ROBERT Taysone—The Surry Magistrates have directed that this man should
be treated in every respect as others who are convicted of misde- meanour. It is most foolish to observe any peculiarity of conduct to- wards him. He only wants to be made a wonder of. SCANDAL.—A curious trial took place at Abingdon a few days ago, in which a middle-aged gentleman named May was plaintiff. The action was for words spoken against Mr. May's character by a neighbour of the name of Ford ; both parties reside at Wingfield. The words were- " Mr. May has attempted to take my son's life : he has fought a duel with my son, and, not content with hitting him through the hat, shot him in the arm. I have taken proceedings against Mr. May for shoot- ing my son, and I will Visit him with the utmost vengeance of the law." The justification pleaded was, that Mr. May had really acted as he was charged. The scandalous words being proved, young Ford, a lad of about sixteen, was produced in justification. His story is one of the most connected that perhaps ever invention supplied to a witness. He said- " I am the son of the defendant. I was residing with him in April last. In Starch last I knew Mr. May • our families had visited. I recollect being at Mrs. Johnstone's party on the 22/1' of March ; Mr. and Mrs. May and two of their daugh- ters were present, as were my father and mother and two of my sisters. Mr. Slay tapped me on the shoulder, and I followed him to the other end of the room. He asked me what made our family behave so oddly to his, and, without walting'my re- ply, he said,' I know it ; Mrs. Brown has been the means of setting our family against his.' I replied it was no such thing. Mr. May said he knew better, and I called him a liar. He asked me what apology I meant to make for calling him a liar. I said I would make none. He said I must meet him at Ascot the next morn- ing. I said I could not meet him on the following morning, as I had no pistols. He said, Then meet me the following morning.' He said he should come unat- tended, and he expected I should do the same. He asked me to swear never to re- veal it ; and I said I would. Next day I called on Mr. Graves, a butcher, to borrow a pistol. I got bullets at Eaton. I took the powder from my father's powder-flask. The pistol had a screw barrel, of which I had not the key. I loaded it as I would load a gun, using a stick instead of a ramrod. I went to the Ascot Race Course at about eight o'clock. I saw Mr. May. He beckoned me towards a bush which stood near the centre of the Course. When we got to the bush Mr. May :der ped out fif- teen paces. He had a pair of pistols. Mine was a small pocket pistol. His pistols were larger. He asked me if I was ready. I said I was. -we immediately fired, almost together. We both missed. Mr. May said we must fire again. I loaded my pistol by means of a stick. Mr. May put on his coat and bound his handkerchief round his wrist. I offered my assistance, and he said he considered me his deadliest enemy." No fewer than six witnesses proved that Mr. May was at home during the whole of the day in question ! The Jury gave 2001. damages. Mr. Jervis applied for a warrant with a view of indicting youlag Ford for perjury ; but Mr. Justice Park, after an harangue on the shortness of life and the forgiveness of injuries, refused to grant it, as he thought the boy under a delusion. He hoped, and trusted, and expected" the affair should go no farther !" MAGISTERIAL MEEKNESS.—Some curious facts were elicited, on the 14th, in an action of damages, tried at Winchester before Mr. Justice Taunton, in which a Mr. Deacle was plaintiff, and Mr. Bingham Baring, son of Mr. Alexander Baring, Mr. Francis Baring, Seagrim an attor- ney, and two others, were defendants. William Lewingten, a police constable, detailed the particulars. After stating that Mr. Seagrim furnished him with a warrant to arrest Mr. Deacle and Mrs. Deacle, with which he proceeded to Mr. Deacle'sliouse (this was t in the 24th November last), he went on— Mr. Bingham Baring, Mr. Francis Raring, and Mr. Knight, came into the (house; Mr. Bingham Baring said, " Constable, do your duty ; hand-holt them." Mrs. Deacle wished to put her bonnet and shawl on, but Dir. Bingham Caring said, "he could not wait." Mr. F. Baring said he did not see any necessity for having the lady handcuffed. Mr. Baring slipped her hand out of the bolts. Sl.e is a small delicate woman, and did not appear in good health at the time. Mr. Deacle and 1 went to the cart, and Mr. Bingham Baring, with one of the constablcs,brought out Sirs. Deacle. She said," I cannot ride in such a conveyance as that," and begged to be allowed to ride on horseback: The cart was a common coal-cart, and had no springs. The road was very rough. Mr. B. Baring ordered me to trot, which made the cart shake very much. Mrs. Deacle frequently said, " It hurts Ise so I really cannot ride," When we got opposite Mr. Low:ides% house she said she could go no further, and endeavoured to jump out. Mr. Oracle put his hand out, and said, "My dear, be quiet, it will be better." Mr. 11. Raring rode up, and struck Mr. Deacle a back-handed blow with his stick, and said, " Sit still." The stick was knotted, and about the thickness of a man's thumb.
The Jury gave 501. damages ! The Chronicle and Times comment with severity on the conduct of Mr. Bingham Baring ; but we feel assured, that he who can read over the facts without being moved by them, will not be moved by the most eloquent comment.
SCOTCH ELECTION RIOTS.—Oil 3Ionday, a clerk, named Ralph For- rester, was tried by the High Court of Justiciary at Edinburgh, on a charge of rioting during the election of a member of Parliament for that city, on the 3rd of May last, and also with assaulting the Lord Provost. The Jury found him guilty of the first part of the charge, but acquitted bins of the last. The prisoner was sentenced to imprison- ment for nine calendar months, and at the expiration of that period to find security to the amount of G01. to keep the peace for five years.
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