The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-07-12 00:00:00

STATRSMAN

OXFORD, JULY 10.
This morning the Assizes commenced before Mr. Justice
PARK and Mr. Baron Howica. The 9oriner delivered an ,
Address to the Grand Jury.
He commenced by congratulating them upon the state
of the calendar, which although numerically heavy, was
light in crime. Adverting to the punishment of the
tread-mill, his Lordship declared his entire conviction
that it had extensively diminished crime, and expressed
his regret that it had not been adopted in the comity of
Oxford. " I think," observed the Learned Judge (Mrs
Justice Park)) " that the objections made to this modeof
punishment, ire unfounded; it does not prove injurious
to the health of the prisoners, and I think that offenders
should not be living in prison in greater luxury thaw
those they have injured ; hut that they ought to be em-
ployed every moment during the period of confinement
for their crimes, although every article should he sifurded
them which is necessary forfood and cleanliness." Al-
luding to an important Act lately passed, respecting cap
pital sentences, his Lordship. said, " There is one Act
which has made gaunt materwl alteration in my situation
and that of any brother Judges, which 1 think will be at-
tended with very beneficial consequences, viz :—giving
the Judges the power not to pass sentence of death where
they do not mean to order execution to he done on the
criminal ; but they are empowered to eater the sentence'
on the record. All capital convicts, who receive the sem-
tome of death, !mistime will be left for execution."
The following prisoners were convicted on Thursday :.
--JohaSione, a youth in the service of Mr. Cousins, a
Oentlemen residing at Watlingdon, in this toasty, in-
dicted for stealing a variety of property belonging to.
Mrs. Latham, a very
.young and interesting widow, the
daughter of Mr. Cousins; and Thos. Wharton and Won.
Ba&oelc, young men, residents of Word, who- were
indicted fur stealing two coats, the property of Charles
Macksilister, in the University College.
Os Friday, Jas. Bishop was found guilty of breaking
into, and stealing (tons, the house of Win. Steptoe, of
Seafield ; and John Day and Jas. Child of taunter- of
in the house of James tioodenough, at Preston
Cowmarsh. The following were convicted of robberies
in the Colleges: Wm. Kern, indicted for baring obtain-
ed by false pretences, Is. from Edward 'frueman,
Commoner of Worcester College; and Sarah Howard,
charged with feloniously stealing from the rooms of
Mr. Wm. Butler, Commoner of Exetes College, on the
29th of May last, three 5/. notes of the Bunk of Messrs.
Cox 'end Morrell. his property. This prisoner was
laundress of the College, and was in the habit of com-
ing to the rooms and taking the clothes. His Lordship
in passing sentence, observed that he ought to mention
one thing in this prisoner's case, which was a most un-
warrantable crime; viz. writing letters to him in Lon-
don, the Judge, who was to try the tense. Tbe only
effect of such ispplications ;mild be to make the sen-
tence more severe. She was sentenced to imprison-
ment and hard labour for one year..
1

upon any man's head,•bnt if a person was "officiated,'
it might hit Lim where he'd feel it.
The Loan MAYOR ordered the defendant to give hail.

ClutLae+LL.—Rickard Shadriek, the owner and driver
of the hackney coach, No. 53, and James Wilkiason, a
master cooper, who gave his address, No. 78, Bruns-
wick Mews, Brunswick square, were charged yesterday
before the Sitting Magistrate, Mr. Alderman VgNs.
Inns with a brutal assault upon an unfortunate girl Isf
the town, named Frances Green, who stated, that as site
was passing near the watering house at the corner of
liarilett's buildings, Holborn, the prisoners, without the
slightest provocation, seized hold of her, the one by the
bead and shoulder., and the other by her feet, and were
' about to throw her into the watering cistern. Heretics,
however, fortunately brought the watch man to her as-
sistance before they bad completed their purpose, on
whose approach they let her fall' suddenly on the pave-
tueut. Iter shawl in her struggle falling a little in his
way, Wilkinson tore it from her shoulders and threw it
into the raid, and on the watchman's coming up, ran and
stood upon it as if to conceal it.
Gansage, a watchman, corroborated the girl's state-
ment; and swore positively to the two prisoners having
hold of bee at the time lie came rip. lie could nut say
there was any intention to steal her shawl, but he believ-
ed it was thrown away merely because it incommoded
them in their purpose.
Therprisoners denied having ever laid hands upon the
prosecutriz.
Mr. Alderman VIINAPLES said he could scarcely Sad
words sufficiently strong to express his indignation at the
brutal conduct of the prisoners. The wretched state of
a girl of that age, without a home; and forced to wander
shout the streets to pickup a precarious subsistence Irons
prostitution, should have excited pity fur her misery,
rstbei than provoked'a brutal unmanly attack neon her
person. If be had seen any reason to believe there was
an intention to steal her shawl, he would have committed
them both for the highway robbery,. They had evidently
put her into great bodily fear, and her shawl had been
forcibly taken from her. Wretched as was the conduct
of any of these females, even the worst of them most be
protected from such nets of wanton brutality, and lie
shonid out be doing his duty as a Magistrate, if he did
not bind all the parties over to prosecute.
The prisoners were committed in default of bail, and
the Alderman gave directions that the proseention
against them should be carried on at the expense of the
City.
/the poor girl (a little creature, just eighteen years of
age), has been in her unfortunate situation only four
months, having been driven to it by distress, in conse.
quence of the mistresr, in whose service she last lived,
refusing to give her a character. le reply to the atirno-
nitions of toe Alderman, she expressed a strong desire
to return to the paths of virtue, ant under his direction
the necessary means will be taken to restore her to her
friend!.

