Middlesex Sessions, Tuesd...
Two watchmnen of St. Martin's parish, named Do uahl and Ollet, were indicted for assaulting a publican of the name of Sprinzi. Only one of the defendants, Donald, was forthcoming to take his trial. It appeared that the prosecutor, who is a native of Rome, keeps the " Star and Garter" public-house, in St. Martin's-lane. On the night mentioned in the indictment, about eleven o'clock, these two watchmen went up to the prosecutor's door, and asked him what persons were in his house ? S~tinti replied, that there were no persons in it, bat two friends of his own; and they might observe that the lamps were all out, and he was shutting np the house. The watchmen answered, that there were 12 or 14 peraons in the house (which was untrue) * and they immediately insisted on taking tl:c prosecutor to the watch-house. Accordingly, without further delay, they seized him, and dragged him along, not even suffering him to put on his cravat, his coat or his hat towards St. Martin's watch. house. The prosecutor, however, feeling indignant at this treat. ment, grappled one of shemby the eollar,and declared thathe wrould go quietly with them but would not submit to be dragged like a felon; upon wvhich bonald called out for a knife, that he might " cat his b-y hand off;" and gave a wrench to his arm, which severelyinjuredit. lVhen they reachied the watch-house, the conzta- ble of the night refueed to take charge of Sprinzi, as he knew him to be a respectable man; and allowed him to go home, upon his promise to appear before the Alagistrates. When the parties were at Bow-street, Sir Richard Birnie asked the defendants how they came to be guilty of such an outrage? They replied, that they had the Magistrates' order for doing what they had done; but on being told to produce it, they said that they acted by order of the overseers ant churchwardens. Sir Richard expressed great in. dignation at their conduct, and directed the nrosecu to indict them; which he did accordingly. The jury found the defendantguilty. The COURT severely animadverted on the unwarrantable and outrageous conduct of the defendant; and sentenced him to be im. prisoned four months in the Houao of Correction, and there kept to hard labour. The remainder of the day was spent in hearing cases of assault, of too-paltry a nature to be of public interest. MIDDLESPU SESSIONS, TUESDAY, OCT. 26.