Saturday 01 May 1819 (p. 4, col. 2) WESTMORLAND COUNTY SESSIONS. There was no business of importance at the County Sessions held at Appleby: but the following case, which excited a strong local interest, was tried at the adjournment of the County Sessions, held at Kendal. THE KING v. JOHN WILLIAMS, ESQ.—There were two separate counts in the indictment; the first charged the defendant with irreverently disturbing the congregation assembled for public worship, in the church at Burton-in Kendal, and using improper threats and menaces against Mr. Thos. ATKINSON, one of the churchwardens. The second for an assault upon the said Thomas ATKINSON and others.—Several witnesses for the prosecution were called; but as they all concurred in their statements, without much important variety in the principal facts, we will merely give the substance. Mr. WILLIAMS, the defendant, lives at Burton; and was lately married to a lady of considerable property in that town. Much dispute has for some time prevailed betwixt the defendant and the churchwardens, respecting the right of appropriating a particular pew in Burton church as private property, or having exclusive right to occupy that pew. This claim was made by the defendant upon the ground that the same pew had been occupied for many years by the father and grandfather of his wife. It appeared that on Sunday the 7th of March last, the defendant and his wife, according to their usual practice, took their seats in the said pew: a short time previous to the commencement of divine service, three men (all of whom were in the employ of Mr. ATKINSON), came into the church and made an attempt to enter the pew in which the defendant sat: this was prevented by the defendant, who immediately placed his hand upon the door, brandishing a whip, and threatening that he would horse-whip them or their master (Mr. ATKINSON) if they attempted to enter his pew: the men retired quietly without saying any thing. In giving his evidence, Mr. ATKINSON would not say he had employed his men to go into defendant's seat, but acknowledged that he had told them they had a right to occupy that pew, as well as any other part of the church. At the time this took place Mr. ATKINSON was sitting in the churchwardens' seat, about twelve yards from the defendant: after the men had retired, the defendant turned towards Mr. A., again brandished his whip, and (in a tone of voice loud enough to be heard in every part of the church) said he would horsewhip him also. Mr. A. then left his seat; came quietly down the aisle; folded his arms, and placed them upon defendant's hand, which held the door of the pew to prevent his entrance, and said to the defendant in a low tone of voice, "And are you the person who threatens to horse-whip me?" The defendant again raised the whip, and said, "Yes! and that booby (or some such expression) your namesake—even though he should appear in HEBBLETHWAITE's regimentals." Mrs. WILLIAMS then said he richly deserved a flogging: Mr. A. acknowledged his obligations for her good wishes, and retired to his seat. The defendant, in allusion to the legal measures which he anticipated, said to Mr. A. as he was going down the aisle, "My £100 will go as far in law as yours." The disturbance took place about ten minutes before the commencement of the service—more than 100 persons, including the Sunday scholars, were assembled; and in the opinion of the witnesses, such an effect was produced on the minds of those who had witnessed the transaction, as to incapacitate them for a proper attendance to the solemnities of worship which immediately ensued.—The Hon. Mr. LAMB contended that the disturbance which had taken place in the church, had been occasioned by the churchwarden himself; first, by sending his own men to take unlawful possession of the seat, instead of contesting the right to it in a legal manner; and next by leaving his seat and going to the defendant's pew, folding his arms, as if to tempt him to commit an assault.—W. W. C. WILSON, Esq. then addressed the jury, and laid the facts of the case before them in a most distinct and perspicuous manner. The jury, without retiring, found the defendant guilty of both counts in the indictment. The sentence of the court was, that the defendant should pay a fine of £30 to the King, and be confined in the House of Correction till the penalty should be paid.—The sum was immediately paid. An indictment was also preferred against C. NICHOLSON, another of the churchwardens of Burton, by C. PHILLIPS, servant of the defendant in the above case, for an assault committed in the church. The defendant not having opportunity of giving proper instruction to counsel, entered into recognizances for his appearance to the charge next Sessions.—We understand this case is intimately connected with the circumstances of the above. A bill of indictment preferred by John PETTY, against John WAKEFIELD, Jacob WAKEFIELD, Thos. FELL, James JOHNSON, and others, for a conspiracy, was thrown out by the grand jury,—the circumstances having taken place in the Burgh of Kendal, and therefore not in the immediate jurisdiction of the court. True bills were found against the County for suffering High Borrow Bridge and Bannisdale Head Bridge to remain in such a state as to render them inconvenient and dangerous. J. GREENWOOD was found guilty of petty larceny, and sentenced to two months' imprisonment.