The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-11-01 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER SESSIONS.

EXTENSIVE FRAVD.-7710/IVIS Baker, whose case bas
already undergone so much discussion, was this day pet
to the bar, to take his trial for defrauding Mr. tiostard
and Mr. Gellman, of kerseymeres to a ♦ery considerable
amount, the Grand Jury having found the bill notwith-
standing Mr. BAILER'S absence. That Gentleman was nut,
however, present this day, and the prisoner received the
bent-fit of it.

When the prisoner left the bar, a scene of confusion
took place for several minutes betireen the respective
parties, u to who should have the cloth, the result of
which was, that the Court declined to make any further
order than that the person who brought it should take
it away.
Mr. ANDREWS intimated that further proceedings would
be adopted.
Roger:, who had formerly been accused of fraud, was
discharged ; and nothing further of any interest came
before the Court.

Flae.—An alarming fire broke out this morning about
half-past four o'clock, in the house of Mr. Burrell, a grocer
in Clare Market. The house is a corner one, facing Gil-
bert Street and Sheffield Street, being one of the new
house, - lately ban t in the .aorthern part of the
Market. It burnt with
,great fury for nearly an
hour. and at one time threateoed the adjoining neigh-
bourhood, having set fire to the house immediately op
polite, in Gilbert Street. There appeared at first to be a
scarcity of water,, for the fire raged dreadfully after the
arrival of the St. Giles' parish engine, before it could have
a supply;—however, in a al.ort time, that and the St.
Clement Danes engine, got the fire nearly under before
the arrival of the Assurance engines. The house
of Mr. Burrell is reduced to a heap of ruins
—and the house of Mr. Atberell, the cheese..
monger, immediately adjoining, was only pre-
served from destruction by a strong party wall. There
were in the house when it took fire only Mr. Burrell and a
I .d who assisted him in the shop, and they had just time to
save their lives in their night clothes. Mr. Burrell is a
young man, and only commenced business a few weeks
ago. It is ascertained that the lire broke out in the shop.
In Tue STATESMAN of yesterday, mention was made of
the death of John Sparkes, jun., Esq., of the fain of
the Sparkes and Co. distillers, in St. John Street, Smith-
field, who had put a period to his existence in a fit of
despondency, "occasioned, as it is reported, by lutists in his
speculations in the funds, particularly in Spanish Bonds."
We are assured,on the most respectable aateority,says the
paper from which this account was copied, that there is
not the slightest foundation for the report that the deceased
' ever speculated in the Funds, or In Spanish Bonds, and
that the fatal act was not occasioned by the failure of any
speculation, or any loss in trade, bat originated in that ,
alienation of mind to which our nature is unfortunately
subject, and for which is this case no cause could be
assigned. We are sorry that we have been deceived into
giving currency to a report which has caused the greatest,
pain to the family of the deceased, who, if their wealth'
and respectability had not been so universally known,
might have been seriously injured by it.
We understand that a shop in this town has been opened
for the sale of beer by retail, in virtue of an Act of Par-
liament which is said to have been lately discovered by a
Gentleman at Reading, and which contains nearly the
same provisions as those contemplated by Mr. Brotighain's
Bill. We are not acquainted with the Statute in. question,
but are informed that it has been acted upon in seeeral
towns: that it empowers a person to sell without license
any quantity of beer less than two gallons, which of course
must not be drank upon the premises. The shop was
opened yesterday. end was crowded all the day with pur-
chasers.—(Brighion Gazette.)
At a late Circuit in the North, a Judge, by no 111CMIS
celebrated fur his suavity of temper, had occasion to exa-
mine a witness, in a case of manslaughter, as to the side
of the road an which a cart had been driven. Ile had
considerable difficulty in exacting the wished for informs.
tion, and was at last obliged to say to the witness with his
accustomed gruffness of manner, " Why, Sir, am no
Carter, and yet I thiak I could tell whether the cart was
driven on the right side or the wrong." " I'm nae sure,
Judge; I'm uae sure. Sir." rejoined the witness, " sae I
canna tell whether you could or no."—(Glasgow Free
Press)
A commutation of the sentence of death into that of
banishment for life, arrived here (Glasgow) on Saturday
morning for Walter Graham. condemned at last Circuit
for uttering forged notes. It is said that the only reply he
made upon this favourable intelligence being c mama ideated,
was by n shrug of his shoulders, and the exclamation
"It's a --lang voyage." On his irons being struck off,
the other felons assembled in the day-room and court of
the gaol, and called out, " Watty, are ye coming down
to see as now ?" He declared, "I am determined not to
injure my character by again appearing in bad company."
—(Glasgow Paper.)
An inquest was held on Friday, at Larkhall, oc a child
named Harris, three months old. whose brother not per-
ceiving it on a bed where it lay asleep, turned op the
(bedstead, which caused its saffoesum—Verdict,
dental Death.".