The Statesman.
London, England, 1819-07-15 00:00:00

THE grATESSIAN.

LAW INTICLLIGENCE.

COURT OF CHARCERT.JaLv 14.

1$ Tin NATTER OF THE [AUL or CAOOO4 AN

LUNATIC.

Mr. lien moved that the Master's Report in Ole
ease should be con/rued relative toe lease, and ales
to a sale which had been effected by order of the
Court. The seat of kin wade no opposition to the
!notion, and of coarse it was granted.
The Loan CHANCILLOII, at the same ties stated,
that a deobt which had long stilted relative to the
copyhold estates of lunatics being included +shills
the Statute, had now been set at rest, an Act basin/
rec►ntly passed. In which a class' was inserted de.
daring that such estates wen Included.

IN THE MATTER OP THE DUCHESS or corimoos.
la this case a mottos was growled fat poyies the
tatted costs of the Cwootittoe.

BURLINGTON ARCADE.
ODELL V. LADD OEVIEDIE tilt.

The ArroanaT.Cantaitt, ttated, that in this MO
the parties had not coati to an agreement, bet the
dose in the passage leading to the Western Eschsege
had beat made wider. Ile did sot wish sow to p
into the merits of the ease, bet be was afraid then
would he a oeeessity for catalog for his Lordship's
lodgment.'

- The Lose Cnoocetcoa amid he would welt I.
see what Mr. Wetherell would soy, before be gere
:lodised.

COURT OF KING'S lIENCR, Jrn 11.

GRAMPOUND ELECTION.
TUN RING V. WATTS AND °TWIRL

This was as indictment against the Ike Defendants,
Isaac Watts, Samuel Crewe, John Luke, Jobe
Cooke, sod Nicholas Middlecete, for a conspiracy.
The first count stated, that in the month of Jose,
1818, at the time when es election was coming en
for Members to serve in Parliament for the borough
of Missy, in the evenly of ,Cornwall, the De-
fendants, with en intro' to interrupt the freedom of
election in that place, did conspire to induce certain
pollees, electors of that borough, to give their woke
to two undivideals to be recommended to them by the
said Defendants. Several ether counts, charged the
Defendants with coming frees Tregony to London,
and conspiring to procure two persons who should
give them certain sums of money for their interest, in
seder that tech persons might be elected Members
fee that borough. There were other connts is the
indictment charging the Defeedants with similar acts
with respect to the borough of Grampoond.
Mr. Ititabilat opened the pleadings, sod Mr.
Serjeent PILL stated the case to the Jury. Hassid,
that the offence charged against the !Menthols was
one of the most serious that could be committed,
and see which, at the present period, more thug
any ether, demanded the interference of the law.—
There wares great many counts on the record, and
until they came to the 18th none of them related to
the borough of Grampoend. He thought, however,
they might Iwo out of their consideratioa all the
comas which rusted to Tregony, the evidence with
respect to that place being very incomplete. The
foes first of ibe Defendants came from Grampound,
the fifth was an inhabitant of Tregeny, two places
which were not far from each other ; and the Jury I
would lad, that with regard to the disgracefel act
which °cc-Wooed the present prosecution those bo.
roughs appeared to have bad a community of interest.
In May lasi, when a dissolution of Parliament was
talked of, all Cornish boroughs were nalerally very
active, but more particularly the borough of Gram.
pound. He was unwilling to mention the names of
many of these who were engaged in these corrupt
transactions, as the business had already been very
much canvassed throughout the country. One
Ileum went down to Compound and made himself
very active there, bet he failed is his effort.; the
People did not like him, end they rejected him.—
There bring then no avowed Candidate for Gram.
potted or Tregons, these five Defendants came to
London with the purpose, as be hoped be should be
able to prose, of procuring Members for those
places at a gives price. A charge of this nature re.'
quired little comment from him; for the attention,
of the whole kingdom had fortunately been called
to these transactions, in consequence of the recent
proceedings in Parties's'. No greeter offence
could be imagined against the Constitution of Eng.
lead than that which was imputed to these Defend-
ants. It was nothing less than corrupting the very
foentain of legislation, and if such a proceeding
were allowed to pass with impunity, the consequences
meat be most fatal to the country. The designs of
the Defendants, and of persons like them, if ear.
tied into elect, must pet an end to the lair sod ito.
partial Representation of the l'eople. Ha did not
wish to enter into idle declamation on this subject ;
bet he begged lease to say a word or two with re.
spect to the Reform of Parliament. Various were
the opinions entertained by different men on that
question ; some had adapted wise, and some had ad.
hared to eatravagant theories ; bet it wee the opinion
of every cool and dispauiessate man, no matter what
party he espoused, that a stop ought to be pot to the
system of corruption which was finding its way into
almost all the boroughs of the kingdom; sod in his
(the Lesroed Serjeant's) Wilke, she most ode as
well es the most effectual way of ettainieg that ob.
was to bring elms of this sort before a Court of
Justice, where they would weirs. the fair and tem.
perste, bet the firm verdict of a Jury. Ls the smooth
of May the Defendants came up to town, and stopped
at the Roll and Crown is Holborn. with a view to
carry into effect their pt intentions. Ile would
prove that they all either directly elicited to the pro-1
positions made by one of their party, or else that the
whole of them made propositions la their eon per-
sons. 'I hey all adMitted that they cams to sell seats
for the borough of Grampoend, end that the money
to be given fee those setts was to be distributed
Amon the electors, after they bad retained a certain
portion for themselves. As far as he could under.
steed, no defencv could be set up to this indictment,
'stela, pet haps, an endeavner to impeach the credit
of the ovn eeeeee who certainly had been privy to the
proceedif 40 of the Defendants. Tilt Jury would.
'however, bear in mind, that cases of conspiracy
r avid no be proved except by the evidence of those
•lan wee In some degree connected with the con-
.pira:nr.. In conclusion, he hegira to observe, hut
'aithoui;l3 be wished the Defendants to be punished if

