The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-12-11 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY,. DECEMBER 11, 1823.

PoLICE.

MANSION House.—An acgrarated case of rnhhory was
brought before the Loup MAYOR by the cook of the Scotch
smack Sarah. The prisoner is a sailor named Scott, will)
was shipwrecked in the North Sea, and owed the preserva-
tion of his life to the complainant and the rest of the crew
of another I.

The complainant stated, that on Thursday last the smack
Sarah, saw the prisoner and about 20 other sailors in an
open boat in the sea, at the distance of 70 leagues from
1 ynemouth, without provisions or fresh water, and in such
eircumeances that no hope could have been entertained of
their preservation if the weather proved nnfavourahle.—
They had belonged to the Tigris vessel, which had louts-
tiered in the late gale, and had with difficulty secured the
long boat of that ship just as she was going down. The
utmost kindness was shown to them on board the Sarah ;
but there was one amongst them who proved himself ttn•
worthy of the good treatment be had received. The cont.
plainant had under his care a parcel from a gentleman in
Scotland to one in Loudon, and he placed it in the cabin fur
greater safety. The prisoner had. however. gut a glimpse
Of it, and determined to get bold of it on the first opportu•
,sity. As soon as the rah landed, the prisoner Sneaked off.
withont thanking his benefactors, and soon after his disap-
pearance the parcel was missed. A pursuit was commenced,
and the thief was apprehended while wandering about
Cornhill. In thefello N's pocket was found the wrapper of the
Iparcel, and it appeared that he bad disposed of the contents,
with which the complainant was Sot acquainted, as he bad
not been informed by the owner.

The prisoner's defence was, that he had been " haw
Kereil" on board the vessel that picked him up, and he
might as well have been drowned as starved ; that he
therefore took the p►rcel, which lay about useless to
every body, and sold the contents for a few shillings
at the water side. fie would not tell at what ship he
made the sale.

The Couk dechred, that the regular ship'. allowance
had been given to the whole of the crew that had been
saved.

The crew said they had been well treated, anti applied to
the Lord Mayor for relief, as they had no more than they
stood up. in.— The Tigris had, they said, been
being in ballast to Shields, and scot to bare gone from
thence to St. Helena, with coals. After they had cot
away the mainmast and mizen, the ballast, which was loose.
shifted, and the ship foundered. There was scarcely time
for the crew to get into the long boat when she went down.
The boatswain and the mate became iotoxicated when the
gale commenced, and could not be got out in time: they
therefore went down with the vessel. The rest of the crew
were exposed in the openlhost for twelve hours, and they de-
ela•ed that the prisoner um always a lazy skulking fellow.
The Lotto NI A TOR could render them no assistance Le-
avitt! that of ordering an officer to look after the owner of
ills vessel, and recommending theta to his notice. His
Lor !ship remanded the prisoner, and directed that the par.
cel which had been s'olen should be searched for.
Soon afterwards intelligence was brought that the owner
was not to he found, anti
The LORD MAYOR then desired, that the case of the
poor men should be stated at Lloyd's in order that ships
mipht might be procured for them. and he did not doubt
that an appeal to those gentlem•'n would be effectual, as
always had been the case where the real distress existed.
Bow Sire ert.--Yeatertlay PraociaStirthig, the boy who
was charged on the previous day with putting out the eye
of a child named Ross, was again brought up, when
a certificate was pro luced from a surgeon at Bartholomew
Hospital, stating that the sight of the eye would be lost, but
that there was no danger beyond that. The prisoner was
therefore admitted to bail, to answer for the assault at the
sessions.

