Star.
London, England, 1810-09-20 00:00:00

.f.SSIZES

At the Yorkshire Assizes a person of the name of
Lister recovered the penalty of £lOO from Mr. R.
Priestly, a Gentleman of fortune, at Halifax, who was
one, of the Collectors of the Assessed Taxes there, for
he year 1806, for having received more money from
one Mr. Gin-hill, than what was given him in charge
by the Commissioners of the Assessed Taxes to collect.
An action was tried at Yarmouth, in which a far-
mer of the name of Joy was plaintiff, and a vegetable'
dealer of the name of Stagg was defending. It was
to recover £7 for cabbages which were spoiled at sea,
and the defendant contended that he had never agreed

for the purchase, but was to have a sample. 'The
trial commenced at eleven o'clock in the morning,
and was very short ; but the Jury differed, and they
were put into a room at the top of the Court-house,
until 12 o'clock the next day, as usual, without any
sustenance, when a verdict was delivered in favour of
the plaintiff for 50s. It afterwards turned out that
nine of the Jury would haie delivered for the defen-
dant without hesitation, and the cabbages would
have been lost ; but three who opposed this were two
tailv: and a nueollen-draree I
A most singular and curious trial took place at the
late Assizes for Downpatrick. At the late election for
that place, when Mr. Crokcr, the Secretary to the Ad-
miralty, was a candidate, Thos. West, a journeyn an
slater, had been appointed Seneschal of that borough a
few days before the election, and in virtue of that ap-
pointment became the returning officer at the election.
Being the active partizan of Mr. Corker, he refused
the assistance of Counsel, which was offered him by
the other candidate, Mr. Ruthven • he appointed a
carman, of the name of Neeper, to be his deputy, and
rejected a great number of votes tendered by Mr.
Rtithven, which had bees received by the former
Seneschal. Among them was H. Maguire, the plain-
tiff in this action, who sought a compensation for the
loss of his franchise, through the refusal of the defen.
dant (West) to accept his vote. The plaintiff's case
was clearly proved, and the only defence made was
that of producing the opinion of Mr. Giffard, the,
Counsel, who thought the defendant had decid:d eon-
rcientiously
Mr. Judge Fox, in his charge to the Jury, said it
' was not necessary to prove malice on the part of the,
Defendant, it was sufficient for the Jury to know that
' his conduct was marked oy an improper feeling. Se-
neschals of the Botough, he said, had hitherto been
persons of high respectability, yet they always consi-
dered it necessary to have the assistance of Counsel.
But here was a common mechanic stepping into the
place, and assuming the consequence of a Judge,
who trampled under his feet the very appearance of
justice. Unqualified, untutored, and debased as he
was, he had been rewarded with a revenue employ-
ment ! This ignorant and illiterate man took on him
to decide on the most sacred rights of man, and made
himself a low tricky instrument of the basest cor-
ruption in the hands of his employers ; by which he
disgraced the justice of the country, while he vio-
lated the rights of individuals. The Jury retired a
short time, and returned a verdict for the Plaintiff-1
Damages £259, and 6d. costs.
The Circuit Court of Justiciary was opened at In-
verary, on Saturday, the 3d instant, by the Right
!Hon. Lord ARSIADALE, but there was no business,
either criminal or civil, to come before the Court at
that place. _ _

The Circuit Court was opened at Stirling, also by
Lord ARMADALE, on the Bth, and proceeded to the
trial of Jam: Brown, late prisoner in the telbooth of
Kinross, accused of the crimes of theft and house-
breaking. -The libel was restricted to an arbitrary
punishment, and the Jury, all in one voice, found the
prisoner guilty; but, in respect of his imbecility, re-
commended him to mercy. He was sentenced to
twelve months imprisonment in the tolbooth of Stirling.
Thereafter the Court proceeded to the trial of j
Earn Hinter, miner in Coalsnaughton, in the parish of
Tillycoultry, and county of Clack marman, accused of
the theft of a £5 note ; but the evidence having I
turned out very different from what there had been
reason to expect. the Advocate-Depute did not follow
out the prosecution, and the Jury found the libel not
proved ; Ahereupon he was dismissed.
George Wax, travelling merchant, lately residing in
Alloa, was accused of theft and deforcement ; but
having been liberated upon bail, and failed to appear
to stand trial, he was outlawed, and his bail bond for-
feited.

Sunday sennight,David Tog), boatman, at Dundee,
was choaked, while eating supper. He had been on the
river all day without tasting victuals. He has left a
wife and family of ten small children.
A few days ago, at Kingoodie quarry, while blow.
ping some s;ones the powder caught fire too early,
Fend in the explosion one man was killed, and another
severely bruised.
Tuesday se'nnight, one of the workmen at a brew.
t,ry at Inverkeillor, between Montrose and Arbroath,
while reaching over a copper of boiling wort, unfortu.
.itately lost his balance and fell in. By an astonishing
Ixertion he passed to the other side of the vessel, and
I Knunbled out himself; but died on Thursday evening,
having languished till that time in a state too 'Welkin
'for descriptione