The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-11-17
OIL ID B Nil L Y.

Yesterday James Hewitt, an old man
nearly 90 years of age, was indicted for a
rnisdemeanor in having III the month of Aug
last, contrary TO an act passed in the reign oil
George III set!uced an artihcer of this country
10 isave the kingdom.
From the testimony of the witnesses eX
snined, it appeared that the prisoner, altho
recently from America, rs an EHgiishman,
and mad recently frequcnted public mouse
called The York Minister, Immediately in The
Nicinity ut the cotton manu'actory OF Messrs
Hughes q Lewis, Bunhill row to which the
men employed III the service of Messieurs
Hughes q Lewis resovteti, and amongst o.
theirs man named Hutchinson, who had
formerly been Appended from the Parish
OF st Martins, to a cotton manufac' ory, near
Manchester, where he renamed till he arri
we'd at the age of 81 He then came to Lon
don, and was employed in the service of
Messrs Hughes G'Co. in the wool dying
business, and was in fact returned fair
workman. This man the prisoner frequently
met. and by gowIng representations of the
! advantages and great wages he was likely
10 obtain ny going to America, induced him
to agree to emigrate, for the purpose of be
ing employed in a cotton mandatory, at
a place called Cooper's Town, within two
mics of New York, philadelphia and a
| short distance from the residence of the
prisoner.
Messrs Hughes e Lewis having heard of
this negotiation, sent for the prisoner and
remor' trated with him on the illegality of
the steps he was pursuing, forewarning him
at the same time that if he persisted in his
delinquency, they would punish him with
the rigor OF the law. The prisoner then de
clared his ignorance of any criminality at
aching to his conduct, and promised most
faithfully that he wosld relinquish his in
tenions-In few days. however, Mr..
| Hughes discovered that Hutchinson was
making preparations for his departure, and
that his passage had been actually taken
| on board an American ship. The prisoner
was then apprehended, and on being brought
before a magistrate, produced receipt of
| s 121 paid by him to the male of an Ameri
can ship, for Hutchinson's passage and also
a promissory note of Hutchinson's for that
sum. and FIR other monies before paid to him
~ the prisoner to be paid ont of the pro
| duce IF his Iabors in America. The prison
er's defence was--that Hutchinson came a
| second time to him, and said he had his
| masters permission TO leave the country, &
that from his solicitations he was induced to
! pay his passage out.
The Common SERGEANT. who tried the case,
in summoning up the evidence, dwe!t with
| peculiar force on the mischievous tendency
| of the crime with which the prisoner stood
charged, which, he said, was most materi
ally connected with the manufacturing in
terests of this country and was deserved
ly punished by law in most exemplary
manner the legislature having decreed,
that prisoners guilty of such an offence should
be subject to IL months Imprisonment, and a
| penalty OF 500l
| The Jury, without moments hesitation
returned verdict of-Guilty,
| Hutchinson, the artifcer, seduced, was
then tried under an act passed in the 5th of
George the First. which enacts, That any
artifcer, particularly in the manufactures
of cotton. wool, silk, mohair, &c. who should
be convicted of, or detected in. preparing to
leave the kingdom, for the purpose of devo
ting his knowledge for the benefit and adj
vantage of foreign countries, not within the
British dominions. should be bound to enter
! into recognizsnce himself and two sureties
for remaining in the country.
The evidence on the former case was a
gain gone through, & the prisoner was found
: Guilty.