The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-24 00:00:00

THE CASE OF MR. ROUPELL.

Contrary to the arrangement that had been come to
yesterdar, at the sitting of the court this morning the pri-
soner Milian Roupell was placed at the bar before Justice
Byles.

He was asked whether he wished to retract the plea of
not guilty th►t had beeo recorded as to the charges of
forging the will and the deed, and he said be did, and
would plead guilty to both the charges.
He was then called upon io the usual (mu to state what
he] had to say why sentence should not be passed upon
him

The prisoner upon this addressed the court in • calm and
firm voice to the following effect : —He was aware that his
lordship was placed on that bench for the purpose of doing
hie duty, unbiassed by any argument which might be brought
forward by professional skill, and his words would there-
fore be but few sad simple. In the first place be wished to
sepias' his deep regret if any inconvenience had arisen
from his having declined to plead when brought before the
Recorder on Monday evening, and he trusted that his
solicitor had been able to prevent any inconvenience
occurring. He did not expect to be brought up until
this morning, and he was therefore unprepared, and
from important considerations he declined to plead,
but be assured his lordship that he had wavered in
his first determination to plaid guilty. His life had been one
fearful mistake. In youth he had endured great privations
of which no one was aware, and at the age of 21 he con-
traeted a debt for some books with one with whom he was
connected by the most intimate ties. After that, his friend
who lent him the money suddenly became involved in pecu-
niary difficulties, which caused him to meditate suicide. He
could not pay his friend the money which he owed him, and
could not get assistance, &Oil be risked his soul to save his
friend. He would not say how that friend had requited him,
but whatever he bad sulfured he had deserved. He did sot
wish to blame anyone ; the guilt was his alone ; it was
unmitigated guilt. lie did not wish to cast the blame
on anyone ; on the contrary, lie wished to clear anyone who
had been connected with him in tee matter. He alluded par-
ticularly to professionals who had had any transactions with
him. No precaution had availed, no precaution could avail
against a desperate man. It was not true that out of re-
gard for his family he had, without regard to truth or jus •
tics, come forward as he had done ; such a statement carried
on it. face its own refutation. His subsequent and
succeeding crimes were the consequences of the first
His father had, just before he died, expressed to him—
but not before he had committed a great fraud upon
him—his desire that he should take all the pro-
perty after his father's death, and to pay
certain amounts to the members of the family
as he at the time represent...lto him ; but he was prevented
by his fleet Crime carrying into effect his wishes, and it was
then that heat the time felt himself justified in substituting
for the will of 1850 the will of 1850. He thought at the
time he was justified in doing that io order better to carry
out his father's wishes, but he did not think so now. Ruin
had been the result, but he would not say how it had been
consummated. It would take too long. He had written at
great length the story of his life while in prison, but
he had since reflected, and had become convinced it
would give unneceasery pain to others, and would do
no public good. He had therefore, entirely at his owe
in truce, repressed it. He would content himself by stating
that the remarks which had fallen from Serjeant Shee, at
Guildford, and the account. which had appeared in the
tumor newspapers, were calculated to mislead the public,
but he could not hope that he would ever be under-
st'siel. It was not true that he was personally
eltrirsgsist. He would not argue, he would merely
state facts. It was not true that he gambled,
nor wit, it true that he was a libertine, Those who did not
Irish t.lelieve would remain unconvinced, but those who
loved lien would need no other assurance. When be first
left England he felt that his first duty was not
to his family, but to those from whom be had received
money, end he confessed the whole of his guilt before he
left England to a gentleman who had the mesas of making
it known to all persons interested. lie remained in England
ten days after he had made that confession, sod carried his
liberty as it were pinned to his shoulder. He offered to sur-
render ; he made no provision for himself ; heady wished to
retrieve the past. He was answered that they did not be-
lieve his statement. It was a cleverly-cooooeted tale
for the purpose of saving his family, and be was threatened
that if he moved in the matter he would, with the rest of
his fernily, be indicted for conspiracy. Finding himself
placed in this position be 'putted England, and had time for
reflection, and he had since returned, and he then stood be.
fore his lordships self-convicted criminal, led by sincere re-
pents ece and a desire to serve the ends of justice. He knew
what he had to expect—a terrible fate--always more
tenable to one of education and refinement, but in

such persons the guilt was greater. He knew what he had
to expect, and he repeated that it was is dreadful thing,
but be had looked it calmly and deliberately in the face,
and preferred a life of penal servitude to an existence of
gamely. remorse. He would make no appeal for mercy, he
only asked his lordship to believe in his sincere repentance
and his earnest desire that justice might be done. It was
only before a still higher tribunal that appeal for pardon
could be properly made. He awaited sentence.
His Lordship, in poising sentence, said the prisoner had
pleaded guilty to two charges of forging a deed and a will,
which were two of the most serious offences known in law
and many a poor wretch with whom he could have no com-
parison had stood at that bar, and bad been sentenced to
the gallows fur a similar crime. The humanity of the legis-
lature had, however, removed from the crime the extreme
sentence of the law. Ho had made statements,
but there was One—and only One—who knew
if they were true. As he had stated, a terrible punishment
awaited him, and it was not consistent with public duty
that mercy should be shown. It gave him great pain to
pass the sentence he was about to pima, but it wee impossi-
ble that any leniency could be extended towards him. He
then sentenced the prisoner to be kept in penal servitude
for the term of his natural life.

