Star.
London, England, 1826-12-12 00:00:00

BOW STREET.

Richard Harris Richardson was yesterday brought before Mr.
HALL., at the instance of Mr. Starkie, a barrister, by whom he was
charged with writing various letters containing insinuation:, by
which the complainant conceived that his life was threatened.
From the statement of Mr. Starkie it appeared, that in the month
of June, 1825, he officiated at Manchester in the capacity of
Chairman of the Sessions, at which time the prisoner was tried and
convicted before him for threatening to shoot a respectable wine
merchant of Manchester, from whom he contrived to obtain some
wine on credit, for which he afterwards refused to pay. The pri-
soner was sentenced El twelve months' imprisonment, which ex-
pired about st.ven months ago; and immediately after he received
his discharge be wrote to the complainant, charging him with
" smuggling away his wife and children." The complainant vainly
endeavoured to convince the prisoner that he was mistaken in his
suspicions, and assured him that he knew nothing whatever of his
family ; but he still persisted in his charge, and coupled his accusa-
tions with obscure threats of retribution and revenge.
The prisoner, in his defence, persisted in saying that Mr. Starkie
knew where his wife and children were concealed. They were living,
he said, at Manchester at the time of his imprisonment, and from
thence went over to Limerick in Ireland, of which place he and his
wife were natives. They returned again to Manchester some time be-
fore the term of his imprisonment had expired, but when he obtained
his liberation they were no where to be found. He heard that they
were gone back to Limerick, but he did not give credit to the story,
because he knew that Mr. Starkie kept them concealed. The pri-
soner appeared evidently to labour under the effects of insanity, and
when the Magistrate informed him that he should hold him to bail,
be begged to be sent at once, to prison, alleging that he could not
answer for the safety of the complainant if such a step were not
speedily adopted.
The prisoner was then ordered to find bail, himself in ,t'loo, and
two sureties in 501. each, in default of which he was sent to prison.
Mr. Starkie, in order to confirm still further the supposition
of the prisoner's Insanity, said, that he had drawn up a statement
of his case which he banded to Mr. Spring Rice, the Member for
Limerick, requesting him to present it to Parliament as a case of
great hardship and injustice. The Hon. Member, however, not
having complied with his request, was threatened by the prisoner,
who vowed he would give him his pietas in' the shape of a pistol
bullet, for neglecting to present his petition. Mr. Starkie said, he
had no doubt but that Mr. Rice would feel equal pleasare with
himself to know that the prisoner was in safe keeping.
A man, having much the appearance of a solicitor's clerk, was
charged with stealing a silk umbrella from the Vice-Chani.eller's
Court, about half-past ten o'clock yesterday morning. On search-
, ins the prisoner, 40 pawnbrokers duplicates were found on his
person, ten of which were for umbrellas, and one was for two hats
and a lawyer's brief-bag ! The prisoner who is thought to be an aid
proatinser in Chancery, was remanded to-morrow.
The two young men who were remanded since last week for
having in their possession a bank-note for 1001. which they said
they found in Gooch-street, Tottenham-court-road, but which was
proved to have been abstracted from a General Post letter, were
discharged, on giving bail for their appearance at a future day, if
called on.