment, and who were re-
duced to the necessity &begging, were discharged,
after being admonished not to be found again so of-
fending lobe clunty, or they would be mote severely
dealt with. Such as had settlements were ordered to
be transmitted to their respective parishes. One poor
fallow. an American, who stated that be had served
for many years in the Navy, on being cautioned,
against being brought again before the Cottrt as a
vagrant, replied-4G Bless your Worships, lam an
old man, and have spent my life at sea—l don't
know any other way of getting my bread ; I can't
get a ship ; I won't steal ; your Worships say 1
shan't beg ; so I must starve I"
Last week a young man. named Jorry 4 Leas, call-
ing himself a Lieutenant in the Navy, but who was
a strolling player, was apprehended at Portsmouth,
sad conveyed to Bristol, in consequence of an infor-
mation against him for robbing the Union Society
box, at the Three Sugar-loaves, Bristol, and other
robberies.

Saturday an Inquisition was taken at the Crown
Inn, Croydon, oa the body of Mathew Poulter, an
j old man, who met his death through circumstances
which had nearly proved fatal to several others.—
On the 10th inst. a cricket match had been played in
a field adjoining the town, which attracted a great
concourse of spectators. In the course of the day
tents ond marquees were erected ; and when the
sport was over, a man with a horse and cart came to
carry home one of the marquees, and other things
which had been used on the ground. Having loaded
the cart, a boy got into it, and the driver seated him-
sell on the shafts. Al he was driving the horse with
reins through the gateway of the field into the road,
the off.wheel went into the gutter, when, by the sud-
den jerk, the driver was thrown from the shafts with
great forcel and, by his touching the horse in his
tall, the animal was frightened, and set off full gal-
lop. The ofte heel of the cart passed over the legs
'of the driver, and ltactured both ; he was taken up
very much bruised ; several others were knocked
down, and also very much hurt. The horse and cart
proceeded down High-street without being stopped.
The deceased, who lived in the College, happened to
be crossing the street, when the otwheel was forced
against him, and he fell to the ground. He was
taken up speechless. Medical aid was immediately
procured but he lingered till Thursday, when be
died. The horse continued his course till be stopped
oUlals own accord. The boy was discovered sitting
to the cart at his ease. Verdict--Accidental Death.
Yesterday morning, as a porter was going along
Warwick.lane, haying a heavy basket of vegetables
on his head, and smoking a abort pipe, as he was
passing by a cart the horse which was attached to it
turned round its head of a sudden, struck the poor
man across the face, and drove the shank of the pipe
through his left check near his ear.
Yesterday afternoon, as a groom belonging to Sir
ROM= Smarr, ,of Vauxhall, was riding a Sae
high .s toted horse belonging to his master home
j from Kennington Cross, the animal took fright and
became quite unmanageable ; on the groom whip-
ping and curbing him up, he reared, made a sudden
dart, and jumped clean through a large bow.window,
into the shop of Mr.. Tait, baker, near the Black-
Prince,anima Kenningtonwinailienctbees-ascttrer.fisapiagithe
Cross. As the
, groom slipped
off behind, and fortunately escaped unhurt, as did '
likewise the persons who •were in the shop. The t
whole ,of. the window was shattered to pieces, but
Ivinki little damage was done to any thin elm