The prisoner walked from the her with a firm step.

THIRD COURT.

Subsequent to the adjournmentof the court in the middle
of the day, the defendant, Mr. Andrew Gray, the reporter
who was convicted yesterday of libel, came up on his re-
cognisance to receive judgment.
The Common &deist, referring generally to the aise,
said that he had consulted Mr. Justice Bytes, and he felt it
Ins duty to sentence the defendant to pay a fine to the
Queen of 5W., and to be imprisoned until such tine was
Paid-

THE POLICE COURTS.
(THIS DAY.)

CLFAKENWELL.
EIFAIOCS CHAIM OF MANSLAUGHTF.R.

Robert Hanka, of No. 3, Crescent-place, Caledonian-road,
described as a carman in the service of Mr. Jay, the con-
tractor, was charged with having caused the death of a man
unknown, by strilung him a violent blow with his fist.
From the evidence of several witnesses, it appeared that
on Saturday evening last two young woman named Chantey
leit home for the purpose of going to a concert room in St.
John-street. On their way they sew the deceased, who
requested them to drink with him, and they entered a public
house. In the course of conversation, they informed him
' that they were going to the concert room to meet some
, blonde; and Dotwithstanding they requested him not,
he insisted upon following them there. Toe prisoner was
in the room to company with a brother of the girl Chen-
' trey and another young man, with whom the deceased en-
' tared into conversation. They all left shortly before twelve
o'clock, and on arriving at Olerkeuwell-green the deceas.rd
was heard to fall heavily and the prisoner seen
running away. On being picked up he was
found to be quite insensible, and was conveyed
to the Royal Free Hospital. Neither of the witnesses
saw any blow struck, but only heard the fall, which they
described as very heavy. It was further stated by souls
that the deceased was the worse for liquor, and con.
Meetly wishing to fight.

Ponce-sergeant —Lillie Browning said on taking the
primmer into custody he questioned bun, and informed
him of the death of the man he had been in company
with, but he made no reply.
Mr. Hill, house surgeon of the Royal Free Hospital,
showed that death had been the teeth of effusion of blood
on the brain, caused by external violence, which must have
been extreme either by a blow or fall.
The prisoner, who had nothing to say in answer to the
charge, was then remanded for the production of further
evidence.

THAMES.
A WIR MATER.

Charles Lane. a labourer, of No. 34k, Eltemp-street,
Stepney, was brought before Mr. &de charged with assault-
ing his wtfe, Auu Lana, who presented herself in the witness
box with one eye blackened and swollen and her face
bruised.

The comp' dnant said she had been married to the pri-
soner two year*, arid he had ill-used her at intervals
ever since. Three weeks after her wedding he knocked
her down and beat her. He implored her forgiveness, and
she did look over his brutality on promise of better be-
ans ioar. Two months ago be beat her and gave her a black
eye. Last night also went out on a visit to a lady, and
expected her husband to meet her and take
Ler home, but he did not do so, and when
she walked home she merely asked him why he
had not met her, on which he abused her and applied
vile epithets towards lier, and when she remonstrated with
him he commenced kicking and ill•ming her. lu trying to
escape from him he got her arm between her room 4uur
and tin door-poet, and kept it there some time. She was
obliged to call for the police to prevent further violence.
Henry Wilmot, pohue-ooestable No. 495 K, said lie was
called upon to take the prisoner into custody, and that he
behaved with great violence. Tue prisoner put out his leg,
threw him, and made his escape. He captured the prisoner
a mood time, and after a good deal of struggling secured
him. The prisoner said he would be his woes butcher,
and that if she caused him to be punished he
would take her life directly he came out of prison. Toe
preeecutrix was bleeding very much last night and was
greatly agitated.
The prisoner in defence said be did beat his wife and
was greatly provoked by her. Both were poisoned of
ver► bad tempers, and it would never do for a man and
his wife to have the same infirmity. The young bailee in the
house told has wife that her tongue would not be quiet.
Mr. Selfe was satisfied the prisoner had beaten his wife
in a very savage meaner. He sentenced him to six weeks'
imprisonment and hard labour, and, at the expiration of
that time, to find good sureties to keep the peace and be of
good behaviour towards his wife and all her Majesty's sub-
jects for six mouths.