BRITISH TURF. 125 



seen the horses drink, when he immediately went 

 off to Dawson, informing him of the fact, that he 

 might give the necessary notice to his aUies in 

 the betting ring 



Notwithstanding this evidence, the Judge de- 

 cided, without hearing the arguments of counsel, 

 that the prisoner must be acquitted, on the grounds 

 that the law did not recognize him as a principal. 

 The Judge, however, refused to take bail for the 

 prisoner, and held him in Cambridge gaol for trial 

 at the autumn assizes on another indictment, 

 charging him with poisoning two brood mares, 

 the property of Mr. Northey, and a hack, belonging 

 to Mr. Adams of Royston, at Newmarket, in 

 1809 and 10. 



Accordingly, on the 22nd of July, Dawson was 

 again tried before the Hon. Mr. Justice Heath, 

 his indictment being laid under the Act, 9 Geo. I. 

 c. 22, sometimes called the Black Act. Upon 

 the evidence of Bishop and others, he was con- 

 victed of having infused poison into the troughs of 

 Mr. Stevens, on the 10th of July 1809, and sen- 

 tenced to death by the Judge. 



Dawson behaved with a coarse levity during the 

 trial, frequently making use of oaths and horrid 

 imprecations, whilst the witnesses were giving 

 their evidence. His defence was a simple denial of 

 his guilt, and he called no witnesses in his behalf. 

 Lord Foley, Lord George Cavendish and others 

 exerted themselves to obtain the extension of the 

 royal clemency to his case, but without effect. 



