Star. — 1831-07-11 (London, England)

OLD BAILEY SESSIONS.  James .31‘ Xiff. a journeyman tailor, was indicted for stealing some new silver lace and some silver ornaments, the property of his master, Mr. Burgess, tailor, in Woodstockstreet; and Mr. Benjamin Smart, refiner, was indicted for purchasing the same, with a guilty knowledge of its having been sto!en. It appeared from the evidence of Mr. Burgess, that :11'Ntif was in his employment. Ott the day named in the indictment he gave the prisoner a military coat to embroider. The ptisorer lett his work, and took with him the whole of the 'ilea lace and ornaments which prosecutor had given him In the ntorting. Thr prisoner was subsequently traced to • public-house in Windmill-street, where he was found regaling himself wi:h good eating and drinking. When taken into custody, he infotmed the constable that he sold the property which he had stolen front his master to a Mr. Smart, a refiner, in Princess-street. The officer, showing Mr. Smart some patterns, asked hint if he had purchased any silver lace or ornaments of a similar description. Mr. Stuart replied that he had, but the ar id es had been melted as soon as they were purchased. The prosecutor, not satisfied with this answer, proceeded to search the premises, and in a chat in a back parlour was found, under a quantity of o'd ;ace, the property which had been stolen from the prosecutor. Many persons in the sane line of business with Mr. Smart wire called to give evidence respecting the price which had been given for the lace and ornaments by the prisoner ; they were unanimously of opinion that the utmost value had been bi en tar them. One of the witnesses said, that it was not at all an unusual thing fur refinets to purchase remnants of new lace. Upon his moss.examination by Mr. Adolphus, the witness admitted that the piece of lace then produced was not what he should consider a remnant. He would not himself have purchased so large a quantity. Mr. Smart put in a written detence, in which he stated that he had been in business for many years, and could defy any person to say he had ever purchased goods with a knowledge of their having been stolen ; on the contrary, he could bring many witnesses to prove that he had been the means of detectirg many robberies. The Common Serjeant recapitulated the evidence, and observed that the question for the Jury, as regarded Mr. Smart, was, whether he had purchased the articles with a guilty knowledge. The Jury remained in consultation upwards of seven hours; and at half-past nine returned a verdict, Guilty against both the prisoners. The Court immediately sentenced M'Niff to be imprisoned twelve months in Newgate, and Mr. Smart to be imprisoned twelve months in Giltspur.street Compter. Several unimportant trials having terminated, the longest session which has occurred since the erection of the New  Court was brought to a conclusion. the Recorder proceeded to pass sentence upon the several prisoners who had been tried during the session, upon whom the judgment of the Court had not been passed instanter. The following twenty-seven convicts received sentence of  death, viz— Thomas Sheannan, for horse-stealing ; James Evans, for cattle stealing; John Tient'', for burglary; Geo. Smith, tor taking a stamp from a parchment which had paid duty, and affixing it to another which had not ; James Coles, Joseph Buckler and Robert Scutton for uttering forged ordtrs fur the payment of money; William Young, Thos. Horner Stone, William Dines, George Hammond, John Csrt.ey, and John I-ee, tor breaking into dwelling-houses, and conanitting larcenies therein; Ann Hyde, Geo. WilU'illiant Vincent, Win. Richmond, George Wy. brow, Mary Hrtherman, Charles Penrose, and Alphonse &pin, for stealing goods and monies above the value of 51. in dwelling houses ; Edward Snieethann, John Bourne, and John Cronie, for maliciously cutting and maiming with intent to murder.  S.sty-five were ordered to be transported for seven years ; fourteen for fourteen years; and sieteen for the term of their natural lives. Upwards of 200 were sentenced to WHIM of imprisonment varying front seven days to one year. Some were ordered to be privately whipped; and the judgment against George Frederick Reinhart was respited until the next session, which will commence on the second Thursday in September, until stitch day the Court adjourned.