The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-12-26 00:00:00

t►at Mist followed. was in concision of titis peremptory

intimation
Mr. Justice Patti interposed, and said be could pot, se-
der seek circumstances waive the supposed confessios.
In the WM in which the prisooer then was, be considered
that the language of the nurse was tantamount to a threat,
or such an undue influences. negatived the idea of a Vl-
topiary confession. His Lordship said, that he was always
jealous of receiving confessions in inch cites ; but it was
a can in which the greatest caution ought to be observed.
Here the corps delicti was pot proved. There was no
evidence that a merder had in fact been committed, or that
the mutilated remains of the child found were those of the
prisoner's child. For any tbiog that appeared in legal
proof, the prisoner's child might now be alive and well.
It was impossible to distinguish tine sex of the child found
Wei. ditch ; and'therefore, unless it was distinctly proved
that that child was the prisoner's, he thought he ought not,
under any circumstances, to receive a confession. Lord
Hite bad held out k warning to all future judges never
to convict in a case of murder unless the fact be proved
that a murder bad been committed and the body found.—
Here no body was found; for, Its fact, the putrid remains
discovered in the ditch were • nonentity. He recollected a
case from Liverpool, where a man was seen to throw an-
other into the dock, and the body not having been found,
'tbe J edges held thatthey would intend that the man was
stillalive.
Mr. Lowy said, he Was In a condition to prove, that*,
pritoner's child was seen alive in her arms on the lath Aug.
in the evening. and that next thy she was at her own
house witkoefthe child, and in possession of the child's

clothes.
Mr. Justice Prase said, 'lbis would make no differeoce,
unless it coulerbe distinctly proved, that the remains of the
child found were thoseof the prisoner's child.
Mr. Loma said, he certainly could give no distinct proof
of this, but from the prisoner's supposed confession, which
his Lordship bad excluded.
Mr. Justice Pasta then directed the Jury to acquit the
prisoner. Verdict—Not Guilty.
ARSON.
William Edwards was indicted for feloniously setting
Ere to and burning a barn and part of a bay stack, the
property of Edward Cranston, Esq. at East Grinstead, the
9th April last.
Mr. CEURTROPE and Mr. Loxo conducted the proseco-
tion, and Mr. ANDREWS the defence. —lt appeared in evil,
dente that the prisoner had been employed by his parish
as a billeted man on the roads at 8d per day. Not being
satisfied with these wages, he applied to Mr. Cranston, a
Magistrate at Ault Griostead, for further relief. Mr.
Cranston told him that. as a single Magistrate, he could
make no order unless the perish vestry thought proper to
increase the wages. After be let Mr. Creneto'a's house,
the prisoner was heard to say, that some one of them would
have their heads knocked about before long. About eight
"o'clock in the evening of the same day. a barn belonging
to Mr. Cranston- was burnt down. A Bow Street officer
was sent for, and suspicion falling on the prisoner, he am
apprehended and examined, but there being no 'slimiest
evidence against him, he was discharged. Upon fresh
II evidence being discovered, he was taken up again. The,
4 strength of the case against him now was, (coin the evi•
dence of a man named Jame, Rockland, who deposed Haat
after the prisoner was discharged as above mentioned, be
declared to witness that they had taken the right loan at ,
(lasi. but that be would take care tbey should net catch
him again. It was also proved that within a short time
before the fire broke out, the prisoner was seen at a little
distance from the prosecutor's house.—ln cross-examining
Buckland, some doubt tens throws upon the accuracy of 1
his evidence.
Mr. Justice PARK told the dory, that in a case of this I
description the evidence of gnil ought to be most clear and I
satisfactory. If a conviction took place, the lase must I
I infallibly take its course, and therefore, if there was any
I doubt Atilt the case, the scales ought t• weigh in favour
Of the prisoner.
The Jury found the prisoner Not Guilty.
MAIACIOCS THIFEAT.
' Daniel Harman was indicted for feloniously threatening
ib accuse Henry Philips of nu attempt of a certain abo.
'elslnstlle nature, at Brighton, with intent to extort money,
.fronibim.
The prosecutor was a respectable inhabitant of Brighton,
tieing in R egency Square,West Cliff. On the evening ofthe
day mentioned trithe indictment,lre bad just left his hewn
upon a visit to a feeod in the neighbourhood when he was
accosted by the prisoner, who demanded money of him in
charity. The pros-tutor said he had no money ; the pri-
goner then beiame insolent, and said he woold follow the,
prosecutor ; he accordingly followed him at a considerable
distance, threatening him with violence if he did not com•
.ply with his demands. The prosecutor becoming alarmed
turned short round, and returned to his Imam ; be im-
mediately got out at the balcony, and went in at the window
Of his nest door neighbour's house to consult him what be
aeght to do. It was resolved to send for a constable. in
.tbe interval the prisoner remained at the dose, and tell into
Aeonversation with a young man who was passing by, and
asked him wholived in the house which the prosecutor had
entered. The young man told him ; upon which the pri-
soner stated that he had been ill used in a tertian manner
by a man in a 'field near the East t tiff, and that be had
reason to suspect that the prosecutor was the man. The
constable having arrived, the prisoner was taken into
custody. He was then asked liy the prosecutor's neighbour
whet be wanted with Mr. Philips ? The prisoner desired
to-seak with the neihbour tn private. and lie said he
did not wish to expose the prosecutor ; but that be would
explain in private what he wonted. This request was not
complied with, and the prisoner was sent to the watch-
house. These facts were proved in evidence.
The prisoner entered into a long defence, in which he
gave a disgusting narrative of something supposed to have
happened to him in the east part of the town of • Brighton
sotbe evening in question. He called no witnesses.
The case went to the Jury, ander the directions of the
learned Judge. He was found guilty, and sentenced to be
Jgprpotted for_ pie. •
•
Before Mr. Justice HOLEOTD.
ALMOUS SUROTING.--Rdmund Bowrk, Esq. Captain
and Adjutant of the Sussex Local Militia, was indicted for
felenottsly and maliciously shooting at and wounding
William Robins, at Lewes, on the 3.1 October last. with
intent to kill and murder, or do hits some grievous bodily
harm.
'This case excited considerable local interest. The pro.
secutian was conducted by Mr. ANDREWS end Mr.
BRODERICK, and the defence by Mr. ADOL.PIJUS and Mr.
LAW.
The prosecutor was a labourer in husbandry, and the
prisoner eat a resident at Lewes, on half pay. Between
Wknown! sin o'clock in the evening of the third of October,
prisroner, in comp my with a man named Phili pComulter
was looking after some rabbits on Lewes race course ; the
preserator hail gone from Brighton to Lumpton, and on
his way from the latter plate to Lewes, was coming across
the Downs. He deposed that on his way' he fell iu with
two men whom he slid not know, and spoke to them a few
words in general conversation. They had gone a head of
him, about twenty yards, when lie saw the prisoner start up
from among some bushes. Theitrisoner came to him, and
said " Wit re are you going, you rascall' Witness toll him
lie was going to Lewes. Tteeprisoner then presented his
gun in bit face holding the but end against this fleshy part
of his arm, and said," You are a cursed Fast* ; I know
you, and if you go anothir step, I'll bleorryour VeOns out."
rtne prisoner then gave a loud whistle, witness atid
" Botirk, you, have so occasioo to make any alarm ;
bate nothing that.. can do you any • initial, I am
going to Lewes ; you may search me, I* have nVicun o
stick." Witness had nothing bust some outs to his

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