Star.
London, England, 1819-08-03 00:00:00

ast, were seen traiiling for soles in the'Burnharn
River, and that they brought up about two pecks of
young oysters and oyster spat, which they threw
overboard again, reserving only the soles. There
was no-thing to shew, that the object -of the defen-
dants was to take oysters ; on the contrary, the whole
evidence was, that they had come there exclusively
for the purpose of catching. soles ; but it was insisted,
on the part of the prosecution, that it was not neces-
sary to shew that the defendants went for the pur-
pose and with the intention of destroying oysters, in
order to bring them within the penalties of the Act
of Parliament ; for the bare fact of dragging their
trauls over the oyster grounds, without taking (liters,
was quite sufficient.
- -

he passengers, and said he treated himself with a
pthinet
hoof
net. beer,
Thandisbaotucgehutnla a u
tiedlf
ferbtslheieldent-lichieeanncs for
yof
9d.—Remanded.
SALBRURT, AUGUST I.—EXECUTION OF R. WAT-
KINS FOR MURDER.—This criminal (whose trial was
liven in the STAR of Saturday) was removed early
'en Friday morning last, from Fisherton jail, to a
place called Moor-stones, near Purton-Stoke, in the
parish of Purton, where a scaffold and gallows were
erected, just opposite to the spat where the murder
was committed. This wretched young man was ac-
companied to the place of execution by Mr. BUTT,
Solicitor (who officiated as Sub-Sheriff) by Mr. Dow-
ding, jailor, and by the Rev. Mr. HARRISON, Chaplain
of Fisherton prison. At an early hour of the morn-
ing, and at the time of the execution, the number of
persons in the road and neighbouring fields were im-
mense. That which was not seen in the prisoner, was
evident in most of them—a fearful and breathless
anxiety, a solemn stillness, and a deep expression of
melancholy thought. There was in him a composure
and resignation V orthy of a better cause ; and were
not the proofs of his guilt striking, almost beyond
example, his firmness of soul must have extorted
compassion in all, and a conviction of his innocence.
He was earnestly and feelingly entreated by the Cha-
plain, and Ly some who were deemed likely to make
an impression on him, to disburden his soul of part
of its guilt by confession ; but he was decisive in his
denials of any participation in the deed, and only al-
lowed that he was close to the spot where the mur-
der was committed ; in every other respect than that
of confession, his behaviour was proper and becom-
ing. Near to the fatal spot, the cart passed his
wretched mother ; he looked steadfastly at her for
sonic moments, and with a gentle inclination of head
and great expression of feature, seemed to take an
external farewell of her ; but soon after, on the cart
stopping from some obstruction, she came up again,
and he shook hands with her without losing any of
his composure. On the scaffold he joined in earnest
prayer with the same unsubdued firmness, and at his
own desire, read aloud the 108th Psalm, " 0 GOD my
heart is ready and afterwards said to the crowd—
" GOD bless you all." On the hangman's adjusting
the rope, lie observed, that it could only " kill the
body ;' the action of his lips and hands shewed that
he was absorbed in prayer till the moment of his
death. He was launched into eternity exactly at a
quarter past two o'clock, and he died without a
struggle. Almost at that instant of time, and before
the last convulsions were over, a loud clap- of thunder
burst over the spot where the innumerable multitude
had collected, and for half an hour•afterwards, re-
doubled peals reverberated through the heavens.—
The crowd, who behaved throughout with great pro-
priety, then quietly dispersed. The body of Watkins,
the: being suspended the usual time, was delivered
to Mr. Wells, a surgeon, for dissection. Considering
the shortness of the notice of the execution, the con-
course of persons who attended to witness it was truly
wonderfull ; it is supposed that between 10,000 and
1.5,000 persons were present. Two hundred special
constables were sworn in on the occasion ; and the
awful ceremony was gone through in an orderly and
quiet manner, making, apparently, a suitable impres-
sion upon the numerous spectators.
Sunday se'nnight Cockermouth and its neighbour-
hood was deluged by rain arising from the thunder
storms. In the neighbourhood of Messer a water-
spout burst and did considerable harm, washing a
great quantity of hay down the river Ellen, and a
cow, which was drowned. The lightning struck a
house in the neighbourhood of Eaglesfield, known by
-the name of Eaglesfield Cragg, which penetrated
through the roof and set a bed on fire. A cow be-
longing to Mr. Hodgson, of Allonby, was killed by
the lightning. Whilst a numerous family, of the
I name of Birket, residing in the neighbourhood of
Alston Moor, were sitting round the tire, the light-
ning descended down the chimney and threw the
whole upon the ground ; they soon after recovered
from the shock. A young girl was severely burnt
and a boy much hurt, but the lest were little worse.
The subtle element was attracted by almost every
piece of iron in the house, extracting nails from the
wood, and throwing whatever implements were made
of that metal considerably out of their place.
Considerable damage has been done in the West
of Cumberland, by the late inundations of the rivers
Derwent, Cocker, Ellen, Keckle, Calder, Tot, Mite, &c.
Saturday, between twelve and one o'clock, the in-
habitants of Chamber-street, Goodman's-fields, were
visited by a remarkable hurricane from the East.
From one end of the street to the • other there was a
continued cloud of dust ; in such of the houses as
were open the furniture was blown down and scattered
about ; sonic small houses were unroofed, and at the
back of the Red Lion a two storey ladder was over-
turned which a man was ascending, who, fortunately,
was not hurt. The people on the street kept with
difficulty on their feet, and several were blown down.
All this took place in about a quarter of an hour,
after which the air became quite-still.
James Fitzgerald, a stout bodied man, about fifty

