269. BRIDGE-STREET BANDITTI, VERSUS The Press. REPORT OF THE TRIAL OF MARY-ANNE CARLILE, FOR PUBLISHING A NEW-YEAR'S ADDRESS TO THE Reformers of Great Britain; WRITTEN BY RICHARD CARLILE; AT THE INSTANCE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL ASSOCIATION: BEFORE. MR. JUSTICE BEST, AND A SPECIAL JURY, AT THE COURT OF KING'S BENCH, GUILDHALL, LONDON, JULY 24, 1821. WITH THE NOBLE AND EFFECTUAL SPEECH OF MR. COOPER IN DEFENCE, AT LARGE. London: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY R. CARLILE, 55, FLEET-STREET. 1821. DEDICATION. ΤΟ HENRY COOPER, Esq. BARRISTER AT LAW; FOR the noble stand and more noble attitude which he took on this Trial-for the very eloquent, very bold, and very honest style of his Defence-and, above all, for the manly resistance which he made to, and the contempt which he shewed for, the menacing frowns of those persons who conducted, advocated, and supported this Prosecution: and to those HONEST JURYMEN who resisted their fellows in the attempt to throw the Defendant into the hands of her enemies, and the enemies of their country; and who, by their honesty and independence, have given a death-blow to those corrupt, wicked, and malignant would-be-Censors of the DEDICATION. Press, calling themselves a Constitutional Association; this Report of the Proceedings is gratefully dedicated by, and the sincere and heartfelt thanks is hereby offered to them, of MARY-ANNE and RICHARD CARLILE. REPORT, &c. &c. THIS was an Indictment at the prosecution of "The Constitutional Association," and their first attempt to obtain a verdict. The Defendant pleaded Not Guilty. The following are the names of the Jurors: SPECIAL. John Stracey, of Smithfield Bars, Merchant, Charles Wright, of the Old Jury, ditto, (foreman) TALESMEN. Joseph Blackburn, Russia Mat Dealer, John Davis, Painter, John Williams, Cheesemonger, Bryan Mills, Packer, Michael Williams, Agent, Frederick Bennet, Smith.. Mr. Justice BEST, at the request of the Defendant, enquired if either of the Jurors was a member of the Constitutional Association. The answer was in the negative. Mr. TINDALL opened the pleadings. Mr. GURNEY appeared to conduct the prosecution, and Mr. COOPER was for the Defendant. Mr. GURNEY.-May it please your lordship; Gentlemen of the Jury; my friend, Mr. Tindall, has told you the nature of this action, and it is now my duty to lay this case before you. The Indictment has been found by a Grand Jury, upon the prosecution of the Constitutional Association; and it charges the Defendant, Mary-Anne Carlile, with publishing a libel upon the Government and the Constitution of this country; and, Gentlemen, after a not very limited experience in these cases, I will say, that a more criminal and atrocious libel never met my observation. It purports to be written by Richard Carlile; it is dated from Dorchester Gaol, and it has been published by the Defendant, the sister |