Frizz-Bowe ENatasnAllt,t.—A chaser, two tailors, and
a waiter, were yesterday bronchi to this office, on a charge
of riotous conduct the preceding night, in New Street,
Covent Garden: It appeared that these gentlemen had
been indulging too freely in libations of heavy wet, and
sallied out from their orgies about twelve o'clock. They
commenced their amusements by thundering at every
watch-box they approached,as if they supposed the inmates
had, by sonie very unusual accident, dropped into a deep
sleep. The Char!eA,:. however, were still awake, although
rather disposed to a dose, and being incensed at such
unseemly interruptions, they. rushed out, and warned the
rioters of the danger they incurred by such freedoms.
They still, however, persisted; and vauntingly declared
that they were " free-born Englialimen"—that they were
in a free country, and that they were determined to exercise
the privileges of their freedom to the full extent. The
Charley: made free to tell them that if they persisted in
their noisy career, they should be loilged in the wat:h
house for the night, and conducted before Sir Richard
Birnie in the morning., who would probably-401 them that
their privileges did not extend to the right of disturbing
the peaceful guardians of the night by their irregularities.
The tailors treated this threat with contempt, and asked
what was Sir Richard but a Sadler?—This indignity
offered towards the Chief bla;istrate decided their fate,
and they were safely lodged in " durance vile," where
they remained till yesterday morning. On being brought
before Mr. HALLs, their manners were considerably sub-
dued, and they seemed very willing to acknowledge that
they had been in the wrong. After a suitable admonition,
they were ordered to find hail.
Fu R t ace Date I xn.—Joseph Riggs, a farmer, residing
at Acton, nal brought up on a charge of driving his cart
against a poor woman of the name Mary Butler, on
Tuesday week, thereby endangeririg her life. Mrs.
Butler type seed at the office in a dreadful state of muti-
lation; Lei- face was cut in several places; her breast
greatly bruised, and her person, generally, enrich contuse)
and lacerated.—She Stated, that she was appointed to keep
r the bar of the King's private road, at Chelsea, along which
; no carts were permitted to pass. Observing the defendant
coming along the road, whipping his horse, in the most
outrageous manner, She rose to shut the bar, and had
partly closed it when the defendant drove against it at full
speed—knocked her down, and the wheels of his cart
passed over her ; she was so much injured as to be unable
to attend from that day until the present. •
This statement was corroborated by two respectable
witnesses, and by a Surgeon, who described the wounds
she had received.—The defendant said, that he had been
conveying a cow and a calf to Chelsea, and was on Ids
return home, when the mire he was driving became so
unruly that he cont.! net in snap her; he got down to
coax her; but this was without effect; and, on again
mounting, she ran off at speed.
The complainant denied that this Was the true state
of the ease, and observed, that, Ling before the defendant
reached the tear, be was whipping his horse most uncnerci-
Me. HALLS held the defendant to bail.
WonSitte-rritenT. —Mr. itiorpn, one d the thopmen
of Medhurst, linen-dr:suer, Norton-Falgate, seal
charged With a violent assault upon Mary Anne, the wjfe
of Mr. Pomilett, boot anti shoe marnitacturer; of Wel
thamstow, Essex; who II far atlfanced in & Hate of
pregnancy;
Mrs. Pomflete sestr4l that JIM two hours' before she
went into the shop of Mr. Medhurst, to look at some goods,

and not meeting n•ith the paten') she wattle I. the prisoner'
urged ber much to purchase a few yards off a piece that
was lying on the counter. She declined, but he persisted,
and, after he measured the quantity, she cautioned him not
to cut the article as it did not acssrer her. He, however,
cut it, and when she refused to pay for it, he came round
the ronet•r, violently seized her by the body, dragged
her to the done, and threw her with great force on her
bark into the street.
'f he prisoner strongly denied having ever lifted his hand
to her: on the contrary, she struck at him after she ordered
the goods to be rut off, sad refused to pay for them, when
he Only went to put her gently out. He could prow,
his innocence. by three different persons. He was then
held to bail f.tr the assmit.

WINTER CllLtiif.

