Star.
London, England, 1820-05-22 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY SESSIONS, MAY 19.

John Com aged thirty, was indicted for stealing
nine sheep, the property of William Spencer, at,
Hampton, on the 4th instant. The circumstances of
the case «ere clearly demonstrative of the guilt of
the prisoner.—Guilty—Death.
The Jury strongly recommended the ptisoner to
mercy, in consideration of his good character. The
prosecutor warmly seconded the recommendation,
and stated that the prisoner, while his servant, had
conducted himself with the gteAtest propriety.
Mr. Baron GARROW assured the Jury that the re-
commendation should be attended to in the proper
quarter.
George Palmer, aged fifteen, was indicted for as-
saulting John Sanderson on the highway, putting
him in fear, and taking from his person ;k watch, a
seal, two watch-keys, one ring, and a ribbon, on Sun-
day evening, the 7th instant, in High-street, Mary-
la-bonne. The prosecutor was going home about nine
o'clock on the evening in question, when he was met
by the prisoner and three others, and after having
been beaten, was robbed of the articles mentioned in
the indictment. The watch was found lying in an
area near where the prisoner was apprehended.—
Guilty—Death.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY then said, that the verdict
was very proper, as the prisoner was well known in
the City.
Mr. Alderman WooD, who was on the Bench,
stated, that the-prisoner had been repeatedly brought
before Shim on many charges.
Mr. Baron GARROW observed, that that was pro-
bably the reason why the prisoner had left the City,
and gone to the West end of the town to carry on his
depredations.
John Atkins, aged seventeen, was indicted for steal-
ing a quantity of annatto, value £l2, the property
of Matthew Fulwood. The prisoner received a most
excellent character from his mkster, the prosecutor,
and from a great number of witnesses. The prisoner
shed tears during the whole of the trial.—Guilty—
Death. The Jury and the prosecutor strongly re-1
commended the prisoner to mercy, which the Court
premised to attend to.
Joseph Bell, aged sixteen, was convicted of steal-
ing a valuable gold watch, two gold seals, a gold
chain, a pocket-book, with £7 in notes, and £1 ss.
in silver; kc. The prisoner was servant to Mrs.
Tug& of Duke-staet, Weltminstets and availed him-

self of the opportunity of robbing her drawers on the'
28th of April, at the time when she was at the Thea-
tre. The case was further aggravated by the circum-
stance of his mistress having taken him into her em-
ploy at a time when he was in the deepest poverty,
and had not even a shoe to his foot. He this day
confessed the robbery, and verbally expressed some
regret for it,. but he did not in the least appe'.r af-
fected by the situation in which he was placed.—Death.
The 'Grand Jury of the City of London having
finished their business at the Sessions, entered the
Court, and, after presenting their last bills, gave in
the following presentment :
" We, the undersigned Grand Jurymen of our Sovereign
Lord the King, assembled at the Justice Hall, Old Dailey, this
19th day of May, 1820, are desirous of obtaining the direction
of the Learned Judges now present in what the grand Jury
have hitherto considered a' part oftig duty devolving on them
—namely, the right of visiting his Majesty 3 Jail of Newgate,
it having-been stated by the Common Serjeant, at a recent Ses-
sions, that the Grand Jury had no other right than that of
courtesy to visit the jail: The present Jurymen who have
subscribed their names, anxious conscientiously to discharge the
important duties intrusted to them, neither omitting a right they
may be in the possession of, nor claiming that to which they have
no title, are therefore desirous that your Lordships would now
be pleased to declare your judgment thereon ; at the same time
they beg leave with deference to submit, that although there
may be no written law authorizing or empowering the Jury so
to do, yet has it been the custom and long usage for the Grand
Juries of the City of London, in full costume, and attended by
a Serjeant at Mace, to visit the said prison, and report thereon
to this Court. The Court have been pleased on many occasions
to approve of the suggestions made by them ; and the Corpo.
ration of London, as well as the Legislature, have acted upon
such remarks so made : they have therefore been led to believe
that the custom had grown into law, and been confirmed by the
sanction and approbation of this Court : a different opinion
'having been declared by the Learned Common Serjeant, leads
the undersigned to apply to your I)urdships, to whose decision
they bow, and in whose judgment they have the highest con-
fidence." Signed, &c.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY, after conferring with Mr
Baron Garrow, said, it had undoubtedly been usual
for Grand Juries to visit the several prisons, and to
make such reports and observations to the Judges
on the Assizes, and on the rota in that. Court, as the
cases might require, or they should think fit. There
were Acts of Parliament giving Magistrates the
power of visiting the prisons froth' time to time; but
they did not speak of Grand Juries, at least as far
as he had seen. This was his opinion, confirmed by
that of his Learned Brother ; but he would call the
attention of the Judges to it as soon as he could meet
them ; and, most likely, the presiding Judge at the
next Session would deliver their opinion as to the
right claimed. It was highly desirable that Grand
Juries should deliver their opinions as to the state of
the jails; and he had no doubt, if they applied to the
Sheriff, he would give directions that they should be
admitted into the prison.
Mr. Corbould, one of the Grand Jury, said that
this was not a party question ; the object of their ap-
plication ma; to have the right established by the
decision of the Judge;. They would not take that
as a matter of courtesy which they conceived to be
a right. He begged not to be misunderstood ; the
question was one of the greatest importance, and he
was glad to see their Lordships attached the same
importance to it which they did.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY repeated, that he would call
the attention of the Judges to the subject ; and he
had, in the meantime, no doubt but that proper
directions would be given for their admission into
the prison.
Mr. Baron GA RROW said, it was only necessary for
him to declare, that he entirely agreed with all that
had fallen from his Learned Brother.
The Grand Jury then bowed, and retired.
MAY 20.

