The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-04 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME ClRClllT.—Hratrroav MARcir 3.
The business of these &SWIM was proceioded with yenta,.
day morning, the Lord Chief Baron priding in the Crown
Court, and Lord Chief J natio, Erie at nisi prior. There
were only five causes entered on the civil side, two of which
were undefended, and the others of the most uninteresting
descriptioo.
(Before the Lord Chief Bsron.)

James Robinso•, 40, a respectable-looking man, surren-
dered to take hie trial upon • charge of feloniously receiv-
ing • bushel of a mixture of este and peas, the property of
Philip Arnold, well knowing the same to have been stolen.
Mr. Abel prosecuted, and the prisoner was defended by
Mr. Codd.

thiiWee gave rise to rather an extraordinary discussion
between the jury and the learned judge. The prisoner
seemed to have for a good many years carried on the busi-
ness of a dealer in seeds and articles of that description at
Flametead, and bore a good character, end the case against
him rated almost, if not entirely, upon the evidence of •
man named Saunders, who was in the prosecutor's aervioa,
and who admitted with the greatest effrontery that he bad
stolen his master's corn, and stated that be had sold •
bushel of it to the prisoner, who, be said, gave him eighteen.
pence for it.. The prisoner did not appear to have denied
that be bad purchased the oorn of the witness, but maid
that be told him that he found it, and he all along dis-
claimel all knowledge of its having come improperly into
his possession. The prosecutor also appeared to Lave
stated that he did not believe the prisoner was guilty of
the offence, and offered to become bail for him, and it
may fairly be stated that the evidence against the pri-
soner consisted chiefly of the statement made hy the ad-
mitted thief.

The Lord Chief Berra, before the learned counsel for the
prisoner commenced his address to the jury, expressed his
opinion that it would not be safe for them to convict the
prisoner upon the evidence that had been adduced in sup-
port of the charge, and he observed that if there had been
no evidence at all except that of the thief, it would have
been his duty to have stopped the cue. As there were,
however, one or two other circumstances that might be said
to corroborate the testimony of the man Saunders, he was
not justified in withdrawing the case from their considera-
tion ' • but it really appeared to him, ea he bad before
stated, that it would not be safe for them to convict the
prisoner upon the facts before them.
The jury, after a short deliberation, said they had agreed
upon their verdict, and they found the prisoner Guilty.
The Lord Chief Baron said that he had anticipated from
the observations he had made to them that they would have
acquitted the prisoner, but before they returned an adverse
verdict it was Deoessary that they should hear the pri-
soner's counsel. He was sorry that he had interfered, but
he felt himself justified in doing so upon the facts before
him, but the counsel for the prisoner certainly ought to be
allowed to address them.

fir.Codd;;;;;diOgiymade a speech to the jury upon
the evidence, and he urged upon them the improbability
that a man who was admitted on all hands to have horse
the highest character for respectability for a great many
years should have been guilty of an offence of this descrip-
tion, and that the charge rested entirely upon the evidence
of a man who bad unblushingly admitted himself to be the
thief, and whom object, no doubt, in tiring this charge upon
the prisoner, was to escape punishment altogether. or that
he might be dealt with more leniently. He thee remarked
upon the good character of the prisoner and the fact that
the prosecutor himself did not believe him to be guilty of
the offence, and had offered to become bail for him.

^Tb. Lord
Chief BitienitTenb;ieflySumme;lol7, repeating
the opinion he had previously it:preened, that the evidence
was insufficient to est•blish the charge against the
prisooer.
The jury, after a short deliberation, again returned a ver-
dict of Guilty.. . .

The Lord Chid Harm said that he could not receive this
verdict. because, upon looking at the iodictment, he found
that the charge wail one of receiving feloniously a quan-
tity of a mixture of oats and pew ; whereas the only evi.
dance in the case, which was that of the thief, warn that he
stole the corn, and that this sow what he sold to the
prisoner.
The jury said they were of opinion that the evidence sup-
ported the charge, and their verdict was that the prisoner
was Gritty.
. . . .