CHELMs FORD ASSIZE.
(Before Mr. Justice Pettit —*rifest:me.) •
•Their Lordships proceeded to the County Hatt at 10
o'clock this morning.
JOilph Bilord, aged 24, who was convicted of house-
, breaki tg et the last•aasiz -s, hat upon Willollll Cat* a point
' of lew bed arisen, was placed at the bar.
Mr. Justice PA HlL—Pcisnuer, you were tried last Assize
for a capital offence, and the Jory very properly returned
verdictof Cuiltys but I understand from my learned
Brother who presided on that occasion. and whose humane
ett,ntion to cases of yoor description' is notorious, that
he conceived it necessary to reserve 4 point of law in your
favour, for the opinion of the twelve Judges: that point
having been accordinely submitted to them during the
last term, they were all of opinion that yen hal been most
prop-rly convicted. It ansy be unnecessary to explain to
yon the particulars of the reserved point of law ; but for
the informatioo of gentlemen at the: table, I hare to
state that it was upon the apt-stint), whether in aiding and
assisting in a robbery from a dwelling-house in the day-
time, no person beiug therein at the time, and he so
offending not being within the house, can be convicted
capitally—the constant course has usually been to convict
under these circumstances, sod, no doubt, properly; fur
elthongh the statute, which makes the stealing In a
dwelling-house. when the person 54 stealing Is wltuin the
house, a clergyble otf-r.cr, aloes not afford the same bene-
fit to a person aiding ca I assisting in the felony without
the house, a statute of William and Mary has provided for
it as a clergyble offence: your conviction, prisoner,
was t herelore most proper: but as there has been
some doubt on the subject, and you have probably enter-
tained hopes of mercy' from the delay which has neces-
sarily taken place, the sentence of death will be recorded
agsinst you, and therefore will not be carried into full
effect..

Sentence of Death was then recorded against the psi- 11
son-r, who was removed from the bar. •
William Thacker, 23, and John Turner, 24, were
brought by Habeas Corpus from Newgate, charged on
the oaths of John (lollop and others, with having bur-
giariously entered the d.selling•house of Henry Courtnay,
at Walthamstow, and stolen therein five hats and other
articl•s of clothing, the property of the said John Gallop.
Goilty.—Seven years transportation.
John Shake was tried for sealing a raw horse-hide at
Thorp-, the property of Elizabeth Rolfe.
Guilly.-.Twelye months' imprisonmnst And hard labour.
George Martin, aged 19, was charged with privately
stealing from the person of Paul Williams, at Barking,
one half-crowc, a pooch and comb, his property. The
'robbery was committed in the tap room of a puhlic•house
at 4 o'clock in the morning of a fair day, an 1 the only
singular fact was sworn to, was that the prisoner went
immediately to a stranger that was in the room, and told
him ofillis having effected the robbt-ry. This person tell
prisoner that Williams was his cousin, and he would not
suffer bits to be robbed.

Mr. MIREHOUSS was Counsel f.,r the prisoner, and one
of the witnesses being a raw eonntrymsn, some difficulty
arose in their understanding the language of each other.
Mr. Justice PARK observed that neither appeared to
nn lerstsnd the liirgo of the other, and his Lordship then
took some pains to effect a mutual understanding between
the learned Counsel and the witness under cross.exami•
nation.

Goiliy.—Seven years transportation.
John Stanley, aged 17, and William Staines, teed 25.
were indicted for stealing. seven pecks of pease, the pro.
perty of Sarah Smith, widow, at Debden.

. .
dic9uitted —through the non-attendance of the commit
dog magistrate's clerk, to prove the circumstances tinder
which the prisoners had made a confession, on which they
were tried.

His Logi:mitt, observed upon the absence of the msg,is-
trate's clerk, and expressed a wish that no such circuits.
stance might again impede the administration of justice.
Edward Barges. aged 30, was indicted fur stealing
in the parish of South Weald, on the 7th of July, a veriety
of jewelery, the property of Doctor Richardson, of Brent-
wood.

Mr. Baonaarcx, as Counsel for the prosecntion, had no
doubt of this being a very short, as he was sure it wonld
be a very clear .case against the prisoner at the bar.
The prosecutor was a medical gentleman, residing at
Brentwood, and there having been a fire at his house it
heroine necessary to employ a nninber of workmen, among.
whom was the prisoner. The ►earned Counsel proceeded
to anticipate the evidence which WAR as follows ;
Lawrence Thoraas Johnson Richardson, resides at
Brentwood—employed several workmen in his house on the
25th July—saw the prisoner, who is a plumber, there—
left several valuable articles in his bed-room on that
morning, which he afterwards missed—among theat a gold
watch chain and six seals.

Cross examined by Mr. MtnEnouse for the prisoner
—The property stolen was lying openly in the room—there
were several other workmen in the house.

