The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1807-01-23 (London, England)

JAN. 22.  • An Admiralty Session was held yesterday before Sir WILLIAM SCOTT, Baron Tuntarson, Sir .A Lan CH A MINT, and a Bench of Civilians, for the trial of offenses committed on the high seas, within the jitrisdiaion of the Admiralty of Englan.f. 'the Grand Jury having foetid a true bill for murder against .1,4 n Ribis.son. Captain of a Liverpool trader ; he was arraigned in the dock, on an indiament, charging him with feloainu.ly, and with malice aforethought, making an assault on James Williams, a seaman on board the Lam :Ws ,merchant ship, eff the coast of fricao.n the 17th of March, WOG, and giving the said James Williams divers kicks and bruises, which causlsd his death. The Prisoner's case had been before the Court of King's Bench, and he was under bail for manslaughter, when he stirrendeted himself this day, ti take his trial for the alleged murder. The present indiftment had been instituted by the Admiralty, in consequence of the representation of the condua of the Prisoner, by some seamen on board the Lancaster. An affidavit was presented to the Court, by the Pliscrer, soliciting that his trial might be put off until the nnxt Sessions, on the ground, that three mat.. t ial iin-sacs were absent. The affilavit went to state, that it! e Prisoner, who was muter bail for manslaughter, had appeared publicly in the streets and on the 'Change, at Liverpool, amongst his accusers (the crew of the Lanrearec), from the time of the arrival of the vessel in that port, nn the 14th June, to the 29th July, when he was charged with manslaughter, unconscious that sui 11 a charge was abut to be instituted against him. The Surgeon of the Lancaster, the Third Mate, and a seiman, the witnesses who were now absent, were alto at Li verpirol ite the time, and they embarked on another voyage to sea, on the 17th of July, twelve days before the accusers of the Prisoner attemi.ted to make a charge against him: He had been advisod, by Counsel, to stand his trial without these witnesses; but he was anxious to have the benefit of their testimony. If he had been aware that his condo& was abt.et to be inspeacaed, he could have prevailed on the 'h-re absent persons to have been present at Otis Aitne; 'and his accusers, Law and Smith, also had had an opportunity of soliciting their testimony, as they knew of their being about to go to sea; but they concealed their intentions until after the deprime of these three persons. Mr. GA lutow, on behalf of the Prisoner, enforced the Petition, and made ,ome pet tinent remarks on the entufet of the Prisoner's accusers, in not tetiril; a charge against him when the aheent witness, s would hay.: been ready to have given their testimony. T,,e surgeon had attended the deecatod, and he certai.ily would be a eery important witness, as would also the other two persons. His advice was, that the trial should proceed ; but the Prisoner expressed a 'vish to have the benefit of the testimony of tint absent witnesses ; and consequently, the Learned Connsel moved, that the Prisoner be allowed to find such bail as the Bench should ,think St, for his appearance at the next Sessions. . The At-rustler G for the prosectrion, *greed with Mr. Gerrow, in opinion, that Mr. Copeland, the surgeon, would be a very material tt witness ; and left it to the Bench to hold the Prisorter in suds recognisances as their wisdom should direct. and the case required. Baron Troomv.oor observed, that tinder all the tircumitances of the case, the Court had power to *draft um Prisoner to bail, as it prohaOy would be November before another Sessions would be held. It w.iuld, however, be necessary, to answer the purr.se of justice, that the Prisoner should be held sn double recognixances. The Prisoner was held to bail, himself in 3001. and two sureties in 4001. each.  Messrs. Garrow, Rains., Alley, and Marryat, were Counsel for the Poisoner.  Moores Moss, Ilsriard Carling, and AIM FOT:111d pilots, on the coast of Kent, who had been capitslly sionrilird. at a former Session, fur feloniously and piratically stealing oS fathoms of cable, and an anchor, from the brig Trevet'sr, on the high seas, were brought up to receive sentence. Judgment was respited at the former Sessions, a point of law having arisen, respeAing whether or not the offence Was capital. Sir 1V Y. SCOTT observed, that a consultation had been held amongst the Judges, who had decided, that by an AA of 39 Geo. 111. chap. :3:4 who, A. recitzd the _'Sth Henry