Middlesex Sessions.
The Times, 1824-04-07T00:00:00

Yesterday these sessions cemmenced before AIr. CosST and a Bench of Justices. JO11X IVILFrlED PAR1INS V. JOSEPH SCOTT. Joscph .Scott, one of the principal witnesses against AMr, Parkins upon the late action brought by Byrn-, was indicted for an assault upon that we]lknown gentleman. ilfr. ALI.EY, for the prosecution, stated, that the prisoner was introduced to Nr. Parkins, when Byrne, the Irishman, of whohn so much has been said, received from that gentde- man's hands a very handsome subscription. At the time of the first outset in public life of the prisoner, he had thle credit of being a follower and ardent admirer of the celebrated Johanna Sou'hcote, who had, during her dominion over the minds of the multitude,practised so manvjuggles upon the promise that "Shiloh," with whom slie saih she was " large," might be expected every hour. It would be rccollected, that Shiloh ended in a dropsy and death, and it was then that the prisoner, who was one of the most anxious expectants, entered into the service of the prosecutor, in whlich he remained, at the rate of 12s. a week, up to the period of thle comnencement of the action by Bvrne. It was also known, that Mlr. Parkins resisted the action. Ile reached the court just before its sitting on the dan' of trial, and it was in the court that he received the assault complained of, and abuse as little merited by hiTm as by any gentleman, as the jury well knew. It was there he was branded ivith the name of scoundrel and rascal, and other epi. thlets which no person in his own rank in life aarea to apply. With the forbearance for which he was remarkable, he passed over the insult without notice. Shortly afterwards, however, as he was walking out of Court, the same sort of offence was repeated, and the prisoner added to it a clinching of the list, and a putting of it into the face of Mr. Parkins, together with a threat of " revenge for all that had taken place." Mr. Parkins observed the same cornposed and cool conduct whichi distinguished him upnn the first occasion, although with one blow he might have levelled the person who so grossly insulced him to the earth. Ir. flAR11ER, the solicitor for the prisoner, bere begged leave to interrupt the learned counsel, and called the attention of the Court to th conduct of Mr. Parkins, wrho, he said, used gesticulations during the statement of the learned counsel, quite inadmissible on such an occasion. Mr. Parkins rose for the purpose of making someremark, but was desired by the Chairman to sit down. Mr. ALLEt expressed surprise at the observations made by A r. Harmer, and requested that no further interruption might take place, urging, that Mlr. Parkins, upon hearing the conversation jnst related, must be possessed of a philosophical mind indeed, if he ceold sit without emotion. MIr. Parkins stated that on the 3d of February, as he was en- terirg the Court of Ring's Bench, Westminster, he was accosted by th1e prisoner, who called him " rogue, scoundrel, and swindler," and put a fist in his face. Soon afterward4 he saw Mr. I[armer standiitg and laughing. On a second occasion, he also received an insult from the prisoner. Cross.examined.-Never applied any epithets to Mt. liasmer. The Citief Justice was sitting, but witness made no complaint to his lordship, considering that the Court of KingS Bench would not take notice of so trivial a circumstaxsce. Herbert, the prosecutor's servant, conirmed his mastet's statement. In the course of the examination, one of the jury re- quested that Mr. Parkins might be removed froria the place which lie occupied, as his gesstures were remarkable, and could not but be observed by the witness. Mlr. Parkins, then rose, and said he should leave the Court, as he was niever so much insulted in the course of his life. Another witness gave evidence of a similar tendencv. Mr. PlIILLIPS, for the defendant, said he had a difirent story to glVe in evidence. A witners then appeared, who stated that Mr. Parkins had pro. voked the prisoner, and. that the prisoner actually had net said or done what was ascribed to him. 1The Jury found the prisonerguilty, and the Court sentenced him to impnsuonient for one month.. MXfIDDLESEX SESSIONS.