The Statesman.
London, England, 1824-02-18 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN

Ashton and Collins were found Guilty; and Queeny:l
who acted under the orders of Ashton, was acquitted.
Ashton was sentenced to pay a fine of 51. ; and
Collins. who was 'the constable of the night, to pay i
fine of 6s. Bd.
The other cases before the Court were of the most
trivia nature, and the whole of the tra having been
►one through, the Court adjourned to Thursday, when
appeals will be bend. The prisoners will be tried on
Friday.

POLICE.

Go t LDHA Thomas fP right, an elderly man. respect-
ably dressed in black, was brought before Sir JAMBI Sn A w
yesterday, charged with endeavouring to impose, by false
representations, with a view to obtain money from Mr.
Newman, the City Solicitor.

On Thursday or Friday the prisoner prevented a letter at
Mr. Newman's office, signed Ann Grant, and dated from
"North-street,' stating. that she was the widow of a
Clergyman, a Chaplain in his Majesty's service, who died
of the yellew-fever at St. Vincent's, a few months since,
leaving her with five children. She bad since been afflicted
with a cancer in her breasts, one of which had been cut off,
and until her health should somewhat restored she had
no means of subsistence whatever, but what the humanity
of the world should afford her. Then followed a list of
subscriptions. and among the names were tboe of the Dow-
ager Lady Clifford, Lady Anee Robinson, Miss Var•sittart,
Mrs. Goldschmidt, Mrs. Brougham, the Rev. Basil Wood,
Samuel Crowther, Lc. There was also a strong recom-
mendation, signed W. Gray, M.D.. Montague-place, the
gentleman who had attended the said Mrs. Grant.—
The City Solicitor was immediately struck with the
similarity of the style and writing to those of a
letter he had received the previous week, purport-
ing to he from the distressed son of a physician,
named Hamilton, and the prisoner was directed to
call again on Monday. In the mean time he calmed in-
quiries to be made, 'ascertained that there was no physician
named Wm. Gray, no Ann Grant, and that the Rev. Sarni.
Crowther had not subscribed to any such petition. Accord-
ingly, on the prisoner's applying on Monday, Mr. New-
man inquired if he personally knew Ann Grant? He re-
plied, Yes; his wife had nursed her. He also asked him
if be knew Dr. Gray, and that the names to the petition
were actually the writing of the parties, to which he an-
swerer!, that he did. He was then given into custody.
The Rev. S. Crowther, Minister of Christ-church, New-
gate-street, proved that the signature purporting to be his
was not so. The prisoner in his defence, said he received
the letter from one Robert Williams, whom he knew at
Manchester; that he met him in Holborn, and promised
to intercede with Sir Robert Wigram, to procure a situ-
ation in the India House for him ; and that he instructed
him what to say, if he were asked any questions on deli-
vering the letter, and that he was to meet Williams again
at a public-bouse.

Sir JAMES SHAW said, such shameful impositions called
for the severest punishment, and sentenced the prisoner,
(agreeably to the Vagrant Act) to three months hard labour
in the House of Correction.

ATTON-OARDEM..—*--DZSPORATZ Rtov.----Yesterday
Patrick 24•Dermont, John M.Dermont, Stephen Finnerty,
John Flanagan, Maurice Connor, James Dawson, James
Gangley, Dominick Flanagan, James Morgan, and Michael
Connell' were brought up in the custody of all the consta-
bles and watchmen of the neighbouring parishes, charged
with being concerned, on Monday night, in a desperate
riot at the Hare and Hounds public house, St. John's
Street, with dreadfully wounding and beating different
watchmen and constables ; but a very few of whom were
able to attend at the office, many of them being taken to
different hospitals.

On bringing up the prisoners from the different watch
-rouses, there was a violent attempt made by their associ-
ates to rescue them ; and when brought to the office, ap-
prehension was entertained that a rescue would there be
attempted. Owing, howe►er, to the precaution of securing
firmly the back entrance to the office, and active officers
being placed in the front, the plan was defeated.
The Ilegistrate, after commenting on the savageness of
the prisoners conduct, ordered them all to give twenty-
four hours' notice of bail, and the witnesses desired to go
forthwith to prefer billsof indictment against thetn.

A STRAYED Wirtt.—A gentleman-like personage appear-
ed at Hatton-Garden Odic. yesterday, to repeat some
timely interposition of Magisterial authority, under the
following painful circumstances:—

