Star. — 1825-07-26 (London, England)

ASSIZES.  YORK, JULY 23.  William Peskett, aged 25, was indicted for forCibly abusing Eliza Beilby, 'A child under seven years of age. After some of the child's evidence had been gone through, Mr. Baron Hut. Loci( being of opinion the capital charge could not be sustained—the prisoner was indicteal for the assault, of which he was found Guilty. He had already suffered nine months' imprisonment, and was sentenced to fifteen months' hard labour in the House of Correction in Wakefield, in addition.  James Johnson was indicted for forcibly abusing Miss Jearima Finch, on the 12th of July last. Mr. HENDT stated the case. The crime of which the prisoner stood charged was committed under extraordinary circumstances, and upon a person much more advanced in years than the prosetutrix in the last trial. At the period at which the offence was charged to have Leon committed, there was a fair at Leeds. and the prisoner was appointed a) wa:chman to protect the booths. The prosecutrix wai employed at a manufactory in Leeds, and though her appearance did not indicate that she was above fourteen ;ears old, she was re ility twenty-five. On the 12th of July she went to the fair to amuse herself, and was indu. ed to enter a b ,oth to see the exhibition of a dwarf and giantess. She herself, from the extreme diminutiveness of her stature, might well have been put in the place of the dwarf, and accordingly when she went, she became a greater object of curiosity than the exhibited dwarf. —ln consequence she was detained a long time in the booth, but as it contributed to her amusement, she shewed no reluctance to remain. Ou quitting it, however, and going towards Meadow-lane, ss here she lived, she was followed by some pet sons, who laid hold of her and insisted she was the dwarf belonging to the shew people. They prevailed upon het to return to the booth. She, either from timidity, or awe .kness of mind proportioned to the diminutiveness of her person, did not oppose them, but when they came, the booth was closed for the night, and the people said they had their own davarf, and knew nothing about her. She was then put into the hands of a watchman, the prisoner at the bar, to see her home, but instead of affording irer that protection which he was bound to do, he took advantage of her situation and her helplessness to perpetrate the crime for which he was now indicted. Jemima Finch was then produced, and was so diminutive as to ' be scarcely able to speak over the winless box. The case was so satisfactorily proved, that the prisoner was found Gain". Mr. Baron HULLOCK then passed sentence of Death ' on the prisoner, who was so affected as to be unable to ' leave the bar without assistance.  Isaac Charlesworth was indicted for robbing James Cropper, on the highway, of 11. 14s. This robbery was attended with peculiar circumstances of aggravation. Cropper had occasion to go to Leeds with a horse and cart to remove the goods of a Methodist preacher. Arriving late in the evening, he went to a public-house to inquire where a person lived with whom he was to lodge for the night? There were three persons inside at the time, one of whom offered to go and chew him; but on passing near a quarry, he suddenly gave him a blow with an instrument whick knocked him down, and left him insensible. On recovery he found his pocket emptied of all he had, 1/. 14;. and his face covered with blood. He called " Murder !" and fortunately a person of the name of Green being near, came up, and saw the pri-', soner running away ; but as he was approaching Crop. per he was knocked down by another man, who also immediately ran away. Two hats were left behind, one of which was the prisoner's, which corroborated Green's evidence, who swore to the identity of the prisoners. When he found Cropper he was lying on the ground, with blood streaming from his ears. Verdict—Guilty. Mr. Barn HULLOCK said he should certainly leave the prisoner for execution.  Three prisoners have been left for execution, one for rape, and two for highway robbery.