The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-04-27 00:00:00

iiE

Office.
The COMMON SERGEANT said, that in the absence
of the prosecutor, the Jury must acquit the prisoner.
there being no proof that he took the handkerchief
from the person —The Jury accordingly returned a
verdict of Not Guilty.
The Learned Judge then admonished the prisoner
of his way of life, and observed, that if Sir H. D.
Hamilton had been in Court, he must hare been con-
victed, and would have bees sentenced to transporta-
tion fur life.
The above was the last case on the Calendar, and
the Jury were then dismissed, the Common Sergeant
thanking them for their attention during the Session.
SINTtNCI ON 'f PRISONERS.
The RSCORDSS then took his sea
tt on the Bench,
and sentence of Death was passed on be following 20
uphappy persons :
Arlin Coebet D'Ocrane, for stealing in a dwelling-
htlanta; Richard Jackson. Thomas Brooks, John Rees,
Ilsonias Lae and Thomas Langton, for burglary ; James
Jogdan, William Donald, Thomas Steers, and Abraham
Isaacs, for housebreaking • Jahes Pickering, Henri
Ravings, George Davis, and Pavelvorse-steal-
, for steal-
ing in a dwelling-house; Wm. Chosely, for h
ing; Matthias George Ilrivvll, for stealing from the
person; John Smvrke. for a robbery on the King's
highway ; Jobs Childs, for sheep-stealing ; Cephas
guested. for illegally assembling with fire-arms ; and
John Snape, for forging 'he signature of the Captain of
the Spartan. and other persons.
The butter prisoner, who is a most respectable looking I
man, on being put into the dock, read a long nritten
paper, in which he contended 'hit no frand had been
committed, and prayed for Nether inquiry into his case.
Transportation for life.—Mary Webbe.
Tor bowery] years.—Elizabeth Vircent, Henry Miles
Etateate, William Sears, Henry Stevens, John Frede-
rickson, and John Knight.
Tor seven years.—James !Never, David Douglas, Jos.
Sanderson, Abraham Bonier, John Taylor. li. Hughes.
Wm. Adams, John Bid, John Brooks, Cherie. Wildv,
George Ellis, William Barnet, James Goodwin, William
Marlton, Thomas Newton, Henry Sanderson, Thomas
George, Timothy Caton, Thomas Henry
John Williams.
Michael Twvcross, Eleanor Edwards, Margaret Murphy.
John Far, 'John Fell, George Crawley, Henry Alen,
James P..yne, Miller, Thomas Smith, Thomas
eamnell. John Tibbiss, Joseph Peeling, John Billet',
William Appleby, Isaac Crawley, Robert Callon', Josh.
Jones, Thomas Jones, James Lary. Henry Newland,
Benjamin Stevenson, William Sack, George Smith, Ann
Williams, John Smith, and another.
Martha King was sentenced to two years' imprison-
ment in the lions, of Correction.
Sarah Holt, Thomas lake, Mary Ann Lorden. Thomas
Evans, John Crawley, Michael Machin, Jas. Dogherty,
and another were sentenced to one years' imprisonment
in the Huse of Correction.
A great number of prisoners were then sentenced to
receive imprisonment for a short time, others to be
whipped, and some were tined Is. and discharged.
The Sessions were then adjourned to Wednesday the
6th of June cext.

A few day, since the body of J. Gowen. Esq. a Lieu-
tenant in his Majesty's 30th regiment of foot, was dis-
covered lying dead on the road from the town of Oci-
fee, Ireland. to the seat of his father, John Hunter
Gowen, Esq. in the county of Wexford, hut withont
any external mirk of violence, from which circum-
stances great doubts were entertained as to the manner
of his death ; but its baring been since clearly ascer-
ained that at the time he set out from borne he had
bout him a silver hunting watch, a morocco pocket-
ook, containing notes to a large amount, and a purse
ontaiuing several gold sovereigns, which had been
videatly taken from kiln, as his pockets were turned
Heide out, there can be no doubt that he fell a victim
o the sanguinary disposition of some wretch who
new of Mr. lions carrying property about Lim to
tich an amount.

