The Express.
London, England, 1863-08-20 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, AEGITST 20, 1863.

CENTRAL. CRIMINAL COURT.

OLD COURT.
(lis(ore Mr. Justice Keating.)

Patric! Mormon, MI labourer, was iodicie& foe feloniously
wounding Margaret Norman, his wife, with intact to minter.
le a seeond count the intent was alleged to be to do grievous
bodily harm.
Mr. Daly prosecuted, and the evidence of the wife went
to show that on the Bth of June ■he and her husband had
some words, when he struck her with his fist and knocked
her down, and while she was ou the ground he struck her
on the head with a heavy 'roe chopper, Inflicting severe
injuries, from which the blood issued to a vast extent, sod
at last she became insensible.

Mrs. Norris, in whose hone the parties lodged, proved
that she was alarmed by the screams of the child is whose
presence the outrage had been committed, and that she
of rushed up to the room io their occupation, when
she found the wife weltering in blood, and the peacoat sit-
ting in a chair with the chopper close to him. The witness
called in the assistance of • surgeon, who bandaged the
wounds in the head, and directed the instant removal of the
woman to the hospital.
Mr. W. Rawlins, house surgeon at Univenity College
Hospital, proved that he attended prosecutriz and found
four scalp wounds on the head bleeding profusely. The
wounds of themaelvas were not dangerous, bet erysipelas
had supervened, and the woman was in such imminent
danger that he thought it 'lectionary to send for a magistrate
to take her deposition. The wounds might have been pro-
duced by each a weapon as the chopper produced.
The prisoner in his defence said that the prosecutrix was
au habitual drunkard, and he did Dot know what to do with
her. On the day in question she was so drunk that he bad
to carry ber upstairs, and a quarrel ensuing he had hit her
with the flat side of the chopper, with which he was cutting
up wood at the time.
Mr. Rawlins, the surgeon, was recalled, and, in answer to
the learned judge, said the wounds might have been iatlieted
with the sharp edge of the weapon.
Mr. Justice Keating summed up the ease with extreme
minuteness, and the jury, after a short deliberation, returned
a verdict finding the prisoner Guilty of the misdemeanour
of unlawfully wounding.
In answer to an inquiry from the court as to whether
anything was known as to the prisoner's previous career,
Inspector Webb replied that the prisoner had already
undergoes six months imprisonment for ill-using his wife,
for whom the magistrates felt so much commiseration that
they maintained her daring the time her hatband was in

Mr. Jostles Keating, in passing sentence, told the pri-
mmer that the jury had taken • most merciful view of hi
came. and that, had he been convicted of the felony, the
court would have sentenced him to a loog term of petal
servitude. As it was, he stood convicted of a most auro.
rated assault, and he felt it his duty to pan upon him the
highest sentence the law allowed, and that sentence wan
that the prisoner be kept to hard labour in the House of
Correction for two years.

(Before the Recorder.)

ROBBIRtLS.

Jena M'Donald, 24, pocket-book maker, was indicted
for feloniously receiving an order for the payment of 10f.
3s. Bd.. the property of her Majesty's PostmastorAmteral,
well knowing the same to have been stolen. Be was also
charged with forging an endorsement to the same ceder.
Mr. Clerk and Yr. Metcalfe prosecuted; Mr. Sleigh de-
fended.

It appeared that oe July 8 • letter was addressed to Mr.
Lewd, of 11, Moorgate-street, by Messrs. John 'Mid, of
Glasgow, containing an order on the Westmiaster Beak for
the pa tof 101.3 e. Bd. That letter and order never
•rrind at its right destination, but OD the day after it wee
Crit was presented at the London and Westminster
hy the prisoaer, endorsed " Lizard and Co." The
clerk at once saw that the signature wag forged, and asked
the primmer where he had got it, and whether he knew who
had endorsed it. lie (the prisoner) said he supposed ono of
Mr. Lizard's clerks ; but at first he would not say how he
had come by it ; but on being preses.l he said he had that
morning met • man in the Blaclofrisrs-road who had en-
gaged him as • clerk, and sect him on to get the draft
cubed. lie added that that gentleman was waiting in
Threadneedle-street in a cab, but on the policeman going
there with him, the prisoner said that he must have
ibrilleigh addressed the jury at some length on behalf of
the , sad after • short dshbeistion they returned •
of Acquittal.