5 NOVEMBER 1831, Page 7

3IAssr.AtonTER.--On Saturday, in consequence of a dispute between Thomas Fordham,

ostler of Bigg's livery-stables, Moorfields, and a groom the latter knocked Fordham down. The poor man died almost immediately, from the effects of the blow.

THE FOCI:DI:INC.—The rigmarole story told last week by a girl! named Sale to the Magistrates of Bow Street, about her having been

stolen from St. Helena, has turned out, as we suspected, to be wholly falSe. It appears that she is daughter to the woman Gondison, but not by her husband. The husband and wife have been discharged. There

is a foolish bias in the public towards the evidence of children. We have seldom known a child to speak the truth when it had the smallest possible interest in speakino. falsehood. The moral sense is much more intimately connected with speaking growth of reason than is generally sup- posed. Msncii or ROGUEDX.—A fellow, suspected to be a thief, was stopped on Monday morning at Barnet, by the officers there. When ques- tioned, he declared, with great appearance of earnestness, that he was bearer of au express from Tamworth to London, to announce that Sir Robert Peel had committed suicide. Of course, lie was immediately permitted to go on. The story was just as true as that the Reform= sacked Bristol.

HIGHWAY ROBBERY.—On Friday evening last, Mr. William Bryant

of Bishop's Hull, returning home in his gig from 'Wimple, was attacked at the six-mile stone between Honiton and Taunton by two footpads.

One of them seized the horse's head, whilst the other put his foot on the step of the gig, and demanded money. Mr. Bryant immediately knocked him down with his fist ; but he again came to the attack, when a scuffle

ensued, and Mr. B. was dragged out of his gig. The other ruffian then struck Mr. B. on the head with a bludgeon, and both began beating mid kickins.° him in a most inhuman manner. They rifled his pockets of notes, gold, and silver, to the value of 1301., and decamped, leaving him on the road. His groans at length brought a poor gipsy woman and boy, who, with three of their people, took him up and carried him to the Ilolmen Cleve' inn, in an almost lifeless state—Taunton Courier.;