Star.
London, England, 1827-08-06 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

CHELMSFORD, Aims: 2.
PALMER, CLERK, v. MAY.
This was an action by a clergyman, for defamatory
words, imputing to him that he had done that for which
he ought to had the gown taken from his back.—Plea,
the general issue.
The plaintiff was rector of Pelden, in this county, and
the defendant had been churchwarden of the same
parish. A vestry meeting having been called to inspect
the defendant's accounts, at which the plaintiff presided,
the !situ called upon the former to swear to his ac-
counts. The defendant said, he was not prepared to
swear to them, inasmuch as they were not then balanced,
there being many items which he could not then make
up. The piaintiff told him, in an authoritative toae,
that he must swear to them, and that if he did nor, his
conduct should be reported to the Archdeacon. The
defendant became angry at this observation, and said,
he did not mind going before the Archdeacon ; that he
could say as much of the plaintiff as the plaintiff could
say of him ; and that he had that at home, which would
take the plaintiff's gown off his back. This was said
in a great passion. Angry discussion ensued, and much
confusion took place. Another of the parish .officers
offered to fight the defendant. In his way home, the
defendant repeated the same words concerning the
plaintiff which he had said in vestry. The defendant,
who had a wife and large family, was now confined in
the county gaol for debt, at the suit .f the plaintiff, as
was suggested.
Mr. ADOLPRUS went to the Jury, with strong obser-
vations on the conduct of the plaintiff.
The Learned AMOR said, that if the words complained
of had not been deliberately repeated by the defendant
on his way home from the vestry, he should not have
allowed the case to go to the Jury ; but it was for them
to say what damages they would give under the cir-.
cumstances.

The Jury found for the
farthing.

PILIEOW W. JINX, CLINK.

This was an action against a clergyman for a libel,
imputing to the plaintiff that she had feloniously stolen
a Testament. The defendant pleaded, first, not guilty ;
and second, a justification of the truth of the alleged libel.
The plaintiff had been, for many years, mistress of a
Sunday schooVin the parish of Kirby, and by the per-
mission of the subscribers she was allowed to keep a
day-school on her own account in the vestry-room of
the church. About two years since, the defendant be-
came curate of the parish, and soon afterwards took
some exception to the plaintiff's conduct. and objected
to her continuing any longer mistress of the Sunday
school. Some of the subscribers, however, wishing the
plaintiff to retain her situation, another Sunday school
was established under the defendant's superintendence.
The new school was held in the vestry, and the plain.
tiff was excluded from the room on Sundays. She con-
ducted her Sunday school in a room hired for the pur-
pose, but was allowed the use of the vestry for her week
day school In the course of last year the defendant
presented to the Sunday school, of which he was the
founder, two New Testaments, and wrote his name in
them. On Sunday, the 17th of December last, one of,
the Testaments was missing ; and inquiry being made
upon the subject, a little boy, named Grimwood, who
was one of the plaintiff's day-scholars, said he knew
where it was, for he had seen the plaintiff scratch out
the defendant's name, and lock the hookup in her desk.
The master of the defendant's Sunday school told hint
that it he would bring him the book be would give him
a penny. In a few days afterwards the boy obtained
possession of the book, gave it to the master, and got the.
promised reward. These facia were communicated to the
defendant, who thereupon wrote a letter, addressed to
the committee of the vestry, by whom it was publicly
read. The letter charged the plaintiff with taking and
converting to her own use, not only the book in ques-
tion, but three other books belonging to the defendant's
Sunday school, which he said were found in her draw-
ers. It went on to state that she had displayed a general
laxity of principle, and therefore that she and her friends
must not consider that she was harshly treated in
being denied the use of the vestry room for her day-
school. In consequence of this letter, the plaintiff was
sent for to the vestry, and she immediately denied the
imputations it contained. Three of the vestry then
called upon the defendant. and told him they did not
believe that the plaintiff was guilty of the offence im-
puted to her ; and one of them suggested that the par-
ties should be brought face to face, and an investigation
take place. The d lenient replied, that he would never
meet the plaintiff till GOD had changed her heart.—
The matter was afterwards investigated by Mr. Leake,
Megawatt.. The boy above mentioned then denied
that he had ever said he bad seen the plaintiff scratch
the defendant's name out t.f the book. The Magistrate
being satisfied that the charge was groundless, wrote a
letter to that effect to the plaintiff's ft iends. This letter
'they took to the defendant, who read a few lanes and
brew it down, refusing to read any more. One of the
Gentlemen then read the wi ole of the letter to him.—
The defendant became extremely angry, when one of

them reminded him that be had I fetidly; and that hf
ought to shear some tenderness towards hts neighbours.
It was contended on the part of the defendaht, rhat
the letter in question was a privileged communication;
and only Conveyed in temperate leaguage,the facts of
which he had been informed. In support of the plea
uffpaitification, the boy Orimwood deposed, that he bad
seen the plaintiff scratch the writing out of the Testa-
ment with a knife, rub it with India rubber, and theft
lock it in her desk. On his cross-examination, ha said;

he did not recollect what he had stated to Mr. Utile,
the Magistrate; but he admitted that he had spoken
the truth on that minion.
The case went to the Jury nuclei the Learned Judge's
directions, and they found their verdict for the plaintiff.
—Damages $Ol.

