Winter Assizes.
The Times, 1824-12-18T00:00:00

John Ingram, alias Brown, alias T7trner, and John Scdger, were indicted for burglariously breaking and entering thc tlwel1ing- house of Abraham Abrahams, and stealing, on the 13th of N6vern- ber, at AUinster, in the Isle of Sheppcy, watches, plate, and money, exceeding in amount 2001. Mr. ANDREWS conducted the prosecution, and ASr. CLARIlDG the defence. It appeared in evidence that thc prosecutor was a pawvnbrolcer anal silversmith, at Blue Town, in the isle of Sheppev, atid that in the course of the night of Saturday, the 13th of November, Ihis house was entered by force, and property to an enormous amount taken from his shop and pawn-room. On Sunday, ir consequence of sus- picion of the prisoners, pursuit was made, and they were botli traced to the White Swan public-house at Chatham, where they were founddrinkingincompany. Theywere immediatelyapirelheldel, and on their persons was found almost the whole of the p;operty lost by the prosecutor. Several witnesses gave Sedger a good eharacter from his infancy, and described him as a person of whom they had heard nothing pre- judicial. Alr. Justice BuTtRouon surnmed up the evidence for the jury, who immediately found both prisoners Guilty. The prisoners being called upon to say whether they hadl any thing to urge why judg-nent of death should not be passed upon thlem, Ingram pleaded strongly for mercy, declaring that he bad ptirchaserI the property of a man callea Chcshire CharIcy. Tile other prisoner seemed affected by his situation, but said nothing. The prosecutor recommended Sedger to mercy, on account of his previous character. and also with reference to the situation of his pa- rents, wko were overwhelmed with grief at his ignominious situation. The learned Judge, in his address to the prisoners, said that he had reason to suspect that Sedger, from his local knowledge of the scene of ths robbery, had been in communion with his fellow-prisoner, who was a notorious London thief; but, in considera-ion of the testimonials to his characrer, and the humane recommeniadion of the prosecutor, he should not leave him for execution. Wi'ith respect to the other prisoner, the law must take its course. There was such a load of crirne upon his back, tat it was impossible Ibr his I ord- ship, coasistently with his duty, to interfere on his behalf. His Lsordship thought it necessary to state publicl.y, as the reason for this distinction between the prisoners' cases, that Ingram had, at ihe last Summerassizts fer Hertfordshire, been admitted as a vitness against three men, one named Cartwright. and the others narned illarshall charged with a burglary in the house of Mr. Gotdon, of Berkharnpstead, two of whom had been convibted and executed upon his testimoRy. On that occasion the prisoner had confessed himself guilty of no less than fourteen other felonies, many of which were capital. It was impossible, under such circumstances for him to expect mercy. A man so steeped in crime, and convictea now, upon the clearest evidenae, of a most dar- ing burglary eould not hope toescape unpunisied; he must, there- fore, snaite ttre best use he could of *he short time left him, to pre- pare for death^ and his L,ordship conjured him, by hearty repent- aura, to render himlself not unworthy of the mercy of that God in whose presence he was about shortly to appear. His Lordship con- cluded by passing the awful sentence ot the law In the usual form. JlviATTET ARNIZRICZ MAYID TC)NTh 'rTTflknArV- T)Vp 1I