Star.
London, England, 1811-09-20 00:00:00

eLD aeILET.

, .
Yesterday William Prima was tries on an indictment
Charging him with with burglariously breaking and
entering the house of Mary Stratford, and stealing
therein several articles of silver plate and wearing ap-
parel.—From the testimony of the different witnesses
examined in support of the prosecution, it appeared
thet the prosecutrix is the proprietor of a market gar-
den at Kensington, and resides in Wright's-larie. On
the morning of Saturday, the 24th of August, she
and her son left home for the purpo' of going to Co-
vens-garden market in the pursuit of their business,
leaving Charles Stratford, a boy about thirteen years
of age, the old lady's grand-son, in bed. On their
return home, about five o'clock, they found the house
had been broken open and robbed, the casement of
the parlour having been forced out. Charles Strat-
ford, the boy, stated, that he was awoke shortly be-
fore one o'clock, but fell asleep again. Some time
after he was awoke by a noise in an adjoining room,
and supposing it to be his grand-mother going to
market, he asked if he should go with her ? but re-
ceiving no answer, he got up to look for his shoes,
and, upon turning his eyes towards the next room,
he saw two men, the prisoner and another. The pri-
soner, on perceiving him, came over, and struck him
on the head, desiring him at the same time to go into
bed. The boy remarked at this time that the priso-
ner had a red mask on his face, and held a candle, a
crow, and a pistol in his left hand ; he also took par-
ticular notice, that his right hand, with which he
struck him, had but one perfect finger, the other three
being short, deformed stumps, with nails on each.—
When he got into bed, the other man asked him
where his grand-mother kept her money ? and upon
his saying he did not know, he desired him to tell the
truth before he was induced to do any thing rash.—
At that moment the prisoner came up to the bedside,
and covered the boy over with the clothes. At this
time the boy again noticed the deformity in his hand.
The two men remained in the house for nearly a
hour and a half, during which time they were em-
ployed in breaking open the drawers, drinking beer,
and eating greengages. On the Thursday following
the prisoner, who lodged in Gore-lane, was apprehen-
ded by Bacon, the Bow-street officer, who asked him
where he had been on the night of the robbery ?—to
which he replied, that he had been in company with
a woman whom he did not know, at the Southamp-
ton Arms, Somer's-town, until eleven o'clock, and
slept the remainder of the night under a haystack.—
On examining his right hand, it completely corms-
pondel with the account given by the boy, who also
said he recognised his voice.
It appeared, on the cross-examination of the wit-
nesses, that there had been some trifling dispute between
the prisoner and the son of the prosecutrix. Charles
Stratford, the boy, also admitted, that he had seen the
prisoner's hand once before the night of the robbery.
A person, named George Parker, said, he knew
the prisoner for five years, during which time he held
a favourable opinion of him ; he had nu knowledge
of his character for the last three years.
Mr. Justice BAILEY summed up the evidence with
his wonted humanity, and having dwelt on the va-
rious points of evidence with clearness and perspicuity
he left the Jury to draw their own conclusions.
The Jury, after some consultation, retired. They !
had not been long absent, however, before two per-
sons, landholders at Fulham, who were not previously
in attendance, appeared in Court to speak to the cha-
racter of the prisoner, and Mr. Justice BAILEY, with
the concurrence of Mr. Justice HEATII, directed that
the Jury should be recalled. Having returned ac-
cordingly, the witnesses were examined.
Their testimony went to prove, that the character
of the prisoner, down to the period when the robbery
with which lie stood charged was committed, was
unimpeachable.
Mr. Justice BAILEY then reminded the Jury that if;
a doubt existed on their minds the character of the
prisoner should have its weight. The only observa-
tion lie had to make upon the evidence which had
been adduced in support of the prisoner's character
was, that whatever might have been his former cha-
racter, his own confession as to the mode of his having
spent the night on which the robbery was committed,
did not prove that he was then acting in a manner
consistent with that correctness which, from the cha-
racter he had received, might have been expected.
After this remark the Jury again retired, and at the
expiration of three quarters of an hour, they returned
with a verdict of—Guilty—Death. They recom-
mended the prisoner to mercy, however, on the ground
of his good character.
J. Sliffingion was capitally indicted for stealing a
mare, value ktIO, the property of J. Brill.—The pro-
secutor, vho is a farmer in the county of Bucks, had
his mare stolen out of his stables, on the night of the
'3d of July, and on the 25th, he found her at Pad-
dington, in the possession of one C. Browne.—C.
Browne deposed that he had bought the mare of one
Grove, whom the prisoner had employed to sell her
for him. He gave £lO. ss. for the animal, and Sk(f-
fington gave him a receipt, on which was written that
he, Skeitington, had bought her of a person in Staf-
fordshire. This was corroborated by Grove, who
stated that he saw Skeffington at the Green Man, at
Paddington, where he asked him to sell her for him.
—Guilty—Death.

T Whitford was indicted for stealing a pocket-book,
value Is. and five keys, value sd. the property of
Henry Longlands, from his person.—The prosecutor
stated, that on the evening of the 30th of July, he
went to the Little Theatre, in the Haymarket, and
took his seat in a box, into which the prisoaer soon
after entered, and sat down behind him. In about
five minutes after this Mr. Longlands beard a sound
behind, as of the falling of some keys, and on looking
round he saw the prisoner quitting the box. It im-
mediately struck him that the prisoner had robbed
him, and that they were his keys which he had just
heard fall ; he accordingly followed the prisoner,
seized him, and accused him of having picked his
pocket. A constable immediately came up and took
charge of the prisoner, and, on his being searched,
nothing was found on Wm which belonged to Mr. I
Longlands ; but that Gentleman's keys were found
lying in the box which they had just quitted.—R.
Clask vw the prisoner, on his coming out of the box,
throw something away in the lobby ; and, about half
an hour afterivards, he found a pocket-book, which
Mr.L. proved to be his, lying behind one of the doors.
Two respectable tradesmen appeared, and save the
prisons an excellent character, saying that his father