titer were heed 'slily, yet he was meat desires'
that the Jury ehoeld banish ell prejudice from their
sheds, end view the ciao calmly Gall impartially.
The following witnesses were thew called:—

John Eland Fot produced Writs for the election
of Members for Tregony •n.l Grampoot.d, both be-
fore and since the Union with Ireland.
Gem, Wilds was a waiter at the 11•11 and Crown
len is Holborn, in May and June, 1818. newer-
bored that the Defendants came and remained there
three weeks : they dined together in general, end bad
their bills every morning. bid not know any of the
persons who called upon them : be saw a Gentleman
le Court this marking. bet did not know his name.
Joseph Vieacombe lived at Tregnny. There are
about 50 voters at Grampouod. Woe in Laudon nn
the 18th of May, 18181 sow John Cooke about the
Ithh, et the Plough, In Grey-street. Ile said, that
he and the others were at the Bell and Crown, In
Hollsero : he enderstood that a dissolution was &bees
to lake place, sod he came to get a Gentleman or two
for Crumpetord. Witness said he came for the same
Impose. Three or 'nor days slier witness saw
Cooke again et the Plough ; be came alone. lie
said that he had agreed with Gentlemen for the bo-
rough of Grampeand, and he had a Centimes who
would advance the same sum for Trognny as had been
given for Geampoond. The sons was 7,0001. Wit-
ness said he was not disposed to join in any opposi-
tion for Tregewy. Cooke raid, if be would take his
invite, it woeld be of service ; Woe tad made a
good thing of lt. The *eat day the whom saw the
other, at the Bell and Crown. He told hliddlecote
he was going to see William Holmes, Esq., and
Cooke requested him to tell Mr. Holmes not ha was
in town. fa the morning witness saw Mr. Holmes,
and received a letter from him for Middleton. He
sew Middleton seals in threw or four days, and
then saw Cooke and the other. at the Bell and Crown.
Ho said he wished to speak to Middlecote in private;
the ethers then withdrew. M iddlecon 'aid that the
business had gone on very wit for Gasp lus I, and
that if the people of Treenny had applied to him in
time, be remold have done as well for them. He said,
7,0001. was the price for Grempanned ; that Sir Mae-
aeh Lopes bad no chance of getting a emit for that
borough, and that Mr. Teed was too poor. None
of the other Defendants were present at the convern-
tiros which witness had with Midallecote. lit saw
them all the day before be left town ; they were to-
gether et the Bell and Crown. Crimean said, " Oor
business is ping on very well for the ha tollih of
Grempound, and we aspect to leave town in two or
three days."
_ _

' Cresseeisatioted by Mr. GuittatT..-11ad lived at
Twee,' three years ; lived hot.br• in Drury 111111.4
is here he kept a public-home; now kept a small farm,
and part .f ibe year was "opted in fishing ; did not
carry on this proaecetion ; did on, know who was
the prosevator ; did is..t knew whst this qoessinte
meant; did not know fot certain that S,r Christi).
pher Hawking carried on the prosecetion ; did not
know that Mr. Limb, was Sir Christopher's attorney
on this (tension ; had never been "unlined by Sir C.
Hankiess respecting the evidence he was to give to.
day ; cuald not say whether he had sera him skeet
any Interviews which he had Ia London with Middle.
cote at the Bell and Crown.

Rensamined.—Tied known Sir Christophrr ilaw.
kips these toren'', years; was sabpatesed by Mr.
Lambe ; had understood that this was Mr. Teed's
business.

