The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-10-30 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL MICHAELMAS SESSIONS.

The Quarter Sessions for this borough cointnence.Lon Tuesday
before Jumes•Aspinal, Esq., May or, James Clarke, Esq., lie-
corder, .and other mazistrates. The following -gentlemen were
sworn of the Grand Jury`:=
James-Crosbie, Esq. Foreman;
Robert Bean,
Richard Dawson,
Enoch Hervey,
James Addison Aspinall,
John Jackson Starkie,
R. 0. Lowndes,

J. C. Molyneux,
Jacque& Myers,
Joseph Mannt
Duncan' Nl'Viccar,
Hatfield Nicholson,
Glover Moore,
C. Backhouse Robinson,
Walter Fletcher,
Gilbert Fade,
William Byrom Corrie,
Arthur Thompson, EsqrS.

Nathau Litherland,
James Rigby,
James Thomas Bourne,

Peter Sergeantsun,
William Lowe,

The Recorder, in addressing the Grand Jury, said—
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury,—The calendar, so far as I
have had an opportunity of making my observations upou it,
does not appear to contain much that calls upon me to trouble
you with many or very lengthy observations. The number of
prisoners which it presents, is, 1 am sorry to say, much larger
than I coital have wished or anticipated, acid no circumstance
of which I am at .present cognizant seems to hold out any pro-
spect of a decrease in crime in 'this part of the county. While
in other districts we •have presented to our eyes proofs of the
steady diminution of delinquency, in this we are shown that it
is on the increase. At the last Assizes in Lancaster, (which is,
notwithstanding the late division of the'county as regards. the
administration of justice, at least a fair criterion of what oc-
curs in its own department) at those Assizes the criminal busi,
ness would have been disposed of in a few hours hadit'uot been
far a. riot which had just previously occurred in Preston. At
the last Quarter Sessions held at Lancaster and Chester, there
was not. a single case of Afony. Sincerely do I hope that the
districts in this vicinity will emulate so excellent an example.
It is our bounden ditty to do all that is in our power to prevent
and check the progress of crime, for it is not so much its pu-
nishment as its Inevention that is of importance to the .cominu-
nity at large. 'fu this effect the owners of property should, in
the first instance, be careful that no heedlessness on their oarts
be the means of exposing the weak-minded or the evil-inclined
to too strong temptation-. In the next place, in any case of au-
thenticated guilt, the laws should he vigorously pursued to their
effect, without the intervention of that weakness which would
sometimes suffer the guilty to escape puuishment. These mea-
sures, to be firmly effective, must be by co-operation with
.the
vigilance of a powerful, watchful, well organised and efficient
police, the strengthening of which force will probably, ere long,
be an object of attention.
Gentlemen, there is one case on the list to which I must di-
rect your attention ;—it is one of receiving stolen cotton. The
crime of cotton stealing, gentlemen, is one which has been con-
siderably on the increase for some time past; and latterly it has
been carried on to an extent which demands that the most vigorous
measures should -be used for its suppression. ' In the case to
come before you, two points will demand your attentive consi-
deration. The first is, that you satisfy yourselves that the cot-
ton has actually been stolen. In investigating this point you
need not, as has been commonly done heretofore, encumber
yourselves with any inquiry as to who the person was that com-
mitted the theft; it is sufficient that you arrive at the conclusion
that it has been stolen. The next point, gentlemen, will be,
that the party accused did actually receive the goods so stolen.
There isnnlrotte other case to which I needdirect your special
attention, and that is one which I trust you will not find any
great difficulty in forming a correct opinion upon. It will be
necessary, in the first place, that you be satisfied-of the validity
of the first marriage. This, though it took place in Scotland,
where the form is different, and iii frequent instances more sim-
ple, is nevertheless equally binding with One contracted in the
regular English manner. Therefore, all you have to do is to
be • satisfied that such marriage did actually take plaee,—that
the parties liYed together, cohabited together, and were known
and acknowledged eat-man and wife. The next point for your
consideration is whether the second marriage would have been
good if the first had not taken place. With respect to this, as
the ceremony was performed in the immediate neighbourhood,
I apprehend yOu will have no difficulty. Gentlemen, it has
been ms, practice, and I have never vet seen reason to repent
it, to allude from time to- time to the acts of parliament which
may have passed, making such alterations in the laws of the