The Lord Chief Baron (to the jury)—l tell you, gentle.
men, that you cannot legally convict the prisoner upon
this indictment, and that you are bound to return a verdict
of not guilty.
The jury said they were ready to leave the cue in his
lordship's bands.
The Lord Chief Baron said it was they who must return
the verdict. All he bad to do was to direct them upon any
point of law, and he now told them that they were bound
to return a verdict of not guilty.
One of the jury said he did not think so. They then again
deliberated for a short time, when the foreman mid that
they could not return any other verdict than the one they
had pronounced, and they could come to no other conclusion
than to leave the matter is his lordship's hands, if this ver-
dict was not received.

The Lord Chief Baron then again explained to the jury
bow the matter stood, remarking upon the danger that
would be created if persons were to be convicted of an
offence of this character solely upon the evidence of a wit-
ness who admitted himself to be the thief, and whose mo-
tives for fixing the crime of receiving the property upon
another might very easily be understood. Be concluded
by stating that he should always uphold the rights and pri-
vileges of a jury, which was an ioatitution for which he
entertained the highest reverence and respect, but be should
at the inane time irmly uphold those of the positiongo which
be was plead.
The jury then again deliberated, and after a short time
they gave a verdict of Not Guilty.

MIDLAND clacriT.—WAswics MARca 3.
CROWN Comm.—Melon Mr. Justice: Bylea)
George Hall, ?2 years of age, by trade a stamper
and piercer of rewellery war indicted for the wilful
murder of Sarah Ann Hall, his wife, by shooting box, at
Birmingham, on the 16th of February last.
Mr. Adams appeared for the prosecution ; Mr. Serjeant
O'Brien defended the prisoner.
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty.
Sentence of death was pseud in the usual form.
Ann fleatirell, aged 20, was indicted for the wilful mur-
der of her child, at Lesuaingtoo, on the 29th of December
last.
The Hon. E. C. Leigh appeared for the prosecution, sod
him Mr. W. S. Dugdale ; the prisoner was undefended.
The jury returned • verdict of Guilty, with a recommen-
dation to mercy'
The judge then used sentence of death, remarking that
he was glad the jury had bad the courage to do their duty.

NORFOLK OIRCUIT.—LxicurrER, MAacH 3.

The Lord Chief Justice of England sat in the Crows
Court, and after charging the grand jury, tried the
prisorien from the county. There are sixteen for
teal. Two are charged with house-breaking, two with
murder, one with rape, one unnatural offence, and the
remainder with offences of a minor character.

-In the Doane of the morning the grand jury ignored the
bill for murder against Joho Hutchins, described as •
publican and grazier, and who was charged with killing
his wife by poison.
Mr. O'Malley, Q.C., mod Mr. Merewether were for the
prosecution; and Mr. Metcalfe and Mr. Bulwer were for
the defence. Upon the grand jury coming in with the bill
Mr. O'Maney said he should, with the permission of his
lordship, offer no evidence upon the coroner's inquisition,
which was on the files of the court, and might be tried, not-
withstanding the other boll bad been thrown out.
The Lord Chief Justice asked if it were likely any other
evidence could be adduced against the prisoner ?
Mr. O'Malley, after consulting the solicitor for the prose
online, said it was not at all probable.

Ao ioquittal was then toks7r;:and his lordship, in order-
ing the prisoner to be discharged, nid —John tlutchina,
the grand jury have thrown out the bill against you for
murder, sod you will be discharged, but whether you are
guilty of this dreadful crime you and God can only know.
Whether you admioistered the poison, or she, earryieg out
her threats of sell destruction, took the poison of her own
will, none me tell. May be you, in your beastly shit* of in-
toxication, not knowing one drug from another, yourself
gave it bar. This is certain, by your diegtutiog habits
you have exposed yourself to a charge which has brought
eft you disgraos cud reprobation, and must be a matter of
remorse to you for the net of your life. Don't forget the
lesson this ought to tsitehi you, and pray pease to make
yourself the brute this beastly habit has made you. You
have had an opportunity sines you have been in prison of
receiving good advice, and pray profit by it. You are dis-
charged.

WESTERN ClRClllT.—Wrxemorreß, Maiten S.
(Before Mr. Boon• BrauswelL)
Till ISLE Or WIGHT MUILDIR.
Robert Budden Hallett, aged 55, • labouring man, was
indicted for the murder al his paramour, Mary Ana Phillips,
at Newsharals, Isla at Wight, ea the 9th Dumber loot