sixty of the mob came around me, and Moreton struck me in the face. Moreton then said, "This is one of old Newdigate's men ; you may be sure who he has voted for; he is a Dugdale." I was knocked down between nine and ten o'clock. Betteridge was one of the men who attacked me. I was so much hurt as not to be able to leave my bed for several days. Both eyes were closed, and I had a violent blow on the side of the head.

John Beeby. I was at Nuneaton on the 21st of December. When I rode into the town I was assailed by persons, who said, "d-n his eyes, here's a Dugdale." The town remained in a great state of riot during the whole of the day. I saw Betteridge among the rioters at the booth. When first I saw him he had a constable's staff, painted blue and white. I saw Betteridge, with about fifty others, run at George Morris, who was knocked down, struck, and kicked, and had his clothes torn all to atoms. About the middle of the day I saw him with the fragment of a bench leg on his shoulders. A great many followed him, and he appeared to be the leader. I saw him again between three and four o'clock in the day, brandishing a large open knife, and bidding defiance to every body.

Mr. W. Godfrey.-I keep a tollbar about a mile and a half from Nuneaton. I am a voter for the northern division of Warwickshire. I went to Nuneaton on the morning of the election, about nine o'clock. When I got to the booth, I was knocked down by Joseph Moreton and others, and most severely kicked. I went to vote for Wilmot. I was bled, and about two o'clock I went and polled.

On leaving the booth, I was knocked down from behind, kicked, and beaten, and all my clothes torn off. My coat was entirely gone, and all my shirt except the collar. I tried to get in at Ballard's house, but was refused admission, because he said he should have his house pulled down. 1 dropped at the door, and lay there until I was carried away.

William Tayler, high constable of Nuneaton.-I went on duty a little before ten on the morning of the election. I was on the steps of the Town-hall near the pollingplace. I addressed the mob, and hoped they would be peaceable and quiet. I charged them to keep the peace, when they ran up to me, took my staff out of my hand, and broke it in pieces. I was violently kicked about the legs. I saw several persons cruelly beaten near the Newdigate Arms.

The rev. John Roby.-I live at Congerston, in Leicestershire. I went to the election at Nuneaton, and arrived at near twelve o'clock. I and two others were in a carriage. We drove to the Newdigate Arms. As I was getting out of the carriage I was taken hold of by the arms and coat, taken away from the inn, and asked who I voted for. I made no reply; but some one said I should vote for Heming. Another said, "Down with him," and I immediately received a blow on the side, and another on the back of the head, from which I lost a great deal of blood. I was knocked down on one knee, and, on recovering my legs, received three blows in the face. I particularly begged that they would not murder me. Just at that particular time there was a cry of "Hip, hip," and somebody said, "You have done it

Mr. W. Jones.-I am a surgeon at Lutterworth, and an elector for the northern division of Warwickshire. I arrived about one o'clock, and saw a crowd of persons in the Market-place. I found the Newdigate Arms barricaded. I was admitted. Several gentlemen were brought in, very much beaten. Very soon afterwards the house was surrounded. The depositions of the wounded men were immeately taken; the Riot Act written out, and Mr. Inge read it from the window. I heard persons in the room cry out to the people, that the Riot Act was read. "Witness confirmed the previous witnesses as to the manner in which the mob reassembled as soon as the military scoured the streets. He did not poll for fear of personal danger. He was in the Newdigate Arms until twenty minutes past four o'clock. He then left for the purpose of going home. There was a mob in the Market-place. "I was mounted," continued the witness, "on a spirited horse, and for the purpose of obtaining a passage, I put my spurs to the horse, and made a dash down the street. I was struck at several times with bludgeons, but the blows fell on my horse.

William Bucknell.-I am a surgeon at Nuneaton. I was on the committee of Sir E. Wilmot, which was held at the Bull Inn. Í recol

lect seeing a person of the name of William Godfrey. He was severely bruised. I saw Mr. Roby. He had a cut on the side of his head, and was very much injured. Mr. Morris had two black eyes, and a cut on his head. The clothes of all these gentlemen were torn. I saw some of the special constables give up their staveswithout resistance. The mob was in such a state as to render the introduction of the military undoubtedly necessary. I know both prisoners. I saw Betteridge in the riot. He was very active.

