Star. — 1826-12-21 (London, England)

WINTER ASSIZES.  KINGSTO% Dumas* 20. Late lasievening, the Grand Jury, sifter having been occupied ieveral hours in hearing the evidence against the two individuals in custody for the above murder. came into Court, and returned a Bill " Not Found " against Mary Ayres and William Page. • Henry Hunter and John Bidwell were severally in• dicted for feloniously stealing a quantity of poultry from the premises of Mrs. Joyner, landlady of the Cricketers, at Addington, on the 11th November-last. William James Joyner resides at Addington, in this county, with his mother, Sarah Joyner. who keeps the Cricketers, at Addington. On the night of. the 10th of November last, or early on the following morning, a number of fowls and ducks were stolen from the outhouse. Witness saw them safe on the evening of the 10th of November—on the llth of the same month he saw the fowls and ducks at Croydon, dead, in the custody of a constable. Witness only saw a pair of fowls at Croydon out of ten, aad six ducks which were stolen on the night in question. John Collett resides at the Half Moon, Broad Green, near Croydon. On the morning of the 11th, he saw the prisoner Bidwell, at five o'clock rhe had a basket with hitn, but he did not see what it contained. Witness gave him leave to deposit the basket in the stable; he left the stable door open for the purpose required by Bidwell. At a little after, six o'clock, two persons came to the house to bait their horses, when the witness went into the stable, and paw the prisoner there, who said the basket contained 20 fowls, and that he (witness) might have one fur his own eating. Witness refused accepting any; and soon after, suspecting that they had been stolen, sent for a constable, who came and examined the basket, which contained 20 fowls and two ducks. The constable took the poultry away. William Tagg, headborough, confirmed the latter part of the evidence of the last witness, and added, that in consequence of information of the robbery, he apprehended the prisoners, Bidwell close by, and Thornton, Heath, and Hunter, at the Black Bull public-house, at Croydon: George Fhrton deposed, that he was a painter at ' Croydon. Knows both the prisoners; CAW them on the night of the 10th November last, about eleven o'clock, together, at the Black Bear, Croydon, drinking. On the following morning early he saw them together again, and shortly afterwards the prisoner Bidwell left Hunter, but soon returned. Bilby deposed, that the prisoner (Hunter) was (given into his custody on the morning of the 11th of last month, and on searching him found a pocket-book and rule, which were covered with fowls' dung, quite damp; there was also some in his. hat, and a quantity of feathers in both of his pockets. Richard Coleman, a Bow-street Patrol, searched Hunter, by the direction of the Magistrate, while he (prisoner) was under examination, and found a few feathers, which corresponded with those that remained on the Sucks, and also others that corresponded with the foWls' feathers at the Half Moon. The prisoners, in their defence, declared theft innocence. The prisoner Bidwell said, that he never saw the fowls until taken into custody. The Learned JUDGE recapitulated the evidence, aad observed, there was no doubt that a robbery had been committed. It was for the Jury to decide, whether the evidence was sufficient as to the possession .of the fowls by the prisoner Bidwell, and the evidence as to both prisoners being is company of each other ? The Jury returned a verdict of Guilty against both prisoners." Sentence—as months hard labour at Balton. Thomas Ratcliff was indicted for feloniously stealing a quantity of flour, the property of his employer, Mr. John Platt Giles, on the 29th of November last. Mr. THESSIGER, for the prosecution, stated the case, and the Jury returned a verdict of Guilty against the prisoners. Sentence—Eight months at Brixton. James-Stacey, who was yesterday found Guilty of passing forged notes (reported in our Paper of yesterday), was sentenced to death. The Learned JuDGit, in pas■ sing sentence, observed, that he could hold out no prospect of mercy being extended towards him, and there 4 fore recommended him toprepare for his melancholy fate.