The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-29 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTLLLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT.—KINOBTOS7, MAUCH 28.
The ooramiuion for the county of Surrey was epene I on
Monday. There are 70 causes entered for trial, 12 of which
are special jury ciao, and on the crown aide there arc 32
prisoners ; but all the cases are of the ordinary description,
with one or two exceptinnt.
MR. ICerICE COLERIDGE ON GU AND JVIIIIIB.—The
learned judge, in charging the grand jury in the Crown
Court, exressed his reat satisfaction at the num
evletous
attendancep of minister..g ', and the snooty they hadenticed
to perform the duties of grard jurors ; end he said he roped
that country geutlerner. would elways continue to feel the
importance of the duty they were now called upon to per-
toren. In some places, and particularly in the metreaolis
and its neighbourhood, a feeling appe..red to exist that grand
juries were not useful, hut were, en the contrary, dart-
mental to the interests e justice ; but he must say Ova the
arguments which had been adduced in support of such an
opinion had failed to imluce him to entertain a similar view
regarding the institution of a grand jury, and he must
say that he looked upon them as part of that Ivrea,
scheme which had plated the country on ntlems . of
England in a very dlffererst position to those of
any attic!. country. He did not merely loot: at
the service which was performed of iirsorierg or returning
Intl, against the parties aetu-ed, but he considered it of . Jual
' importance that country gentlemen should be called toge-
ther at certain periods, in order that they might • btain that
information with regard to the law, end to criminal joris-
prudence, which it was so necessary for gentlemen in their
situation to be acquainted with. Perhaps in London, v here
there were so many facilities to tamper with the 'rime:nes
in support of a charge, and where, also, the cues underwent
very strict investigation by the magistrates, some i13V.11 VII.
nie ace might occasionally arise; but he could not help think-
ing that it was,very much exaggerated. Esen admitting then
was occasionally some incoavenience, he thought the ad-
sentare, that were derived from Grand juries more than
equalled any of the disadvan,ages which had been suit. ‘ sted
as arising tram them. The learned judge then went eau to
comment on the calendar.
No case of sufficient interest for a report was tried during
the day.
---.--.
._

NORFOLK CIRCUIT—BURT ST. EDMOND'S, Menem '27.
el nuisance AssauLT •ND RIOHWAT ROLIBIIIY.—R.
We!ham, Lavenhsm, drover, was charged vilth feloniously
assaulting Michael Mac Dermot, in July last, at Bradfield
Combust, with intent to murder him. Mr. Prendergast
prosecuted; the prisoner was undefended.—lichael lilac
Dermot, who stuttered greatly, said I live t t Ireland, 10
miles trim Dundalk. I have come to this country 25 years
with cattle for sale. For 2.5 years I have attended Bury
market. It was Wedn slay night, July 7, when I was so
much hurt. I was at Bury on the morning of that day. I
know the erieoner. He was at Bury market on the 7th of
July. I knew him years before. At the clans et market
I had 40 beasts. I employed the prisoner to go to Laren-
ham with me that night. He left with the beasts at six
o'clock. I went with him as far as a pullic-house, to a man
who was a buyer of beasts. When I went in, the preuner
went on the road with the beasts, and I rode in the man's
cart, and passed the prisoner and the busts. This was two
miles from Bary. I got out of the cart end went beet to
the cattle, and wilt the prisoner drove them ou through
Wham. I don't recollect that the prisoner asked mu for
anything ; I was veryweary, although rather '' freshy, ''
I
had • " /rood guess of what took place. I remember a
hill, et the top of which there is • mill, where I received
these damages. When near the mill, 1 thought the prisoner
was making too free with my pockets. Ile took hold of me.