AVOCET 4.
CIVIL 111011.-6.7111 Liscrtu ?ROMA& Larch.
This was an indictment against an Excise Officer lot
wilful and corrupt perjury, assigned upon evidence
given by him in support of an information before twd
Justices, for penalties alleged to have been forfeited by
a publican named Stock, under the Excise Laws.
The case was summed up to the Jury, and it was left
to them to determine whether the defendant had swan
under sr mistake, or knowingly falsely and corruptly.
The Jury retired for a considerable length of time,
and found the defendant Guilty.
The business on the Crown Side finished this after•
noon about two o'clock. None of the capital convicts
were left for execution.—On the Civil Side, Mr. Serjtant
OgaLow and Mr. Serjeaat A SIMMS severally lent their
assistance in trying causes.

LINCOLN, Away 2.
city cower.

Caowir Sam—Before Mr. Joidee flociarrs.
George Mirky, Jame: Johnson, and Sawed Norrho
labourers, were indicted for feloniously killing and slay.
ing William Stephens, by stabbing him with a pin.
The first witness called was Mr. Boot. a surgeon,
who stated that he had examined the body of the de.
ceased, and found several small punctures in his left
leg, which, however, had not penetrated below the
skin. The muscles were untouched. 'There was no
Inflammation in that part of the leg where the punctures
were, but there was in other parts of the body. parti-
cularly the liver and the other principal organs. Ue•
der these circumstances, he was of opinion that the
deceased died a natural death.

The Learned JUDGE thought it unnecessary to pro•
teed any farther with the investigation, and the de.
fendants were acquitted.
. We understood that the circumstances from whigb
th?t prosecution originated were theset.,.."The deceased
was lying, in a state of intoxication at a public-honk
I called the Magpie, in this city,,and the defendants
who were drinking there, amused themselves by prick.
iog him in the leg with a pin, which was fastened in
the end of a stick. The deceased was at length car•
tied up to bed, and the neat morning he was unable to
move his leg, which was in a state of inflammation.-.•
He grew rapidly worse, his whole system being discus•
ed, and died in a few days. An Inquest being held on
the body, the Jury returned a verdict of Manslaughter
against the prisoners. They were acquitted on the
Coroner's inquisition as well as on the indictment.
COUNTY COVET.
CITIL &oz.—Before Lord Tatung.
ILUES O. TOOTIET AND °THIEL
This was an action brought to recover tea guinea*
the amount of a reward offered by the defendants...aft
It appeared that the defendants' warehouse having
been robbed of a quantity of bacon, &c. they offered a
reward for the apprehension of the offenders. Its some
short time afterwards, the plaintiff, who is a shepherd,
was passing through a meadow, when his .dog drew
his attention to a particular spot at which he was
rooting and tearing with his paws. Upon examining
it, the plaintiff discovered that there were several
pieces of bacon concealed there. Judging that the
persons who had so concealed it would of course
come to fetch it away, be and his son continued to
watch it fur three nights, when the thieves at length
came and were apprehended. The plaintiff had sued
the defendants ins} minor court for 51. the amount over
which it had jurisdiction, and failed; but Lord Taw-
VIRDEN held that that was no bar to the present action,
'although it would be otherwise if he had recovered a
verdict for the W.

These Assizes terminated this afternoon. Sentence
of death was recorded against the capital convict%
but none were left for execution.
YORK, Again: &
Caown Sm.—Before Mr. Baron lins.spen.
CHAzOI OT MORDSIt.
George Clarkson. of Northfield, in the parish of
Bowes, a farmer, aged 25, was indicted for the wilful
murder of an infant, the illegitimate child of Anne Ha-
milton, by administering to it arsenic,' mixed in gin
and water, in the month of May last. The child was
20 days old when it died. There were several counts
in the indictment ; some of them stated the child's name
to be J4mes, and others called him George.
There was another indictment against the prisoner
for the wilful murder of another illegitimate child of
the same Anne Hamilton, of the name of William.
The prosecution was conducted by Mr. STARR!.
and Mr. CLeartacrx. The witnesses were ordered out
of Court.

• Sarah Robinson examined by Mr.CL,taxsom.--I am
lbe wife of Mr. Robinson, of Lartington. Anne Hamill.
Iss came to my house, by order of the overseers, about
.44 Candlemas ; she was then pregnant ; she was deli.
Tared on the 19th of April last, of two as fine boys as
ever were born in the world. They were baptised the
out morning by Mr. Ellis, the Catholic clergyman;
the elder was named William, and the other named
James. The prisoner came with Eleanor Thompson to
my house on that day. They went to Anne's bedside
laid talked to her. She cried all the time. The pri.
ewer came to her the three next days ;.the last time he
came was on the Monday night. I heard from the
next room a conversation between the prisoner and
Anne. He was very angry with her because she had
not put James away, and spoke of the expence he was
put to. I heard him say, " Thou seest, Anne, I have
a stock; they will be very expensive, and thou can'st
not go out to work." She said," Oh, George, if thou
'wilt only get me a little girl tonurse,my babies, I will
do my best. I value my babies as much as y u do
Tar stock." The prisoner answered, " Th an seest that
Roth has•got shut afters, and see how she now dresses.
U thou wilt get thine put away, 111 marry thee directly.
and think no worse of thee, and thou shalt want for
neither money nor clothes." She said, ".1 was trying
to put James away, but Sally catched me." He said,
".Thou wilt then certainly get them both managed by
Wednesday." I (continued the witness) was in thew it
room, and beard every word distirctly, and upon these

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