Ann Saville was a servant in the p;secutor's honer on
the 25th July—prisoner was working there as a plumber
—he freqlently went down stairs to heat his irons, and
returned up stairs to his work—left a siiver watch and
case in her bed room that morning, which she afterwards
missed.

Cross examined by Mr. Minnnouse—The watch was by
the bedside-A—any of the other labourers might have
gone into the room—none of the doors were locked or fas-
tened.

James Hall keeps a public house at Brentwood—knows
the prisoner—on the 26th July he applied to wi;ness to
lend him las. on a silver watch until night —he refaced—
prisoner went away, and afterwards canto back to have
same drink—he left in the evening by the " Day," Nor-
wich coach fur London.
Cross examined —lt was a common silver watcit—Lhad
never teen, the prisoner before.
John Matthews—le a pawdbroker at Rumford—prisoner
applied to him on the eveningr of the 26th of July, to
•pledge a Silver watch for St.—lent 23.. 6d. on it—after lie
bad taken the *coney for Iho silver watch, he tendered a
'mall gold French watch. which be said was his mistress's,,
ind that he (witnes.) had often had them before—advanced
IT. upon it—elscra shillihg upon a common necklace, and
Ws. for some seals and a gold chain—be pre his name

__l

s.l vgiN
.110RNCR
,* Thomas Jams"—purchased a Queen Aun's half crows
of him for Is. 9411. as old silver.
Cress.examieed—lt was not get Ling dark—nover saw the
poisoner hereto—did sot recollect having taken•tlar pro.
Deny in pledge hame--did not pay any particular attest-
Sion to the plisoiser—there were other customers is the
shop at the time.
Reexamined—Was gaits sure of the identity of the pri.
toner.
Ry the Conatr—sPrisoner win dressed as a lahourinar
men in a ilannel jacket—hu seen many working men',
wives dress as well as thou of gentlemen; particularly at
Rootlet& were the women were very dressy.
His Isanente —I think it was ettremely improper is
ynn, Sir, to take two gold watches sad stub other vela.
able property as is now produced, of a common workine
man ; it it quite impossible you should have taken thews
thiugs in pledge of the prisoner withont a suspi.eion of
the manner its which they had got into Lis possession. ID
is by tendon such all that you have persuei, that thieves(
are prompted to commit felonies, as they find the facilitp
of disposing of the stolen property so great. Your coo.:
duct was moat Improper, as it ts not at all probable that
inch a mesas th? prisoner could have come honestly Ir,
no, von* Pirelli'.
Edward Clark was a fellow labourer with peistoter
the 2Gth July, at the house of th.. prosecutor—mined OW
pr'soner from his work when he ouch, to have been there,
and when the robbery w:/i di*e..t.ere.l--tvert In feanh of
Idol with the: co...cattle—found hint at the loner eat or
the town of Ron:ford,

rrosssexamined —lle did not otter any resistarice.
William Adams is a constable of Roinford—accotto•
panied last witness in search of prisoner—when he nook
him into custody found on his bog-r a goid ring (prod
ductal and sworn to by the proftecutor, with the teat of
the property which had bee* pro Weed by the vast-
broker.)
Ann Saville recalled —.l.lentifi-d a silver watch and cox*
as her property .7.had had it for 17 years.
His LORDSHIP ordered the pawnbroker again into the
box. Prisoner purchased of him stockings, stmt.., coat.
and waists at; he put them on in the shop, which, altisocxft,
not a dressing room, was often so usel.
Prisoner put in a written defence, arguing g
against the probability of his wife hiving such valnithl
r.
property, and seeming to infer that the pawnbroker mess
mistaken in the person pledging. It also stated that times
pawnbroker was a receiver of stolen goods.
His LORDSHIP, in surnatinc up, observed, t!vit„ ill in theft
prisooes's statement was written, he thought many of thee
ailments therein ured, anal he hid lx:te doubt that if
the pawnbroker had now stood at the bar as the receiver
of stolen goods, the evidence this dmy given would bare,
sent him across the seas for the Perio I of fourteen years.
lie allowed the prisoner to change his dress and appear'?
once in his shop, and it was scarcely pocible but he mlsr
have suspected the prisoner to hare come by the property
dishnn-stly. His Lordship hoped the pawnbroker would.
not leave time rcnrt