land as may appear to call for observation. The first of these
which *comes under review is that of the nineteenth section of.
William the Fourth, which provides for the regulation of mer-
chant seamen, and which is a most inestimable piece of legisla-
tion. It confers upon magistrates the power of settling minor
differences which might otherwise give rise to teiliOus processes
of litigation. There is also another act which I will just glance
at. It is the act for the regulation of passengers from oue
country to another, and to give greater facilities to emigration.
I am glad that the legislature has at length accorded to per-
sons with such views a protection which they uevCr had betnre.
The next 'act which attracts my notice, is one which confers a
power on the magistrates to use a discretion in releasing pri-
soners under hail, which, in a community like this, will assumedly
prove a great benefit. It happens in a town like this, that many
persons having avocations which require their personal super-
intendence may fall under circumstances of suspicion.. The
magistrates now have power in every case, and in'every stage-of
such case, to admit parties to bail, on being themselves duly
satisfied with the reasons given. The operation of the act for
the regulation of weights and measures is more likely to be felt
soother parts of the county:than in this community. Gentle-
men, there is'yet another act to which I must alldde. In ap-
proaching this subject, I shall endeavour to be as discreet as
possible. You are aware that by the municipal bill the, juris-
itiction-of the civil court is much extended. The-critninal court
must alsO expand itself in the same way, and hi the same des
gree I must say, gentlemen, 'that I look with considerable op-.
prehension on the increased respensibility which this will cause,
a responsibility which rests solely with the office of the recorder,
and which, instead of the contracted fort it lately had, will now
'be under the-direct domination and.eyst.-of parliament„ With
this extended boundary, it is- of great 'consequence"th'at his
labours should be alleviated; and' to that effect all his officers
should he persons of the very first—of the very highest charac-
ter, for almost every thing that comes before him, is dependent
nu their valuable agency. It is of the very last consequence,
theiefore, that they bepersons, notnnly of unimpeacnible in-
tegrity, of high talent, but of great and 'sound knowledge in
the criminal law. Gentlemen, I will conclude with an obserYa-
tien, respecting this measure, and it is an echo of the sentiment
expressed- by his Majesty, the King. I have no doubt but this
'measure will tend to' the promotion of good order, that it will
allay.diseontent; and that under it we may all enjoy the tidvane
tages of wise and good governMent, . ,
Mary Ward, a woman of bad character, pleaded geilty to an
indictment charging her with stealing £5O, the property of
Henry Ward: It appeared from the statement of the learned
counsel that on the 22d of July last the prosecutor, a native of
London, had occasion to visit Liverpool, and had 'met with the
prisoner in the streets. Ile had some conversation-with her,
and shortly afterwards missed his purse, containing- the amount
named in the indictment. • On being charged with the felon)/
by the watch, the prisoner denied it, but when searched in
B'ridewell the money was found upon her.
The Recoil DER here called the prosecutor, a very respectable
looking man when the following coloquy took place :
Bacon tiER.—Ha ve you come from Loudon fur the purpose of
prosecuting this woman?
Prosecutor.—l have not.
ItecoeDEß.--There is no doubt but your own imprudence was
the cause of the robbery, and I shall take time to consider
whether your expenses will be allowed. I doubt which is the
vvorst, you or the prisoner. It is almost a shame to prosecute
her. (To the prisoner.) I think it will be better to take care
of you for a short time, therefore, the sentence is that you be
imprisoned in the house of correction for six months.
Prisoner.—Thank you. Good luck to the hardups. (Loud
Latighter.) _
_

Mary Oirens was indicted kir stealing a silver snuff box, the
property of William Jones. From the evidence of the com-
plainant, dock-master of the Canning Dock, it appeared that
• on the night of the day named in the indictment, about half-pact
ten o'clock, be was returning home, when the prisoner accosted
him. He refused to have anything to say to -her, but she con-
tinued to followed him. He was about pushing her away when
she plunged her hand into-his waistcoat pocket, stole the snuff
box. and ran off. A watchman immediately pursued and took
her into custody, and the box was found upon her.
The jury returned a verdict of "guilty."
The liEcogioEci said it appeared that she had once before
beep transported for felony, and she could expect nothing more

