Chester Circuit.-Mold, We...
The Times, 1824-09-04T00:00:00

Mary Willism., widow, a respectablc-looking woman, was placed at the bar, charged with having feloniously stolen a black gelding, valued at 101. and upwards, oni the 13th of July last, the property of Edward Shoane, in the parish of Alold. MIr. HILL stated the facts of the case, and after some comments upon the singularity of a woman being, perhaps for the first time, indicted forhorse-stealing,pToceetiedto call the followingwitnesses :_ Edward Shoane, the prosecutor, examined.-I am a farmer, re. siding in the parish of lold. Recellects the 13th of' .ly last; was then at bome. Had five horse* that day. Saw them that night, in a field of mine. On the following morning missed a black gelding; it was a cart-horse, and had a star marked on the forehead. Saw it again on the following day, at Corwen fair, at the sign of the Harp. Saw the prisoner there, in the parlour. A person named Thomas Davis, who bought the horse from her, was also there. I cannot say I heard any conversatian between them. I would notlike to pairt withi the horseunder 18]. The horse wasrmine, and Ibrought it home. Etlward W;lliams examined.-Knows Shoane, the prosecutor; am hisstrvant. He bad fivehorses on the 13thot' Julylast; I saw them in his field on the night of that day, between nine and ten o'clock. The field is in the parish of Alold. I observed a black horse, with a star on his forehead, among them on that night. The gate of the ield was slut. The horse was a gelding. Thomas Jones examwinedt.-Keeps a public-house, the sign of the Gridiron, in this town. Saw the prisoner on the 13th of July last at my house. She was at my house between nine and ten, and was inquiring for lodgings. She had some porter to d.ink. I am sure the prisoner is the same woman. Did not let her the lodgings. Had some conversation with her. Have no doubt that she is the same woman. By the prisoner.-Do you recollect my drinlking tea with yourself and your w ifethat night ?-Vitness.-Yes, I do. -Tomas Davis cxamined._Was at Corwen fair on the 14th of 3uly last. t may be about 20 miles from this town. Saw the pri- soaner there on that dav between two and three o'clock in the afier- noon, at the sign of the Hlarp. I was purchasing a horse from her. It was a black gelding, with a star in its forehead. After buying the hone from the prisoner, I saw Slioane, the prosecutor, coming up, looking for a horse, and I told hiAn of my bargain with the pri. soner. Slie first asked 121., but afterwards agreed to take 61. 1 did not pay her the money, but gave her a shilling earnest. I first fsaw the horse in the market rode about by a young lad, but did not know who he was. I went to talk to him about the borse, and he brought me to the prisoner at the sign of the ?1arp. I saw hier and the horse there at the same time. The horse was led by the young lad, and she was with it. fihe told me that she got the horse i exchange for a pony, with which sli gave five sovereigns to boot, and that on paying the money she got back half a crown. Am sure the prisoner is the samc who sold me the horse. The same horse was claimed and delivered over to Biward Shoane, the prosecutor. The horse vwas delivered to him by the boy who led it, I suppose by her orders. By the prisoner..-Do you recollect say ing that you would not give me 41 for the horse ?-Witness.-Yes I do. This was the case for the prosecution. The prisoner, in her defence, said that she bought the horse, antI paid for it honestly, at least that she had swopt a pony for it that was growing blind, and which she bougltt two years ago at Corwen. In consequence of her confinement she had not the power of discover- ing the mar from whom she bought it; but when slie was appre- hended, she gave his name to the Mtagistrate who committed her, and the constable. His name was Sutton, and lie was well-known among horse-dealers. 'Thomas Price, the constable, examined.-I was present when she was committed by a magistrate. She stated the nanme of the man from whom she said she bought the horse to be Sutton; and I recollect saying, that that was a name well known among horse-jockeys in Derbyshire. The prisoner had no witnesses. The Cs11EuF JUSTICE SUmned ul), and the Jury returned a ver- dict of Guilty. On hearing this verdict, the unfortunate woinnan fell into violent hysterics loudly exclaiming that she was innocent, and bought the horse. She soon swooned away in the anna of' the gaoler, feebly uttering " My children, my children." On her recovery, she was infonned by the Court that her life would be spared, andt that she would be recommended to the Crown for the extension of such mercy as the circumstances of the case wolld admit. This agree- able intelligence calmed her considerablv, but oii the clerk of the Court asking her " What she had to say why judgment of death should not be passed upon her," thinking that the Court had chang- ed its opinion, the samine tragic scene was repeated. Bsoth the Court andI theaudience were senstbly affected by this scene. Another nrisoner was tried and found guilty for stealiiig a few ducks and G ickens. Being a well-known offender, he was sentenced to tweive months' imprisonment. Thcse were the onlv cases on the calendar. The Court-house of this town is d;sgraceful to the county as well as to the administration ofjustice. It is nothing mnore tlan a barn, converted into a temporary bench for the dispensation of justice. CIIESTER CIRCUIT.-MoLD- WEnrIqnAV. SEPT. 1.