•• Laying the fie terin g onef.nu to his sonl."
thst he had satisfactorily explained the manner in wh'clt.
he hid acted. He was hoaml by hie oath to strte the i,..f-
-pressions which evidence given berare him made upon.
him ; and he therefore ITCA justified, indeed estletl upoa tee
say, that it Wss to be regretted that the prisoner steo.l
alone at' the bor. His Lords%ip was most ansiono, UMet
all the cireorfistanees of ;he case, that the Jerry shoeld-pst
the evidence of the pawnbroker eatirely otrs of the garotte%
and try the prisoner upon that given by the other witnesses.
even then he could not see any reasonable ground for
doubting hia tnilt• •
The Jury, aft -r a few rnigotes consultation, returned a
verdict of—Guilty.
His Lottraute, addressing the prisoner. told him that
the sentence of Death would be recorded against Isitn,•br
which he would understand that his me would be mom-
mended to the merciful consideration .of,tbe &Lenitive ;:
lie did so, however, not front any merits of:the prisoner.
hnt in consequence of the ',pry negligent manner in whish
the prosecutor had left the , property which had hoax
stolen. It was not right that such temptation should-Eli
thrown in the way of a person dishonestly disposed; act
if Dr. Richardson would talc* a little advice from hint.
he would be more careful for the future. it was ola
these grounds that be should recommend the prisoner Ica
mercy.
The sentence of Death was then recorded.
Stephen Hubbard, aged .15. was indicted for having eat'
the 16th Octuba feloniously s:ulen eight bushels of
wheat and Other graii, the property of Willia:u Partridge, of
Fordhain. •
The pri4trier'.wei convicted principally upon the evidence
of too accomplices, and his own confession. . •
Guilty—Seven years tranoportation..
George Brown, aged '26, was charged with -bay-
;tie stolen 15 geese, the property of Satnael Bailey, of
Writtle.

The property stolen was found in a cart, which the pri:
goner was driving, by a night patrol ; there was anottyr
person in company, but in -consequence atf the pi i-
soner's resistance; he (the stipposed accomplice) es-.
caped.
°nifty—Seven years transportation.
Watkins, aged 70, and Hearry Welkin:omA.
18 (father and son), were charged, the lett•r with lot...line.
' and the former with receiving. with a guilty knowledge..
three bee-hires, the property of John Atkisson, of Waltlatia.
Cross; on the 7th August last.
This was case of much conflicting testimony; and -iwit-
nesses were brought into the box to contraditt each otlsari
There was no evidence uhatever against the father. beyomt
the circumstance of the hives beiti4 "tind in mutinous on.
his premises ; but another of his sons had absconded.
and it was deposed, that the younger prisoner, when.
first taken, stated that he knew nothing of the tree-hisou
further than having given his brother permission to put
them there, Upon the god& of . Itenry Watkins there did
not appear to be any evidence that could warrant a con-
viction.
Mr. ItoonEttics was for the proseattion ; JESSOT
and Mt R suousg for the defence. •
The learned Judge having summed up to the above dem.
the Jnry returned a verdict.of —Not Unilry--againer either
of the prisoners.
A second indictment was preferred against the pri-
soners foe stealing a bee hive. the property of Ale. AC
Navin, one of the witnesses under toe torte-e• 'proses
: • 1
Mr.Bßonsotcm, for. the prosecution. obserted • that not
having any additional evidence aghast the fattier he sheet&
not proceed on, the.rose as affecting Wet. ti
The first witorn (tho.proseestor) stated that he f.eq.
the bee bircinr. the outhouee .of Jaws the lositheiri
who bid. absconded; tad ;ha Lemma* Juriace.th
directed the Jury to acquit the prisoners, who we=
choried. •' s.:. n.:c- ••• • • ro •
Henry Jest. sad 23. IPA inaqad ger hsliit at u 4
SI lit of Octuber,,stelpa nits pilorribill/VlO, .
Voilitts, of Monsit Nevoiny. j 24. . t ‘,..-03 •, "
Tbis sage we proiesi.whiPlig by thtirrisimstari-a4441114
Of guilt • and offer to bribe the pert in who to .k hits into
custody. The pigs loom' their way hack to their master's.
five days after they had been missing. Oat or the

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