than a repetition of the same sentence, which was seven years'
transportation.
Patrick Ward pleaded guilty to stealing. seven drinking
glasses, the property of Mr 'llamas Odell, spirit merchant, of
cheapside.-.-Six mouths' imprisonment.
John Boswell Evans, 22, and Thomas Tunstall, two known
thieves, pleaded guilty to stealing a tarpauling, the property of
Edward Molyneux and partners.. It appeared that the pre-
loners broke open an outhouse belonging to the prosecutors,
and stole therefrom several articles, amongst which was the
tarpauling. The latter was offered by the prisoners for sale to
a marine store keeper, and the name of Molyneux being upon
it led to their, detection. They were sentenced, Evans to six
months, and Tunstall (who had previously been convicted), to
12 months' imprisonment iu Lancaster Castle.
William Smith, a notorious burglar, was indicted for stealing
.a key, the property of Messrs. Joseph Franklin and Co., archi-
tects and builders, of. Frazer-street: It appeared from the evi-
dence that between the night
.of the 22d of July and the, 23d,
the warehouse of the prosecutors was broken open by meites'of
a hole being made through the roof. The drawers in the count-
ing-house on the morning. of the 23d were found forced open,
apparently with an iron instrument. A gteat coat and a rule,
together with a key of the safe, was stolen from the .premises.•
Five nights afterwards the prisoner was apprehended by a watch-
man whilst in the act of breaking into the counting-house ,
Griffiths, of Finch-street. .0n being searched, the key of Messrs.
Franklin's safe was found upon him, together with an iron erow•
bar. The crow bar•was subsequently fitted to the.naarks of vio-
lence on Mr. Franklin's drawers, and found to correspond. A
previous conviction of the prisoner fur felony, in the name of
Win. Barnes, was read. The jury returned a verdict of guilty..
The prisoner said that he was urged to commit the felonies.
through necessity.—The recorder sentenced the prisoner to be
traosported for life. - . . •
Elizabeth Collins, a dealer in old etotlieS, was indicted for re-
ceiving, with a felonious intent, five shirts and other articles Of
wearing apparel, the property of Mary Lewis. The prosecutOr
lives in Bannister-street, and in August last her house was broken
open, and the articles in question stolen. Informatiop was re-
cetved that. the felony was committed by, boys who lived with the
prisoner, in Preston-street. Prosecutor accordingly went to the
prisoner's house, and she denied that the boys had brought any-
thing into thehouse; hoWever, on the constattle snaking a search,
some of the ends stolen were found. The'prisuner then said to.
the prosecutor that she couldlake the goods away, and be glad
to get them. Ihe recorder, after hearing.the evidence through-
out, said that there was not sufficient to show a felonious inten-
tion, and the prisoner was acquitted.
Thomas Crossley, 22, was indicted fur stealing 18 lbs weight of
sugar, the pro ierty of Richard Jones and another. On the 24. th
July last, lite prisoner was apprehended coming Rut of the pro-
secutor's warehouse, with the sugar in-his pOsseisimi.
The prisoner craved the clemency et' the court on the ground
that it was seven years since he appeared at the bar before.
Twelve months iu Lancaster Castle.
Rachael Taylor, a 'dissolute woman, aged 26. was indicted for
having stolen five'bank of England notes; four sovereigns, and
one pocket hook from the person of John Feulds. From the
evidence it appears that the prosecutor, who is a stranger an
Liverpool, in July last was 'passing along Duke-street, on his.
way towards the (locks, when he was at ricked by the prisoner
and three other women,--the women put their hands into his.
pocket' and drew therefrom the book corrtainiug the amount
named. Whilst thus occupied two men,- without' -doubt ac-.
quaintances of the women; came behind and knocked him down.
The thieves then escaped, information Living been given to
the watchmen the prisoner was (secured and identified. The.
others were not apprehended, The case was fully proved, and
the jury found her guilty. The prisoner, in mitigation of punish-
ment, urged that'the woman wholiad got the money was gone
off to America.. The Recorder regretted that the rest of the
parties concerned in the robbery were not standing at the bar,
and concluded by sentencing the prisoner to fourteen, years'
transportation.
Midatiel Down pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him
with stealing 20 tb.• weight of butter fromthe George tire Fourth
steamer, the property of Petrick Damao. A previous convic-
tion was proved, the prisoner having been only liberated from
prison two days before he committed the offence. Sentence
—nine months' imprisonment in 'Lancaster Castle.
John Wilburn, aged 22 years, was indicted for stealing
a gun, the property of Evan Thomas, and a pair of trow-
sers, the property 'of Richard 'Jones. The prisoner it ap-
pears was formerly a shipmate of the prosecutor's, and being
out of a situation 'was allowed by the, latter to sleep .on
board the Harmony, lying in the ;Salamis(' Dock, in which
veSsel prosecutor was a seaman-. Taking advantage of the pro,
secutor's kindness, the prisoner stole the gun and trowsers from
the forecastle of the. ship. On the 29th of August, (the night. f
the robbery,) the prieuner went into the house of Mr. Williams,
a publican, near the dock, and left the gun with him for safety.
The gun was subsequently delivered to a dock constable.—
Sentence—six months' hard labour. '

