The Express.
London, England, 1851-04-10 00:00:00

OLD COURT.

Berosoc Mt livrce MAII-1.14 En,, Axa )!it. BAux

NANTISI.

William Gray Smythe, who was convicted yesterday af-
ternoon of a felonious assault upon 4 little girt under very
agggavatedeireumstanecs, was I ght op tor judgment.
Mr. Justice Erie, addressing the prisoner, sahl,that after
a very careful inquiry the jury hail found hint guilty of a
most atrocious offence, and heentirely coneurred in the pro-
priety of that verdict. it appeared that he had carried on
a system of corrupting the minds of young females for his
own base purposes, and that he hail employed his agents
persons who hail bethre fallen a victim to hint, and the eirso
was altogether one of the very worst possible ddicriptioff.
Under these circumstances he felt it his duty to pass upon
him the full penalty of the law, which was thtt he be
transported beyond the seas for the term of his natural
The prisoner was then arraigned with a yonog woman
named Frances Forman, alias Taylor, for it wisilemeannor.
Mr. Payne and Mr. Parry iippeared for the prosetittinn ;
Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Ballantinc were for the defence.
This was a prosecution instituted under the provisions of
a recent act of parliament known as the Bishop of Win:Ws
net, and the indictment imputed to the defendaats the
offence of conspiring together to procure the 661,nd:a of
several young women under twenty-one years of age.
Two girls, named Catherine Stacey, who wai, 17 years of
age, and Mary lauman, 16, were examined, and they clearly
established the charge.
Mr. Clarkson, who did not ask a question of atilt, of
the witnesses, betide any more evidence sat gone into
addressed the court, and said he felt he could nut struggle
against the facts, and the dcfendatib, would theestere a ith
his sanction, plead guilty. Ile begged at the same dint: to
inform the court that the female defendant had originally
fallen a victim to the man who stood by her suit., and that
all the proceedings she afterwards adopted were under his
authority.
Mr. Baron Martin, after consulting Mr. Justice blanks,
addressed the defendants. Ile said that an Btu lII4iC pri-
soner was already under sentence of trensportatruit fur life fur
another offence, it woull be unnecessary for 1 • to pats any
further sentence upon him. With regard to tho woman, he
could not help consideriug that her oftener was one of
most aggravated character, and that her conduct Lad hem
both unwomanly and disgraceful. Ile then sentenced her
to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for two years.

COVENTRY ELECTION.—The rumoured return of
Mr. Strutt nag proved groundless. On Monday, the elec-
tion of a member of parliament for the city of Coventry,
in the place of Mr. Turner, the new Vie?-Clunicellor, took
place, when the Right lion. Edward Struts, late member
for Derby, was nominated, as was Mr. Geoid), of Coventry.
No speeches were mode by the proposer or seconder of
either candidate; and when Mr. ti!rutt attempted to ad-
dress the electors, the uproar was so greet that he mg*
compelled to desist. Mr. Geach then Cbtaillt.l a hearing,
when he cal.ed upon the assembly to hear Mr. Strutt, nod
show fair play, observing that he did not like to fight ou
the side of any party who refused to hear the it
nests. Mr. Strutt was then allowed to proceed, and bo
announced that he was in favour of free trade, the eaten-
' siun of the cuff age, and vote by ballot, and the general
education of the people. Mr. Leach explained that he had
he,'u waited upon lute the previous night by a ceputation
from the electors of Coventry, who informed him that the
liberal party were nut united in accepting Mr. Strutt, taut
that should a conservative be proposed at the eleventh hour
there was great danger of his return. lie stated that he
was most desirous of reconciling the differences at present
existing, and recommended that there should he a
of concession among the different sections of the lib.esl
party, as most conducive to the SUCCCM of their common
principles. lie rejoiced to find that whatever might be tho
result of the present contest, a liberal and a free trade r
would be returned for Coventry. lie expLaatel that he
was prepared to extend the suffrage to rated householders,
and that he advocated the ballot; that the result of the
free-trade measures had confirmed hint in his opinion of
their justice and wisdom; that he was u.s advocate fur
rates being levied fur the purpose of procitilog means
fur the education of the entire people, and that every
parent should have the right to claim the instruc-
tion of his child. On the suhject of the papal aggression
he wished to be particularly explicit, fur on that point ho
feared he might hold opinions not aeceptalile to the eke:tors.
lie deprecated the course taken by the catholic., and, as a
member of the Church of England, as well as on political
grounds. he should deplore the spread of cathohcism in
this country, but he feared that to attempt to prevent such
a result by legislative enactments would be unsuccessful,
and tend to increase the evil. Ile should, moreover, de-
plore anything like a return to the old sy,tein, under which
religious disabilities were imposed. When the show of
hands was called for there was an overwhelming majority
in favour of Mr. Leach, and on behalf of Mr. Strutt a poll
was demanded. The polling commenced on Tuesday
morning, and was kept up until four u'eleek, when the
numbers were—Gl:web, 1,669; Strutt, 1,1/11 maiurity in
favour of Mr. °each, AM.

?MANCHESTER PATENT LAWS ItLPOIC•1 At ou t-
Tion.—A meeting of persons desirous of a reform in the
present law affecting patents was held on Tuesday, in the
Manchester Town W. Fuirbaini, C. 8., presided.
He urged the necessity for an immediate reterm of the
patent laws, and of petitioning parliament on tho subject.
Ile contended that the baigd
Illompli
thatLotg broughamldtanhed 7 Scotland,holec
mditd
nnot o
araitinenedettku:shanuhadgodhultibleleilebisaut; 0 ibiritti:ol:RPtbmo,,ul:°Pru r-bei;
at the outset 301., of which 101. was to he paid as a fee for
leave to petition. lie (the chairman) thought the vrhole cost
I ought not to exceed 1101. at the most, in order to bring
I the protection of a patent within reach of men of the
; humbler classes. Mr. Whitworth moved the adoption of •
petition to parliament, praying for the establishment of one
office to grant patents for the Unit:d Kingdom—that the
proce;.ure be as simple as possible, and that the costs of: ob-
taining patents bunt more than is necessary for maintain-
' ingthe office in efficiency ; and that Lord Brougham be re-
' quested to present the petition in the House or Lords, not
Mr. Milner Gibson in the House of Commons. Mr. Kidney
Potter seconded the resolution, and it was carried. It was
ado moved, sad resolved unanimously, that Mr. Bright,
Mr. Cobden, Mr. A. Henry, Mr. Westin:ail, Mr. Heald, and
Mr. Kershaw, be requested to support the petition. Dr.
J. Watts moved the third resolution : " That it be an in-
struction to the secretary, in any correspondence he may
have with parties on the subject, to state that it is the
earnest desire of this meeting that the first cost of a patent
should in no case exceed the sum of 101." The resolution
was seconded and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks te
the chairman was pawed, and the meeting terminated.
SINGULAR FATALITY.—It is a curious incident
that fur two centuries a lord Clonbrock never lived to see
the majority of his heir. His lurk on will be
of age in a few months, and th • e ed
upon Lord Clonbrock as to thru*
Bureau state.—Cork Examiner.— \ •0 ' *of
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