I tried to get away. I go: up atter he had knocked me down
on to the sand.. He give me three blows from which I shall
never recover. A gentleman passed in a Rig, and offered to
step with me. I thanked him, for I had never seen a kind-
lier gentleman. Before I received these injuries I never
stammered, but Ido now. In getting clear of the pris.mer,
he gave me a shove down on to the side of the
toad. Prisoner tea weut a few yards, and came
back again, and gave me three blows which, had
it not been for the mercy of Clod, and the kindness of the
surgeon, wruid have killed me. I had 721. about me:
701. in Dotes and two sovereiens. It was in a cotton puree,
lined with cotton. I felt of the money
.every mile. It was
within my waistcoat. The notes were in my pocket when
the gentleman came up. After I received the three blows, I
saw the prisoner try to get the notes. I endeavoured to
prevent him, when he struck me on the head.—Robert
Mann said, et five or six in the morning of Thursday,
July the Bth, I was going to Bradfield. At the tm of
Chappell-bill, I saw a man lying fiat on his back, on the
left-hand side of the road his face was covered with blood.
I went to him, when he looked at me, but did not speak.
He turned en hk right side, end placed his left band 011 the
wound. I turned and then saw Ms hat 8 yards from him, on
the other side. I picked it up, and found two handkerchiefs
in it. I laid =ea them on the wound ; the other I put over
his face, put his hat on, and left him. I saw • great deal of
blood io three places. I then left him, and told my mister,
Mr. Joseph Menn.—William Moore—l em constable of
Bradfield. In consequence of the information I received oa
the morning of the Bth of July, I went to the spot mimed,
and found a man. He was in a very bad state, an I was
lyitg on bis right side. His pulse was beating very stroug.
He tried to speak. but could not. I sent for • tumbril and
seat him to Bury hospital. I found upon him • poise and
some mousey (oboe.; 175.). Near this spot I found a stone
on the east aide of the road ; on it were two hairs, aed the
appearance of blood. The prisoner lives et Levenhani. He
is employed in driving stock.—Mr. Smith said I am sur-
aeon cf the homiml. On the Thursday named Mac Dermot
was brought to the hospital in a very weak state. Them
were blood and brain on the hair. He was speechless,
though partly cone...ems. His right ride was paralysed.
Oa the left side of the head I found a wound three inches
long and one inch broad. It wgs a jagged irregular
wound. Theirs was a depression of the skull of nearly half
an inch. I removed ten portions of bone from the skull.
His lordship de7.recated the exhibition of thee: bones;
such practices had a tendency to displace the calla judgment
of the jury, and irel Lee feelings of sympathy that wen. not
desirable is snob ewe.
Examination couticued : Mac Dermot saw the prisoner
on the 11th ;he was much excited. He took the crooner's
hand and led him round to the side o; the bed. He took
bold of the prisoner's pocket to see if he had anything.
When he found there was nothing, he jumped out of the
bed and collared the prisoner, bet could not speak. The mi-
-1 soner denied his guilt—By his lordship : At first Mac
Dermet was hardly conscious, but when the bone was
removed front the skull his senses returned. It was some
weeks before he could speak much. This species of injury
would not disable a man from telling what had occurred
immediately premed's g the injury. A pen was placed in his
hand but he was uthappy because be could not use
Henry Ames: I knew the prisoner. He lives at Levsn-
ham. I heard on Thursday morning of a man having been
injured. The prisoner passed me about three-quarters of
' a mile from Lavenbam, coming towards Bury, at four in
the morning. lie said he was going after his bullocks.
Laventoun is l i miles from Bury. He said, •• I have got
a job driving for an Irishman," and that he had 3 miles to
go after them. He said be left them against Mr. Mumfurn's
at Cockfield, and be bad left the Irishmen drunk on the
road last night. Hemel he did not know where be then was.
—Peter Eger. police-constable, said he apprehended the
prisoner on Thursday, July 8, in Lavenham-street, and
that he had fort- head of cattle with him, which he said he
was driving to Colchester. I asked him where be hail left
.
his Mater He said "at Chappell-hill." I then took him
icto custody, and conveyed hint to the Black Lion public-
house. I there explained to him why I had taken him. De
coming to Chappell-hill, he pointed ant a spot where he had
left his muter it was close to Mr. Hilder's. He then said
his master had left him the evening before, and told him to
take care of the cattle.—Mr. H. Wayman, coroner, deposed
to the examination of the prisoner, and to a statement signed
by him. The document was read : it stated—" That during
the journey Mac Dermot quarrelled with him, and would lie
down. lie was compelled to leave him, as he wanted food
for himself and the beasts. He had no money when the
beasts starled."—The prisoner then made • statement, is