Star.
London, England, 1803-11-02 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY.

Yeßerday (even ptifoners were tried, two of whom
were convicted of felony, viz. jam Fitt-heti, for
haling a quantity of tea, the property of James
Watkins ; and tiranor Smith, for Itealing a 251. Bank
note, the property of Richard Acott.

Two were ConViEted of a difdemeanor, viz.

Fekon Neville Hakhinfon, Robert Conrad, and Wil-
liam Sbevilk, for entering into a confpiracy on the 4th
of Auguß lag, with intention to cheat and defraud
Thomas and Peter Jarman, in their trade, profelfion,
and employment of woolfellers, againft the Ratute.
There were feparate comas in the indiament, charg-
ing the prifoners individually with fraud.
Our Readers will recoiled that there men were
Come time ago brought before the LORD MAYOR, at
the Manfion-houfe, and examined on fulpicion of
having improperly endeavoured to obtain poffelllon
of a quantity of wool which arrived from Gioucef-
terfhire, at the Bell Inn, Warwick-lane, and at the
Swan, Holborn-bridge.
The pleadings having been opened, Mr. KNAPP
proceeded to (tate to the Jury the rafts he flould ad-
duce in evidence before them. Previous to doing fo,
however, he explained to them the law in fuch cafes,
and the punifhment which would attend a convilion.
He Paid, that the prefent cafe would unfold a fcene
of fraud and deception, which, from the (kill mani-
felted in its original eftablifliment, made him fay,
that this nefarious fyftem of trick and chicane was
almoft without precedent. A houfe is taken by Come
of the prifoners at the bar, in Suffolk-lane, Cannon-
ftreet—every appearance of bufinefs was begun and
given to it. A large brafs plate, with the name of
Hutchinfon, was difplayed on the door, while Cor-
rock was entertained in the capacity of clerk ; and,
in order to confer a higher degree of inter& on the
appearance of the bottle, he was feen always em-
ployed through the windows. There preliminaries
having been taken, the next Rep was to make a daft
and get money. Accordingly, Mr. Sheville is dif-
patched into the country as agent, rider, or in any
other capacity be chofe to affume. He appeared at
Shalford-bottom' in Gloucefterfhire, where he got
acquainted with a Mr. Antell. The Profecutors
came from Brecknocklhire ; they had dealings with
Mr. Antell, and that gentleman at length introduced
them to Sheville. After fome converfation, which
at fill produced nothing, but which, on the fecund
occafion, was more interefting to both, a bargain
was propofed by Sheville for the purchafe of their
wool : it was at length agreed on, that 201. per none
fbould be the price. Bills were offered by Mr. She-
vibe, drawn on the houfe in Suffolk-lane. It was,
however, propofed by Mr. Thomas Janina, that
one of the bills fhould be fent to London to be ac-
cepted. This was accordingly done, and in the
mean time the goods it was flipulated, were to be
delivered to a Mr. Lewis. When Sbeville drew the
bills, he Paid the bottle in Suffolk-lane was molt re-
fpeftable, more fo than the Gloucefter Bank, any
Bank in the country, or even Abraham Newland
himfelf. The bill was returned accepted, through
Meffrs. Efdaile's bottle. It was accepted with this
remarkable caution-1, We accept it, beeaufe we
have affets; but the parties are fufpicious charafters."
Before, however, the bill was returned to the coun-
try, the profecutor bad quitted the place, going
home, and they gave to Sheville an order on Mr.
1 Lewis, for the delivery of the wool, which he pro-
mired not to ufe till after the arrival of the bill ac-
cepted, in the moft ample and fatisfaaory manner.
The profecutor had gone away only a few hours,
when Sheville applied to Lewis for delivery of the
wool. With this demand Mr. Lewis complied, and
he direaly wrote to the profecutors, that he had
done fo. It was then, and then only, they began to
rata a rat, and that they had been moft abominably
duped and deceived. Prudence fuggefled to them
the propriety of direaly repairing to London. They
did fo; and, on inquiry at the Bell Inn, and at the
Swan, they found the wool had been frequently in-
quired after • but it had not yet come to London.—
Sheville applied to an attorney, thinking thus to in-
timidate the innkeepers, but in that idea he was dif-
appointed. He then got Corrock t. (wear, that the
wool was his, in order to attach it, but in this fcheme
he alfo was fruftrated. The charge which he meant
to fubßantiate againfl Hutchinfon was, that he had
been the paten who bad accepted the bills, and that
thcfe bills had been fo accepted for the purpofe of
getting poffeflion of the wool, theriby of defrauding
the prokcutors. Hutchinfon was taken in very for-
picious eireteoltances, at a very obfeure hut at Nor-
wood, with every appearance of alumni, and dif-
trek When he was taken before the Loan Mato',
he admitted himfelf to be the agent in this concern
in Suffolk-lane ; lie silo Paid that he was a man of
ProPlitY•
The Learned Counfel then read feveral letters
from Sheville to the hook in London. which cm-
tained many curious particulars. The above, It
Rated to the Jury, were the fads he meant to rove,

