The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-11-29 00:00:00

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COURT OF BINH'S BENCH, FRIDAY.

wards seen.or 'litany way communicated with him, it toot
plat:elate last night. I examined him at great length,
geellettliyiaa to eli his transactions in life. Bed parties.
lac upon all cirersetstames which could elicit a partici-
pation in, or previous knowledge of the murder. and I
leave it toile. Nicholson to nyebat effect his answer bad
apr him.
risesgb telly satisfied myself of the insocenee of my
client, I tremille at the cooserreces of the dreadful pejo- I
dire which the press has excited. I know as a fact, that)
at the time of the Coroner's Inquest, the feeling of the'
Jury was strongly in Probert's favour. and that the persons
then conducting the prosecution had the greatest difficulty
iwobtaioing a verdict against him. I appeal to a Clergy-
men, who was one of the Jurors, whether he had not the
grestest doubts upon the subject ; but now I know, from
personal communication with some of those Jurors, a
complete change has been effected in their sentiments by
the atrocious and daily calumnies of the press ; a wholly
enp-ejudisod Jury is therefore beyond the reach of hope;
and:so generslly has prejudice extended to all ranks of life,
that the prisoners nay almost fear that the great and
enlightened mind which will preside on the dreadful day
sf trial, will not rater on its irksome task wholly unties
sued with a sense of the atrocity of their crime. But therm
know they are safe; the pious Christian and the upright
Judge will. in a moment, shake off any slight preconceived
prejudice, and do hie duty—would to God the Jurors
individually could be expected to possess a miod as strong,
'and to know their duty as well.
To the leading Counsel for the prosention, I would recall
the time when in the Cour eiseize at Paris, in his presence
(olrselvesthe only F.ngiiihreen who had been able to obtain
edraluion), I beheld, while the blood curdled in my veins with
honor, the dreadful erects of prejudice—a prejudiced advai
cafe. his eyes reed with rage, with the most vehens-rat
gnaw and action, seeking the lives of the prisoners---cold.
apathetic, yet evidently prejudiced *ledges qeestioning them to
'make them criminate themselves.
A timid Jury. abase fears had been worked upon by ridieeW
loos tales of conspiracies and Intended leaden*. mom,
'Dieting the horrible tragedy, and consigning four min( men
to,the scaffold who had been the defenders of their eoentry, and
SD ornament to society.
',would recall to liir.parney's recollection the triumph and
OA honest pride with which, in commenting upon the condos*
of the Advocate for the prosecution, he exclaimed--" That
.would nut do in England.'
It is certainly a most unfortunate circumstance for the pro
goners that Government should not have considered that 'they
must require a long time properly to prepare for their defenses,
and that a longer time still would be necessary to obtabatbens
• fair. unprejudiced Jury ; and though it might not beckoned,
expedient to defer their trial until the gpring Assizes, surely.
without any great inconvenience. Hertford might have bases
phi at the bottom instead of the top of the present Circuit
Paper.--in conclusion I shall only say, I am convinced my
client has nct forfeited his life to the laws of his country, and
that if he loses it, he will have been murdered by the press.
1 em, Sir, yours obediently, Hexer WILLIAMS.
shay's Inn, Nov. ISSa.

