Star.
London, England, 1819-02-06 00:00:00

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, FEBRUARY S.

TICTITIOLDI BAIL COMMITTED.—WARD D. WARD.
In this case there was an Affidavit of five persons,
to oppose the justification of one of the bail, 7'homas
Rickhuss, who described himself of Coppice-row, in
the County of Middlesex, and who, on a former
day, had sword that he lived at No. 18. The Affi-
davit stated, that several of the parties had made
the most minute inquiries from house to house, and
that no person of that name resided in Coppice-row.
It also stated, that two of the deponents had known
him for many years past, and that for these last six
years he had been an assistant to the Marshalsea Offi-
cers, and their followers; that he had no settled
place of residence, and that he had been in the most
abject state of poverty; so much so, that he had de-
clared to one of them, that he had not been in bed
for three nights, from the impoverished state of his
finances : that he had been lately confined in Horse-
monger-lane gaol, on a charge of felony, and that
he was now a follower to one• Baillie, a Sheriff's
Officer. Upon this Affidavit being read, and his
being closely examined by Mr. Cittxxx and Mr. Jus-
tice Bear, he was immediately committed to New-
gate, for gioss prevarication, and ordered to be
brought before the Court on Monday, for them to
do as they pleased with him. The Learned Judge
had only ten minutes, before committed another of
this description of bail, for gross prevarication. He
first swore that he had been discharged from the In-
solvent Debtors' Court, and that he had since paid
all his creditors 20s. in the'pound ; but it appeared,
upon being strictly examined by the Learned Judge
himself, that he had not paid hit principal creditor
a shilling. Mr. Justice Barr, on ordering him' to
be committed, observed, there was a great orius
thrown upon the 'suitors of the Court to discover
these gross impostors ; that he was determined to do
all in his power, and he had no doubt but the rest
of the Court would join with him in using their best
,endeavours in aid of the suitors, to put a stop to such
infamous practices. It was but a poor satisfaction
to a plaintiff, after losing his debt and expenses, to
know that he could indict such persons for wilful
and corrupt- perjury.

CRIMINAL INFORMATION, -
We mentioned in our Report in the STAR on the
30th of January, that Mr. SCARLET? moved for and
obtained a Rule to spew cause why a criminal in•
formation should not be filed against Mr. Conolly, a
surgeon at Brighton, fur having sent a letter to Mr.
Mitchell, a Trustee under his marriage settlement,
in order to provoke him to fight a duel. ' •
Mr. ScARLETT now moved that the Rule should
be made absolute.

Mr. Conolly stated, that hewished to shew cause
against the Rule, but he was not in a situation to
pay fees to Counsel.
The COURT asked him whether he had any Aefi-
davit in support of what he wished to state. Ho
replied in the negative ; when their Lordships said,
that they could uot hear him. They regretted that

'he found himself unable to employ Counsel, but it
was contrary to practice to bean any person, except.
upon Affidavit. 4,
Mr. Colony then mentioned, that an et.-pare
statement of this case had been published in some
of the Newspapers; that it was calculated to ex-
cite prejudice against him, and to do him conside-
rable injury.
' The CHIEF-JUSTICE said, it was much to be la-
mented that ex-parte statements should be published;
but it could not be avoided. _

Mr. Conolly then asked whether he could rlot
bring an action against the Papers which had put-
lished the statement in question ?
The CHIEF-JUSTICE replied, that the Court did
not sit there to give advice.
The Rule was then made absolute.
MAYOR OF GRAVESEND.

A Rule having been obtained this Term for Cause
to be shewn why the Corporation of Gravesend should
not proceed to the election of a new Mayor, in the
room of Mr. CRUDEN, who is stated to be improperly
in office, the Court this day (on application to have
the Rule discharged), saw sufficient matter to con-
firm it. The Corporation must, therefcre, proceed to
a new election.
DECISIONS AT NISI PRIUS.

In a case Doe, on the demise of James v. Stuck,
the Learned Counsel cited from a volume of Reports,
a case that had been tried at Nisi Prius.

Mr: Justice BAYLEY said, that decisions at Nisi
Prius were always the first impressions of the Judge.
lie was sorry tliat those decisions were reported ; at
least be might say so, as far as related to himself;
they were of no authority whatever.