James Patterson, a lad, aged 14, Hayti • M‘Donald, aged 57,
and Martha M'Donald, aged 14, were indicted, the for-
mer for stealing__ a quantity of wearing apparel, the pro-
perty of Anne Wright, and the latter for receiving the same,
knowing them to be stolen. On the 16th of July last, the pro-
secutor, who lives in a small wooden cottage on the south shore,
had occasion to come to Liyerpool,.and during her absence the
premises were broken open and' the goods,stolen. Patterson
also worked at a ropery in the neighbourhood, and was seen on
the evening of the robbery leaving the cottage with a bundle of
goods under his arm, and he did not afterwards return to his
work at the ropery. It was subsequently 'ascertained that the
goods were in,the possession of 111`llonald, and that his daugh-
ter had pledged theta with a pawnbroker named Kitchen.
.Martha .11` Donald acknowledged having pledged a gown
which, she informed the constable, she had purchased from her
father for 3s. 6d.

Hugh Af' Donald, said; 'on his apprehension, that he did sell
the gown to his daughter, and would make up the value of the
goods to the owner, by means of selling his donkey.
The jury found Patterson guilty, and acquitted the other two
prhoners. Patterson was then sentenced to 14 years' tranipor-
tation, this being his second conviction. •

Ricitard Cross, a respectable-looking lad, aged 21, lately in
the employ of Mr. Henry Gardner, " the hypriologist" and
chronometer maker of Belfast. was indietucl for stealing a gold
watch,. 'value £5O, the property of his master.
Mr Gardner stated that on the Bth of September -last he gave
his watch to the prisoner to take to Mr. Penlington, the watch-
maker, in order to have it set. The• prisoner did nut return
with the article, and posecutor saw no more of him until he
was apprehended. [The prosecutor was -here about to state
that he believed the watch had been taken from the prisoner in
a house of ill-fame, when be was stopped by Mr. `'enables,
counsel for the prosecution, who said that, as Mr. Gardner did
not know it of his own knowledge, he could not state it.l
William Yates, an optician, was then called, who said that
he knew the-prisoner and his family. .At the time of his appre-
hension, witness asked ,him what he had chine with the watch,
and he said that ho got tipsy, and had it taken from him at a
house in Elliot-street. The watch was subsequently found at
the house mentioned by the prisoner. .
The RECORDER here stopped the case; and said -that be
thought. it 'too much to prosecute the prisoner for felony under
the circumstances. He would put one question to Mr. Gardner;
which he was confident would be ingenuously answered, that
was, whether he believed the prisoner had intended to defraud
him of the watch? • ' _

Mr.Gardnerieplied that he did not think the intentions of
the prisoner were felonious. His conduct had ceitf,inly been
highly imprudent, but he had no objection again to take him
into his service. .

