The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-14 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
(TELLS DAY.)

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commiarioner Holrovd.)

114 RR TATLOR.—APPLICATION FOR MURRY.
The bankrupt., a wine merchant, of Pimlico, applied for
bis release from custody. He was opposed in person by
Mr. Jewitt, who bed sold him a small business for .201.,
taking two bills for the payment, both which had been dis-
hoovured. The creditor alleged that he had been de-
frauded. The bankrupt, on the other band, represented
himself as the injured party, alleging that the good' sold
him by Mr. Jewitt were nearly worthless.
Mr. Sargood supported the bankrupt's application.
His Honour said he could not enter into the mutual recri-
minations of the parties. The bankrupt was entitled to his
?release, and the creditors might oppose him at a future
stage.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
(THIS DAY.)

(Before the Lord Chief Baron.)
TOR MURDER IN SOUTHWARK.
Thomas Ledbetter, 19, was indicted for the wilful murder
of his wife, Martha Lidbetter.
The prisoner was also charged with the wilful murder of
his son, David Gray Whetter.
Mr. (midge prosecuted. and the prisoner was defended
by /gr. Sleigh.
The case that was promeded with was that which imputed
to the prisoner the murder of his wife. The facts did
not appear to be disputed, and they lay in a very narrow
compass. The prisoner carried on the businesa of a pewterer
and public-housebar fitter io the Borough-road, and it
appeared that on the morning of the 25th of May he went
to the house of • neighbour named Pugh,
. and deliberately
told him that he had murdered his wife and child, and
that be had tried to kill himself, and he had at the time •
piece of broken rope io his hand. At first the statement
made by the prisoner was not credited, but upon Mr.
Pugh going to his house it was found to be too true, the
wife of the prisoner being discovered lying in the bed quite
deed, and with her throat cat in a moat dreadful
manner, and his Goo, • young man, 17 years of age, lying on
an adjoining bed, with his throat also cat, but not dead,
although he only survived a very short period afterwards.
It appeared in the course of the evidence for the prosecu-
tion that the prisoner had been twine thrown out of a
vehicle, and that he received injuries upon the head on both
occasions, and that Soo. then he had acted strangely aodtalked
incoherently, and it was also stated that the prisoner ge-
nerally behaved very kindly and affectionately to his wife,
and that he was devotedly attached to the son whose life
he destroyed.
Mr. Sleigh addressed the jury for the prisoner in an able
speech, and he urged that, upon the evidence for the prose-
cution slope, they would he perfectly justified in saying that
at the time these dreadful acts were committed by the
prisoner he was not in • mete of mind to be responsible for
these side, and that, in point of fact, he did not know what
he was about, and was incompetent to distinguish between
right and wrong.
Alfred Lidlaatter, • sou of the prisoner, and several
other witherss were examined, and they proved that the
prisoner had conducted himself very strangely for •
considerable time, and particularly since he had
met with the accidents that had been men-
timed. These wittier., also stated in crossaziuni-
nation that the prisoner sometimes got a " little
fresh," but they denied that he was addicted to drinking
to edema. Mr. Joees, a medical gentleman who bad
attended upon the prisoner and has family for a great
many yes*, also proved that he always considered him
a feebh-mild man, and that he had appeared to
be more so aloes the accidents, sod he expressed an opinion
that at the time the prisoner killed his wife and child he
was not eagnimint of what be was doing, or capable of dis-
tinguishing between right and wrong.
Mr. Gibson, the surgeon of Newgate, was called by the
counsel for the prosecution to rebut the testimony that had
been given for the prisoner, sod he stated that at the
=time the prissier was perfectly sane. He added,
, that be we. unable to give any opinion with
reference to the state of mind of the prisoner at the time
the act was committed.
The learned judge then lammed up, and the jury after
• abort deliberation found the prisoner Not Guilty, on the
of insanity, and he we. ordered to be detained
pound
during her Majeaty's pleasure.
--••— • • •

(Before Yr. Justice Wightman.)
Nary AIM Payee, 29, cm charged with the wilful
murder of Charles Albert Payne.
bp.. Lilly prosecuted. The prisoner was defended by Yr.
ale was a very distressing ease. The prisoner was a
married woman, and lived with her husband in Allsopp-
place, Maryleboutt The child in question was two years
and a half old. and the prisoner had always appeared
to be very food of it. bat on the 12th of June she
seemed to have eat the bead of the poor child nearly from its
body, sad she hen took a quantity of laudanum, after which
abe jumped out of the window.
The jury Acquitted the prisoner on the ground of insanity.
The primer Janes Smith, alias Arthur Willoughby Wade,
who pleaded guilty to a number of charge. of indecently
amaultieg pregnant women, wa. brought up for judgment
and sentenced to 18 mouths' hard labour.

