Excerpts from the London Chronicle April 12, 1810

OLD BAILEY.

Yesterday the Sessions commenced at the Old Bailey, before the LORD MAYOR, Lord ELLENBOROUGH, Baron THOMPSON, Mr. Justice LAWRENCE, and the RECORDER &c.

Joseph Adams, a person of very respectable appearance, who is master of the free school, and vestry clerk of the parish of Edmonton, was charged with ravishing R. Denham, in the church-yard of Edmonton. The account given by the prosecutrix of the transaction was, that she was at a house in the church-yard, in which there is a row of small cottages; and as she came out about 11 o’clock at night to go home to her mother’s, a man jumped out from behind a tomb stone, under the clock, and threw her down on the ground. She described him as using great force, and tearing her clothes, and ultimately succeeded in effecting his end. She was sure it was the prisoner, and she was the more confirmed as his voice was, as well as his person, well known to her.

For the prisoner a great number of witnesses were called who spoke to his general good character, and from their testimony it appeared that he was a married man, having a second wife and several children.

Mrs. Sawyer also stated, that the prosecutrix acquainted her with the same story the next morning, and that she accompanied the prosecutrix the next morning to the Justices’s, who advised her to compromise it; that the witness went to the prisoner and asked if he would give the prosecutrix a sum of money if she would not prosecute him. He said he had never laid a finger upon her, and would not give her anything. She said she had known the prosecutrix from her youth, that she was a girl of loose habits and got her living that way, for she had never been at service; and she lastly added, that from her knowledge of her character, she could not believe her upon her oath. Another witness deposed to the same effect. The Jury found the prisoner–Not Guilty.

Melinda Mapson was convicted of a burglary, in breaking out of the dwelling house of William Dignam, and stealing a variety of articles of plate and wearing-apparel. By the evidence of Mr. Dignam, who was a grocer in York-street, Covent-garden, it appeared that as long back as the month of February 1809, the prisoner was hired as a servant at his house. The night she came he went out to his club and returned about eleven o’clock. His wife was gone to bed, and when he came home he exchanged a few words with the prisoner, saying he hoped she would like her place. He then went to bed supposing the prisoner would do the same, but it seemed she employed herself in breaking open several drawers and taking out their contents, which must have occupied her some time. When the family got up in the morning, the new servant was gone with the plunder. They heard nothing of her for a great length of time; and it was not until the month of April last the prisoner was apprehended on another charge; and from the description published of her peron by the Police Office, he was led to suspect it was the same person who robbed him. Upon going to the office to see her, the fact turned out to be so. She was then traced to her residence, which was at her brother’s, in Rosemary-lane, at a clothes-shop; and upon searching the apartments, several duplicates were found of the articles stolen from Mr. Dignam.--The Jury found her Guilty.

The prisoner was also charged with another offence for robbing a Mr. Carter of several articles of wearing-apparel. 

POLICE

PUBLIC OFFICE, WORSHIP STREET.--Yesterday an elderly woman, named PRYOR, the wife of a mat-maker, in Crooked Billet-yard, near the Basing-house, Kingstand-road, was charged with the murder of her husband, by beating him over the head with a wooden mallet, on Tuesday evening, in consequence of which he died next morning. She was committed for re-examination and until a Coroner’s Inquest has been held on the body.

Tuesday night, about twelve o’clock, as ADKINS the Bow-street Officer, was coming from the Secretary of State’s Office, at the end of the Piazza, in Russell-street, a pistol was fired within three yards of him. Whether it was intended for him or any one else that was passing, he could not tell; for at the time several persons were passing. He instantly laid hold of the man who fired, and said to him “You fired off a pistol,” and put his hand to the man’s pocket, and said, “here it is.” Adkins then laid hold of a woman, who was standing with the man at the time the pistol was fired, and was proceeding to take them to the office in Bow-street, when several people attempted to rescue the prisoners, but without effect. Adkins sent the woman to the watch-house, and took the man to the Secretary of State’s Office where Mr. READ and Mr. GRAHAM, the Magistrates, were in attendance. He was examined by them, and committed for further examination. The prisoner said his name was JOHN HARTLEY; that he came to London on Friday last, from Yorkshire; he did not come upon any particular business; that he bought the pistol that day for his own protection, and to protect this property; when searched, he had a one pound note and two or three shillings; he lodged at the Saracen’s Head, on Snow-hill, and left there a little before ten o’clock the same night, after loading the pistol with powder and ball. In his lodgings were found about 40l. From some cards found upon him, he is supposed to be a Surgeon belonging to the College at Edinburgh.