The Express.
London, England, 1862-03-15 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT.—CHELMSFORD, MARCH 14.
Civil ilids.--(Batore Mr. Juan. Wightman And r. Common
Jury.)
r. MAUI CHRISTI

PALMER V.

This was en action brought by Mr. Palmer, the manager
of the troupe of female Christy Minstrels, to recover the
wages from the defendant, as the proprietor of the Woolwich
Lacombell, for a breach of contract entered into with
him for the use of the hall for the performance of the
troupe.
%dant Ballantino and Mr. laxton were for the plan-
tiff ; and Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., and Mr. Inderwick for the
defends:it.
fisrjeant Ballantine, in opening the case, said that the
plaintiff was well known in London and the provinces as the
rationale who had originally introduced the male Ethiopian
minstrels to this country, and he had subsequently got up •
hassle troupe. He was desirous of making • tour through
the provinces with the ladies, and the hall at Woolwich was
=itfor that purpose by his agent, Mr. be Halle, and
performance was to have taken place on the 4th of
February. Bills were posted, advertisements published,
and all the secessary arrangements were made ; but
when the plaintiff arrived with the ladles on the day
appointed, be Toned that the hall bad been let to a
gentleman for the purpose of lecturing upon mesmerism,
and he believed the public were very much disappointed,
and the plaintiff was put to considerable expense. The
present action was therefore brought to recover damages for
the lees he had this sustained through the defendant's
breach of contract.
The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff—damages 211/.

The plaintiff, in her examination, admitted that an action
bad also been brought against the proprietor of the Sheffield
Telegraph.
Mr. James submitted that the defendants bad simply
discharged a duty which had been imposed upon
them by the guardians themselves, and that the reporter
was bound to repeat everything that came before the
guardians, and not select any particular portion. He hoped
the time would come when the reports of public meetings
would be taken to be authorised publications in the news-
papers, because he could see no damage likely to result to
the public from • free report of all proceedings re-
lating to the public service. In this case the
guardians had a right to make a report, end no
action could be maintained apical them. His clients
had done no more than present a faithful and true ac-
oount of the proceedings that took place before the par-
diens. He was of opinion that there had been an indecent
• haste in bringing the action, and that nothing could have
been fairer than the conduct of the defendants, who hail
made every amend pomade for what they had inserted.
The jury retired for half an hour, and then found a ver-
diet for the defendants.

OXFORD T CIRCIIIT.—S —AFFORD, MARCH 14.
CROWN Comsr.—(Before Mr. Baron ChannelL)
THE GOVZINMENT PROARCCTION 07 THE =V. H. B.

PUMMEL
The rev. prisoner again surrendered to his bail when the
court opened this morning at 9 o'clock.
Baron Chappell said that be had had an opportunity since ,
the previous night of oonsidering the very many ingenious
and well-argued objections that were brought forward on
the previous evening. With reference to some of them, ,
he had bad no difficulty in coming to an opinion, and
that opinion was against the prisoner. The objections were
mainly involved in two questions. First, whether the pri-
soner at the bar was a trustee for the purposes described
in either of the counts of the indictment ? Second, if
he was, whether he was a trustee under au express trust in
writing within the act of parliament upon which the indict-
ment was founded. Now, that point he proposed to reserve
for the consideration of the court which was established for
resolving crown oases that might be referred to them. For
the purpose of having the point reserved for the considera-
tion of that tribunal he should decide against the prisoner.
He thought it was clear that the prisoner had appropriated
the moneys, and therefore that question need not be put to
the jury, but he thought it would be well for Yr. Matthews
to address them upon the point of whether the prisoner
appropriated the looney with natant to defraud.
Mr. Matthews inquired of his lordship if it would not be
necessary to go to the jury to consider whether Mr. Fletcher
ever sated se a trustee.
His Loedship said that there was abundant evidence to
show that the prisoner had so acted from the time of his
appoietinest in 1838, up to last year. There was also abun-
dant evidence to show that he was also treasurer and secre-
tary, and it did not appear to him that the prisoner was lees
a trustee by being secretary sod treasurer, but having all
these Car" it became easy for him to make appropriations
which he could not otherwise have accomplished.
Mr. Matthews then addressed the jury for the prisoner as
to the intent, and his Lordship having summed up at eon-
siderabie length,
The *7, after about ten minutes' consultation, found the
po saner Guilty of appropriating the money with intent to
defnod the depositors.
His Lordship then maid, that if the prisoner could find
bail, himself in 7501., and two sureties in the same amount,
he would postpone the sentence.
Mr. Dowdeewell, oa behalf of the crown officers, would
afford every facility for the finding of such bail
On the applioatiou of Mr. Matthews, the ball was after-
wards altered to one surety in the amount of prisoner's
bond, and two or more others in the third 750/.
limo was given to produce bail, and the rev. prisoner was
removed to the *ells below the court. During yesterday
and a greater part of the day before he was provided with a
seat in the dock, and duties the proceedings lzeld down his
I bead upon the hand-rail. On more than one woad= he was
I observed in tiara.