The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-10-13
WINCHESTER AssIzEs.

Bwyes, vs. CoJbett, Aslctt, and DuB6er
ms was an action of assault and imprson-
ment, brought against the defendants, said to
be men OF good property, in which the plaintiff
sued az fornIH PaHperiS, and laid his damages at
l000l.
Mr.. Borough (who was assisted by Mr. Case.
lee) stated the cause at some length from his
statement IL appeared, that in December last,
MIR Goblet, of Botley, we'll known for his polit-
zeal writings, took Jesse Burgess, brother of
the plaintiff, then boy of IS, into his service,
and IN March, the lad ran away from his master,
anu returning home, complained that his master
swore at hin, and threatened him Sc harshly that
he could not stay with him A warrant was is.
sued tn apprehcnd the boy, Mr. Cnhbett having
stated that he was a servant in husbandry The
boy was taken and carried to the Dolphin at
Botley, followed by his mother and brother,
William Burgess, the plaintiiF.) The lad being
left alone took to his heels and ran oft, and the
mother and brother were proceeding along the
road home, when on looking round she saw As
let and Dubber (the former a constable, and the
other tithing many riding after them. One of
them roared out, " halloo stop, old woman !
stop, you fellow take that old woman into Gus
tody I've got pistol and will shoot you ~
they seized the mother BY the bonnet and hair,
when the son said, if they touched his mother,
he would knock them down On which they
laid hold OF him, and snatched stick from hi.
hand, when he very naturally kicked Aslett on
the leg, whereupon the tithng man struck the
plaintiff, and scuffie ensued, which ended in
the plaintiffs being dragged TO Botlee, after be-
ing kept prisoner for several hours on The way
Here he was detained all night In tile morn
ing, the mother and the son were carried before
Mr. Smith, magistrate, at Southampton but
on their arrival, MIR. Cobbett, who was there,
now found he was i'll the wrong, and he desired
the womsn and plaintiff might go about their b,;-
smess.' The young man said that his mother had
many miles to so, and was unable to walk Mr.
Cobbett replied, damn your eyes, you may get
home as well as you can Mr. Borough con
Guided by calling on the jury to give exemplary
damages for the illegal violence committed BY
Mr. Cobbett's orders on the plaintiff and his mo
Their.
The mother and sister of the plaintiff were
examined, and corroborated the above statement.
The sister was servant TO Mr.. Cobbett,
VINO threatened with an oath, to transport her for
knowing that her brother aw5E he also
threatened to send her elder brother to sea
MIR Jekyl for the defendants, said, it WAS i'm
possible for him to give any answer by evidence,
tor the whole was gross fabrication. TIE wit.
nesses were all Of one family, and could of course
tell the same story: and this was the re ward
and gratitude Mr.. Cobbett received for the many
kindnesses he had Iavished on this ungratefili
family. The fact was, that the lad WIS assisted
IN his escape by the mother and brother. and the
defendant was justified IN experimenting them.
This action arose from spleen and malice Mr.
Goblet political man, had naturally many
enemies, and they had melted this action lie
would appeal to any man in Botley whether Mr.
Cobbett an oppressive master The whole
was trumpery and he trusted the jury
would find a verdict for the defendants
Mr. Justice Lawrence said, that if "a lad ran
away from his master, he must be brought back
again but these persons not justified 10 &C I.
ing az they had done. Fthere was an attempt u
a rescue, an Indictment should have b, en- prefer
red it was, their condact was unlawful If
the boy had behaved i'll, there was no reason why
his brother should be imprisoned
The jury returned verdict for the plain
tiff, with TEN bounds damages .LoRion Paesr.-