The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-15 00:00:00

X 153.

not in a fit condition of mind to plead or make Lie defence.
The jury returned a verdict to that effect.
James Allen Phipps, 23: groom, was indicted for steal ng
a pony, the property of Watson.
Dr. Nesbitt, the medical officer of the Northampton
Lunatic Asylum, addressed the court, and said that the pri-
soner was placed under his charge upon a medical certifi-
cate of his insanity in March last, and he remained in the
asylum until the 11th May, when he made his escape, and
be heard nothing of him until he was in custody upon the
present charge. He had stolen a horse before; and be had
DO doubt that the prisoner was unable to distinguish be-
tween right and wrong, aad that if he were set at liberty
he would commit the same act ag kin.
Mr. M.Murdo confirmed the opinion given by Dr Nes-
bete with regard to the insanity of the prisoner; but he
added that he could not go so far as to say that the prisoner
was not aware tharstealing a hors* was a wrong act to do.
He said that the prisoner seemed to be aware that it was
wrong to steal a horse, and he expected to be tried for it t
but at the same time be had no doubt that he was insane.

The prisoner declared that be was never insane in his
life. The fact was that he had got a little money in the
Northampton Savings Bank, and same of his relatives
wanted to get hold of it ; and they endeavoured to do so by
putting him with Dr. Nesbitt. He declared that if he was
sent hack to Dr. Nesbitt again he would escape as soon as he
could.
The Recorder explained to the jury that the efilet of their
finding a verdict that the prisoner was in an unfit state of
mind to plead at the present moment would merely be that
he would not now be placed upon his trial, but would he re-
manded hack to prison, when every opportunity would be
afforded for further inquiry with regard to his con-
dition.
The jury returned a verdict, that the prisoner was of
nnssund mind, and unfit to plead.
Jahn Phillips, 63, was charged with cutting and wound-
ing a police-coastable, with intent to resist his lawful ap-
prehension.
In this case, also, evidence was given that the prisoner
was of unsound mind, and the jury returned a verdict to
that effect.
The Recorder directed that all the trials should stand
over, and that the prisoners should in the meantime be
kept in safe custody.

NEW COURT.—YEsTes DAT.
Et, •aa TN► cOllllOll. S, LI RANT%

This court was occupied nearly the whole day trying
prisoners for passing base coin, of whom there were 24.
The modes of uttering were all of the usual character, and
the spur ous money in circulation was principally crowns,
half-crowns, and shillings. There was but one acquittal,
and the greater portion of the prisoners were sentenced to
12 months' imprisonment and hard labour, some to 18
months, and one prisoner, who had beta previously con-
victed three times of a similar offence, was transported for
seven years.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.-YESTERDAY.
BlErtMlr MR,SIMLANT ADAMS, ASKIMANT JUDOS.

James ..11.1MmeII, 19, was indicted for having stolen 40
sovereigns and seven " nuggets" of Australian gold, the
property and money of John Smith, its the ship Benjamin
Elkin, in the port of London.
The prisoner at first pleaded not guilty, but afterwards
withdrew that plea and pleaded guilty.
The facts of this cue were these:—The prosecutor was
the second mate of the ship Benjamin Elkin, and on the
30th ult. that vessel was hauled into the Landon Dock.
While the crew were engaged in making her ,ast, several,
persons, strangers, went on board, and when the prose-
cutor went to his berth after the vessel was fut, be missed
his purse, which contained 40 sovereigns, seven nuggets of I
Australian gold, and a gold ring. The prisoner went to
Messrs. Parker, silversmiths, 17, Aldgate, on tho morning
of the robbery, and purchased a watch and chain, for which
he paid seven eovereigns. He then offered seven
nuggets of gold for sale, and said he wanted a guard
chain for his wife. For the nuggets he received
a guard which he selected, and 71 15e., and afterwards he
bought a diamond ring, and exchanged a gold one, which
he stated he had brought from Australia Ile was appre-
hended from information received by the constable of Well-
close-square, who found upon him 20 sovereigns, the articles
he had purchased at Messrs. Porkers, and some new clothes.
lie at first denied all knowledge of any robbery, but after-
wards he bad a police officer who conveyed him to the
police court, that he committed the theft, having been in-
stigated, he said, by another parson, whose name ho men-
tioned. The pieces of gold, and the ring which the prisoner
exchanged, were identified by the prosecutor.
The prisoner who had been convicted before, was sen-
tenced to one year's hard labour.
Mr. Cooper appeared for the proseestion; Mr. Sleigh for
the prisoner.