FAward Penny knew Samuel Crouse before the
i last year ; had dined in company with him once. In
June lest went to the 13.111 and Crown to see hia ;
friend him standieg at the door, and asked bias if he
was not from Granspolod ,• be said, yes. Witmess
spoke of the dissolution of Parliament which was
likely to take place. Grooms then sent for Watts
,and Like, who were walking a short distance of.—
They came, and Crews asked them to walk lot•
the inn. Witness asked who were their Member.,
and what they intended to do with them? They
said, ".Turn them both eat." He said, be shied
to have some farther convocation with them concern.
,ing Grampoend. A Centime. of the name of
Pritchard was with him. They went up stairs Into.
small room, near the bar, where a man Sea sitting at
the head of the table. Crogpa said, " This is Mr.
Middlecote, who comes from Tenafly." All ire
Defendants then sat down. Croton said, " These
Gen'teesen," meaning witness and Pritchard, "come
for Grampeund." Middlecote said, " Grampoend
is gone; it was settled last night : bet I think there
is a chance of getting Tregony ; there are 240 or 270
voters." Witness asked him whet the upset would
be? Middlecote said, " 6000 guineas, beams,, in
election matters, we always reckon in goiness.4—
This sea for both seats. Middleceie asked, whether we
were Ministerial or entiehlinisterial—whether the
seats were for ourselves, or for oar friends.. We
said," That is of no consequence: one, nubile, for
ourselves, and one for our friends: but 6000 plains
is a great pike, as the Stocks are now very low." He
said the sit Ihoesand guises. would not cover all
espences: it would be necessary also to bring down
Gosport end give the Electors a dinner. Witness
said, that in the event of the demise of his Majesty,
there would be another Parliament; and would the
6000 pines, ensure another return? Middlecote
said, " No; the rule is 10001. for one year; and if
the Parliament lasts only three ?ears, half the sum
is to be returned. I base bees in the habit of doing
these things for may years; It requires a great deal
of secrecy, and I never allowed a third person to be
present before." lie then recommended thet,,itriess
and Pritchard sheald go down with Croggenied the
Crampoons) men, and stay till the morning of the
election. Ue said, the morning was always the time
to carry a contested election. Croggan and Watts
followed witness down stairs. Crogrin then said,
" When I was *here 'Midelleetsto would not let me
speak; sow I will speak: Greopeend is not gene;
I don't know what Middlecote means." Watts said,
that be and Croggan were going to a Gentlesiss in
the Strand *boot Grampound. Nothing (piker
passed at that time. On the following day wham
went again to the Bell and Crown, and sew Luke
and Croggan. The latter said, " Tresony miry roe.
lain', be got : there is a perms in town respecting
it." Witness said, he wished to have Grampoood,
if possible, as the small number of voters would se.
cure a return. Luke said, he was sorry he had net
'Kit Sheen before: lie was determined to oppose
the interest of Sir Mameh Lopes. The Members st