The prisoner was instantly acquitted.. .
John Ross, one of those pests to society—a hanger-on at the
packet-ofikes—was indicted for having stolen a coat, a pair of
trowsers, a waistcoat, pair of shoes, and other articles, the pro-
perty of Timothy. Connor: Timothy, it appeared, is a Cumber-.
land labourer, and on the 29th of'August last, at seven o'clock'
in the morning, he arrived in Liverpool for the purpose of em-
barking for Dublin. • A little after that hourhe went to one of
the packet-offices to inquire the time the vessel started. He
there met the prisoner, who informed him that it would be two
o'clock. He was going away when the prisoner followed him,
saving that, as he was a stranger in the town, be should he very
glad to do him any kindness, for he (the prisoner) had been-a
stranger in town himself, and had been put to many inconveni-
ences from knowing no person, and he was a man who always
wished to do unto others as he would be done by.
• After a good deal more cant, coupled with an appearance of
ingenuousness, the general accompaniments to the designs of
accomplished rogues, the prosecutor was induced to accept of
the services of his new acquaintance, and they jogged on together
towards the Clarence Duck. •On passing the corner of Stewart--
street, the prisoner cast a hungry and wistfni glance towards 'a
cook-shop; and the prosecutor took him in, and they theta in-
dulged their delicate appetite with twopennyworth of liver and
bacon each. The prosecutor had a bundle with him containing
the articles above-named, and the prisoner advised him to•
leave it at the cook-shop until the vessel was ready to go. Pro-
secutor assented, and the prisoner gave the bundle to the land-
lady, telling her to keep it until it was called for. •Prosecutor
and his victim then left, and strolled into a nnblic-house, where
the latter called for gin at the other's expense. Whilst thus
drinking in rame a women, (which afterwards turned out to be
the prisoner's wife,) and the prisoner saluted her with, " How
dy'e do Melly ? Molly joined the conversation, and .began to
eulogise the prisoner's character, saying that he was one of the
most•benevolentest men as ever was, and had made himself
quite poor by his charitable ways. She had known him when
he was rich seek out-the houses of poor fellows who had got the
cholera, and leave sovereigns on the table.. This rigmarole was
' gulped-down 131 Timothy as the gospel truth; and whilst Molly
was entertaining him,-eutslipped the;_prisorfer to the cook-Shop,
where he secured the prosecutor's bundle; the contents of which
he speedily turned into cash•at•Eyans's;the'parviihroker's.
These facts were proved in evidence. A previous conviction
for felony was read, and the• jury having found him guilty, he
was senteuced to seven years' transportation.

HALLEY'S COMET.

. On Saturday. the 24th of October. at seven o'clock in the
evening, I again saw the comet. Its altitude was 17 deg. 30
mins., and its azimuth was 64 deg. from the south point towards
the ♦vest, and it was in the centre. of Serpentarius- The right
ascension of the cornet was 17 hrs. 8 mins., and declination 1 deg.
20 mins. south; and the cornet set at 5 mins. past nine o'clock.
I have been requested to point out where 'the cornet will be,
so that it may yet be found with ease. This was unnecessary
while it was very visible; but now, being faint and indistinct, it
needs to tie pointed Out to find it.
On Saturday, the 31st of October, the comet will not have
left the constellation Serpentarius, and its apparent motion 'is
not now so rapid, owing to the increased distance of it from the
earth.
As soon as twilight ends, which will.be at half-past six, the
comet will have an altitude of 13 deg., and an azimuth of 54 deg.,
and it will set at 5 mins. past 7 o'clock.
We shall not be able to see the cornet much longer than the
end of this month, owing to its distance and near approach to
the horizon at the close of day. The distance of the comet, on
the last of October, will be 73,000,000 of miles.
The comet will not be seen on its return from the sun, but
several persons have published that it will; though it may he
seen from the south side of the earth, in the month of February.
1836, with good telescopes, and with a knowledge where to }mil:
for. it, but it will be too low in the south to be visible in Great
Britain. M. HOLDEN.
Russel-street, Oct. 24, 1835.

BARBAROUS MURDER.--A dreadful murder was committed
on Friday last, between Willoughby and Old Daihy, Leicester-
shire. A farmer named Wells, living at the latter place, bad
been to Willoughby fora load of sand, and in returning called
to drink at a small public-house be.the way-side. • Here was a
servant named Turner, who joined-him in partaking of several
cans of ale. Previous to leaving they had a quarrel, and soon
after Wells left he was followed out by Turner. In less than
half an hour the body of the murdered man was found by the
way-side, quite lifeless, and horribly. disfigured. From the
strong suspicion entertained against Turner a warrant was is-
sued in the course of the evening for his apprehension and the
next,day he was committed to Leicester gaol, charged on the
chroner's' inquest with having perpetrated the inhuman deed.
From a connected chain of evidence not a doubt remains to he
cleared up as to the guilt of the suspected person. Wells held
a farm under the Rev. Mr. Sawyer, son of the late Admiral Sir
H. Sawyer, by whom he was much respected.