The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-10-21 00:00:00

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WARWICKSHIRE MICHAELMAS SESSIONS.

AELAULT, WITII INTENT TO MURDER.

Ann Saonders, Maria Birchley, Esther Bates, Wm.
Jones, Wm. Worrell, Wm. Hodson, and Oliver Tur-
ner, were indicted for assaulting Archer, at
Birmingham, on the 26th of May last, with intent to
kill the said Archer. There was a second count,
Charging the prisoners with a common assault only.
The police have not yet succeeded in apprehending
the prisoner Turner ; all the others pleaded Nut
eleilty.
The facts adduced la evidence for the prosecution
in ibis case, exhibited one of the most wanton and
brutal ontrages that was ever brought before a Court
of Justice. The prosecutor (on account of whose
illness the trielibu teen twice postponed) was brought
Into Court du a pelisse% supported by yillows, and
was placed upon the table to give his evident. The
'spectacle, as truly observed by bit. Reader, the learned
Counsel for the prosecution, presented an awful warn-
ing to all, especially to the young, to avoid the haunts
of infamy. The pale wan features of the unfortunate
men—his helpless and almost hopeless condition, bore
ample testimony to the horrid treatment Le had re-
ceived. Being duly sworn, be deposed, that be be-
longed to Alcester, and had occasion to go to Bir-
mingham on the 26th of Slay List. In the afternoon,
be went into a public house in Dale End, where lie
saw the prisoner Bates and another girl, but bad no
conversation with them. He bad drank pretty freely,
'and left the house in a state of intoxication. Soon
after he hail left the house, and whilst standing
against a wall, he was accosted by Bates, and her com-
panion, who insisted that he should accompatty them
home. Ile refused, but was too much Intoxicated to
offer much resistance; and they dragged him along
with them to Bate, house. When they got there, be
attempted to leave the house but they locked the door,
and Bates took off his Nit, with which she ran up stoics.
liefollowed her to obtain it, hat she refused to nears
it unless he consented. [Here the evidence bees as
too indecent for repetition.] He gave her 2.. and toes
after found that she had robbed bias of 17..; he as
cooed leer of the theft, which she denied, struck bias
on the breast, and threatened to knock him down
stairs. He went down stairs to call the watcliwellte
when the prisoner Sauctlen met him, shut the deer.
TAM to the fire-place, and seised the poker, with widish
she struck him on the head and breast, knocking bias
down, and bruising the back part of his head. As be
was getting op, Birchly came in, ram a pair of snuffers
Mete his ear, anti with Saunders fell upon him pad
heat hies with their fists. Soon after, several ore I
came ie. amongst whom were Worrell, and Hudson,
two of the prisoners, and Turner, who still remains
at large. The men began to push him about, and
Turner put his hand to the prosecutor's throat, and
swore he would take his life. The prosecutor suc-
ceeded in getting out of the boas% but was again
forced back by the men by whom and the fe-
males. be was afterwards Ibeat. kicked, jumped upon,
and otherwise dreadfully abased, until he was left in
a senseless state, and apparently dead. He remained
' insensible till the middle of the following day, when
Le found himself at the King's Head public-house.
He lay at Birmingham IS we. ks before he mild be
• removed to Attester, and was so exhausted by the re-
moval, as to be unable to taste food for a fortnight.
He had not been oat of bed an hour for the last five
week., was daily getting worse. and had entirely lost
the use of his lower extremities. He was 28 years of
age, and was in perfect health and at work, the day
before he went to Birusinghmo.
His testimony, so far as related to the brutal treat-
ment he had received, was fully corroborated by a
young man named Pemberton, who saw the greater
put of the transaction. hut durst not interfere, lest he
*tomtit. share the same fete.
The prisoner% in their defence, severally denied
may participation in the assault. The Jury, however,
skier bearing sbe evidesce sumnseilllll by the Chair-
man. found them all guilty. upon the lisst count, els.—
. of assaulting with intent to murder; sad after an im-
pressive and suitable address from the Chains's, they
were seatenced to be imprisoned 18 swaths in the
House of Correction, and kept to hard labour; and at the
expiration of that period to enter into their own recog-
nisance. of WI. each, with two sureties in 51. each, to
keep the peace fur two years.