Star. — 1808-06-17 (London, England)

THE KING V. J. HARRICH HART, Mt* H. WNW'S This was an information tiled by the isttomey es 6. neral rx !Pio, against the two Defendants, the former of whom was the printer, and the latter the proprietor of the Sunday Paper called' the Independent Whig, for publishipg several libels on the 17th and 24th of .January last, in that paper, with intent to bring the .trial by jury, and the adMinistration of justice, into contempt. The libels were set out in the record at great length. • • The ArrolusEv GENERAL stated, that he bad feltit  his duty to institute this prosecution, becitek the - . publications were aimed at the Administration otitis- treated ; and quoted forcible "ley expression of some ttce, and it was not difficA to see what was die eik.ct._ of the Catholic witnesses, who from the habits of their which such' publications were designed to produce. religion were accustomed to horrible pictures of It was that- 6f making the public think that the cruelty ; and stated that he was. sent up to the top laws, were corruptly administered, and by making when he was just dying ; that he actually died there, animadversions on the conduct of Juries, to induce and that his body was so livid with bruises, that it as Apprehension, that their conduct would be re- resembled the figure of our Blessed Sa.vuma- when vieilid in this paper, and in some sort keep them in taken from the cross'. There was also evidence of his -iheck and subservient to the wishes of the Editor of express malice ; and the only evidence to acquit him it. Verdicti which pleased the Defendant, would was that of'the medical men. On this verdict, therebe applauded by those which were xgalnst his in- fore, the Defendant had expressed his astonishment ; tere.sts, and his Views would be censured. What such and although he used intemperate language, yet the persons, having overturned the Administration of Jury would not from thence infer that he wished to Justice and tht Trial by Jury, would substitute in its subvert the Goverament and bring the Trial by Jury stead, he was at a loss to coojecture, but they had into discredit. chosen in this instance to attak a Judge, who* cha- After an able reply from the ATTORNEY GENERAL/ ratter he should have thought would have protected The Learned Judge summed up the case, and adhint from all censure, Mr. Justice Le Blanc. The oc. nutted that the question vias, whether the Defendant casion of 'the libels was, that in November, 1807, one had fairly discussed the merits of the trials, or had Bennet, a Guinea Captain, was indictedfor the murder been guided by improper and malicious motives ?As of one Rickman, a boy on beard his ship, whom IA a proof of this he had not stated the evidence, or the had treated with great and unjustifiable hatthaess and nature of the case, lint had confined himself to interncruelty. Upon his being indicted, the facts of the perste animadversions upon the verdicts of the Julies, cruelty were proved, but all the medical men who and the conduct of the Jud were examined as to the manner in which the boy The Jury, afu r retiring abort time, bonght came by his death, concurred in the opinion, that he verdict—Guilty.   1  - UN ins