The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-07 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT.—CHELMSFORD, MARCH 6.
The commission for the county of Essex was opened on
Monday, and this morning both courts sat for the despatch
of bonnets : Mr. Jegice Mettle presiding on the crown side,
and Mr. Baron Pietist Nisi Pflug. Oaly seven came were
entered for trial—four common, and three special, juries—
the whole of the former undefended. Mr. Baron Platt
having disposed of this portion of the cause list, he pro-
ceeded to try prisonen. The special jury cases are fixed for
Ibis (WeJneaday) morning at 10 o'clock.
mown INITA.-11170•11 we. IWIICI 11•91.1.
William Dnaris,l6, Robert Bush, 17, andGeorgeWright,
16, three labouria lade. were indicted for feloniously and
maliciously setting fire to a stack of haulm, the property of
Bichard Boyten.
Mr. Rodwell prosecuted. The prisoners were defended
by Mr. Woollett.
It appeared from the evidence that the prosecutor was a
farmer at Willingale Doe, in this county, and that on the
evening of the 6tb November the stack in question wee to-
tally consumed. The prisoners were seen in the neighbour-
hood of the place where the fire occurred, but no particular
suspicion attached to them. It appeared, however, that a
day or two afterwards they went to the police constable sta-
tioned in the neighbourhoed, and admitted they had met fire
to the stack, and said that as it was Guy Faux day they
wanted to have a good bonfire. It was suggested that some
" loose " haulm had been blown from the stack, and that
this was what the boys admitted they had set fire to, and
that the flames spread to the stack accidentally.
Mr. Woollett addressed the jury for the prisoners, and he
urged that they had only beet' guilty of a thoughtless,
careless act, and that it would not tie just to convict them
of so sari. us a charge as the one contaiaed in the present
indictment, uader such circumstances. •
The Rev. Mr. Deed's, the clergyman of the parish, was
celled as a witness on behalf of the prisoners, and he gave
them all a good character.
The jury returned a verdict of Nor Guilty.
WOMB XS. SAWN PLAIT,

-- • ---
Wee. Wu*, slid 10 lean of ego, wu abused with is-
losiously setting floe to a stack of haulm.
The prisoner, who had been out on bail, pleaded 'silty.
Ur. Bsron Platt said he really did not know what to do
with such a boy as the prisoner. It was • very serious
offence however, and be was bound to inflict sane punish-
ment, and he should take time to consider what should be
deem.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—LucEsTn, MAscs 6.

WO= Ma. 11111031 ALDIAPOS.
Cornelius sts4er (en herbalist, aged 57), was indicted for
the manslaughter of Elisabeth Fletcher.
This cum caused great excitement throughout the town
sad musty, sad during its hewing the court wee crowded
Mr. Adams and Mr. Bell conducted the prosecution
Mr. O'Brien the defence.
Elisabeth llaekley deposed that Elisabeth Fletcher, the
deceased, was to have rejoined her husband in America in
April, after a separation for two year!. In January witness
perceived that deceased was pregnant, and the latter cam-
msnicated bar intention of endeavouring to procure abor-
tion, saying she would rather die than not sacesed. On
Monday, Jan. 29, witness went with deceased to the shop o
prisoner in Hishcroes-screet, Leicester, and after that pri-
f
mmer came tome descanted at her own house, and in the
presence of witaess operated upon the misituided woman for
the purpose of procuring miscarriage. [The details of the
treatment of diseased by the prisoner were of a moat painful
and revolting she:atter ] Prisoner told sitcom it was the
first ease he lead bad which had gone meow. Deceased
econtinwid in grim pain till Tuesday, Feb. 13, when she
died, a qualified surgeon, Mr. C. B. Crossley, having been
Milled in.
Mr. Crossley deposed to motion a posf-storfews remains.
ties of deceased, in company with two other surgeons. She
died truss piniol4l4B. Pound the foetus is the bladder,
which was ruptured. The ileum could not have been the
remit of sceident, and might have been caused by prisoner
in the anon described by witness.
For the defence, Mr. O'Brien addremed Out jury at sow
length, urging that premier was kept in ignorance of the
het et deceased's pregnancy, and was treating bee for other

PlCTury found the pcnoner Guilty, and be wee sentenced
to 14 lean' wansportatioe.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.—Oxposp, 31Azat 6.
OMR WM Mir MIMS comm.
COMOTIOX AND OIXTINCI OX ZIT. Dl. 011.111.
The greeteet ezedtenest wee seadested des to hear the
mast Rev. AM Alias Gila, D.C.L for matrytas, et up
arnaosieal heave, and melting a Wee entry it the neter.