BOW-STRlRT.—Yesterday John Smith was brought up
by Perry, and underwent a second examination upon
I charges of uttering forged notes for 51. purport-
ing to be notes of the Bank of England.
The prisoner, it appeared, had been living for a consi-
derable time at No. 25, Prime's-street, Drury-lane, where
he gave himself out to be a commercial Dawdler. A few
days before his apprehension, which tcok place yester-
day se'nnight, he paid a M. note to the wife of Mr.
White, a cheesemonger, in Drury-lane, in the purchase
of some articles of his trade. Mr. White suspected the note
,to be had, and having by ing:tiry had his suspicions con-
firmed, be took it to the prisoner, who said he would re-
morn him five sovereiens, and under that promise got
bark the note. Mr. Rogers, a tobacconist, in St. Giles's,
had also received a similar not... from the prisoner, and
he baring mentioned it to Mr. White, the latter spoke to
Perry, who apprehended the prisoner, and lodged bim in
a watch-house. Bef ire the time for examination the
nest day, however, he contrived to get money sufficient
to pay Messrs. White and Rogers al. each, and got pus!
session of both the notes. It was then supposed there
was an end of the case, but unfortunately fur the prisoner
other witnesses were found against him in the course of
a few hours. These were, Mr. Robertson, a hatter in
the Strand ; and Mr. Preston, a music and bookseller in
Soho; each of whom had received a 51. forget! note
from the prisoner, who had dealt with them for hats and
music.

On his re-examination yesterday, Mr. John Icicle, a
tobacconist, in Upper Marv-la•bonne-street, stated, that
on the 3,1 instaA the prisoner came to his shop and ask-
ed bim if he did not serve Mr. Biggs, a publican, in
Hound-court, Strand, with tobaccii? Witness replied in
the affir native, and lie sail he was about opening a small
general shop, and was recommended by Mr. Higgs to
deal with the witness. Ho made a purchase which he
paid for with a 51. note, writing on it, as his name and
addrev, "J. Wood, 3, liound•coort." This note was
returned afterwards as a forgery.
Mrs. Hoskins, a tobacconist in Doswell-street, prefer•
red a similar cliaeL,e. To her the prisoner gave, as bis
name and address, " WiWains,2s, Kingsland•roal."
The notes were proved by one of the Bank inspectors
to be forged.
The prisoner was remanded.
Wonsn►r•STßZET.—Yesterday fifteen Licensed Victual-
lers were sitrninoned before Samuel Twyford and John
Milward, Esqrs. for keeping their houses open at late
hours on Saturday night. f

The evidence against them generally was for offences o
a very mitigated nature, and the Worthy Magistrates ex
pressed their regret, tbit while under the power of the
Act of Parliament, they felt themselves obliged to convict
the dAmtlants in the most mitigated penalty, they had
cat the discretion to prevent such convictions from being
recordedand transmitted to the Sessions, because al-
though the amount of the money might he comparatively
of etnalleonridera, ion, the conviction itself under the Sta-
tute was of great importahee to their interests in future.
• In one case the summons was dismissed on the ground
that the persons finnil in the house were there in the
character of travellers, waiting to go by the waggon ; and,
in another case, there was a similar decision, on account
of the officers proving that at the time of their visiting
the house„ the landlord was in the act of compelling 'his
mounters to leave the house, and called upon them to
aid him in carrying the law into effect.

0/ROMER'S INQUEST.—An ineinisltion was taken last
night at the Crown and Anchor, King's Head-court,
Shoe-lans. before Thomas Shelton,Esq. Coroner, on the
body of Eli: ibeth Lewis, aged 65. Philip Lewis, husband
of the deceased, deposed, that she came home about twelve
o'clock on Wednesday night. He was in bed, and she
returned to the street agisin; he did not think her much
intoxiceol at this lime. She continued out till four
o'cltick on Thursday morning, when witness heard a
noise, got up. and went to the bottom of the stairs, and
there saw the deceased lying with her bead against the
wainscot and her feet upon the second stair. lk imam-
dicele called Mr. Brown to his assistance, and they re-
, moved the deceased to her own apartment. Mr.Septimus
Wray, a surge .n in Flettostteet, was sent for, who cause
immediately, and pronounced her dead. When the de.
cea •ed had b en thinking he could never keep her at
born Mr. J. Wray, surgeon, deposed he was called
upon on Thur clay morning to visit the deceased ; on
examining her he found her neck completely broken,
which no doubt had been the effect of the fall. Mr.
Browm, a lodger In the aims house, said she was con.
Mandy in the habit of getting drunk, and falling from
one flight of stabs to Oil. other.—Vertlict—AccuLntal
Deatb, through lutcaxiaation.