and on their being fully conflated, he had tittle
doubt of the propriety of the verdit they would give.
Mr. KNAPP then cd!led Thomas Sharman, one of
the profecutorc. _ _

Mr. ALLEY, Cnunfd for the pritbner, oppored this
witnet; being allowed to give evidence. He (aid,
that by law, no witnefi, who had an interen in the
refult of any profecution, could be received. Betides,
there was an agreement between him and Sheville,
binding them in a penalty of scl. Wale wool was not
delivered and paid. That agreement was niii in
force ; and certainly a man lbdeeply interelled in
the itilte of the profecution, could not be heard as a
witneft. Mr. GURNEY followed on the fame fide.

Mr. KN aPP was about to reply, when the Rscoa-
Dr It overruled the objeCtion.
Thomas Sharman then went on to recapitulate the
eircumtlances, nearly in the fame manner as they had
been detailed by the Connie]. He met Sheville at
Antell's, and concluded a bargain with him at Woot-
ton•under-Edge, for a quantity of wool, and received
the bills drawn on the houfe of Hutchinfon. in Suf-
folk-lane. There was an agreement between them,
that the wool was not to be delivered till after three
weeks. But, leaving Glouceflet next day, he gave
the prifoner an order on Lewis for its delivery. In
confequence of a latter from Lewis, who had the
charge of the wool, he came to Loudon, and pre•
vented the delivery of the wool, which came by two
feveral waggons to the Bell Inn, and to the Swan ;
Sheville made feveral attempts to get it, but was foon
after, along with the other prifoner, taken into cuttody
by the City Martha!, Mr. Nalder.
_ .

John Lewis, who Paid he was a wharfinger, at
Glom(len Elated, that the wool was in his poireZon,
and that by an order from the profecutor he had de-
livered it up, and fent it to London, addreffed to Ro-
bert Corrock, N 0.4, Suffolk•lane. He had cautioned
the profecutor to beware how far he trufled the pri.
Toner Sheville ; he knew the notes which had been
paid for the wool, particularly one that had been fent
to London for acceptance.
The attempts of Sheville and Corrock to get poi:
lemon of the wool were feverally proved by the mat-
ters of the Bell and Swan Inns.

