The Express.
London, England, 1851-08-22 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

OL1) COCia.—YESTERDAT
Berne M. ii "'Tin. Emit.
In the case of C. Best awl J. Be ly, indicted for feloniously
assaulting and robbing William Day, as reported in yester-
day's Express alter the paper went to press,
Mr. Platt having replied upon the evidence for the
defence,
The Learned Judge summed up, and in the course of his
observations he remarked, with regard to the line of defence
that had been adopted by one of the learned coined for
the prisoners, that the privilege enjoyed by an advocate of
cross-examining witnesses to any extent, and of commenting
upon their demeanour and character, in the same manner,
' was undoubtedly very valuable when it was exercised in a
conscientious and fair manner, and with a view to advance
the interests of truth and justice. but he must say, that
when witnesses were attacked in the manner Appleton bad
been in this cave, without, as it appeared to him, there be-
ing any grounds for it, the privilege was turned into a most
pernicious nuisance. Ilis lordship then proceeded to call
the stt ration of the jury to the facts of the case, and left
them to say whether the evidence for the prosecution esta-
Wished the guilt of the prisoners, or whether the evidence
as to the alibi satisfied them that they were innocent of the
crime with which they were charged.
The jury almost immediately returned a verdict of '
Guilty.
Previous convictions for felony were formally proved
against both prisoners ; nod it was stated that they had
been in prison a great many times for other offences.
Mr. Justice Erie, in passing sentence upon the prisoners,
said that they had been convicted upon the most satisfactory
evidence of a robbery of the most atrocious description. It
was evident that they were regular practitioners in
crime, and that they brought considerable skill to the suc-
cess of their calling. They resorted to a description of vio-
lence the best calculated to reduce their victim to a state of
helplessness, indeed, almost to the point of death, and were
apparently regardless whether death should actually be
the result, so that they succeeded in bringing their victim
to a state not to be able to offer resistance. The crime was
most atrocious, and demanded severe punishment, and the
sentence upon them woun be one of transportation for the
rest of their lives.
Cat:EL RohliEßY.
John Bellamy, 30, was indicted for feloniously adminis-
tering a stupifying drug to Louisa Meredith with intent to
rob her.
This charge was preferred under the recent statute known
as Lord Campbell a Act. It appeared that the prose-
cutrix had been in the service of a respectable li-
censed victualler residing in Fleet-street, and that
she had quitted that service on the evening el
the day named in the indictment, having previously re-
ceived twenty six shillings, the amount of wages due to her.
She requested the prisoner to get her a cab and take her to
some respectable lodging, and he accompanied her, widths"
went to a public-house, where they had some drink. They
continued together driving about after this, the prieaase
pretending that he was desirous to get her a 1 astd
at length, immediately after the prosecutrix bad drunk a
glass of rum given her by the prisoner, she became com-
pletely insensible. While in this state he took the cab to
his own lodging, where the box of the prosecutrix was
taken out and placed in his room. The police
subsequently interfered, and it was found neces.
'try to use the stomach pomp and other remedies
before the prosecutrix could bt restored to consciousness,
and in her pocket there was *NEI a bottle which bad era-
tained laudanum, and which Eno bays bees placed there
by the prisoner. The box of** vaeresubda bad stet been
opened, but it appeared that dories the peseeding the Ind
the whole of her money.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty.
The learned Judge said that the case had been mad
satisfactorily brought home to prisoner. There could be Ist
doubt that his intention was to rob the prosecutrix, and he
feared there could be very little doubt, also, from some
parts of his conduct, that he also had another criminal de-
sign against her : and, under all the circumstances, he felt
it to be his duty to order him to be transported for seven
years.
The prosecutrix appealed to the court, and said that
owing to her losing the whole of her wages, she was in
great distress, and was unable to make her way into the
country, where she expected to obtain another situation.
Mr. Sheriff Carden said that the sheriffs would give her
some assistinee it she applied to them.

THIRD COL'RT.—YESTEIIDAT.
BLPOILI Ma. Rosana. Ovum
Baran°.
William Drwiy, 23, sarraat,Olandad guilty to dealing an
I=="Dultairki=er. 41444.4. th. PeoPert7