• THE RING T. RICHARDSON AND ANOTHER.
This was en indictment charging the defendants with* eon-
mpirecy to break open the parish church of lisiebworth in Hert-
fordshire, and to force an individual named Wiltshire into the
eke nfelerk. At the last assizes for Hertfordshire. the tte-
ferideut's were foucd guilty on one count of the indiciminat,
which did not charge en intentina to profane the service.
The Cover suggested, that the defendants should go before
Master, with a view to pa) log the costa of the prosecution,
instead of receiving judgment.
VAN suggestion was, at first, rejected by the defendants who
wihhef their affidavit to be reed. After some passages reflect-
It g ()tithe prosecutor had been heard,
The Ccrunr again interposed, to prevent the introduction of
master calculated to heighten animosities in the parish, and the
Idefcadsms accepted the terms offered 'hem.
TOO HING, came AND OTHERS.
TIVLTOV RD moved .for a rule to, show cause why the
plea of one of the defendiuts. Richard Stafford Cooke. should
rot be quashed: This was an indictment at the instance of
air George Serninghera, against four persons for a conspiracy,
three of whom pleaded " not guilty," and the fourth that " he
bad • nee at the time of taking the inquisition, and still was.
bard/Stafford, Baron of Stafford, and entitled to that dignity."
This plea was insufficient, as it neither stated a writ of privl-
Ilse, a patent. or any other matter triable by the record, but
was merely calculated to produce delay, and frustrate the per-
pases of jastice„ The case of the Duchess of Rutland, 0 Coke's
Reports, 66, cited in 2 Hates Pleas of the Crown. 240, clearly
proved that a mere assertion of peerage was no plea.
tt The LORD Caner Jcsvicz asked whether the plea stated that
tl.s defendant, or any of his ancestors, were ever summoned to
thz House of Peers?
Mr. TALEOL rtn replied, that there was no such allegation,
nor, indeed, any matter of plea, bnt the mere assertion that the
ds•fendant was of right Lord Stafford, which he would compel
proseconr to try in this collateral issue.
The COL lIT granted a rule to chow cause why the plea should
not be quashed.
THE RING t'. JAAt 69 CRANSTON.
Mr. A D t.vnes prayed for the judgment of the Court
rpon ti!e defendant, Who was convicted in May last for an
assault upon B. Stanley, beadle of the Court of Requests
for the Tower Hamlets, whilst in the execution of his
duty.
There were no afillanits on either side.
The defendant said he understood last term that be was
to be di .charged on his own recognzzance. He did not
consider that the prosecutor uas in the execution of his
duty when lie came to his premises where
wa very gross and di,graceful language.—
He bad put him (defendant) to a great and unnecessary
evpense by removing the case by certiorari into this Court,
wi.icii be had don. in pursuance of a threat be bad uttered
to ray him (defendant) to a ruinous expense.
ADOLPHUS ipoke in aggravation, and sail, he was
mat aware of any inconveniences incurred by the defendant,
which he had not brought upon himself by his own mis-
conduct. He was :he pr,lprietor of a stove and grate
manufactory, and it appeared that there was a combination
amongst all the persons engaged in it, to resist the execu-

tint., of the lsw.
Mr, C. Primus!' saiti.he was but just come into Court,
an 1 was much 'surprised at this application, and it was
umlersiood both liy his client and himself last term, that
the delmdant was to be discharged upon entering into his
own recogniiinse.
the Coons sentenced the defendant to pay a fine of 401.
and give security to keep the peace for 3 years, himself in
100!. and two sureties in aO/. each.
The defendant said he was not able to pay a fine of 401.
Of 40s. • .
Mr. ADoLPatS said he he understood that the defend.
int had parted with his business, but he was not aware
the there was any appearance of poverty about him.
The Court intimated to the defendant that they would al.
low Mtn to retire and make an affidavit, under Mr. Phillips's
Kiie •etioo. as to his ability to pay a tine.
The defendant accordingly retired with his Counsel, and
von his return gave in .an alhdavit. in which he swore
that hi was without the mans of aubsistonce for
itlts: self% bis *lfe, and his children ; and was extremely
*err 191 Eire oitettily.f which he hail beeirguilty.
e ~ cou so, • . leafing the cirvinustauces stated in that
stidavii Into consi4etation. said they would forbear
passing any other sentence upon him than that ha shoal
titter tote his own recognizauce of ltkl. to keep the
peacc for three years.
The KING O. Tortanow.
in Ibis cad!, which %%man indictment against the defend-
ant/or perjury, a rule was obtained by Mr. C. F. Williams,
A:aging ppm the prosecutor to abew cense why the inlict-
nient should not be quashed, fur nft having set forth the
defenalSneaidditien after his naive.,
Mr. Yaps was "proceeding to sibiir. cause.. when
The OoktitT obeerrad, that the ire dietment might be
quilled urn Slut defezdamt 0;4101;1 try bis proper Dame
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