THE POLICE COURTS.
(THIS DAY.)

CLERKENWELL.
11310178 CHARON OP PORGIPfG AND orrsomo ♦ DILL OP

EXCHANGE AGAINST THREE TRADEBNIN.

Williams aged 38. of 35. Barosbury.grove, Lt
lingtou ; Thomas Bawl!, 62, of 7, Little James-street,
Gray'sinn-road, both contractors, the former having for-
merly been in an extensive way of badness; and James
.rowler, of 2, Wellington-road, Kentish-town. an agent,were
charged before Mr. Barker, Hamel' with forging a bill of
exchange for 481. sa, and the two other prisoners with
being concerned with him, and nttaring the bill of exchange,
whereby they defrauded Mr. Henry Perkins, of 22, Platt-
street, Somers-town, of the sera of 481. Se.
From the evidence of Mr. Perkins, it appeared that one
night last week the prisoner Stapleton called on bier, and
mid be had got a bill which was drawn by a person of the
name of Grey, and naked him to demount it. He told him
that he did not like doing bills, except for parties he
knew ; on which Stapleton said that be had got on. drawn
by Pitford the smith, of Kentish-town, and accepted by
Palmer the builder, of the earns place. He said
be would do their paper to any amount, on which
the Framer made an appointment to see him en the fol-
lowing day. Shortly after the time appointed Stapleton
called on him with a bill purporting to be drawn and ac-
cepted by the parties mentioned, sod bevies deducted dis-
count at the rate of Ia in the pound, be gave him & cheque
for 451. 17s. From what he heard in the course of the day
he suspected that all lament right. and called on the drawer
and the acceptor, and then ascertaining the bill was a forgery,
be awed the matter in the hands of the police, and the
prisoner was apprehended.
Mr. Joeeph Pitford said that the prisoner' Stapleton sad
Fowler called on him and said that Reseal! (whom he bad
known for soma tame) bad grit a bill of hie for 461., that was
accepted by Palmer. He said that could not be, for he never
gave bills, and was sure that Palmer had sonepted one.
He also said that if Smell had got a bill it must be &forgery. '
Before they went away they asked bun for his handwriting,
in fact, for his signature. but he declined to give it to them.
He told them that he was sure that Bassell had got no bill of
his, for he had never ironed on.. nor had he given anyone
authority to do so. The bill produced to him was a
forgery.
Mr. Alexander—Which of them was it who said that
Palmer had accepted the bill!
Withass—lt was Fowler, before Stapleton came in, but
still the matter was ell gone over again in Stapleton's
presence.
Stapleton—l never saw you before in my life.
Mr. Alexander—Are you aura that Stapleton is one of the
men that cams to ynti!
Witoese—l am primitive.
Mr. Alexander—How long was be in your company!
Witnees—About ten minutes. lam quite sure be ia the
man.
_ _

Mr. Palmer stated that he bad never accepted Pitford's
bill, and the bill produced with his name on the back was •

il:l7ce-constable John Cook, 198 S, said that he appro.
banded Hassell at his residence, and when be told him the
charge, he said it was all oorrect, and that poverty had
drives him to it. Ha also said that Stapleton knew
sothing about it, aid that he had given him 10• for his
trouble. On searching his place he found • 201. note and
other money is geld and silver. He took the other prisoners
into custody, and they said they ware not aware that the
bill was • forgery, and that was all they dot by obliging an
old friend. They also said that all they had bad was 10a.
each fur their trouble.

Mr. Robert Junes Mellor, a clerk in the Bank of London.
provedtbat he paid Mr. Perkins'. cheque to u man whom he
believed to be Stapleton. The 201. note found in Bassell's
room was given by him in change for the cheque.
The prisoners said they would at present reserve their
defence. .

Mr. Barker remit:l4rd the prisoners for a few days to
enable the polio. to make further inquiries.

THAMES.

Eugene Metcalf, apale-iaceoland melanch-looking
young man, aged 20, waa brought before Mr. Woolrycb,
charged with attempting to commit suicide.
A police-mostable named George Crouch, No. MO K.
stated that the prisoner, who was • young man of good
character and ability, was porter at •respectable Louse io the
at y, and had become attached to • voung woman,
with whom he had quarrelled, and the littfe affair preyed
an his mind. On Saturday night. at a late hour, he we.
toned near Mears, Garford's oil mills, Limehousehale,
labouring under the effects of poison, and apparently is a
dying state. Witipis was called to the primmer, who was
foaming at the mouth, and in great agony, and inn
ilea vase ionamed. A doctor who wan sent for
administered • powerful emetie, which dislodged some of
the poison from his stomach. The prisoner was than taken