R. Ireland, a respectable-looking young man, who
had pleaded Not Guilty to the charge of having ut-
tered forged notes, was put to the Bar, and presented
a petition, in which he stated, that by the advice of
one of the best and kindest of fathers, and other re-
spectable friends, he-Was desirous of withdrawing his
plea of Not Guilty, and pleading Guilty to the minor
offence. He did this from sincere contrition, for he
now saw his guilt ; nor was it long after he had left
his paternal roof before he became a prey to those
who are constantly prowling about for their victims,
and by whom he had been plunged into the depth of
misery and wretchedness.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY asked him if he was aware
that this pleading to the minor offence, as he called
it in his paper, would subject him to fourteen years
transportation? The prisoner answered that he was.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY.—" Another question I would
ask is, whether the language contained in this paper
is your own ?" The prisoner again answered in the
affirmative.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY.—" Then it very properly ex-
piesses the feelings of contrition which you ought to
possess, and I trust you will profit by them."
The Bank offered so evidence against him, and his
plea of Guilty to the minor offence was consequently
suffered to he recorded.

George Seymour was suffered to plead Guilty to
the minor offence of having forged notes in his pos-
session, knowing them to be so; and to withdraw
his plea of Not Guilty to the capital offence of utter-
ing them.
Peter Miter was indicted for forging and uttering
a counterfeit £lO note. The note in question, and a
forged £5 note, were uttered in payment for a colt,
which he purchased of a person in Shoreditch, at
which time he gave a false name and address. When
taken, which was some time after, he had several
forged notes on his person.—Guilty—Death.
James Gardner, aged '33, and Jane Harrison, aged
21, a most interesting and respectable young woman,
with a young chili in her arms, were capitally in-
dicted, the former with hiving disposed of thirty-two
forged notes, and the latter for putting away seven
forged notes. The female prisoner was indulged
with a chair during the trial, which lasted Tour hours.
The principal witness against the prisoners was a
man who had had repeated dealings with them, and
at various times had purchased a large quantity of
notes of Gardner, at the rate of five shillings each
for inferior notes, and seven shillings for those well
executed. Oa some occasions the witness had pur-
chased a score at a time. The above facts coming
to the knowledge of the Bank, they employed the
witness to buy some more notes of the prisoners, and
immediately on so doing, the Officers, who were
close by, apprehended the prisoners. The main
points of the evidence, were corroborated by a wit-
ness named Liberty, and others.
The Jury acquitted thefemale prisoner, but against
Gardner returned a verdict of—Guilty—Duda.