The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-21 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY ETENING, MARCH 21, 1851.

was the prisoner. The result of the peel-nierfeni exa-
rniiiiitien was only kiwi-..a to him and the meilieal man at
the close of the day, when it was adjourned. At the n xt
meeting the prisoner was charged with the murder, and
made a statement, which was read to him, aad signed
by him. (this statement was held to he inadmissible
as evidence, not having been gis en under oath.) 'ne pri-
soner was taken into eu.tudy by ;Mr. Green, superintendent
constable of Barnsley. To him the prisoner made a state-
ment relative to meeting his brother on the night of the
2`.lrd of January, and of their proceedings in the course of
that night. At the time he took leave of his brother at
School-gate two young passed them, one of whom had either
a gun or a walking-stick. Ile laid his brother he could get
home very well now, and he then left him. In an.wer to
the witness's tpiestions, the prisoner said he hail a very poor
sort of gun, which had been stolen the week before front
the engine-house. Ile took him into custody that night,
at ten o chick, on a charge of having shot his brother. Ile
then went to the colliery, and found some sheet-lead, a
piece of which had been cut out, and under flit floor of the
engine-house he found a cake of lead and a soldering-pan.
A witness named Elisabeth Simpson proved having Maud
sonic bullets, which she threw away, and showed the place
Ito the tonstilile. A witness named William White, a con-
-table, proved having found seven bullets in the pia., in-
(heated by th^ last witness. ll.' took the prisoner int i cui-
tody. The pri.osterasited him what he thought of the case.
Witness said he emld not tell unless he heard the evidence.
The prisoner replied " You are more aceustomed to them
thing- than I am. It is very awkward happening tome now,
because I have been seeing a little money, and hase ',Wed
931." Ile asked whether they would hang him if he were
committed to York, and whether he knew of any ease of a
person charged with wilful murder who got off with trans-
portation for life; and, if so, where they would send him.
Witness sail he did not l.now. The prisoner then asked if
he knew where George Thompson was, who killed a man
at Barnsley, and whether he knew of a case wilt re one bro.
they was charged with shooting another. Witness answered
Yes," lie remembered the eve. of the llyons. The prisoner
naked what was done with them, anti witness told him that
the brother and the nephew of the deceased were hung.
The prisoner then asked if a person was ever hung for mur-
, der withoat suneient proof of his being seen in the act.
' Witness an,irertti he believed they had been on eimnustan-
tin' evideme. On the Sth of Feb. he again asked witness
whet he thought of the case, and if the inquiry before the
coroner would get over that day. Witness told him they
had brought another witness from Barnsley, who had re-
paired the gun. The prisoner said it wouldhe a "caulker"
if they hung him for it. lie then inked for a pencil and a
sheet of Freer and drew a sketch of his gun. Ile after-
wards said he hail had the gun the night before the accident
at the smithy at the pit, as it would not shoot for want of a
knob to pull hark the spring; that lie left it in the engine-
house, under the Boor. The prisoner, after the inquest,
whilst in his custody, said, "I should think they can't
hang me, whatever evidence they bring against me now ;
1/111d if I am transported I should like to settle my affairs, fur
in ease I should have to return after many years I should
not IP.xe to have to depend on working for my living. The
l'artridge Dale Pit belongs to my father, and he has no
partner in it, and nay father is partner in the Victoria Pit
along with Sutcliffe, and they are doing very well, and
getting more trade every day. If the ease is proved against
me, for anything I know, I shall be obliged to stand to it.
It was done through gaol-nature, and if I had known it
would have come to this, I would not has, bad anything tat
all to do is ith it. lam very sorry I saw my brother, and if
I had known I would not have gene with hint" It ap-
peered from the evidence of Mr. chemist of Leeds,
that he had weighed and tested the bullts which hail been
in the possession of Simpson, and they weighed nearly alike,
and he hail also weighed the piece of lead taken from the
head of the demon& and it weighed a. nearly U. possible
I the sonar weight as the bull. ts. The lead found in the de-
ceased's load, and that of the bullets, Wa• of the same kind,
containing the KIM^ amount of tin and terse sic, and in his
opinion they wen• all taken from the S3ll/... level. The lead
found in the deceased's skull weighed w'.l grain..
This Ouse.' the case for the prow cution, and it being then
nearly 7 o'clock, the prisoner's defence was adjourned until
to-morrow.

Turs.nav, MAUCII 2n.
Mr. Baron Ilan took his ocat at nine o'clock, alien
Mr. Ss rjetint Wiikins entered upon the tlefei.ee. TLe
learrysl aerie:nit hlving concluded,
Several persons gave the prisoner n good character for
humanity and kindliness of disposition, for steadiness,
oubrkty, amiability, and for general goo.' etiduct.
Mr. Baron Platt commenced annulling up the esi-
dence about half-past eleven o'clock, and toucluiled at ten
minutes before one. The jury then retired. and almost im-
mediately aftcrwanls returned with n verdict of Not Uniity.