Star.
London, England, 1818-04-01 00:00:00

ASSIZES.

ronnEltv—The Kent Assizes terminated on Satur-
day. The calendar presented a list of 17$ criminals,
57 of whom received sentence of Death ; but only
one, G. Dunk, for uttering forged Bank (2f England
Notes at Gillingham and Chatham, vac Icfifbr execu-
tion, the remainder being all reprieved before the
Judges left Maidstone.

KINGSTON, SURREY, MARCH 31.
The Judges opened the Commission yesterday i
evening, and took their seats at ten o'clock this morn-
ing, Mr. Baron GRAHAM in the Nisi Prins Court, and
Mr. Baron Wool) on the Crown side. In Nisi Prius,
several cases of ejectment were disposed of. They
r.ontained no circumstance of general interest.
Lrwis Lynn, a watch-maker by trade, was indicted
for feloniously stealing, on the 1 st of September last,
at Clapham, three dozen silver table-forks, fifteen
silver table-spoons, and other articles of plate, of the
value of 501. and upwards, in the dwelling-house of
George Hibbert, Esq. It appeared in evidence that
the prosecutor, a wealthy merchant, residing on Clap-
ham Comm( n, had a party to dine with him on the
Ist of September. The butler had laid the cloth, and
displayed the plate in question upon the side-board
and table, preparatory to the dinner at six o'clock.
About twenty minutes before six o'clock, the butler
missed the plate in question, having seen it at five
o'clock. A hue and cry was raised, but no account
could be had of the missing property. Next day,
however, the prisoner went to a pawnbroker's shop,
kept by a Mr. Price, in Whiteehapel, and inquired of
the shopman if he was willing to buy some plate,
and what he would give an ounce. He did not then
produce any plate ; but the shopman told him that
his master was not at home, and therefore he could
not speak with any certainty upon the subject; that,
however, the usual price for old plate was then
4s. 10d. an ounce, and desired him to call again. In
about an hour the prisoner paid another visit to the
shop, and then tendered a considerable quantity of
plate, consisting of spoons and forks, some of which
were broken, others bent, and others as if they had,
been exposed to the operation of fire. The shopman
said his master was not yet come home, but ►f the
prisoner would leave the plate and call again, he
should have an answer. He laid the plate down, and
seemed extremely anxious to have some money on
account ; but the shopman said he could not deal
with him, but must call again. Accordingly the pri-
soner went away, leaving the silver, and he after-
wards called three or four times, and the last time,
Mr. Price being at home, he asked the prisoner how
he became possessed of it, but he could give no satis-
factory account. He at first said he had bought it,
but he did not know of whom. Mr. Price suspecting
that it was stolen, sent for a constable to Lambeth-
street, and the prisoner was apprehended. Upon
being again asked how he got the silver, he said he
found it, but he refused to tell where. The next day
he was further pressed, and he said he found it on
, Mitcham Common, covered with grass. The prose-
cutor's butler swore to the identity' of the plate,
. knowing it by Mr. llibbert's crest.
, The prisoner said. in his defence, that he was as
innocent as a child unborn. He called no witnesses.

Mr. Baron WOOD charged the Jury, that the Pri-
soner's recent possession of stolen goods after the
robbery was strong-evidence of guilt ; but the ques-
tion of guilt or innocence was for their peculiar con-
sideration.

The Jury found the Prisoner Guilty—Death.
Joseph Charringion, charged with having stolen a
gold watch, gold chain, and gold seal, from Ann
Gardner, 57, Elliott-row, Prospect-place, Southwark,
was next tried. He is a very tall young man, and
of an appearance far superior to what such a charge
would lead one to expect. The Counsel for the pro-
secution stated, that the theft had beep& committed in
, these audacious circumstances :—Ann Gardner had
been a little acquainted with the prisoner's mother.
'The prisoner had on the 6th of January called on
her with his mother's compliments. She asked him
to come in and to take some refreshment, which he
did. He saw the watch suspended above the mantle-
piece, and admired the flatness of the dial-plate, took
it down, and did not restore it again to its place.—
Soon afterwards he went out as if to walk in the
garden, but the moment he got out he ran off, car-
rying the watch with him.
Ann Gardner gave evidence to this effect.
Richard Hinson, a sheriff's officer, said, he had
known the prisoner since he came of age, when he
had considerable property. He had occasion to call
upon him professionally, and had found him a man
of honour, that is, when he promised to appear he
kept his word.
John Smith proved that the prisoner had given
the watch to one Cannon to be pawned. Cannon
brought back 255. The prisoner would not take it,
but called for the duplicate. He and Cannon went
out, and came in soon afterwards on friendly terms.
Cannon afterwards said to witness, " D—n his eyes,
if he sends more to me for the watch, I shall tell
from whom he stole it."
The prisoner said, in his defence, that he had taken
it for a lark, that is, in a frolic.—Guilty.