The Gentleman is, it seems, possessed of considerable
property in the vicinity of Woolwich, and having formany
years experienced the inconvenience attendant on that state
railed, or rather mis-called, "single blessedness," he wooed
and won the heart and hand of • young Lady, the daugh-
ter of 411 old friend, who, besides the possession of a hand-
some fortune, was mistress of a host of charms both natu-
ral and actjuired. Up to December last they had lived to-
gether, enjoying reciprocally the most perfect happiness ;
but at that period he unfortunately invited to the hosoitali-
ties of his table a person who, in return for many acts of
kindness, contrived to undermine the virtue of lux youth-
ful and unsuspecting wife, and ultimately induced her to
fly from hie protection, and take refuge in the arms of her
seducer; but it was evident that at least one of the fugi-
tives aas actuated by another passion than love, for betook
care that the ruined woman should not forsake her home
without providing some funds to defray the expence
he might possibly incur by this act of gall ,ntry ; and prior
to the elopement of the parties, which took place last week,
the wife had packed up all the plate and every article of
value which the house contained, and this property she gave
into the care of her paramour. He traced the fugitives to
an obscure lodging-house in the City, where he learned
that they had froceeded on to the Northern road, with the
intention of reaching Scotland. What object they could
contetnplate in croising the Tweed he could not possibly
conceive, unless it were for the purpose of eluding pursuit ;
but one of the most remarkable features of this affair was,
that they had carried off his infant child, which he should
suppose they would have looked upon as an incumbrance :
and this circumstance, he confessed, touched him mote
acutely than the abandonment of his faithless partner. If
it be possible to add one extra particle of guilt to this
shameful affair, it would derive considerable aggravation
from the fact that the seducer is himself a married man, and
has abandoned biz wife and children.

Mr. Sergeant SaLLow said, that he regretted that his in-
terference could be of no avail to the applicant, io whose
distress he sincerely sympathised ; and the only course that
remained was an action for damages, if the aggressor was
worth proceeding against.

Cons von Daorsv.—Arong the vitriol's methods of
deception exercised to obtain parochial bounty, the follow-
ing was developed last week, at the " House of Industry"
belongi to this town. A young woman from the vici-
nity of. Wellington was admitted into our House of ludas-
try, she being afflicted with dropsy. 'Some months ago
her case bad been .one of peculiar dominos. She had under-
gone the operation of tapping, by a professional gentlemae
In a town not fee diataurhom Wellington, and by anther
professional genilemsn at oil-Infirmary ; but she derived
no relief. 'l'be patient was afterwards received into the
Howie of industry. She there frequently urged the. me-
Cesiity of relieving her by tapping : but the medical
attendants at that lettitation deleyed or refused the opera-
tion. On Saturdey she was delivered of a boancjof girl
a—and a quantity of baby-linen was fotiad concealed in her
I r
ic....(areaskry ChroNicle)

fiRIBSILINO OPRH A DRUIDS' LOW/E.—Oil Monday evening
the 9th instant, a circumstance of a curipps nature took place
at the sign of the Black Boy, Rochester, where a Druids'
Wigs II bold weekly. The brethren were in lodge assembled,
and in the midst of their invocations, shaded by the sacred
mistletoe, a loud knock was heard at the door, which was im-
mediately attended to ay the guardian, when an officer of the
litth regiment demanded admittance. The sign of the order
was formally required of him, but he was not, however, io
possession of the secret; consequently admittance was refused
him ; and then (without further parley) the door of the room
was violently forced from its hinges, and fell upon the floor.
Suddenly en armed band appeared, prepared to invade these
mystic rites! headed by their officer, a young and Inexperi-
enced Hibernian. who, it turned out, was in search of some of
his men. HoWever, his ill-timed valour suddenly evaporated
—whether from the grotesque appearance of the officers and
brethren, or from the calmness and fortitude displayed by them
on receiving so uncourteous a visit, we are not prepared to
say,—but it was evident that he felt dismayed at the appear-
ance of those of the order who were about him.—lt fortu-
nately happened that the city constablesKPayne and Wetherelt)
were present, who took him into custody, and a message was
sent to the commandant. Sir Richard Williams arrived, and
gave bail for the appearance of the young soldier. Trio follow•
sag morning (Tuesday) he appeared before the Mayor, Sir
Archibald Christie. Sir Richard Williams and others, the
principal officers of the garrison, were present at the hearing.
The charge against the officer was attentively received and
considered. Sir Archibald Christierose and addressed himself
to the Druids, who had then assembled, expressing his disap-
probation of the conduct of the officer ; stated him to be an
adventurer from the sister country, who had embarked his
service for India, and whose fortune whoily depended on his
sword; and when that officer had begged pardon for the breach
of the peace which he had committed, he (Sir A.) trusted that
the good faith which had hitherto existed between the military
and the citizens of Rochester would not be interrupted by the
fault of this individual. The lieutenant was then dismissed on
paylaa the expenses, and 101. to charitable purposes.—(Kent
and Essex Mercury.)
CURIOUS QUIISTION BEFORE THE :OUR ROTALR Or
PARIS, Feb. 14.—Madame BRUNEL married M. SOULAIII,
in 1792. He was then an Abbe, afterwards became a Di.
plomatist, a Republican Functionary, and a Royalist Au-
thor. Her marriage was celebrated according to all the
formalities then required by the law, and a community of
goods, according to the custom of Paris, followed. M.
Soulavi then was sent on a Diplomatic Mission, During
his absence a law was passed, on September 20, 1793, re-
cognising marriages previously contracted, but ordering
the husband to notify them to the Magistrate within eight
days. As soon as M. Soulavi returned to the French terri-
tory, he fulfilled this ceremony, which was the renewal of
hismarriage. On the journey Madame had been deliveted
of an infant, the birth of which was certified according to
the legal forms. M. Soulavi had acquired some property
by his missions, and after his return to Paris and at the
suggestion of some of his relations, a new marriage was
celebrated between him and his wife, which destroyed the
community of goods. This marriage was not attested by
any respectable witnesses, The question which has arisen
out of this is, as to the legality of the first, or of this last
I marriage, and as to the community of goods. M. Dupin
has been heard in favour of the validity of the first inert iage,
and M. Tripier is to be heard in favour of the second.
A fraud was committed a few days ago in the city,
which should put all persons keeping accounts with bankers
on their guard against similar cases. A merchant, a mem-
, ber of Lloyd's, had been accustomed, as is the usual prac-
tice, to send his clerk every afternoon to the house where
he kept his cash, with the checks received in the course of
the day on other bankers, but written across with the
name of his own, according to the mode generally
in practice, as security against their bring paid to any
other party. The clerk of the merchant in question was
intrusted with checks to the mania of 600/. ; but on pre-
' senting Clem at the banker's of his employer, It • demanded
' 400/. in notes, and requested the remaining 2001. only, in-
' stead of the whole sum, to be placed to his credit. B-ing
known to the bankers, his demand was complied with ; but