On the part of the defendants it was urged, that
they could not be convicted unless it was clearly
shewn that they had come " for the purpose of catch-
ing or destroying oysters." These latter words were
introduced expressly into the Act of Parliament, and
as all the evidence negatived any such purpose, the
defendants were entitled to an acquittal.
Mr. Justice PARK, after consulting with Mr. Ba-
ron GARROW, stated, that his Learned Brother and
himself were clearly of opinion, that the words "for
the purpose," over-rode the whole clause upon which
the indictment was founded. As it appeared, there-
fore, that the defendants had not come for any other
purpose than that of fishing for soles, they could not
be convicted upon this Act of Parliament, of the
offence now imputed to them ; his Lordship, there-1
fore, directed an acquittal, and the defendants were
found—Not Guilty.

MANSION House.—Yesterday James Mitchell was
charged with stealing an immense quantity of goods
from the shop of Messrs. Flint and Co. haberdashers,
on Fish-street-Hill.--Mr. T. Flint, jun. stated, that
the prisoner was their h.ad shopman, and not only
sold gorids, but was entrusted to buy largely, as their
confi.lentiarl agent in the concern. Ile was always
considered to be an unmarried man, and was, in
consequence, admitted an inmate, and slept in the
house. Some time since he asked permission to sleep
at the house of a relation, who resided out of town,
and where, for the benefit of his health, he proposed
to go each Saturday evening. Leave was granted,
but the prosecwtor, on more than one occasion, hap-
pening to meet him in a quarter different from that
where he proposed going, suspicions were excited, and
he was watched.—An officer stated, that on Saturday
evening he was in waiting, and saw the prisoner at
his usual time leave the prosecutor's shop. He fol-
lowed him ; but it was evident from the round he
took, that he apprehended some one was after him.
Witness stuck to him as close as he could, and of
length saw him take something from his hat, which
he appeared desirous to conceal, but still went on.
After making numerous windings and turnings, he
at length entered a haberdasher's shop, in Portugal-
street, Lincoln's-inn fields, where the witness followed
close to his heels, and laid hold of him. Upon search-
ing him, he found in his possession a quantity of rib-
bons, silks, and other articles, which, after some he-
sitation, he admitted having taken from the stock of
Mr. Flint without his leave.—Mr. Flint said, he came
into the shop soon after the apprehension of the pri-
soner, and found, to his great surprise, that the latter
was himself the owner, and that it was kept by his
wife. He proceeded to examine the stock, and found
the greater part of it to consist of his r•wn property—
of goods too which he had never missed. In fact, he
considered whatever else remained to be his property
also, although he could not positively swear to tlfe
articles. Upon his asking the prisoner to account for
so much prepe ty being in his possession ? lie replied
that he bought the goods of the house, and served
himself, and elat he had paid for them as any other
customer woild have done, by giving regular checks
for the mon.7. The witness, however, had made
very diligent search and enquiry, but was unable to
discover that any such checks- had been given. A
large pile of goods, consisting of scarfs, shawls, flan-
nel, hosiery, gloves, haberdashery, &c. of all descrip-
tions, and amounting at least to a cart load, were re-
moved from the house, being identified by Mr. Flint,
as his property.—The prisoner was remanded.
Bow-SrazEr.—Yesterday W. Brown alias Lintot,
only twelve years of age, was brought up on the ex-
traordinary charge of stealing a hackney coach and
horses. A charge of fraud was also made against
him. R. W. Hebbard, driver of a hackney-coach,
stated, that on Sunday morning he took a party to
Richmond, and on stopping at Putney-bridge to pay,
the toll, he found the prisoner riding behind his
coach. He spoke to him, and as the boy pretended
to be known to several hackney-coachmen, he per-
mitted him to ride on to Richmond. On his arrival
there some of the party agreed to return with him at
' a certain hour, and he went to dinner, leaving the
boy to take care of his horses, and giving him six-
pence to procure refreshment. On his return, some
hours after, he learned to his surprize, that the boy
having procured five passengers at '2s. a head, had
driven off with the coach for London, and told the

