Star.
London, England, 1828-04-05 00:00:00

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varying the offence. The prisoner, who appeared much
dejected and care-worn, on the indictment being read,
in a.very faint voice pleaded Not Guilty ; he was also
arraigned on other indictments, charging him with
breaking into Frome Church, and with other robberies,
to all of which he pleaded Nut Guilty.
Mr. JEREMY stated the case.
John Furnell examined-1 live at Frome; on Sun-
day, the 6th of August last, about ten o'clock pt
I was in Bath-street, Frome, waiting for Mr. Wheeler s
van; about twelve &clock, I saw two persons on the
private road, near Mr. Oxley's premises; I went after
them with a person of the name of Gilbert; we followed
them, and they went on ; this was after the van arrived;
we went up to Mr. Oxley's wood house, and there heard
a noise; I looked in, the door being half open ; I called
Gilbert; I saw the prisoner; I knew his person; he
was dressed in a light coat, short trowsers, and a cap
made of beaver, which came over his face; there was
a waggon in the wood house ; I heard the prisoner
• say to the others, whom we could not see, " bring
that board;" on this, myself and Gilbert went back to
Mr. Oxley's, and called him up; I then returned to the
• bottom of the road, within about 100 yardsof the wood-
house, to watch. Gilbert, Oxley, and M. Butcher, came
. up about a quarter of an hour-afterwards. Oxley had
a carving knife; Butcher had a twitch (a stick they hold
horses with when they are unruly) in his hand. We
went in and searched the house, but found no one. We
- then went into other buildings, to Mr. Drewe's garden,
contiguous to the wood house in Drewe's garden. I
heard some•leaves rattle in the adjoining garden ; on
hearing which I called to the others to come. They
came up, and we all went into the garden. 1 went first,
and the others followed, and there found the prisoner
under a quince tree. lam quite positive the prisoner
is the same man. I asked him what he did there? He
made no answer. Mr. Oxley came up, and the prisoner,
made an attempt to run away. Wheal saw him under
the tree he was stooping down, and had a sword in his
hand. I caught hold of him with my right band by the
pocket; he turned round and struck me with the back
part of the sword over the arm, which caused me to
let go; it was a drawn sword—not in a scabbard.
He made away to cross the hedge, and fell over a wheel-
barrow. Mr. Oxley came up to the prisoner. The
prisoner struck Mr. Oxley a violent blow. He then
made his way towards some palings, and attempted to
get over, but could not. He then turned right
round, and cut away with his sword right and left,
and made a stab at me, which Came between my
body and arm. 1 saw the sword then come at the
side of Oxley. Ile then struck blows; one cut
through the hat, and the other was a right down
blow on the body. He then struck me a blow which
stunned me. Matthias Butcher came up ;we called
to .him to assist us ; Matthias struck the prisoner
ton the back part of the head, which made him
stoop.; I caught hold of the sword. The lantern which
MotOxley had iu his band was cut all to pieces; we
all came round him, and I then, having the sword
in my hand, said, if he struck another blow I would
run the sword through him. During the conflict,
while the prisoner bad the sword, Oxley said to him,
you -blood thirsty villain, will you give up? He then
had the carving-cnife in his hand, and was cutting at
the prisoner, to save his own life. I afterwards saw a
wound in the prisoner's side. When I got the sword
from him he said he would give up. • We took him to
the guard-house. On the next morning be was taken
to the Blue Boar, and there washed; he was kept there
from the Monday morning till he escaped, on the Tues-
day night or Wednesday morning.
Joseph Oxley, the prosecutor, in part corroborated
this evidence, as also did Charles Gilbert and Matthias
Butcher.
Mr. EARLS, on behalf of the prisoner, took several
objections to the form of the indictment, some of which
were considered tenable, and were reserved for the
opinion of the twelve Judges.
Mr. Justice LITTLaDALE summed up, and the Jury
'found the prisoner guilty on the 6th and Bth counts of
the indictment.—Judgment respited.
GILHAM, tea MLIRDZREft.—A true bill has been
found against the prisoner for murder and robbery at
Bath, and his trial is expected will take place on Monday.
NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—YORK, Arau. 1.
Before Mr. Baron HOLLOCK.
Michael Sedgtvick, aged 32, was indicted for assault-1
ing and Illtreatiog 'Susannah Hugill, with
.intent to
ravish her. In a second count he was charged with a
common assault.
Mr. ALIXANDIR stated the case, and called
Susannah Hugill, an Widening looking girl, of
fourteen year* of age, who stated that the prisoner
resided at Hutton, near Budley, in this county.
She had, down to the 19 h of March last, lived
in his service for two years, on which day the
assault took place. (The witness here detailed the
disgusting part of the prisoner's conduct.) On
that night she went to bed about nine o'clock, leaving
the prisoner up with his brother, who very soon kb.
Her mistress had been out for about ten days, and she
and prisoner were the onl) two persons in the house. The
prisoner -came to her bed ; she screamed as high (loud)
as she could, but the prisoner put his hand over her
mouth, and sibreatened to thrust a handkerchief into
it if she made a noise. She at length got out of her
bed-room, and ran down stairs; the prisoner fol-
lowed her, and continued the assault. After some
time Ire -told her to go to bed and he would let
her alone, and also told . her to fasten her door;'
there was no bolt; she put a nail through for that
purpose, but it being too long, the prisoner drove it back,
and came again into the room, and threw himself on
her bed; she then scratched his face, and again cried
out. The prisoner then dragged her off the bed by the
hair of her head, and struck her over the head and face;
she also received a violent blow on the bottom of her
back; she bled profusely. After this tLe prisoner um
to bed, and she went down stairs to clean the house,
although it was only two o'clock in the morning. She
told a Mrs. Allison the next day how she had been treated,
but she did not tell her all. She made her master's
breakfast in the morning, and he went out, during which
time her mother came, and she told all that bad bap-
,pened, and her mother said she should go before a
Magistrate; she did go, a warrant was granted, and,
the prisoner was apprehended.
Mr. . COTTINGIIAM rigidly examined the witness, but:
could not impeach her veracity, or taint her pievious
character.
Mrs. Allison and the mother of the girl were called
to confirm the evidence of the
Jury P rosecu tT
Mr. COTTI tiGHA II addressed the J r. y the prisoner,
and called several witnesses, who gave him a. good
moral character.
Mr. Baron Hutz.occ said, the prisoner was charged
known
with one of the most aggravated offences to the
English law. He was charged with an assault u
female ; and unless the Jury should believe that the
young girl had told them a story composed of a tissue
at falsehood, and that the whole was perjury from be.
swain to ending, be could not see how the Jury-could