The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-03-18 00:00:00

.
LIMERICK COUNTY COURT.—Mien S.
—aim--
Henry Shannessy, a Quack Doctor, was put to the bar,
charged with an assault and an attempt to commit a
rape on the body of Margaret Regan ihe younger, on
the 24th Of October last, to which charge he p'eaded
Nut Guilty.
Margaret Regan the elder. sworn—Recognizes pri-
sorer, and has known him about 3ialf a year, bat he
never was in her house till the night of the 2-4th of Oc-
tober last; witness is a willow—her husband died in Oc-
t:her last and left tier with ten children ; it was in the
rusk of the evening when prisoner came to her house;,
he is, she understands, in the habit of suing about the i
asountry, pretending to cure disorders ; her daughter,
Marg!ri t, who is upward' of ten
.years of ace, had been I
very wk. which when prisoner came into the house she
informed him of; he took hold of the girl's hand and
said she was very ill, and also felt her head, and said she
vas a little cracked or light in the bead, occasioned by
fever, and that he had a charm, which, by repeating car-
t ein words in the girl's ear, would cure her of her com-
plaint. He then said that he must be alone with the
child while be repeated the words, the witness consented
that they should both go into the adjoining room, which
. was dark, hot the door of which was only half-shut;
aridness wondered why they staid so long, hut was un-
willing to go into the room, thinking that prisoner was
praying over the child ; she, however, at length lighted
a candle, and on going into the room, saw them both ex-
poled in so shocking a manner, that she lost the power
of speech for a few moments and fell backwards, and re-
tired in a state of almost in•rensihility. The remainder
of saitneas'.l.testilitony is too gross to admit into our co-
lumn!, hist it is enough to say. that she fully proved
an assault of the must aggravating nature against the
prisoner.
Margaret Regan the youngeronvorn.—Knows the na-
ture of an lath, and has learned from her ratechisin the
consequi nee of swearing falsely ; identified the prisoner
as being the person who came to her mother's house on
the night of the 24th of October last ; she was sitting
ea ben he came in, and he felt her bands and head, and
-said she was cracked, but that he would cure her by
some charm, hut that they must be alone; be then took
her hand, and led her into the adjoining room, when
there he charged her to keep secret every thing he should
' do to her, not even to tell her mother, else the charm
would have no effect. He then desired her to put out
her tongue, and he took it into his month, which be
kept so tight in his teeth that she could neither shriek
out, nor get away from him. Witness, in the most feel-
ing manner, detailed the out committed by the pi-
tici
sone; which confines) her to her,. I some time.
Thomas Regan, sworn.—ls brother to last witness,
and recollects prisoner being at his mother's hope on
the 24th oft Ictober last; lie assisted his brother in tak-
ing prisoner, and found him in a house, about one field
distant, in a dark room, along with the servant girl.
Margaret Regan, the younger, again called.--. Priso-
ner did nothing to her till after she put out her tongue,
except saying a few words ; she could not possibly get
away from him he held her so firmly.
Baron PENNEFATIIER 111111111 ed up the evidence, and
in a luminous manner expatiated on the nature of it.
The Jury would be aware that the prisoner could not be
capitally convicted, the Grand Jury conceiving that the
crime hail not been fully completed. but had fonnd a
billfor the assault with intent to commit a rape ; the Jury
had heard the evidence adduced, and were to say whether
it was worthy of belief or not; the girl had declared
that force nas used to her; it slid not indeed appear
.'range that .he should not cry out, but her explanation
vas calculated to decrease the extraordinary nature of
this circnms'auce. Ile would leave the case with them,
*ithout any further remarks. Verdict—Guillp, to the
approbation of a crowed Court.
Baron PENNEFITIIER, poled sentence on the prisoner
which was, that he be confined two years in the House
of Correction, and kept to hard labour, and during that
time to be four times publickly whipped.
Shatinesay was apprehended and brought to justice by
Major Maxwell, of Charleville...
In the Stafford Criminal Court on Saturday, In the
case of the Ring, on the !Toleration of William Rogers,
v. JanreaStamp Sutton Cooke, the recognizance of the
prasecotsir was discharged, on the ground that he had a
fair and reasonable excuse for not preferring a bill, (the
absence of Sir George Jerningliam who was a material
witness in the ease). No bill of indictment was, In conse-
quence, sent to the Jury.
In the evening of the day printed notices were posted
on the gates of the Town-lall, signed " Stafford, and
dated " Stafford-castle, a March, 1r0," commanding
all tenants of " the barony" to pay rent only to the
steward of the baron, J 41. Miles. Esq., and stating that
lino Sir Oeorge Jerningham had brought frivolous as
in which judgment had been inadvertently suffer-
"ed by default, Lord Stafford would immediately proceed
seinst him for the recovery of a large sum of money re-
ceived wrongfully, which he hail contented to resign on
the abandonment of these proceeding., and on having
immediate possession of the estate, and the court-rolls of
the manor. -
A t the Cumberland Assizes, Mary Balmer, of Carlisle,
Els charged with having, on the 24th day of November,
last, by a succession of ill-treatment, caused the death of
her ern. James Hill, a child, which she bad had before
her marriage, and which, Mr. Alderson, who stated the,
case to the Jury, said was supported in the workhouse
until it was 6 years of age, *hen It was taken house by.
its mother; and although it alas her man child, yet she
had conceived a strong dislike to him, and had caused
his des'h by a repetition of ill-usage. Witnesses were
called who deposed to the above effect, though it was ad-
mitted that the prisoner treated deceased in the same man-
ner as her ether children wiqirespect to victuals:l' be Jury
f wind the prisoner Guilty of Manslaughter.
The Judge then whir. ssed the prisoner in nearly the
followirig words :—Mary Balmer—upon the bill ofindict-
went which the Orono) Jury of this county found against
you. for the murdet of an infant child--and that infant
child your own—you have been acquitted Jury
who have this day trierlyou, and they have found you
guilty of manslaughter only; and this they have done af-
ter a long and patient investigation, and which patience
was fully evinced by the attention and pains taken by
each. indisitlual. it is necessary •for the safety and pro-
tection of infant children, that a crime such as your's
should be visited with such putrishnient as might be the
means of deterring others,who will loathe deterred by the
feelings of humanity, or paternal affection, from ill-trer-
ing.their own chiblren.or those of other people's entrusted
to their care. During the proceedings in this trial, I have
observed that yo'i have been much distressed; in fact,
that you appear to be lunch so now: I therefore shall add
but little to augment that distress, but proceed to dis-
charge that duty which the laws of my country call upon
me to do.— I have li.tle doubt hut the remembrance of
theee prcedings *ill operate upon yoe during. the re-
maindero ofe a forlife, as a source of iniaery, unless you
inwardly feel that contrition which you outwardly ex-
press ; at there can be no doubt but sincere repentance
will produce tranquillity of mind. You have been some-
time imprisoned; and, although it appears by the evi-
dence of the surgeon, that the wounds on the fowl were
bat occasioned by the broomstick, on the day in' hich it
is mentioned you were ill-treating your child, y, from
all the evideree, it appears that you had been the cause
of the child's death: therefore, .I
shall proceed to pass
welt a sentence upon yon as will operate upon others as
a caution. The sentence of the Court, therefore is that
vo[Thisn be imprisonedler the spice of 12 months.
trial lastearfrom nine oclock in th
till forty aninates past too in the' noon.]afte e morning,

