The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-19 00:00:00

DECEMBER

afternoon the husband of the deceased, who had received
some information of what had occurred, went to the room
where the wretched WOOS& was lying, and asked the priso-
ner if he had struck her, and he mid he had not, but that
the deceased was the worse for liquor, and that
she bad fallen down and hurt herself. The deceased
then, it appeared, in the presence of her husband,
got out of bed and walked up to the prisoner, and put her
arms round his neck, and said, " Jemmy, I love you, you
have always been a good man to me." She became quite
insensible shortly after this, and died on the following day,
and the post-mortem examination left no doubt that the
injuries mused by the blow on the left side of the head
had occasioned her death. When the Prisoner was taken
into custody, it appeared that he admitted having given
the deceased what he called " • slap" in the face,
and he said be supposed he must suffer for it. With
reference to the medical evidence, however, it should
be stated that the envie; in *newer to ctneetioei
in droes•examiestioa, 'Ceded' that bet for the mark of
the blow on the jaw nearly all the appearances that were
exhibited upon the postmortem examination ware consis-
tent with the death having arisen from apoplexy, caused by
the quantity of spirituous liquor that had been taken by the
deceased. . .

Mr. Russell, et the close of the evidence for the prosecu-
tion, asked his lordship whether he thought there was any
cue for the consideration of the jury upon the charge of
wilful murder?

Baron Pigott said he did not think himself justified ia
withdrawing the more serious charge from the jury.
Mr. Russell consequently addressed them upon the whole
ease, and he contended that there could be no doubt that
the prisoner was very much attached to the unhappy
woman, and that, even supposing they should be of opinion
that the last blow he struck her was the cause of her death,
it was clear that he had not the slightest intention of causing
such a result.

The learned judge having summed up, the jury retired to
deliberate upon their verdict, and in about half an hour they
returned into court, and found the prisoner Nol Guilty of
murder but Guilty of manslaughter. They, however, at
the same time strongly recommended him to mercy on ac-
count of the provocation he had received, and their belief
that at the time be struck her he bad no idea that it would
be followed by such fatal consequences.
His Lordship said he would consider what sentence should
be pronounced.
At the conclusion of the business, the prisoner James
Palmer was brought up for judgment, and the lassoed judge
addressing him raid, bethought that, under all the circum-
stances, the justice of the case would be satisfied by his
ordering him to be imprisoned, and kept to hard labour, for
three months.

The proceeding; of these assizes were brought to a couch-
ion shortly Liter six o'clock.

THE POLICE COURTS.

MANSION-HOUSE.

Adolphus Oppeaheistt appeared before the Lord Mayor io
answer to his bail, to undergo a farther examination upon •
charge of defrauding his employer, Mr. Wilson, of Leedom-
hall-street, chemical colour manufacturer, of about 050!.
Mr. Mullen. prosecuted; and Mr. Metcalf, barrister, in-
structed by Mr. Wontner, appeared for the prisoner.
The facts of this case have been repeatedly detailed, and it
will be remembered that the prisoner, who wee formerly in
bedews for himself as • chemical colour manufacturer,
made a composition with his creditors, and Mr. Wilson, the
prosecutor, agreed to pay the composition and take what
effects the prisoner bad remaining. The prisoner was after-
wards employed by Mr. Wilson as clerk and traveller,
and after some time expressed a wish to be-
come a partner with that gentleman. This was
agreed to by the prosecutor on condition that the
prisoner should pay into the business the sum of 1,0001.,
in addition to 5801., which was the sum Mr. Wilson had lost
upon the composition. The prisoner said his uncle would
lend him the money, and subsequently paid into Mr. Wil-
son's account the sum of 7501., but was unable to pay the
balance • and thesdeed of partnership was in consequence
never driwn up, and the proems?. uncle, who the prisoner
mid had advanced the 7501., drew upon Mr. Wilson for the
amount, so that the proposed partnership was never carried
out. About the beginning of March in the present year,
Mr. Wilson had to leave &gland on very urgent business,
and authorised the prisoner, in whom he placed extreme
confidence, to sign bills and cheques in the name of Wilma
and Co., for business purposes, during his absence. After
an absenoe of a few weak, the prosecutor returned ; but,
being may busily engaged at his manufactory, did sot re-
voke the authority which he had given the prisoner.
About May, Mr. Wilson was taken so ill that he was un-
able to attend at all to his business, which was left entirely
to the management of the prisoner, who continued under
the authority which he held to sign cheques ho. Upon
recovering from his illness, Mr. Wilson proceeded to his
office, and found the prisoner abeent. There was, however
• letter addressed to him, which ran as follows :—" Deai
Wilma,— Do not judge me before you see ins again, which
will not be long. Forgive me for the trouble I have heaped
upon your head, and do not curse your broken-hearted
Oppenbeim." Upon seeing this letter, Mr. Wilson proceeded
to make inquiries into his affairs, and ascertained that the
prisoner had, under the authority which be had given him,
drawn • number of cheques which had not been used to
carry on his Mainers, but with which be had opened an
account in his own name at the London Joint Stock Bank,
and had used the money for purposes other than to carry
on the business of Mr. Wilson. A warrant was applied for,
and the prisoner w s eventually apprehended, and the pre-
sent examination has been pending since the 9th November,
whim,the prisoner WY first placed at the bar.
Yesterday several withering were called, the purport of
whose evidence was to show that certain cheques, amount-
ing to 64:1/. Via 11d., which the prisoner had drawn in the
name of Wilson and Co. on the prosecutor's bankers, were
paid into the prisoner's account at the Loudon Joint Stock,
and used to liquidate debt@ which were not connected with
Mr. Wilson's business.

Mr. Mullein said he had another charge to Mies against
the prisoner, of which he would Rive proper not•ce before
the trial, or he would ask for another remand, and have the
case gone into before his lordship first, whichever Mr. Met-
calf thought fit.
Mr. Metcalf said the case was a very complicated one, to
which be wan instructed that a perfect answer could be
given, and he would rather have a remand.
The prisoner was then formally committed for trial upon
the charge of stealing several sums of money amounting
to 6431. 13e. lld., and was remanded upon the other charge,
being admitted to bail in the same amount as before.