Star.
London, England, 1828-08-02 00:00:00

ASSIZd INTELLIGENCE.

GUILDFORD. Maus: 1.
' &fere Lord TINTIRDIN, and a Special Jury.
• THE KING V. ROCKLAND.
This was an indictment against Edward Buckland,
who is a tallow-melter and chandler, at Camberwell,
for obstructing and assaulting certain officers of Excise
in the execution of their duty.
Mr. Sergeant ONSLOW and Messrs. GURNEY and Bore
LANE conducted the prosecution, and Mr. SerPeant AN.
DREWS and Mr.BRODRICK appeared for the defendant.
Mr. Sergeant ONSLOw stated the case. The de-
fendant, in partnership with his father, and Mr. Roberti,
carried on an extensive business at Camberwell, in the
manufacture of dip and mould candles. From some
circumstances which reached the ear of the Excise, a
suspicion was excited that the defendant was in the
practice of defrauding t'ie revenue, by the clandestine
making of candles. In consequence, Mr. Douglas, a
Surveying General of Excise, was sent down on the
-evening of the 12th of J:snuary, and was at Camberwell
joined by Mr. Evans, and several other officers. A little
after midnight they reached the defendant's, and Mr.
Evans went to the front door and knocked. The de-
fendant put his head out of an attic window, and de-
manded who was there? Mr. Evans told him they
were officers of Excise, and demanded admission to
inspect his premises. The defendant replied, "It
was a pretty hour of the night for officers to come,"
and then withdrew his head from the window. The
officers finding that he did not come down ,o admit
them, and having a suspicion that the delay was made
lot the purpose of concealing something, went to the
back of the premises, where Smith and Hex got over
the wall. There was a man in the yard, who called
out, " Seize him," and instantly a large dog jumped
upon Smith, and held him fast. Hex beat off the dog,
and was attacked by it in turn, and his left arm was
severely bit and torn, the teeth of the animal having
penetrated completely through the two coats he had on
at the time. The right thumb of Smith was also se-
verely injured. At this time, from the darkness of the
night, they sere unable to speak to the identity of the
man, but the rest of the officers coming to their assist.
ance, the man ran into a cellar, where he was secured,
and recognized to be the present defendant. In this
cellar a quantity of illegally manufactured goods was
found ; they were conveyed away, and afterwards con-
demned in the Court of Exchequer.
Witnesses were called, who completely bore out the
statement. Hex, it appeared, was so injured by the dog
that he was unable to resume his duties for a mouth
afterwards.

Fur the defence it was endeavoured to be shown that
the defendant had not Set the dog at the officers, but
that the dog, acting from his natural instinct, had seized
them, supposing them to be intruders, and that the de-
fendant had merely called off the dog.
Tne Jury, alter deliberating a short time, returned a
verdict, finding the defendant Guilty.

Caows Snoz—Before Mr. Baron Gmtriow.

William Johnson, Jahn Wells, Narah Macpherson,
Jane Jones, and Mary Donahue, were indicted for as-
saulting and robbing a foreigner named Jean Gardias,
in a bad house, in Peter-street, in the Borough Mint, of
161. in silver, and a metal watch, his property..
The male prisoners appeared to be about seventeen
or eighteen years old ; the females were much younger.
The prosecutor was examined through the medium
of Mr. Baton Garrow's clerk. Ris.statement was, that
he had come over to this country to ascertain sir hat kind
of articles he could bring over to trade in to the greatest
advantage. He had been here three weeks, and could
speak a little English. He could call for a pot of pot-
ter or a glass of porter. On Friday week he was pass-
ing along the Borough, and was accosted by Jane Jones
and Mary Donahue, whom he consented to,acconip miry
home. They took him to a house in the neighbour.
hood, where he saw Sarah Macpherson. He retired with
Mary Donahue, and afterwards returned and sat down
with the girls, and sent out for some porter. The two
male prisoners came in soon after, and also sat down.
They insisted on sending for some gin and rum, but
witness did not pay for them. He, however, partook
f part, and became rather fresh from what he had
taken. While in that state 'he was induced to retire
ith Macpherson, but had no sooner got into the
bed room before the two men and the women
rushed in upon him, forced him upon the bed, and
there with great violence, and notwithstanding he
made every resistance in his power, they robbed him
of his money. which he carried secured in a belt unders
neath his shut, and next to his body. The belt con-
tained 309 shillings, four half-crowns, and two six
pences. They also t.ok from him his watch, travelling
cap, and silk handkerchief. They then all ran off, leaving
hint in the house by himself. He crawled down stairs,
and finding a broom in the passage, he took it up to
defend himself, in the event of the attack being rene ed.
He got into the street, and there, from extreme ex-
haw tion, he fell down. He found himself afterwards in
the care of a man, who conveyed him to the Quarter-
Master's cage (the watehhuuse.) He was confident of
the persons of the prisoners. The two men and the girl
Macpherson were most violent towards him. In the
course of giving his evidence, he repeatedly exclaimed,
i• I freely forgive the prisoners for my part. I hope they
will not be punished for taking my property."
John S xton deposed, that in passing along Peter-
, street, Mint, on the night in question, he saw the two
wale prisoners and the female running. The female
had a hat in her hand, and knowing their characters, he
called on them to stop, but they did not. About fifteen
yards farther on, and immediately opposite the helm
where the male prisoners and Macpherson and Jones
lived, he found the prosecutor stretched on the pave-
ment in a senseless state. He carried him to St. Saviour's
watchhouse.

