Star. — 1827-08-23 (London, England)

CROWN SIDE. Michael Ryan was indicted for violating the person of Elizabeth Skeer, on the 9th ofJune last, at Chatham, and Thomas O'Connell and Martin Norton for aiding and assisting in the same felony. Mr. LAW conducted the proscution. The prisoners were all soldiers, stationed at Chatham ; and the prosecutris was a married woman, and the mother of two children, living in the same place. Between nine add ten in the evening, she was going to the market, at` companied by a woman, named Hannah Goddard, and had turned dolvn a lane for a minute, leaving her companion at the top of it, when the three prisoners came down the lane, and all laid hold of her. She entreated to be released, sa)ing that she was a married woman. Two of them then let her go, but the third, Ryan, main. mined his hold. He dragged her some way further down the lane, and then threw her down on theground. The two other prisnarrs had followed, and were stand. ing close by him. She cried out "Murder !" and strug.' gled to get up; but Ryan told her " it was of no use,"l and if she made a noise he would strangle her." After that she was afraid to scream, or to make further resistance.  Here the witness proceeded to state, in pretty broad terms, facts which completely made out the commission of the offence charged against Ryan; Ryan then left her, but held her down upon the ground until O'Conne 1, who, with IsLot in, was standing near, Caine up, and prnceeJed to treat her as Ryan had,eione ; she begged him to desist, hut he refused, saying, that he, would give her a shilling if she would be quiet ;" he swore he would have his will of her, And was proceed mg to acts of violence, when she screamed ont murder,‘ and an old Gentleman came up, but was immediately' attacked with great fury by the ether prisoners, and forced to retire. He, however, won returned with two other persons, when the other prisoners ran away, and O'Connell was dragged away from her by main force, without accomplishing his purpose; she told the three persons who came to her assistance all that had happened; two of them took O'Connell to the guard-house, and the third Accompanied her home. The next day the soldiers were, at her desire, all drawn out, and she immedi tely selected the three prisoners as the persons who had ill treated her.  This was the statement arise prosecutris. Hannah Goddlid confirmed so much of the story as related to herself; but added that she waited for Mrs. Skeer five mihutrs at the end of the 14oe. and did not hear any cute► of murder. and that when she told her ►he nest day how she had been used, she IMrs. S.) laughed, and said she should no; have cared about it if the men had not dashed her dons n to the ground so violently. John„S:telleto, slimes Fisharden, and Thos. Sparkes, thy Cure persons who had gone to the assistance of the pet s -cutrix, fully corroborated her statement, so far AS it refeteed to th. m ; s!te appeated much distressed and alarn.e.l when they rescued bur, and complained greatly of the injury she had sustained. The fact of the plots cut, is having pointed out the three prisoners among all the othsr soldiers, as the persons who had in, ju•ed I er,ssas confirmed by two of the petty officers. This was •übstanui ally the c •se proved in support of the prosecuti•sn. The Learned Judge summed up the case to the Jury, who. Ater some deliberation, found the prismatic Not Guilty. O'Connell was the.. teed for an assault, with intent commt. a rape upon the same female. He was found Guilty, and seittenc.ql to eighteen months' imprisonment and baud labour.  ADo 21.  ItoBURY OP