Richard Tipper, a City Officer, Rated, that when
he apprehended Sheville there were bills in his poi:
legion to the amount of 44001.
William Neal, clerk to a hop.merchant in the Bo-
rough, proved the hand-writing of Corrock, who had
lodged with him for four years.
Mr. Nalder, the City Martha!, proved having
taken the prifoner Hutchinfon at Norwood. He ac-
knowledged before the Lord Mayor, that Merino
was his agent.
Mr. Attar objected to any thing that had occur-
red at a private examination being Rated as evidence.
The RE coiner. over ruled the objeftion. All ex-
aminations, faid the learned Judge, ought to be pd.
vate, and not to be allowed to appear in print after.
, wards, in order to prejudice the mind of a Jury.
The evidence for the profecution being ,clofed, Mr.
CURRIE made'a very eloquent addrefs to the Jury in
behalf of the prifoner Hutchinfon, whom he repre.
fenced as the dupe of the others. He had been an
Officer in the nary, and ferp=ith great fame la/
war. At the peace he re to !Binge's, where
be married the daughter of a merchant. On return•
it% to this country, he was perfnaded by Sheville to
open a (hop for negotiating bills ; be was *holly
norant of the nefarious and infamous purpofe for
which it was deigned.
The RECORDER charged the Jury, who retired for
half an hour, and returned with a verdict, finding
Sheville and Corrock—guilty; and Hutchinfon-.404
guilty. There two delinquents acre fenteneed tS
imprifened two years in Newgate. . • -
And three were acquitted ; among whom limers4
joint Ifich, footman to Mrs. Mary Anne Clarke,
for embezzling two one pound Bank notes, her pro-
pert. Mrs. Clarke Dated, that (he lives in Taviltoek.
place, and on the 4th of June the laid the notes met-
tinned in the indictment on the table. She dared
the prifoner to take them, and pay a bill to Mr.
Coleman, a tradefman, in the neighbourhood. She
then went ontin the carriage, and was followed by
the prifoner tolheaoor. She did not fee 'hint take
the notes; the was furprifed in a few days after by
Mr. Coleman applying for payment. She called the
prifoner up, and he denied having ever taken the
notes. The Jury acquitted the prifoner. He was
then tried on another indictment, charging him with
embezzling the fum of al. 7s. The circomairnces of
this cafe were very brief:—Mrs. Clarke's mothersave
the prifoner a ten pound note to pay a (mall bill of
as. at a public.houfe, contracted for beer, which
Mrs. Clarke had ordered to be given to forme work.
men who were finifhing the houfe. He paid the lull.
and returned the change to his lady. but he charged
the amount of the beer bill at al. to'.
Claridge, the publican, had no reel:Medias of what
the amount of the bill was, he recollefted dredging a
ten pound note when he was paid, but he could not
(wear that the prifoner was the perfon who tendered
him the note.

The &motion here put an end to the inveßiga-
obferfing, that the evidence was wholly defec-
tive—Not Guilty.
The trials bong gone through; the Ricotta%
proceeded to pronounce the Judgment of the Court on
filch prifoners as had been confined in the courfe of
the Sellion, viz.

Jofeph Edwards, James Harsifon, Alice Sherraid.
and hWy Smith, Mere fentenced r 3 Fourteen rears
7 rooffriatiiim.
John Falkener. Catherine Caryl', Henry O'Hara,
Sarah Brown, Hyam Michell, J. Williams. J. HAS.,
J. Kennedy, W. Bentley, J. Palmer, J. Bradford.
W. Chriftie, Mary Sullivan, Thomas Wbitaey, St.
rah Davies. W. Dunning, Lyon Lazarus, Henry
Smith, T. Goodwin, J. Jobnfon, T. Barnes,
Craven, J. Edwards, W. Cot, James Bennett, Jo.
feph Stoats. and T. Pitching, were fevefally fen-
kneed to Seven Tears 7 reohoortatiors.
Two Prifoners were fenttneed to reey/er
lorproloasstror— Fifteen to Sin Maths earfilerotret—and
the remslning inferior convids to letfer punifilmenrs.
The follong capita) Convifts were then brought
to the Bar, namely, Tohn Tiller. for burglary ;
John Robins, for highviii) robbery ; jvlin niter,
for tierce-leafing ; and James Steel, for Ilealing be-
yond a certain amount itt a dwelling•hook.
The RECORDER the+. after a i.lemn and afeding
Addict:. pronounced &ninny of Death on fee above
bur Prifuners : this concluded the hrifinefs of this
Set Dons, which were adjourned until Wednetslity this
pith inttant.