Wilkinson deposed to having apprehended the pri-
soners the same night in consequence of the information
he received. He found the men and Macpherson at a
house in Kent-street. The other two girls he found in
the streets. None of them had any property about them.
He afterwards searched the house in Peter-street, to
which the prosecutor had been decoyed, and found a
watch under the bed, and a cap and a silk handkerchief,
and also the hat usually worn by Johnson. The bed-
room bore marks of a recent struggle, and in the sitting
room half emptied pipes and beer pots gave indications
of a carousal, from which the parties had hastilj re-
treated. The house was rented by the Male prisoners,
who cohabited with the girls Macpherson and Jones.
On being called on for their defence, the men said'
they were accidentally led to the spot by hearing the
screams of the girls. They found the prosecutor' ill-
`using them, and had interfered for their protection.
Tae girl Macpherson said, that the man had attempted
a most gross assault. upon her: that she resisted, and
thus provoked his violence. Her screams brought the
other girls and the men to her assistance. She denied
that the prosecutor had more than half a crown in his
possession.
Mr. Baron GARROW summed up, and the Jury with-

rut hesitation returned a verdict of Guilty against all
I.lle prisoners.
The Learned Judge proceeded to place the black cap
upon his head, preparatory to passing the awful set,
tence el death. The prisoners, on seeing the caps
screamed and sobbed dreadfully; and it was some mi'
nutes before even a partial cessation of their cries ena-
bled the Learned Judge to commence his address....
Scarcely, however, had he uttered ten words, before
Sarah Macpherson fell down in strong hysterics. Ago.
ther pause ensued, during which the screams of the pri.
soners were renewed with increased violence. The
Learned Judge ordered the females to be removed,
and judgment of death to be recorded against them,
telling them that it was his intention to spare their
lives. The strong emphasis placed by the Learned
Baron on the pronoun their, seemed to arouse the
male prisoners to a better feeling of the hopeless-
ness of their situation. Their screams became most
awful. After a long pause, during which their
screams remained unabated, the Learned Judge said
he had intended addressing a few observations to
them, but as they did not appear in a state to
listen to him, he should at once pronounce the sen-
tence of the law, which was, that they be taken to
the place from whence they came, and thence to the
place f execution, and there severally hanged by the
neck 63 they were dead. The prisoners having become
more composed, the Learned Judge proceeded to cau-
tion them against holding out to themselves any ex-
pectation of mercy, for assuredly when he left that town
they would be left for execution. He hoped, therefore,
they would prepare themselves for the death that
awaited them. So long as human nature remained as
it was, men would be liable to be led astray by the
allurements of female', and the intere.ts of society
therefore demanded that men associating themselves
with these unhappy creatures, for the purpose of plun-
dering and brutally ill-using those whom they may
succeed in enticing to their haunts, should suffer the
extreme penalty of the law.

