Star.
London, England, 1827-08-18 00:00:00

SINGULAR BUROLARY.-PADDY IN THE CHIMNEY.

John Burgess, an Irishman, was indicted for bur-
glariously entering the house of Hannah Phillipson, at
Middle Rigg, near Allanhead, in this County, with an
intent to commit a robbery.
Mr. Cooitson stated the case.—About one o'clock in
the morning, of the 19th March last, the prosecutrix
and her daughter were in bed in the kitchen, and were
very much alarmed at a strong smell of soot and smoke.
They jumped out of bed and struck a light, to ascertain
the cause, when they were panic struck at beholding
the legs and part of the thighs of a man dangling in
the chimney. " Who are you ?" cried the old woman,
" Sure it is I," cried Paddy, and before any thing more
could be said, down he got, knocked the light out, and
struck the prosecutrix over the head very violently.—
The noise that took place was heard by the six
sons cf the old Lady, who slept above stairs and
they came down to the assistance of their parent,
Sand cn seeing the prisoner there seized him, threw
him down upon the floor, and having tied his hands
and feet, demanded to know what business he
had there? Whether it was his intention to murder
them all ?—Paddy, in reply said, Faith it is not to mur-
ther you all that I come, but I come to met a night's lodging,
minty I could not get in Me door, so I got down the chini•
Icy. He was•told that was a strange way of entering
tire house, and that he must have had some other in-
tenion, upon which he said, " Well then, I come to get
what I could." On examination it was found that the
pri.oner had gained the roof of the house by means of
ladJer, and placing a wooden rail across the chimney
pot, descended by a rope affixed to it down the chim-
ney. The prisoner was kept till morning in the house,
when a constable was sent for to whom he was deli-
vered, and on being asked if he had any accomplices ?
he said he had none but the Devil, and offered to give
St if they would let him go about his business, which
of course was rejected, and he was kept itt custody.
The prosecutriz, on her cross-examination by Mr.
AncinnoLD, said, that the prisoner once lodged in her
house, and was not aware that he ever went sweetheart-
ing to her daughter, who always slept with her in the
kitchen. He was b.anished from the house, but not be-
cause he was too kind to her daughter.
Mr. Baron Hut.t.ccx—Well, Mr. Ar.hbold, you can
make nothing of this., k is a novel way to go courting
; down the chimney—(A laugh.)
Mr. A ncfraotu smiled, and said be had acted ac-
cording to his instructions.
The prisoner made no defence, but banded up a
written list of name. of pe:s ins resident in Ireland that
knew him eleven, years ago to be a honest character, and
Itus brother. had come over to swear that the names
were in people's handwriting.
Mr. 13 rforr HULLOCK laughed, and said he would ad-
mit all that.

His LORDSHIP then summed up, and observed, that
the mete getting down the chimney without gaining
the interior ut the house, it it be in the night time, was
an ingredient sufficient to constitute a breaking and en-
tering. The only question for them to con!ider would
lbe with what intent he made the entry ? The Learned,

Judge then recapitol.tteri the evidence, and the Jury
found him Graty.—Se ttenced to be transported for lifer

2411WCASTtE Assizes:
After his Lorchhip had disposed of the prisoners at
the County•flouu h procepded to.the Guildhall, where
a Grand Jury were sworn, and shortly addressed by his
Lordhhip. ♦ n♦xuC.

Joseii Logan was put to the bar, and arraigned urn
a cherge of stealing, in the- dwelling-house of John
Thompson, a tailor, one coat, one waistcoat, one pair of
pantaloons, two shirts, one pair of stockings, two silk
handkerchiefs, one pair of braces, one steel thimble; one
piece of wax, one key, one hat, one comb, and one
needle•case.

Upon being asked by the Clerk of Assize if be was
guilty or not guilty? he replied he believed neither..
From his general appearance and manner there could
be but little doubt that he was of unsound mind. His
face was nearly covered with black hair, and while
standing at the bar he took an amazing quantity of snuff.
The Jury mere then sworn to try whether the unfor-
tunate man was mute, wilfully, fraudulently, and ob-
stinately, or whether by the act and pleasure of Goss.
Dr. Fife, of Newcastle, stared that he had attended
the prisoner for the la,t twelve days, and he was de-
cidedly of opinion, that he was of unsound mind. He
sometimes answered questions properly, and, of others,
incoherently. He refused food for two days, and evi-
dently laboured under false impressions.
A keeper of lunatics was of the same opinion as
Dr: File.

Turner, one of the turnkeys of the gaol, said, the un-
fortunate man was continually talking about soldiery.
and that he saw the Devil coming through the wail
to him.

The Learned JUDO, summed up, and the Jury found
that the poor fellow was mute by the visitation of Gm
The unfortunate man was then removed to a Lunatic
Asylum.
Elizabeth Carlisle was convicted of stealing three
half crowns from the person of Thomas Nicholson, and
sentenced to 14 years:transportation.
There is only one cause in the paper in this Court, and
twelve in the piper for the county of Northumbetlaad.
At -the late Assizes of Longford, a woman was
brought to tri4l and capitally indicted on her own con-
fession, for maliciously setting fire to a dwelling-house,
for which crime she had accused and sworn criminal
informations against several innocent men, with a view
of getting a reward for their conviction. It appeared,
however, that about a month previous to the Assizes,
the matron of the jail, in reading the Scriptures to the
female prisoners, As is her daily custom, opened on the
, 19th chapter of Proverbs, the 6th verse, of which reads
thus:—" A false witness shall not be unpunished, and
he that speaketh lies shall not escape." Tue word of
Gon, which is" quick and powerful, struck conviction
to her heart; she immediately made an open confession
of her diabolical design to prosecute the innocent itten.
Major 01DONOGHU6, Chit( Magistrate, took her vo-
luntary confession on oath, which was read in open
Court on the trial. After a patient investigation,
and an eicellent and humane charge from the Learned
Judge to the Jury, she was found guilty, but recom-
mended to mercy. Sentence of death was recorded
against her.