Star.
London, England, 1826-08-04 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

MONMOUTH, Ann: I.

Mr. J. Morgan, one of the proprietors, and the con-
ducting manager of the GAS Works at Newport, in this
county, was indicted for an assault with intent to com-
mit-a rape upon Martha Reece, a smart-looking girl,.
sixteen years of age, who was a neighbour's servant, in
the habit of going to Mr. Morgan's promises to pur-
chase coke for her mistress. The assault was stated by
the girl to have been committed between six and seven
o'clock on the evening of the 19th of January last.
The case excited sonic interest, from the respectabi-
lity of the prisoner, and the deliberate manner in which
the girl bad persevered in her statement, since the time
of the occurrence.

The prosecutrix was examined at considerable length,
and her evidence was, that her mistress bad sent her to
buy a basket of coke at Mr. Morgan's store yard ; that
Mr. Morgan had taken her into his store, and there
made the assault which was described in the indict-
ment. She, however, succeeded in preventing his in-
tention, but nevertheless remained for the coke, took it
from Mr. Morgan, borrowed one of his baskets, and
carried it back again the same evening to the yard. She
never left the premises smirking and laughing, or spoke
to Mr. Morgan when she returned the basket. She
icompleined to her mistress on the same evening, but
never went before a Magistrate, her father being told
that it was better to keep the ease for the Assizes. She
went into a fit on returning to her mistress, but posi-
tively declared that she had given no encouragement
for the assault, and had never since made any offer to
compromise the matter. She had cried " murder" while
with Mr. Morgan, but she supposed the reason she was
not heard without was, that the gas house being high,
the sound ascended within, and did not pass through
the yard door, which was wide open all the time.
The next-witness was Dinah Roberts, who stated that
the prosecutrix had been her servant in her shop at
Newport. She remembered sending her for some coke
to Mr. Morgan's; and also, that when she returned, she
was in low spirits, and in about an hour she went into
a strong fit, and it required the aid of several persons
to hold her. When she regained her senses, she was
much exhausted. She had lived with witness four years,
and had never been in fits before.

Charlotte Roberts corroborated the evidence of the
last witness, adding, that the prosecutriz told her, as
soon as she brought home the coke, what had been done
by Mr. Morgan.
Croes-exantined—After this, she went back with the basket to
Mr. Morgan's.
Lewis Edwards deposed, that he had met the father
of the prosecutriz at her brother's • he was accompanied
there by Mr. Morgan, who remained outside. As, how-
ever, this visit was made without the desire of the de-
fendant, the further examination of this witness was not
permitted. He added, that Mr. Morgan was a most re.
spectable young man, married, and having a child.
Charles Reece, the lath, r of the prosecutriz, said, that
soon after this business he was accosted by defendant,
who said, " Reece, I understand you are muckannoyed
at what passed between your daughter and me. Why, I
have only kissed her." Witness answered, " You have
not only done that, but nearly killed her." " Well,"
said Morgan, "I shall give her a #ound." Witness
walked away.

In his cross-examination he said, that his daughter
never went before a Magistrate at Newport about this
matter, because that was the advice of Mr. Smith, the
Attorney, who des red theta to keep it for the assizes.—
Witness, such had been his worse luck, was certainly a
plaintiff in a court of justice in an action of crirt. cwt.
'about his present wife, with whom, however, be bad
suge resumed ctshabitation.
Mr. rustirrs addressed the Jury for the defendant, and called
witnesses lathe defente.