The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1803-06-03 (London, England)

RIF V. orcnev. This was an inquiry executed before the Lord Chief Justice to assess damages. The Plaintiff, who is the keeper of the Cold Bath-fields Prison, brought the a4ion to recover a compensation for a slanderous and libellous report, made by the Defendant, to the injury of his charilter, namely. that he was a murderer, and had killed two persons named Sheene and Johnson, who had been placed under hi keeping in the prison, by starving them to death. Judgment had been suffered to go by default, and the question now at issue was, what damages the Plaintiff was entitled to? Mr. GA a Row, as Counsel for Aris, stated to the Jury the high sense he entertained of the enormity of the offence committed by the Defendant, who had not only injured the Plaintiff in his charaiter, but had rendered him criminal in the eyes of the law, and subjeCt to an arraignment for murder. The report which had been propagated was in itself of so horrid a form, that the bare imputation of the same was sufficient to occasion all who heard it to revolt  from the unfortunate objets of malice with all that disgust which they could not avoid feeling. By the died of the expressions alluded to, which had been uttered (as it would be proved by evidence) without the least foundation whatever, the life of the Plaintiff WAS endangered, the minds of the public wereworked u pon to a degree ofresentment,whic h appeared likely to occasion the entire des t rat ion oftb epr ison ; and,if such an attempt had been made, the first victim of unrestrained fury would have been the unhappy objets of this malicious libel. He had also suffered in the opinion of those who had reposed confidence in him in the execution of his office, was liable to have lost his situation, and to have experienced more evils than it was possible to enumerate. Under such circumstances, it was only considerable damages that could atone ; and he trusted the Jury would fael for the sufferings of the Plaintiff, and afford adequate compensation. The evidence adduced went to prove, that the two men, who were reported to hare been starved to death, James Johnson and Sheene, died by the visitation of God. It appeared by the evidence or T. Shelton, Esq. Coroner for London, that an i,squest, composed of six of the prisoners bPlonging to the prison, and six tradesmen, were summoned, and, in the presence of the Plaintiff, a minute investigatioq took place, relative to the occasion of th.ir deaths. Dr. Roberts, and several surgeons, who attended at the examination, observed no appearance to believe otherwise than they died by the visitation of God. A person, named Stamford, stated, that he met the Defendant, after the inquest had taken place, and, in a discourse upon that subjeft, the hirer said. " the two men were murdered, and he could have  brought evidence to prove the fgt. if Mr. Shelton, the Loroner, had permitted him." Mr. Stamford told him, that e hatever passed between them a: that time would not go any further ; but he advie, ed the Defendant not to speak of Mr.. Shelton in the way he did, as that gentleman would certainly take notice of it; he, however persisted in saying the men were murdered, and that the Plaintiff had killed many others. Jane Sheene, who was the Acifc of Sheene that died, said she had known, that he had beer: subjed to tits for long time previous to his death, and the apothecary, who attended the prison, stated his death to have taken place in consequence. Mr. F.