The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-08-15 00:00:00

THE !

. ~ _
mos eat accredited, aid the Airy returned AP.1110100."
—Guilty. . .
After the trial bis Lordship said, whither the de-
fentiaat had received any credit, by the witnesses
he had produced, would be seta by a report of the
case. •

HOME CIRCUIT.—MairIeToNt, Ave. 13.
DEFAMATION.
04T V. WHOMAR AND VIOL

This was an action brought to recover damages
fur defamatory words spoken by the defendant's wife.
It appeared that the plaintiff was ironer to a latth-
dress, where she earned 14$. a week. The wife of the
defendant having entertained some jealous feelings,
thought peoper to circulate a report, in rather coarse
language, that too close an intimacy bad existed be-
tween her husband and the plaintiff, in whose house,
for sonic time she had lodged. So publicly, and so
extensively circulated was the slander, that at length
lit reached the ears of her employer, Mr. Hall, wko
dismissed her from his service. These facts being
fully proved,
Mr. Guateev, for the defendant, observed, that as
no justification had been put on the record, no evidence
could be called for his client ; and remarked °pea the
unfortunate situation of a husband who was falsely
charged with incontinense, and nevertheless was to
be made answerable for the words spoken by his
wife. True however it was that, in law, be yeas an-
swerable for the tooguuof his wife, as weir we her
debts ; he therefore hoped the damages would, be as
small as possible.
The Jury founds verdict for the plaintiff—Demages
3/., costs 40s.
SOMERSET ASSIZES.—Weans, Auo.lt
Robe; t Chileott, a wretched;lookieg man of 71
years old was this morning pot to the bar charged'
with a detestable offence. The evidence wai most
clear against the prisoner, sad the jury, after about
two minutes' consideration, found
The judge (Me. Justice litrnsounn), in posing
sentence of death, ad►ised the wretched man to make
the best use of the time which yet remained to him,
for that beyond a doubt sentence would be carried
into execution on •the day appointed. The awful sen-
tence woe then pronounced, during which the prisoner
was not in the least moved. While the Judge was ad-
dressing him, he two or three times repeated " I am as
innocent as a baby."
The reap of this wretched being n•as rather singu-
lar. We were informed that al.cett SO year: ago, he
was tried, convicted, and received sentence of death
for a burglary and robbery ; but be contrived to make
his escape from the gaol, along with another convict,
After this, he entered as a seaman on board a wan of
war, where he remained many years, and received se-
veral wounds in action. At length he was discharg-
ed, being then. upwards of 60 years old, and, rated
as an out-pensioner of Greenwich Hospital, with a pen-
sion of 141. per annum, which he has since enjoyed.
For the Lst few years hr has practised as a chimney-
sweeper in this county.
'I here were two other capital indictments against
him before the Grand Jury, but we believe they were
not found. Tke crime for which 14 is to Mager was
4ton:flitted nearly two years ego. When! called
upon for evidence to his character, prisoner said there
was nobody in court to speak for him but Lis wife.