ROTIWILL
sat to decide, on an information brought by James
Connor, a journeyman silk-weaver, against Mr. Thos.'
Gibson, of Tramplstreet, a master silk-manufacturer.
Mr. ALLZT, in support of the information, stated,
that the Magistrates of London had at their Sessions,
held on the 25th of May, in the 45th year of the late
King, regulated as they were empowered to do by law,
the prices which the journeymen silk weavers were to
charge per Vard for weavhsg silk, and which the mas-
ters were bound to pay under a penalty of 501., which
penalty was not, in any part, to go to the informer,
bat was to be paid to the Master and Warden of the
Weavers' Company, in aid of their charitable institu-
tions. The Learned Gentleman said that the present
information stated, that the price agreed on by the
Magistrates to be paid to the weavers of Florence
sarsnet, was ls. 4d. per yard, for earsnet composed of
one lotn4red lints, or threads, in the inch, and for
every ten threads additional, an additional penny a
yard in the price of weaving; and that the defendant
had employed one Richard Neill, a journeyman silk-
weaver, to weave a piece of Florence 'linnet. contain-
ing 163 yards, and composed of one hundred and
twenty lines or threads in the inch for weaving, which
piece be had paid Neil at the raiser one shilling and
fourpence per yard, instead of one shilling and six-
pence, the price fixed by the Magianism.
A person from the Clerk of the Peke Office proved
the order of Session, fixing the price of measuring half
ell Florence sarsnet, at one shilling and fourpence,
when composed of one hundred lines to the inch. and
one penny a yard more for every additional tea lines,
as stated by Mr. Alley.
Stephen Tooley, Secretary to the Silk-weavers'
Company, produced the newspapets in which the or-
der of Session, regulating the price of wearing had
been published, in conformity to the proviaions of the
Act of Parliament. He said the number of lines by
which the price of weaving was to he regulated was
the average number of lines in the whole piece.
Richard Neill stated, that he hail wove the piece of
silk on which the information was brought ; that he
brought to Mr. Gibson the first 57 yards of the piece
he had woven, which contained about 100 lines to the
inch, and was tole' by Mr. Gibson's foreman, that lie
must make the remainder of the piece much stouter,
in consequence of which he made it 120 lines to the
inch. He delivered Mr. Gibson a hill for weaving
the piece, in which lie charged the usual price of one
shilling and fourpence a yard.
Mr. ALLEY here stated, that the demand for extra-
lines on the first part of tlo. piece that had been de-
livered to Mr. Gibson, was given up by the information,
being only brought on the part last delivered, which
contained 36 yards.
James Connor, the informer, proved that be saw the
last 63 yards of the silk in queation, that he twice
connted the number of lines of which it was composed,
and found them to be 120.
Mr. Bota.asiti, for Mr. Gibson, said, his client had
a right to complain, that an unjust demand should be
attempted to he inforccd by means of tae penal clause of
au Act of Parliament. which had nut been in the
slightest degree infringed. The silk in question should
contain 300 threads in each yard, but every one that
bad seen silk, knew that it nevi was so perfectly eves
as to allow of every yard hetegleatle with exactly thei
same number of threads, and ibis was so apparent,
01.4 the Iwgislature left ten lines loose, and there was
to be no additional charge for any less number. The
first 57 ygds of the piece were spoiled by being wo-I
ren totPliTin ; for it load not the hundred lines to the
inch, which was required by the Act of Parliament,
and the last 63 yards were spoiled by being woven tats
thick, much thicker than the journeyman was instruct-
ed to make the piece ; and because lie was not paid as
extra charge for committing this double injury, the
present information was brought. Rut if Mr. Gibson
had complied with the demand made on him. an infor-
mation might then have hatn brought against him, fur',
having pee' store than the price fixed the order of
Session, stich was made equally penal by the Act as
paying less. The real object of the Act was to prevent
the masters giving a less price, by collusio with the
journeymen, or by giving a greater to injure the mas-
ters ; but in this case, if the journeyman thought he
was not paid all that he had a right to demand. lie
should have summoned his master to the Court of Re-'
quests, where justice would be done.
John Gilbert, foreman to Mr. Gibson. proved that
the first fifty-seven yards of the silk in question, con-
tained but from 90 to 93 lines in each inch, in conse-
quence of which lie desired the wearer to make the
rest of the piece stouter, but did not mean that he
should make it more titan from 100 to .150 lines
in the inch, and all that he had added above that nuou-
her, he considered a loss to his master. He stated that
the silk had been sold after the information had been
threatened.
•
Mr. At.ustv again addressed the Court. Mr. Hol-
land, he said, had stated, that the objection of the
Act of Parliament was to prevent collusion, but theme
was no such word to be found in the Act. 1 lie Court
must take the meaning of the Act to be what it ex-
pressly stated, via. that if any master should pay for
weaving, either less or more than the price fixed by
the Magistrates at Session, that he should pay a pe-
nalty. In this case it had been sworn by two wit-
nesses that less wages had been paid, which was not
contradicted.
The Learned Gentleman appealed to the Court, that
the silk-weavers had always acted with moderation and
peace, because tbty felt that the Courts were open to
do them justice. lie concluded with declaring on his
honor, before Ood, that the information was entitled to
recover the penalty, the wlsole of which would gu to a
charitable purpose.
The ALDERMAN, after a consultation, said, that
while they regretted that the piece of silk should be
sold by Mr. Gibbon after this information had been
threatened, they must still, in forming their judgment.
take the whale of the piece into consideration, as well
as the first part which had not a hundred lines to the
inch, as the last part that lied more ; and if the first
part was made slighter than it ought to have been,
the master had certainly a right to demand that the
remainder should he made stouter. They were, there-
fore, of opinion, that the information must be ills-
misaed:
*r. POLLAN ro. On the part of Mr. fiihson. applied
for costs against the informer, but the applicatiun was
•
refused by the Magistrates.

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