Star. — 1826-08-04 (London, England)

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.  MONMOUTH, Ann: I.  Mr. J. Morgan, one of the proprietors, and the conducting manager of the GAS Works at Newport, in this county, was indicted for an assault with intent to commit-a rape upon Martha Reece, a smart-looking girl,. sixteen years of age, who was a neighbour's servant, in the habit of going to Mr. Morgan's promises to purchase coke for her mistress. The assault was stated by the girl to have been committed between six and seven o'clock on the evening of the 19th of January last. The case excited sonic interest, from the respectability of the prisoner, and the deliberate manner in which the girl bad persevered in her statement, since the time of the occurrence.  The prosecutrix was examined at considerable length, and her evidence was, that her mistress bad sent her to buy a basket of coke at Mr. Morgan's store yard ; that Mr. Morgan had taken her into his store, and there made the assault which was described in the indictment. She, however, succeeded in preventing his intention, but nevertheless remained for the coke, took it from Mr. Morgan, borrowed one of his baskets, and carried it back again the same evening to the yard. She never left the premises smirking and laughing, or spoke to Mr. Morgan when she returned the basket. She icompleined to her mistress on the same evening, but never went before a Magistrate, her father being told that it was better to keep the ease for the Assizes. She went into a fit on returning to her mistress, but positively declared that she had given no encouragement for the assault, and had never since made any offer to compromise the matter. She had cried " murder" while with Mr. Morgan, but she supposed the reason she was not heard without was, that the gas house being high, the sound ascended within, and did not pass through the yard door, which was wide open all the time. The next-witness was Dinah Roberts, who stated that the prosecutrix had been her servant in her shop at Newport. She remembered sending her for some coke to Mr. Morgan's; and also, that when she returned, she was in low spirits, and in about an hour she went into a strong fit, and it required the aid of several persons to hold her. When she regained her senses, she was much exhausted. She had lived with witness four years, and had never been in fits before.  Charlotte Roberts corroborated the evidence of the last witness, adding, that the prosecutriz told her, as soon as she brought home the coke, what had been done by Mr. Morgan. Croes-exantined—After this, she went back with the basket to Mr. Morgan's. Lewis Edwards deposed, that he had met the father of the prosecutriz at her brother's • he was accompanied there by Mr. Morgan, who remained outside. As, however, this visit was made without the desire of the defendant, the further examination of this witness was not permitted. He added, that Mr. Morgan was a most re. spectable young man, married, and having a child. Charles Reece, the lath, r of the prosecutriz, said, that soon after this business he was accosted by defendant, who said, " Reece, I understand you are muckannoyed at what passed between your daughter and me. Why, I have only kissed her." Witness answered, " You have not only done that, but nearly killed her." " Well," said Morgan, "I shall give her a #ound." Witness walked away.  In his cross-examination he said, that his daughter never went before a Magistrate at Newport about this matter, because that was the advice of Mr. Smith, the Attorney, who des red theta to keep it for the assizes.— Witness, such had been his worse luck, was certainly a plaintiff in a court of justice in an action of crirt. cwt. 'about his present wife, with whom, however, be bad suge resumed ctshabitation. Mr. rustirrs addressed the Jury for the defendant, and called witnesses lathe defente.