The Express.
London, England, 1862-12-15 00:00:00

said he regretted to inform them that the list in the
calendar was rather heavy, considering the short
period which had elapsed since the last session,
and that some of the cases were of • serious character,
there being no less than five eases which involved the loss
of human life, and several cases which were of great im-
portance to the commercial community —ounely,charges of
forgery. With regard to the first-mentioned oases, three of
them, it appeared, would be charges of manslaughter. He
was also sorry to observe that there were no lees than
twenty charges of larceny with violence. The cases, gene-
rally speaking, were not of a character which would require
say explanation from him, and it was only a few of them
that it would be Deoensary to bring before them. One of
the charges of amoslater was of rather a peculiar
character. It appeared that two parties went into
I a house in the Strand to dine, sad after dinner the prisoner
was Negated in showing the deceased how to " cut and
guard with a cheese knife, and in so doing the knife he was
using entered the groin of the deceased, and he died shortly '
afterwards. He said it might be suggested that it was
homicide by misadventure ; but he explained to the grand
jury that if death were caused by the culpable negligence
or rashness of any person, that person was open to a charge
of inaulaughter. The law did not allow any game to be
adopted which was of a very dangerous character—not that
a game which was dangerous was unlawful; but due
precaution must be adopted, as, in fencing, proper
foils must be used, and if the top happened to come off the
foil, and an accident happened, it was a misadveature ; but
If the parties used a sword, and an accident ensued, then
the party was answerable, and it would be the safest way
for them to return a true bill for manslaughter. One of
the charges of murder was of a very serious character. The
prisoner was • young woman living as • servant, who was
charged with the murder of her newly-born child. It ap-
peared the prisoner's mistress notioed that she was very ill,
and taxed her with Living given birth to • child. The pri-
soner, however, denied it ; a doctor was called, and he
told the prisoner it was no use denying it, but she con-
tinued to deny it. She was removed to the union, and
after she was gone a newly-born infant was found on the
register of a stove. The child was a healthy child, and
death was caused by • staylace being tied tightly round
its neck. It would be the duty of the grand jury
to find • true bill against the prisoner, and
would be for the petty jury to decide whether there
were any extenuating circumstances in the case which
would reduce it to the minor charge of manslaughter. The
other charge of murder was against one man as a principal
and another as an eider and abettor. It appeared that •
party of men left • public-house on the night in question,
and some of them went on first and shortly heard a dis-
tarbauce behind. On turning back they saw one of the
prisoners knock the deceased down with a violent blow
Rad then kick him on the heed, and when the other par-
ties arrived the prisoner said "Come on, I've done for
one and now I'll do for another!" The deceased died
shortly after, and it was found that his skull was fractured.
The other pnsoner was standing by and said "Go it, give
it them:" There were several men charged with
forging Bank of Eogland notes. He did not think
this was • case which would present any diffi-
culties, and if there was anything which would require
explanation he should be most happy to assist thorn. The
Common Serjeant then alluded to the number of oases
of street robberies with violence. He said there bad been a
great deal of excitement in the public mind, and a great many
comments hail been (end° by the press, as to the effectiveness
of the police system and the system of repressive and penal
discipline. A great deal had bee, said about tickets-of-leave
and that the system was bres's ,og clout, ; but be thought
that such • concluion ought not to be drawn without some
further information. It was said that all these robberies
were committed by tictet-of-leare men. It might be
that all the offences were committed by men who had
been before convicted; but at the same time there was
nothing to show that the offences were committed before
the expiration of the ticket of leave. If the term of the
leave bad expired, it would go far in favour of the ticket-of-
leave system, as it would tend to show if • man bad corn-
milted no offence during his leave, that he had refrained
from acting wrongly before the expiration of the leave.
Allusion had been made to the difference between the
system in Ireland and the system of oar own country ;
but it must at the same time be borne in mind
the difference in the position of the convict with
a ticket of leave in Ireland and the man
under similar circumstances in England. In the former, per-
soon with tickets of leave are sought after by employers,
and their ticket passs as a eartificate of reformation,
whereas is England, if it beconset known that a man bass.
ticket of leave, every door is closed against him, and it tear
as an effectual bar to his obtaining employment, instead of
being an introduction. The legislature and the megistracy
were engaged upon the question, and be had no doubt but
at the next session some scheme would be devised which
would satisfy the public mind.
The grand jury then proceeded to their duties.
Upon the application of Mr. Gifferd, the trial of the
prisoners charged with the Beak of England forgery was
postponed to the January stssileps.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.
(Tins D&Y.)
—7-
The December adjourned general sessions of the peace for
the county of Middlesex commenced this morning at the
Sessions House, Clerkenwell-green, before Mr. Bodkin,
assistant-judge, and a bench of magistrates. The calendar
contains the names of 105 prisoners committed for trial.
The state of education is reported as follows :—Neither
read nor write, 13 ; read and write imperfectly, 65 ; can
read only, at ; read and write well, 4.
The Assistant Judge addressed the grand jury on the
nature of their duties.