on the following morning he absronded with the money. I
A point is likely to arise for the determination of the courts
of law, whether the bankers were justified in paying the
money to the clerk. The practice of crossing checks has
-been adopted without doubt in part with the view of pre-
venting frauds of this nature, and commercial men are
therefore of opinion that the principal only should have
been permitted to appropriate any portion of the amount of
the checks when tendered to his acctiunt.

SuctexistoUnTarritorits.---A few days since, a poor wo-
man named Jones, who occupied a miserable hovel in one 1,
of the purlieus of %%Heaved, had been nut to ga- '
tier some fire-wood, Lid having procured a quantity of
chips at a timber-yard in the vicinity, she hurried home to
'warm her almost-petrified limb•, and stretch herself before
the fire-place, soon sunk into a profound sleep, when,ssn-
fortunately, some of the biasing faggots fell out on the
hearth, and communicated to the tatters with which she was
thinly clad ; however, they were sufficient to produce a
strong, though transient lame, which at length aroused
her to a sense of exquisite suffering. Unable to undo
the fastening of the door, her shrieks, after some time,
brought the other inmates of the house to her relief, when
the lock was forced, r.nd the wretched woman was found
stretched on the goof, and the flames nearly extinguished,
but presenting the most appalling spectacle. She was im-
mediately removed to Bartholomew's Hospital, where she
lingered until Sunday evening, wilco death put a period to
her suffering. •An inquest was taken on the bodyiyestcrday.
—Verdict.—Accidental Death.

Ban ;minus Mt/mom--A circumstance has just oc-
cat red at Forest Row, east Grinstead, which. for barbarity,
stands unparalleled in the annals of crime. Mr, —,
of Forest Row, quarreled with his nursery mail, a few
days ago, but the quarrel had subsided. and. 'he thought
nothing more about it. Saturday evening, however, a
yoiswg child of the family was missing, and the distressled
parents trade the most laborious, but fruitless search after
it, during thewbole of the night. It was not, however-
till the next .mortring that the cause. of the child's die
appearance waalliscovered, when, to'the grief of its parents
it was found dead in the boiler that is used for washiug.
'f he maid was immediately apprehended on suspicion, and,
we understand, has since confessed tbe.crime, adding, that
she ditilt to spite her master. It is a remarkable circuain
stance thet the Bible Society, and also the various means
adopted far extending education on illiberal scale.among
the poor. have met with less encouragement in this, they
in many other country neighbour...aids 4iforaingPaper.)
Ou Wedn •sday a pose woman west to the Blaci Moun-
tain, behind Carrickfergus, fur the purpose of gathering
heather for firing, taking with her a child about too year.
old. While the mother was pursuing her task, her young
charge wandered away from hers without being missed till
it became necessary to rotor° borne, when to the dis-.
tracted eye of the parent, no trace of her child was vi-
sible. The frantic woman vainly traversed every part of
the mountsio, till darkness rendered further efforts use-
less, aided by the exertions of several people, who gimps-.
Biked With her in, her miserable condition., Next morn-
ing early the whole country side commenced a search, for
the little .innocent, but still there was no response to their
shouts, nor did, the result of many.a conjecture give the
least gleam of hope that the mother would again see her
beloved infant. The hounds were about to be startedipC
pursuit of game, and the people were anxious that ?AL
boatsmen would, not
,sport on the side of the maintain.
where the ,child. had been lost. under Abe_ apprelsensioe
that the infant, if still,alive, might be. iejtired; but it was
more wiacly,conjectured by one of the gentlemen pretreat
tbai the, doge might be the means of !canting out the littlei
wanderer.. Accordingly, in a short time the dogs made a
full stop it a heether bush. and the child instantly jumped
up, holding out its arms,screamiog,iti terror of the doge..
Opal was safelyrestored to.ita aaxionamether, after having
been tisenty-four boor without fooduia the midst of a wild
heath, on one of the most bleak mosotalas io .thia. part
of the country.—(lrish. paper )

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