This was the case for the prosecution.

Mr. Amos then objected, that there was no proof that the paper read was the Riot Act.

Mr. Inge recalled. I read the Riot Act from a written paper, which I put in the fire when I got home. I read the act privately over the night before, and I am quite confident that it was the act. The witness repeated the proclamation from memory.

The judge said, the words of the act were, or words to the like effect." He thought Mr. Inge's evidence satisfactory.

Betteridge said nothing in his defence; Watts declared to God he had nothing to do with the riots.

was

Some witnesses were called, who swore, that the Riot Act had not been read; that the town perfectly quiet; and that there was no disturbance at the Newdigate Arms!!

The learned Judge proceeded to sum up at great length. The first point for their consideration was -was there a tumultuous and riotous assembly; secondly, did it continue for more than an hour after the reading of the Riot Act;

thirdly, were both or either of the prisoners engaged in the riot; and fourthly, was there such a reading of the Riot Act as came within the meaning of the statute.

The Jury, without leaving the box, considered of their verdict. An animated though subdued conversation ensued amongst them for upwards of an hour. It was evident that one or two of the jurors were bent upon an acquittal.

At length the bailiff, at the command of the Judge, being called upon to take them in charge, the foreman suddenly announced that they had agreed upon their verdict, and, to the surprise of the court, found both prisoners Not Guilty.

KING'S BENCH, MAY 11.

The King v. Wall. This was an indictment preferred against Mr. B. Wall, M.P. for Guildford, charging him with an attempt to commit an unnatural offence on the person of John Palmer, a policeman. Palmer, the prosecutor deposed as follows:On the 28th of February last, I was on duty in Harley-street. About a quarter before one in the morning, Mr. B. Wall came up to me. I had never seen him before. He asked me what it was o'clock. I told him about a quarter to one. He said, "It's a b-y fine morning, is it not?" I said, "Yes, Sir, its a fine morning." He then asked me of what religion I was. I told him I was of no religion in particular, any more than the rest of us. He then said, “D—n and all the religions, it is all a humbug; a parcel of boys, 14 or 15 years of age, are sent to college,

and brought up to govern the country." He asked what regiment I had belonged to, and whether I had belonged to the guards. I "No." said, He said, "You're not allowed to take money, are you?" I said, "No." He said,

If I was to chuck a shilling on the pavement, would you pick it up?" I said, "No." He said, "D-n and the b-y system, I hate it, don't you?" I said, I did not. With that I was going away; he caught hold of my hand and squeezed it, and put a shilling into it, and [Here the witness described what took place]. I did not know what he meant, and I had scarcely time to speak before he put half-a-crown into my hand; I said something which I can't recollect; when he put the shilling into my hand, he pulled his coat on one side, and [Here the witness described a most disgusting action] he had hold of my hand, and again acted in an indecent manner. I took hold of him by the collar, and said, "B you, do you think I am a ― or what." I took hold of him by the collar, and said he should go to the watch-house. He said something which I can't recollect. I took him to the corner of Cavendish-square. He put another shil. ling into my hand, and said something about his character, and wanted me to let him go. I said, "No; I would sooner let a gang of burglars go than I would you." He then said, "If you'll leave go of me, I'll walk quietly." I let go of him, and he walked till he got to the middle of Cavendish-square, when he tried to run away. I then took hold of the collar and cuff of his coat, and said, that he should go to the watch-house. He then said, "If you'll let me go, I'll

give you anything." I said, It's of no use; I tell you, as I told you before, I would rather let a gang of burglars go than I would you." I then took him till I got into Henrietta-street, Cavendish-square; and nearly opposite Old Cavendish street he caught hold of the iron railings, repeating several times, if I would let him go, he would give me anything; I told him it was of no use; and if he did not come along, I should spring my rattle and get assistance; he did not let go the rails; I took my rattle out of my pocket and was going to spring it; he then let go of the rails; I took him to the watchhouse in Marylebone-lane, where inspector Tyrell was; Frederick Banister, a policeman was there; I related the case to the inspector, and he took the charge, and he was detained there; this is the money he gave me; I produced it at the watch-house; I went before Mr. Hoskins in the morning and made a statement; the clerk to the magistrates, Mr. Fell, was present. The defendant then made a statement, which was taken down in writing by the clerk.