William Pike, formerly secretary to a benevolent society
of operative painters, who was last session convicted of
embezzling some of the monies of the society, was this day
brought up for judgment.
The Assistant Judge said he postponed judgment until this
session with a view of giving the prisoner an opport.inity
of making up amongst his friends the amount of his de-
falcations • but not having dime so, he was sentenced to be
kept to hard labour for six months.
Frederick Kelsey, who was convicted last session of at-
temptiog to commit self-murder by stabbing himself in the
belly, was brought up for judgment.
Lockyer, the officer who bad been desired by the as-
sistant-judge to make inquiries as to the character of the
prisoner, said that he found that he was a very respectable
man, but had been very unfortunate in his business as a
oowkeeper, and that he had been abroad. He had found his
wife some time ago, but she gave him an address which sub-
sequently turned out to be au incorrect one, and ha was
unable to trace her.

A neighbour of the prisoner said he was a highly respect-
able man, but had been unfortunate io having a disease
amongst his cows. His wife had brought him into debt, and
he believed was isstrumeutal in causing his daughter to stop
out late at night.
The prisoner said he had been most unfortunate in his
hominess, rod had been to Australia and tither places with a
view of retrieving his position, hut his wife had madeaway
with everything ha had. He had saved 1001. which be
had invested in the Bank of Baikal, but by
power of attorney he had given his wife full
opportunity of using it in any useful way she
might have thought proper. When he landed in Melbourne
he bad but 34 in the world, and which he expended in a
week, so dear were things at that tune in the colony. He
had seen the error of his act, mid would never repeat it, but
would seek a living in that coustry, where he had sought it
before.

The Assistant Judge said AA be had had time to reflect, he
hoped as a man be would meet his troubles, whatever they
might be, sod not lay violent hands on himself. He should
call upon him to enter into his own recogniaances in the 'urn
of W. to come up for judgment when celled upon.
The prisoner was then discharged.

THE POLICE COURTS.
(THIS DAY.)

CLERK EN WELL
ratcwerut, DEATH 111 IHE BT. PANCHAE-ROAD.

Thoouo Nihon, 42, a drayman, misting at 4, Walbrook.
street, Hostel", was charged before Mr. Barker with causing
the death of William Edwards, aged 44, a house {winter,
rendieg in Sledburn-sireet, Chmden-town, by rueoing over
him with a brewer's dray and two horses, in St. huicras-
romL

T. Beard, of Baaioghall-street, attended for the
defendant ; Mr. Inspector Fraser, S Division, attended to
watch the GUM.

From the evidence, it appeared that on Saturday eight
the prisoner wee driving a dray with two horses, the pro.
perty of Messrs. Whitbread, the brewers, along the St.
Emerge-raid, he at the same time being seated in the front
of the dray. When nearly opposite the Model Lodging
Houses the deceased was crossing the road, and before the
driver, who was sober, could pull up, the horses and dray
went over him, one of the wheels going over the face of the
deceased. Policosergemit William Warne', 47
who was on the spot, weot to the assistance
of the poor man, and found his bead and face so mangled
that identification was rendered almost impossible. Mr.
Sutherin, the surgeon, of St. Pancras-rod, attended imme-
diately, and pruuouuced the poor fellow dead. and stated
that death was almost instantaneous. The body of the de-
ceased was afterwards taken to St. Noon" Workhouse,
where it was after sonic time identified.
The defence set up was that it was an accident.
The case was remanded to awed, the result of the coroner's
inquest, bail being applied for.

At the Unity Church, Islington, yesterday,
after sermons by the Rev. H. lama, the sum of 157 f.
was collected in aid of the Lancashire Italie( Fetid.

DILTR Of Ma. ALDERNAN MINK, or I"ORIL.
We regret to record the death of a highly esteemed citizen,
Mr. Alderman Meek, which took place after s lingering ill-
ness, at his residence, Middlethorps Lodge, near York,
early on Saturday morning last. The late Mr. Meek wu
native of Br/raptor), near Northgliertee, and was in his
serenity-third year. He filled the office of Lord M►yor of the
city in 1837, 1849, and 1851, sad was for many years ea
native lamnbris, and the senior alderman, of liseerposallise.
He was also one of the origisal directors of the Great
Northern Railway Company, sad continued a member of
the board till his death.—Letdo Mercury. .