The Statesman. — 1822-10-21 (London, England)

WARWICKSHIRE MICHAELMAS SESSIONS.  AELAULT, WITII INTENT TO MURDER.  Ann Saonders, Maria Birchley, Esther Bates, Wm. Jones, Wm. Worrell, Wm. Hodson, and Oliver Turner, were indicted for assaulting Archer, at Birmingham, on the 26th of May last, with intent to kill the said Archer. There was a second count, Charging the prisoners with a common assault only. The police have not yet succeeded in apprehending the prisoner Turner ; all the others pleaded Nut eleilty. The facts adduced la evidence for the prosecution in ibis case, exhibited one of the most wanton and brutal ontrages that was ever brought before a Court of Justice. The prosecutor (on account of whose illness the trielibu teen twice postponed) was brought Into Court du a pelisse% supported by yillows, and was placed upon the table to give his evident. The 'spectacle, as truly observed by bit. Reader, the learned Counsel for the prosecution, presented an awful warning to all, especially to the young, to avoid the haunts of infamy. The pale wan features of the unfortunate men—his helpless and almost hopeless condition, bore ample testimony to the horrid treatment Le had received. Being duly sworn, be deposed, that be belonged to Alcester, and had occasion to go to Birmingham on the 26th of Slay List. In the afternoon, be went into a public house in Dale End, where lie saw the prisoner Bates and another girl, but bad no conversation with them. He bad drank pretty freely, 'and left the house in a state of intoxication. Soon after he hail left the house, and whilst standing against a wall, he was accosted by Bates, and her companion, who insisted that he should accompatty them home. Ile refused, but was too much Intoxicated to offer much resistance; and they dragged him along with them to Bate, house. When they got there, be attempted to leave the house but they locked the door, and Bates took off his Nit, with which she ran up stoics. liefollowed her to obtain it, hat she refused to nears it unless he consented. [Here the evidence bees as too indecent for repetition.] He gave her 2.. and toes after found that she had robbed bias of 17..; he as cooed leer of the theft, which she denied, struck bias on the breast, and threatened to knock him down stairs. He went down stairs to call the watcliwellte when the prisoner Sauctlen met him, shut the deer. TAM to the fire-place, and seised the poker, with widish she struck him on the head and breast, knocking bias down, and bruising the back part of his head. As be was getting op, Birchly came in, ram a pair of snuffers Mete his ear, anti with Saunders fell upon him pad heat hies with their fists. Soon after, several ore I came ie. amongst whom were Worrell, and Hudson, two of the prisoners, and Turner, who still remains at large. The men began to push him about, and Turner put his hand to the prosecutor's throat, and swore he would take his life. The prosecutor succeeded in getting out of the boas% but was again forced back by the men by whom and the females. be was afterwards Ibeat. kicked, jumped upon, and otherwise dreadfully abased, until he was left in a senseless state, and apparently dead. He remained ' insensible till the middle of the following day, when Le found himself at the King's Head public-house. He lay at Birmingham IS we. ks before he mild be • removed to Attester, and was so exhausted by the removal, as to be unable to taste food for a fortnight. He had not been oat of bed an hour for the last five week., was daily getting worse. and had entirely lost the use of his lower extremities. He was 28 years of age, and was in perfect health and at work, the day before he went to Birusinghmo. His testimony, so far as related to the brutal treatment he had received, was fully corroborated by a young man named Pemberton, who saw the greater put of the transaction. hut durst not interfere, lest he *tomtit. share the same fete. The prisoner% in their defence, severally denied may participation in the assault. The Jury, however, skier bearing sbe evidesce sumnseilllll by the Chairman. found them all guilty. upon the lisst count, els.— . of assaulting with intent to murder; sad after an impressive and suitable address from the Chains's, they were seatenced to be imprisoned 18 swaths in the House of Correction, and kept to hard labour; and at the expiration of that period to enter into their own recognisance. of WI. each, with two sureties in 51. each, to keep the peace fur two years.