Spring Assizes.
The Times, 1824-04-28T00:00:00

CHESTERe(Before 3W;> , Ju~ JSvrR. I .,oauO KioOmu, of ltlandridno, was indicted, for }having, on the 24th of February last stolen aquantity of woollen cloth, the jiro. perty of the owners of~ the brig Hornby. The ATToRXEvGnw,EAtL said, that on the 2d.of JAnuary last, the brig llornby, of Liverpool, bound to Rio Janeiro, was wrecked off the Great Ormsheatd, and a'l on board perished, one man only excepted. The cargo was worth 70,000. Tlie mildest couirse which could be pursued was adopted by the prosecutors in this case; bilt it was the determination of the merchants, if any ves- sds should unfortunrately be robbed, and vimilareecesses be commit- ted, to indict the offenders capitally, In which case they wi'l have to pay for the offence with their lives. Ilr. Fisher, of Liverpool, proved the loss of the vessel, and the nature of the cargo. Owen Jones, a tidewaiter, was put in posesslon of the vessei oai the 3d of January. lr. Lloyd Roberts, clerk to the attorney for the prosecution, proved, that in February last he was employed in getting informa- tion relative to the property which had been stolen from the vesmel. On the 24th of Febrtary, about nine o'clock at night, in company with a Mr. Harris, near Talsarn-gate, theymetanman who provedto he thleprisoner at the bar. He had a bag on his back, which he said contained flour, but on stopping him and examining the contents, it proved to be woollen cloth; the prissner prevaricated in two or three instances. lr. Ackers, of Liverpool, said he took possession of the wreck and cargo. He believed the woollen cloth found on the prisoner to be part of the cargo. The prisoner did na t make any defence; but called several wit- ucases to his character. hMr. Badeock said, he was agent to Sir Thoman Mostyn, and that the pnsoner's character was unttsuallv good. Cross-examined.41le was not at hoime when tite shipwreek took place; and wlien he returned he did not interfere about saving the property. Witnessdid refuse to give Mr. Boardman. any assist- ance in seuring the property, and knew that soomo of his servants had actually concealed part of the property stolen on his premises. Witness was asked whether he had given notice thereof to any Vice- Admiral, or any proper authority? He declined answering this question. The Co utnT said the conduct of the witness had been most dis- graceful. In answer to a question from the Bench, witnems said he was a Cheshireman. This answer the CIEsF JUSTICE said had considerably relieved him. iMJr. RichardI Hughes, keeper of Conway Ferry-house, said he had long known the prisoner, whose conduct had a!ways been good. Cross-examined.-He had seen a number of persons passing his house, carrying away property from the wreck, but did not at- tempt to prevent thenm, because it was no business of his. TheCoURT.-It was your business so to do as a honest man. The witness was asked, did h v not say to the prisoner, when he was brought ioto his house in custo Why, " Wat a fool you've been for not going across the fields as I wanted you, for.I told yoa Roberts and l-arris were coming !" The witoes. hesitated to answer the question, when the Chief Justice said, if the answer was not given, he would commit him. At last witneasscknowledged that he had said so. Atr. Phillips, of Penrvu, gave the prisoner a good character . but on his cross-examination admitted that be had seek, maniy persons carrying away the property, but did not attempt to prevent them, because it was no business of his. The prisoner was fbund guilty, and The CuIEF JUSTICE observed that'the conductof Badeock was most disgraceful ; he was a fit *.uicct for prosecution. Win. Davies, and eight other prisoners .were then indicted for the Same offence, and w ee convicted, and received sentence of imprison- ment for various periods. Ir. Thomas Boord'nau was indicted under Lord Bllenborough's Aot for feloniously shooting at Robert Hughes, witlh intent to do him some bodily harm. Mr. Boardman, it appeared, had been put in charge of the wreck; amisunderstanding had arisen between him and another man, from a want of acquaintance with the 'Welsh language, and a scuffle tak. in g place, a pistol was di sch ar red. The ATToR,cEY-(GEwEIAL, under these circumstances, would not press the capital charge, and a verdict of Not Guilty was given. Hle compromised with Hfughesfor the assault, suldwas set at liberty. . SPAIAX4- AgSIS.."S. _ f o TcLC or THF: HOIRtSlUY 2t1O.