ostler that he was authorised to do so by the witness. years of age, who travels on a sledge, has been corn-
The latte- came to town, and having got scent of his milted to the Ilouse of Correction, Kendal, for vagran-
coach, he traced it from one stand to another, until cy. During his examination, be acknowledged that
he found it in the rank in Bridge-street, Blackfriars, he had been a member of " The dierrvari Opera," St.
and the young Jehu on the box. Anxious to see how Gaes's—that be had frequently got from five to ten
the boy would behave, the witness called " Coach !" guineas a week in Landon by begging—and that at
and the urchin, with all the skill of an old whip, Lord Nelson's funeral he got twenty-five guineas!—
cried out, " Yes' your honour !" and drew up to the He has travelled frequently through every part of the
pavement, to let his passenger in, little dreaming who kingdom, and has been committed for vagrancy up-
it was. He drove him to Bedford-street, Covent- wards of eighty times. He complained grievously of
garden, where be got out and asked the boy his fare? the trade being so bad—that somebody had spoiled it
and was told Is. 6d. He then gave him in charge. both there and elsewhere—and that begging was above
On searching him 7s. 3d. were found in his pocket. a hundred a year worse than it used to be !!
The boy said, the prosecutor when he saw him at The Proprietor of the Hark-forward Coach, which
Putney-bridge, hired him for the day to look after runs between Halifax and Wakefield, has met with
the coach while he staid at Richmond : and when he a most extraordinary, but lamentable misfortune.
went to dinner, he desired him (the prisoner) to en- Symptoms of surfeit having made their appearance
deavour to procure four passengers in addition to upon some of the horses belonging to this coach, a
those who had promised to return with him—that pretending farrier was sent for; he immediately pro-
having done so, and waited long after the appointed' seeded to rub them all profusely with a strong pre-
hour, for the prosecutor's return, the Gentlemen be- paration of mercury, which has proved fatal to every
came impatient, and at their request he consented to one of them. No less than nine useful horses have
drive them to London, knowing that the prosecutor; thus fallen victims, in two or three days, to the des-
wouldiollow. Hebbard denied hiring him, and said perate ignorance of this empiric.
he gave him money merely from compassion, as he • A negro, named Roger Hope Ellitson, died on the
seemed hungry. The boy declared that Hebbard did 31st of May last, on Hope Estate, Jamaica, at the
hire him, and had done so before, and knew him very astonishing age of 140 years and upwards. He was
v, ell. Hebbard declared on oath, that he never saw a father at the time of the great earthquake at li-
the boy until Sunday.—When questioned by the Ma- maica in 1692, and had his last child, a daughter,
gistrate, the boy acknowledged receiving 10s. from born when he was nearly 100.

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