The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-01-12 00:00:00

MIDDLESSX SESSIONS.

relttnUl DRIVINO.—James Hell, a driver of one of
titer Paddiagten stages, appeekd against a conviction
ask by a Magistrate, on a charge of racing his coach
swam another. It appeared front the evidence of the
rapidest, two gentlemen who were passengers es the
cam* *et the defendant seeing another mach pass
il,
eh tnet istmlerntrsteusetohlhe ntineet
esmi, atinbcykawiritinct
t pole broke, and the aahnals beeissee onntanagesisle.
Clue gentleman jumped from the each, sad the peon.
tilers were is the meet issesiaent danger. One of the
IMlltnalto aid he was greatly alarmed, and wield sot
spiel les egotlee eiteidees foe 3tO geterse.
*a^ memillsie Ohl ibt 1•1100.1141 Ilie Pada"'

—..— -
The Cuurtsx (Mr. Coast) said, that if be had any
nerves at all. be coast have been se.
The Court slimmed the conviction with full costs.
An appeal was beard, made by Mr. Smart .gathat a
einviction of a Magistrate (Mr. Wyatt), on ma informs.
tioa preferred against him for obstructing a coal-meter
i■ the re-useaserement of some coals deadest.

Mr. Assam*. for the respondent, stated the facts of
the case. Smart. the appellast, pereitased a vaulty of,
coals of Messrs. Cooper and Greets, which were men to
arrive at the house of Smart. when, in consequence of
suspicioe that they were short is measure, unbent were
sent to the Mater's sees. sad Robert Hest, a meter. at-
tended at the appellast's Isom% bat while reanessurine
the coals. Mr. Smart came is. and said he bad sees the
coals measured at the wharf, that he koew the proprie-
tors. and did not want them tolere-measured.

Mr. AsoGenus, for the appellant, took objections
reeretiog the form and service of the Deices, but which
were over•raied. It appeared by the evidence, that i■
consequence of what was said by Mr. Smart the coal-
meter left off re-measuring the coals.
The CMAIBMAX consulted with Sir Robert Raker, sad
the other Magistrates, and gave it u the opinion of the
Court that the words used did sot amount to an ob-
struction.

Mr. Aoobenus applied for costs, bat the Coast re.
fused allowing them.

' SEVERITY OP PUNISILVENT.

Extract fro. the Speech (lately published) by T.
P. Buxton. Esq. in the House of Commons. Wedeln,-
day, May 23. 1821. no the Bill " for mitigating thr
Severity of Punishment i■ certain eases of Forgery
and the crimes connected therewith."

There is soother price we pay, of which, if I can
will prove the ',detests, sad the extent. no emu living
dear that in itself it more then costaterveils every con-
ceivable advantage—l mean, t►e perjury of jurymen.
I feel myself the more called upon to enter Epos this
subject, because a noble and learned lord is under
stood to have denied, nod with indignation. the ex-
istence of such perjury. I nut net so Insensible as
mot to know the difference betweea his authority end
mine, upon a question of this nature—lint his is al-
most every thing ; mine almost nothing. But yet I
do not hesitate to repeat t►e assertion ; because I am
sure that I can prove it, ►y testimony en clear and so
indisputable. nutshell 'ideas the possibility of a reiPr,
eace to any authority. however high, and to any ex •
perience. however extensive. And here, Sir. I least
refer to the Sessions Papers. lily object is not to de-
!imamate perjury in a few special and selected cases.
I admit that I prove lathing at all, if I de net prove
it in toss. nay. in bemired, of thousands of lostaaces.
Por the sake of demotes, I shall advert to one
species of crimes loosely. Larceny; and to one species
ofperjory ; aamely. a absiestion, by the Jury, of
the value of goods stolen. •below the saw made capi-
tal by law. The Hesse are aware, that Lanmay from
the person Is. or bas bees to a late period, capital, to
the extent of twelve pence; from a whop to the extent
of five ; from a dwelling house, to the extent
of any eitillimge. Now, I will read to the house's
Mr cams. by which they will judge whether Jades
do or do net perjure themselves. fur the purpose of
saving the life of the prisoner. Muy Whiting was
indicted fur stealing seven guises, and pi■. in the