Cross-examined by Sir James Scarlett. I had been two years in the police; nothing of the same sort ever happened to me before; I have heard of similar things having happened to other policemen, but I never knew of any charge being made; it was a fine morning; I can't say whether it was moonlight, but it was fine; I was 150 yards from Cavendishsquare when the gentleman met me; I am not in the habit of saying good night to gentlemen, unless they speak to me; I was surprised at his language; I thought it was a curious question about religion, and said, I was of no

religion in particular, because I did not want to stay bothering with him; I did not know what to make of him; I did not take him for much of a gentleman at the time; I stopped to hear what he said, but can't say for what reason; I thought him a strange sort of chap. Tomlinson, a policeman, passed at the time; he came on the other side of the way; did not see any one else in the street; I do not know why I stopped talking to him; it is our custom to stop and answer questions that are put to us. He had before asked me if I was allowed to take money; it was my right hand he took hold of; I did not understand what he at first meant; the shilling and half-crown were in my hand at the same time; I had looked at the shilling while he put his hand in his pocket for the half-crown; I did not ask him what he meant ; perhaps a minute or a minute and a half passed; it was all done almost in an instant; I did not pull my hand away, because I did not know what he was going to do; I did not know what to make of him; he had on a dirty drab great-coat and a handkerchief round his neck; I believe he pulled my hand up; I was confused at his goings on; I knew it was not a manly trick; when he gave me the second shilling I did not look at it till I got across Cavendishsquare; I then put it in my pocket; I might have been more or less than ten minutes in conversation with him before I laid hold of his collar; I did not knock him down, because he did not strike me; upon my oath, I did not believe the last shilling to be a sovereign; I did not think anything about it; I did not suppose what it was till I saw it.

Frederick Banister, policeman, recollected Palmer coming to the watch-house about one o'clock, or a little before. Did not know the distance from the watch-house to the middle of Marylebone-lane; could not judge of it, not being in the habit of doing duty there.

James Fell.-I was chief clerk to the magistrates, and took the examination of the prosecutor. Mr. Wall was then called upon to know if he had anything to say in answer. What he said I took down. He said, "I confess to having stopped the witness, and I acknowledge that I gave him a shilling, and afterwards half-a-crown. All the rest of the man's statement is a fabrication. I never touched him, nor did he touch me, except when I put the shilling into his hand. This occurred at the lower end of Harley-street. It is also true, that gave him money to let me go; for I said, it would not be a question whether it was a weak charge or a strong one, but that it was sufficient to make the charge to blast me for ever. When I gave him the half-crown I walked away, and I was much surprised when he followed and seized me. I then gave him, I thought, a sovereign, and was greatly surprised when I found, at the station-house, that I had only given him a shilling. I walked away, and was much surprised when he came and took me."

I

Sir James Scarlett, for the defence, observed to the jury, that this was one of those charges which, being tremendous and ruinous in themselves, were doubly so, because every scoundrel could make them with impunity; and it could not have escaped the observation of the jury, that it was a charge commonly directed against men in

possession of a character which it was thought they would foolishly seek to maintain by yielding to any terms rather than have the charge made. His client thought differently, and had acted differently. He had denounced the falsehood at the watch-house and at the moment; he was now here to ask the aid of the jury in putting down a system of attack, the wickedness of which was altogether immeasurable. There were only two modes of meeting such a charge. The one was, a full examination of the prosecutor's case. It was not like evidence confirmed by other testimony, where the statement of the prosecutor might be sufficient, unless the defendant could contradict it; here, the defendant had nó opportunity of contradicting the prosecutor's statement. It was necessary, therefore, that the details should be sifted most minutely; that the story should be consistent in all its parts-that there should be nothing in the demeanour of the man to induce them to suspect that he was not to be believed. The other mode of defence in charges of this nature was, the defendant's previous characterthe belief of those who knew him, that such a transaction was totally foreign to his disposition and habits. They were aware that Mr. Wall was a member of Parliament, and that the House of Commons often found it necessary to sit till a late hour. Some of the members were in the habit of seeking refreshment from the air on leaving the House-of walking in the street before they went into their houses. It was not improbable, that gentlemen, in such situations, or any gentleman, might be induced to speak to a policeman in the street, and, upon receiving a civil answer,