LINCOLN, Jinx O.
John Ward was charged upon the Coroner's Inquisi.
tion with the manslaughter of Richard Clarke. It apa
peared that the deceased had kept a public house at
Moulton, at which there was a feast on the day in ques-
tion. The prisoner came there,and insisted on wrestling
with some of the company. The deceased ook hold
of him, and endeavoured to keep him quiet ; a wrestling
match ensued between them, and the deceased fell, with
the prisoner upon him, whose knee, coming in contact
with his side, hurt him severely. A surgeon was con-
sequently sent for, but the man died ; and upon his body
being opened, it was found that the spleen was ruptured.
The Jury found the prisoner Guilty.
The Learned JUDOS, taking into consideration that
the prisoner had already been imprisoned since May
last, and that he had not entertained any malicious
feeling towards the deceased, althr ugh tips fatal catas-
trophe had been occasioned by his .miscondect, sen-
tenced him to be imprisoned for a fortnight longer, and
to be kept in solitary confinement.
This was the last case in the calendar.
Before Lord Chief Justice BEST and a Special Jury.
ALLCOCK V. C 'OK AND OTHERS.
This was an action directed by the Court of Chancery
to be brought, to try in whom was vested the right of
wreck belonging to the manor cf Sutton. The plaintiff
claimed under a grant to his predecessors from James I.
and various subsequent conveyances, accompanied by
acts of ownership. The defendants claimed as lords of
the manor, and proved acts of ownership for thirty or
forty years back. But their case was rebutted by coon-
ter evidence on the part r,f the plaintiff, in whose favour
the Jury, under hio directi"n, teturaed a
verdict. The trial lasted the whole of the day. .
OXFORD CIRCUIT—STAFFORD, JULY TA.
CROWN Stns.—Before Mr. Baron Varranas.
Ann Jones was 'indicted, charged with having at-
tempted to poison her master, Wm. Jackson, by ad.
ministering to him a solution of corrosive sublimate.
Mr. TALFOVRD, who appeared for the prosnution,
said the prisoner was charged with One of the most
serious crimes which could come under the consideta•
tion of a Court of Justice. She was charged with putting
corrosive sublimate into the tea-kettle from which her •
master was to receive his breakfast. At the tme the
offence was committed, by the law then in existence, it
was only a misdemeanour. By a recent Act of Par-
liament (Lord Lansdown's), attempts at murder of this
desirtption were declared to be capital offrnces. The pro.
secutor (Mr. Jackson) was a surgeon, residing at West
Bromwich, in this county. In the year 1825 the prisoner
had been apprenticed to him as a servant by one of the
parishes of Birmingham. For some misconduct,-in De-
cember last, she had, at the instance of her master, been
committed to gaol for a month. He (Mr. Taff urd) did
not mention this to aggravate the charge against her,
by showing any srries of misconducr, but as probably
affording some motive for the horrible offence she was
charged with. On the 14th of January she returned to
the service of her master, and almost imme.liately after
the occurrence which formed the subject of their present
Mquiry took place. The Learned Counsel then pro=
ceeded t') detail the facts subsequently given in evidence.
Lavinia Jackson, aho stated herself to be a daughter
of the prosecutor, said that the prisoner was apprenticed
to ber father. She remembered her returning to her
father's house in therbeginning orJanuary, two or three
days before the teaLtettle business. Witness's father
always took tea for breakfast, and the rest of the family
coffee ; it was the duty of another servar.t, Selina Hop-
kins, to prepare her father's breakfast. On the morn-
ing of the 16th of January the family had breakfasted
on coffee before her father came down stairs. The
kettle remained in the breakfast room. Witneis. was
sitting in the breakfast room, and the prisoner cave in
and !took Ithe,kettle and placed it on the kitchens‘se,
for about half a minute. Wi:ness had a flew of' flit
kettle from the position she was sitting in, all die time 41
her father came down stairs. She heard her father call
to Selina Hopkins to get his breakfast ready. Ile then
went into the surgery. Witness took-the tea-pist out of
the breakfast room into the kitchen, to Ppsir some water
in it. There was nothing in at the time,,,On putting
the water in, she observed it looked like sow suds, and
took it to her mother to look at, and from donee to her
father in the surgery. He took the tea-pot ftom wit-
ness, and went into the breakfast room, antlValled for
Ann Jones and Selina Hopkins. Ann Jones was in the
brewhouse at the time, and Selina Hopkins .came down
stairs. Witness's father asked who had put-the kettle
on for breakfast ? The prisoner said she had not any
thing to do with it, and Selina Hopkins said the same.
Witness's father then got the whip, and said he would
soon make them tell, and gave them two stripes each
across the shoulders with the whip. While the kettle
was on the kitchen fire, no one could have touched it
without witness seeing it.
Cross-examimed—l saw Ann Jones come into the
breakfast-room and take the kettle. She was not half
a minute gone with it, from the time she left the parlour
till she returned with it to the kitchen. There is a pump
in the yard. close to the brewhouse door. I was present
when my fatbai flogged the two gills.
William JACkSon, the prosecatOr, said-he had been

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