.f Jabs lea. TeriHee. galley Mk. Moth a
Eolith was 'Wigged tar smelled Wt. its mime! is he
leo of J. Marsh. Oily >lBk I Israel% Pagenis
bonded for sesallog plena to the dwellink
of Richard Movies. Slaty 32e. Joseph .
wee lodleted few ateallseutgbe pair eirgelld car-
p. *sloe 3L ; IfloeberWHledrivals. vales
N.; 48 pained ditedo Valholllf. Its.' 401
palm of ditto, valve MIL ea.; Iltpik of ditti, wake
fiL de.; 2,488 gold hods, islet 711. 20r-1W ett-
loured beads. valve 18L; 144 Ore of giltl ere-rings
valise SOL 81.1 throe palre Of gold elhastlfed brace-
lets. calm 91.; 18 pates of gall SOK Wee IIL 71.
N.; three small ewes ter brassies. taloa t
gold sesta, valse 331. lie.; 12 paid cold.
31. ; sad a parcel of shove. wales. 14s. N.; tie pelt-
party of Messes. blackessis sad Grey. to a tighter
helestelsg to them sa the Manse Navigable eiter....
°silty 39a. Stephen Eltorise sadifolso Psetteewent
battled for swain 4181 b. of beat, dttltltt Illa. yad
1216. of pelt. vb. s stseklesk petessellyeetba bleep
of Timms Ilswitet. Os* la. lota IM MO lihi-
Erase
%dined 011,411/ herailiViltelet Ni •
leeks, IS drakes. MI &W the peeper" W ?Elm
• *-Ahlity, 10d. Isebsett Illessiep was Wilda for
stealing a gold watch, and a geld thole: vatoi 101 ;
two sernelian seals. value 40.., privately, from the
peewit of Nosed George. The watch sod sisals
food on the prisoser's persos--Osilty, Devid
Meissen was indicted for staling 154 Oise's. is the
dwelling-house of Mr. Hall. Ginty $5;. Edward
Oreestrend was indicted for stoallog 240 piles* of
vinegar value 221. a hogshead Red six half hogsheads.
vase ft the property of Elisabeth Whim. es a wharf
adjoining the Thames savigable river. Malty 30i.
William Moore was indicted for stealing 10 gallons
of wine, raise 101.; 43 bottles, 7..; sad a hasdker-
chief, 2s. is the boom of Peter Dennis. Galley 395.
George Taylor sad William Deve were isdieted foe
stealing a bed, bedstead, asd curtains, set of Ret-
irees, a stove, a looking-glass. fear checked Nivel
shirts, • eh it costaising a Mil. valise 41 Os. soother
bill. vele* 41.40. allother Md. rake V. es. tw• le-
Ism and erns hills (Spesteh meaty) is the: boos. of
Mary Ohms. Taylef rpilty 39e.; Dove guilty led.
Catherine Tracey was 'raided fee serene( six
sod two half pliers*. AVM lb. person of George be
Guihy 16d. Jobs Poicli one indicted Ftte
westing 34 wooden half &kiss. sod 1,13011 w. of snap.
toles 211/. Guilty 104. Joke Martin was indicted
for stealing six guineas. twb crowns, three silver oboe
heckles, and 11 silver bettose, le a wall mak. in
the dwelling-house of Thomas Smith. Guilty 311 e.-e
Thomas Radford and Thomas Williams were indicted
for stealing 75.; a hank note, vales 101. owe ditto.
value V.; three others. each 11.; ball two others, oath
W. monies of liesege liartsbless. is his dwelling.
how. Garay 39e. Alasobiar Claksors was Witted
few-losellag 333 yard, el lialkatl Ham yak* 104
ALT 114 yaralloo f poking( hem. vase 4L 45.; 41 yards
of damask, vats, IlL; 20 yards of striped itsesi,
value 31. ss. is the dwelling-Lease of Edward White.
Guilty 395. Joseph Day lISS, lad/seed for stealing a
gold watch, value 201.; a gold watebotriog, valise
V.; a gold theist, valets 1111 a pair af diamond tor-
dogs, value 401.; a silver asaMbes. vales 11.;
silk gowns, value 191.: two pleats of gold asd silver
brocaded silk, contalsing 40 yards. vales 601.; 10
pieces of silk, containing 80 yards; and other things,
is the dwelling-house of Thomas Goike. Guilty 39e.
William Pox was indicted for stealing *Ol. is mosey,
numbered, in the house of Ahmed*, Steele. Ginty
395. Philip Shovel was indicted for stealing sine
geese, vales 40s. Guilty 10. Mark Wodelin was in-
dicted for stealing 12 guineas. sad four shilliegs, in
a dwelling-house. Guilty 1011. Henry Todd was W..
dieted for stealing two live pigs, value 11h. the pro-
perty of Jobs Gunn. Guilty 10d.
Now, here is a case which iseemewlsat isexplicable
to thee* who think that there sever has bees say dispo-
sition on the part of the Judges to rescue the guilty
prisoner front the legal renseqnences of his guilt.-
Slartim Wahosey was ludieted for stealing tine pair of
silver shoe beelike, two pair of leather shoes. three
shirts, three others ditto, three apron.. a frock, • gown.
a bed-gown, two pair of hove sad two curtain., With
many other things. valve 31. 10a. is the house of 11.
Orinliag. Coort to Prosecutor. "If you can affix
the vain. under 401. you will save the prisoner's life."
Proseentor. " (Ind forbid 1 should take her life !
will value them at Bs. Guilty Bs. Here is another
ease to which 1 beg to call the particular attention of
the-House. William Rind, sties Mir, was iodide,' for
welding 131 yards of lace, value 61 in the dwelling-
house of Arabella Norris. Guilty 391. He watt a
erten.' time indicted for steads, 41 yards of lace, in
the h.oise of Henry Fearer. Guilty again 39.. Now.
it is somewhat furious that 41 yard. al leer. and 13f
of lace, upon the oath of twelve Jurymen. should be
valued precisely at the same sum. But, what is still
more extreordivary, he was a third time indicted for
stealing 61 yards of M. chile lice, and 7 yartli .4
English lace, is the shop of John Oebbins. Sow. if
41 yards were worth. va.oed upon oath, 395. nne
would hare thought that these 41 yards of use &scrip
don. and sexes yards of another. asset have hoes worth
something more. Hot it appears, they 'were worth a
great deal less; for the Jaey brought its their verdict,
Utility of girding to the value of 4i. 104. Is there
any wan who doubts the reason of these orange and
sudden ducteatioss in the value of the property?-
That their raise was limited to 395. is the two ft e-
wer instseces, sad to 4e. 104. is:the latter. betatur.
in the former, the larcesy was from the terllino:-
house; is the latter, from the shop? Again; a dank
Note of SOL is takes fr..na the pocket of the tit vie-
cutter : the Jury swear it i. worth hot 10J. frosts the
shop of the pressestor, the Jury swear it is worth
4.. 10.1. from the dwelling-house of the peosecutor,
the Jary protest that it is north bat 311.. Now, jr,S
if any man denies that this is palpable and raalt
jury, he is bound to expiate so endless a plteisionsessen.
Here is a piece of paper worth led. in one spot. 4..
10d. in another, 391. is a third, and 501. all ever the
world beside..