The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-01-13 00:00:00

OLD IAfLEY SICSSIONN: •

FOIHMT.--1111 the Case of Joslime Si. Clew, stated
iw our paper of yesterday, as charged with uttering a
forged hill' of exchange, purporting to be drawn by
John Bailey.
John Bailey was called to prove that the signature
to acceptattc'e was not his, but the Court decided
that he was not a competent witness, as if the bill
was a good one, he would be liable to pay the amount
of it.
There being no ether witness fur the prosecution,
the prisoner was acquitted, and he fainted the mo-
ment he heard the verdict in his favodr.
RousaaT.--Jakeeph Perri, a decent-1
looking middle-aged man, was capitally indicted for
stealing in the dwelling-house of James Shoolbred,
large quantity of figured stuffs,ideces of cotton, linen,
&c. the property of the said James Shoolbred and
John Frrgusson.
This prisoner. was brought to justice in rather a
'singular wanner. Messrs. Shoolbred and Fergurson
are linen drapers in Tottenham-court-road, anti a short
time ago Mr. Shoolbred had occasion to attend at the
Marlborough-street Petite Office to prosecute a young
woman who was detected in stealing goods from his
shop. During her examination the prisoner was seen
making hinerelf very busy -about the office, and talk-
ing to the woman who was at the bar. lie was in-
toxicated at the tinte.—Wales, the officer, drew the
attention of the Magistrate to Lis conduct, and Cie
latter questioned him as to the nature of his acquain-
tance with the woman. Ile replied that she was his
niece, and the Magistrate suspecting that lee was
connected with her in the robbery, ordered him into
custody. The uilicer having discovered his place of
Rhode, obtained a search warrant, and wect with Mr.
Shoolbred lo the prisoner's apartment in Oxford-mar-
ker, u here he rowel an immense quantity of stuffy,
cottJus, and other similar goods. In a trunk in the
room be also found 139 pawnbroker's duplicates, most
of which mere for goods of tier same description.
Most of the pieces were fielded on boards, as they are
deposited in the draper's ships before sale. Air.
Shoolbred iidentitied several of the pieces as his pro-
perty, and the greater part of the remainder was re-
cognised by persons who lead been pillaged by him.
The pris:-•ier in his defence said, he did not know
to whom the goods belonged. They were left at his
house by a hawker, named Johnson, wbow he had
kn l -11 about a year and a half. This Johnson was.
arenstioned to call upon hint, and lee left the goods
with the request that lee, the prisoner, would take
care of them until he came agaio. Johnson had not
called at the time he pr 'soil, and the prisoner
being somewhat distressed, pledged part of the
gubds.
Mr. JaCirl PARK F. summed up the evidence, and
the Jury f mud the prisoner guilty--Death.
The prisoner stood again indicted fur stealing
stuffs, and oilier goods, value and upwards, in
the elwelliug-house of Henry Crietehly. Mr. Urntehly
is also a linen-draper in Tottenham-court-road, and
having been rohlerel, lee attended at
.Karlborough-
street, and identified part of the property found at the
prisoner's lodgings.
The capital part of this indictment could Sot be
sustained, in consegnence of the absence of a neces-
sary witness, named Mary Julian, Whore recog-
nisance's the Learned! Judge ordered to be entreated.
The Jury found the prisoner guilty of the Larceny
only.
In the course of the trial, the police-officer
handed a card to the Judge, on which something
relative, we believe, to tile stolen property was writ-
ten.

Mr. .Ittstice P tnKr, reanniting upon it, said, "This
shows the fearful extent to %hid' those depredations
have been carried. The law mina certainly take its
course in this case.
There were other indict•nents, but the Learned
Joke •aid it was uet►ecessarr to try the prisoner upon
thru►.

Msktctous Sitonvixo.—Robert licomett, late a
patrol of the Lambeth-street Police-otfice, was capi-
tally indicted for shooting at William Squires, on the
31st of lk.zember last, with intent to kill him. The
indictment was laid under Lord Ellenborough's Act.
William Squires stated, that on the day in question
he went out with a gun, intending to shoot birds.
This was about eight o'clock iu the morning, and on
his return he was met by the prisoner, who called him
to an account for earning arms, as not being a li-
censed person, and as it was contrary to a penal sta-
tute to shoot on Sundays. The prisoner demanded
the gun from the prosecutor, which the latter, with-
out the least hesitation, immediately gave up, while
Bennett told him hr should go with him to the Three
Colts Public-house, there to give a more satisfactory
acroont of himself. To this the prosecutor objected,
mid was ing off, when the prisoner exclaimed, "By
6—d, if ou go. I'll shoot you !" upon which the
°flirt- rep ed' .. You way if you like," and Bennett
instantly tired, and lodged a quaatity. of shot in the
back of the prosecutor.
In his erns'-examination the prosecutor admitted
that hr did nut believe at the time the prisoner in•
tended to do him any harm.
Mr. Justice PASKII, in consequence of this admis-
sion, direi•ted the Jury to acquit the prisoner, as he
could be fould guilty of murder only upon the prin-
ciple of there lois% malice aforethought. •
The prisoner was accordingly acquitted, and lie so-
lemnly declared, as lie left the bar, that be did not be-
lieve the gun to be loaded at the time he fired it.

Scarcely a night passes in which there does not one
or more robberies take place at Cosent-garden
Theatre, either within the house itself or at the en-
tractes. The following hare been registered at the
Public-office, Bow-street, since the cointiencetnent of
the present month only McVey, of Kirby-
street, Hatton-garden. a silver watch, gold was. ke. ;
My. Winistrne, of Chaseety-lsee, watch aeaa, kc. ;
MI Mitchlle, .S.llter's Vallee Haut, valuable rad
witch, silth costlylappeadagis; Mt. Lewis, of brew'
lan. pocket cut open and Souk 0:Ith Babk-uptia;
lac: stelae ;' Ilr. Isaac Ilekarsuau. a valuable trOc1;1
t..41e. Ise.; Mr. Scutt. diii k. as 141 i. AI24gOW gee-
/tab 61134..