that time were Mr. Collett, a Iv.p.mereltsnr in the
lieroggh, sod Mr. Teed. Witness askd, 44 What
is the objection to Mr. f;Alets ?" The answer yes,
" lie has fretted es PI, sad w• ere determined to
oppose him. A: to Mr Teed, he it a eery rod
man, bet he has been rather unfortunate. and
do not think he has money aneegh to mend the elec.
lion." Winona bad applied to them at the instance
of Mr. Teed, who was an old friend of his 3 bet he
did not tell them for whose be come. The following
day be saw Cooke, Lake, Watts, end Crnegsn.--.
Ile told them he wished to come to some determine,
(ion respecting Tregeny, as Gramposod was gone.
Crosson said, he would give an answer in three
hoofs. Witness told him to direct his letter to
" Major Willies's, at Slaughter's Coffee-boese, It.
Martin's•lsee." At two o'clock on the same day,
Cronin Rove him a letter from Middlecote, directed
to Major Williams, stating, that from what he had
heard since, on a certain subject, he begged in de-
cline any farther conversation respecting It. Cree-
ps' said, they were going to return home. Witness
pressed them to stay till Friday (Mr. Teed hatieg
told hie that he wished to see them); they said, it
was very eapensives be replied, " Never mind that
—it can be easily settled." 'hey all thee said that
Gresepoeod was not disposed ef.
Croas.easmined by Mr. Putted.—flad lived at
Camberwell about 11 months; was a parser is the
navy ; had seen Croggan before he weat to the Bell
and Crown, bet did not recollect having see. any of
the ethers ; did not mention who he was ; that re&
mined a secret till be gave Crewe a direction to
write to Mm. The name of the other Geodesy'
was also unknown to the parties •, witness west at
the request of Mr. Teed; Pritchard resided with the
witness; be also wes a purser; Mr. Teed had lived
at Plyesoeth several years.
W. Pritchard confirmed the cemented's@ between
the lest witness and the Defendants at the Bell and
Crown, on the Grit day.
Benjamin Tanner maimed by Serjesed
Was a ship-agent : lived la Bilf r.gifefi, East Smith-
field t was a friend of Mr. Teed's. In June of last
year went to the Bell end Creole, et Mr. Teed's re-
quest : did not knew the Defendants before be went
there. nor did he sow know any of them except
Middlecole. Went he ow, he asked whether
there were not some Geatiamen front t'ernwall....,
The waiter said yes; mad called Ms,ldlecote to him.
Middlecote took him up stairs. Witness then ask-
ed, whether he was one of the Gentlemen who bad
come from Cornwall to dispose of s,me seats ? Ile
replied he had come ep with some others for that
purpose; but he believed the seats were engaged, or
as gond as engaged. Witness asked the neon of the
boroughs they had to dispose of. lie answered Tie.
copy red Grompoond : they were engaged: bet be
believed there nes another place, St. Ives. He said,
" D. you apply for yourself, or as an agent ?" Wit.
DM mid. " For myself and for another." " Are you
assie," said he. " that there has been an Act passed
called Mr. Cerwen's Act, by which you and my
self would be endangered in treating fore place ?"
Witness said, " I know nothing of that Act; bet it
you are not disposed to treat for the sale of seats, I
can say 'whine bather on the sehjoct." lie then
asked, whether both the seals for Gramposnd and
Tregony were gone. Middlecete said, that tee Gee-
tlemen had been in treaty with him for Tregony ; gad
that the Geomposnd men were then gene oat to
speak with two Gentlemen respecting Grampoond.
He added, that Tregony was not finally set led, as
there bid been some little disagreement between him.
self and the Gentlemen respecting the mode of paying
the money : they wished to lodge it in the bands
of a third person till they were returned, and he
wished to have it paid down. Witness said, "Do
you aspect any one to pay down the money on an
ancertaloty ?" lie said, "No, I con give security
to gesrantee the two seats for 6000 guineas?" Wit.
eels asked, 46 What is necessary to constitute a
voter ?" The reply was, '6 Pot-wallop." Witness
leaked what he event by that, lie answered," Every
boosekeeper In the place : the number is about 140;
land if I had the money I could fettle with them es IL
pleased: I could settle it more easy with the money
down than by a promise." He added, I shell not
pay every man alike: I ought to receive something
for myself, and you will make a gond thing of it,
I dare say." Witness then asked the number of
voters for Grarnpoond ; be said, "about 50 would
mike a majority."

Samuel Coop-er, leadlord of ilia Bell and Crown,
esamined by Mr. MARIITAT R•ntembered Mr.
Penny calling on the Defendants al his know. Ito
understood be was Major Williams, an East India
Nabeb.

This was the cue on the part of th. Prosecution.
Mr. Guastir then addressed the Jay for the Dr•
(rodents. Ile agreed with his Loaned Friend as ti
ell he had said respelling the enormity of the offence;
bet in propo►tion to the enormity of the off meg im-
paled, ought to be the strength of the evidence. and
the respectability of the 'homes to prove it. Now,
who were the prOOKIII•fil of this indictment ? N..
person hod affected to know who hod emoloyed Mr.
Lambe, the attorney. His Learned Friend, the
King's Serjeent, bad spoken of the parity of APCO
lion his Learned Friend went the Western Circuit,
but, if bolted spoken of the purity of election to the
voters of Cornwall, there was not a single 'flier wit.
would not base laughed at him. (Mr. Serino, P.. 11
• " I did net spook of the pertly of election, in
Cornwall.") Very well, Gentlemen, continued Mr.
Gurney, my Learned Friend says, that he cannot
bent of the parity of election in that part of de
kindest. ;Let es now look at tie character and si-
tuation in life of the shown for this prosecoes,o.
They would bate you believe, that when they a ant to
the Defendants under circumstances so suspicious,
that they world not give is their names ; yet. these
Defendants entered int•
freely and familiarly, as if they bad known them
all their lins. What is the conspiracy In this
case ? It is proved that Mr. P•eny went *re then
persons, ender the rimed Moja Williams, es the
friend of Mr..T•ed. Ills story, and Mr. Pritchard
.tory, and Mr. Tanner's story is this: that they
went then to delude the parties by false presences :
oawnehdayro
see. WactirtPihectiyscredh time?avede Ivuoolikset that they litihti:strtoeh they
ynouht
raiginieupsi:rasiatnoedr,
,entire credit of this case, that they conrlocted them.
solves ill Olt way ? I sat not lest whim' thin my