THE ST

STATE OF CRIME THE METROPOLIS IN
THE YEAR 1822.
Statement of the Number of Persons committed to bis
Majesty's Gaol of Neweate in the Year 1822, and
how they have been disposed of :
Males. Fem. Total.

In cuatody on the let. January
1522 - - -
Committed to 31st Dec., under •
20 years of age - - 660 110 *2185
Above tbat age - - 1134 251
2437

185 67 232

Of which there have been executed, 23; Died,2 • Re-
moved to the Hulks at Gosport, preparatory to Trans-
portation, S;
Ditto, ditto, Portsmouth, 123; Ditto, ditto,
Sheerness, 292; ditto, ditto, Woolwich, 55; ditto to
the Penitentiary, Milli:tank, 51 ; ditto to the Refuge for
the Destitute, 20; ditto to Bethlem Hospital, 1 • ditto
by Habeas Corpus, for trial at the Assizes, 17 ; ditto to
the Houses of Correction for London and Middlesex,
pursuant to sentence, 549; discharged, having received
his Majesty's pardon, 21; ditto having lisen acquitted at
the Old Bailey Sessions, 512; ditto bills of indictment
not Laying been found, 212; ditto not having been pro-
secuted, 41; ditto having undergone their sentence of
imprisonment, 50; ditto having been whipped, 53; ditto
fined one shilling, 104; ditto upon bail and other causes,
16: remained in custody, Ist January, 1923—Ma1e5,•195
—Females, 65 ; total, 2437.
• Of this number 390 had been in the gaol before.—
There is an increase in the committals in this year of
sixty-two.
Statement of the number of persons committed to his
Maj. sty's gaol of Newgate, and convicted in the year 1522,
and the nature of their °den •es,together with the number
acquitted, discharged, sentenced, &e. during the same
period :—lturglary, 33; forgery, 4; forging the Uold-
smiths' Hall mark, 2; highway robbery, 19; horse-
stealing, tt ; maliciously cutting and maiming, 1 ; mur-
der, 1 ; rape, I ; returning from transportation, 3 ; steal•
ing in a dwelling-house to the value of 401. and upwards,
53; sheep•stealing, 2 ; an unnatural crime, 3; uttering
forged bank notes, 3 ; attempting to commit an unnatu-
ral crime, 6 ; bigamy, 7 ; embezzlement, 15 ; fraud, 10 :
man,laughter, 5; misdemeanour, 12 ; procuring coun-
terfeit coin with intent to utter the same, 3; receiving,
stolen goods, 7; selling blasphemous publications, 4 ;
uttering counterfeit coin. 10; larcenies of various de-
scriptions, 1,117 ; total, 1331.
Of which there were sentenced—to death, 135*: to trans-
portation for life, 94; to ditto for 14 years, 17 ; to ditto for
7 years, 329: to imprisonment in the Rouse of Correction,
for two years, 36.; one year, Its; six months, 149; four
months, 7; three months, 119; two months, 54; six weeks,
; one month and under, 60 ; to ditto in Newgate for va-
rious terms, 51 ; Fined one shilling and discharged, 104 ;
Whipped and discharged. M.—Total numbers convicted.
1331: Acquitted. 512; Discharged,Bills of indictment not
having been found, 919; Discharged, net having been prose-
cuted, 41 ; 779.—Grand total, 2103.
* Of this number 21 have been executed.
Statement of the Number of Criminal Offenders in his Ma-
jesty's Gaol of Newgate, who were executed in the year
ISM with the nature of the Crimes for which they me-
tered.
For Murder, 1 ; Forgery, 1; Uttering Forged Notes, 3;
Burglary, 10; Highway Robbery, 3; An Unnatural Of-
fence,2 ;Stealing in a Dwelling Douse to the valueof 40s.and
upwards. 3.—*23.
* Two of these were convicted in the year 1821.

IlARILIelli4b