438 
f 
prisoner and her husband, in his 
way; that was, he read nothing, but 
he said something off the tongue, 
and authorised them to cohabit to- 
gether. Being questioned if he had 
any certificate of the marriage, he 
replied ** No, only the names of 
David Lang, Bleanor Whitford, 
John Whitford, written on paper.” 
The chief barondeeming it neces- 
sary to have proof that the marriage. 
was legally solemnized according to 
the laws of Scotland, Mr. Curwood, 
the counsel for the prosecution of- 
fered Mr. Lang as an evidence to 
that point ; but the lord chief baron 
said, he should not receive the’law 
of Scotland from a tobacconist. ‘the 
prisoner was in consequence ac- 
quitted for want of evidence of 
the law of Scotland. This decision, 
however, in no way affects the ques- 
tion as to the Jegality or illegality of 
Gretna Green marriages, for his 
lordship said, he could only know 
the law of Scotland from evjdence in 
the cause. He said also, he would 
have taken the evidence of a Scotch 
advocate, but could not take that 
which was offered, 
RemaArkaste Case. — Mr. 
Scholes, surgeon, of Holmfirth, lately 
tapped a young lady, (a Miss 
Pearce,) for the dropsy, and took 
from her 53 quarts of water and pu- 
trid matter. 
25th. At the Lancaster assizes, 
which closed this day, 13 prisoners 
received sentence of death: John 
Barlow, for stealing six pieces of 
calico ; Luke Lockard and Peter 
Higgins, for forgery ; James Side- 
bottom, . for stealing a waistcoat, 
&c. Ralph Bolton, for a burglary ; 
Charles Johnson and RobertThomas, 
for forgery ; James Yates, for 
wounding and ravishing Mary Hoyle, 
of Spolland; Isaac Hitchen, aged 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1806. 
62, for an assault, with intent to 
commit an unnatural crime on John 
Knight. (he was one of the most 
affluent men in Warrington; his 
wealth is said to exceed 60,000/.) 
James Stockton, Thomas Fox, and 
Joseph Holland, for a similar of. 
fence on ‘Thomas Taylor ; and John 
Powell, for an unnatural crime with 
John Knight. The judge (baron 
Graham,) in the most impressive 
manner, advised the eight last-men- 
tioned malefactors to prepare to 
meet the fate which the laws of their 
country had affixed to their heinous 
offences. Hopes of mercy were held 
eut to the other five. It appeared 
on the trials of Hitchen, Stockton, 
Fox, Holland, and Powell, that 
they regularly assembled at the 
house of Hitchen, on Monday and 
Friday evonings; and that they called 
one another brother. ‘The judge 
very properly ordered that no notes 
should be taken on these trials, nor 
any young persons be allowed to pe 
present at them. Five of the per- 
sons charged with unnatural of- 
ences were admitted as evidences for 
the crown. Stockton, Powell, 
Holland, Lockard, Higgins, and 
Yates were executed on the 13th, 
on the new drop, erected at the 
back of the castle. Stockton 
first ascended the scaffold ; he ap- 
peared much agitated, indeed his 
limbs seemed almost inadequate 
to their task. Powell seemed much 
affected, though he did not display 
such dejection as the former. Hol- 
land appeared in a state of the great- _ 
est agitation ; the contrition of his 
countenance truly indicated the pe- 
nitence of his mind; on the scaffold 
his feeling appeared the most acute ; 
he seemed impressed with all the 
horrors consequent to a situation so 
awful, and to implore the pardon of 
an 
