The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-10 00:00:00

THE B?LPRESS, FRIDAY

..wwwwwswwwwvwv•-•-__
had roles the,propeety, and taken it to Clifford, at a plate
celled Monkey Island, where a portion of it had been
secreted in a hole nese the water's edge, whiletbe residue
was deposited at a nubile-house at Farnham. Laths and
gtonkbridp then west to Clifford with the constable of
Maidealtead, where some of the proterty wee found, in the
spot indicated, and Clifford, in giving it up, rid he was
sorry that he had arrythidg -to do de with the job. Clifford
and Clark were then taken into curody, and the latter
stated, when before the magistrate, that he should not have
done it it he had not been persuaded te it by Stockbridge ;
and Stoekbridge, when examined to-day, admitted that he
and Larkin had agreed to chore a sum of 201., which Mr.
Bud had offered as • reward for the discovery of the thieves.
At the close of the case for the prosecution,
The Chief Baron directed the jury to discard the testi-
mony of Stockbridge from their consideration, aa that of
one altogether without credit. It was very clear that, with-
out that testimony there was not enough to call upon Clif-
ford for an answer to a charge ef knowingly receiving the
stolen property. With respect to Clark there could he no
doubt, fur his own statement admitted his guilt, while he
showed that he had been instigated to it by Stcekbridge,
whose evidence went to show, that Larkin had conducted
himself in a most reprehensible manger—so much so, that,
had not death removed him front his situation, he (the
Chief Baron) should have done all his power to effect that

The jury Acquitted Clifford and convicted Clark, whom
they strongly recommended to mercy, on the ground that
he had been made a tool of by Stockbridge.
His lordship then sentenced Clark to 12 months' impri-
amount with hard labour.

g.
WBSTERN Miami
CROWI. 0.T.0 More Mr. JORGOR WiRhURIR.
HIGHWAY Rommtar.—George South was indicted for air
mulling John Persona, he being with three other persons
armed with bludgeons, and robbing him of about 701. in
gold and cheques.
Mr. Stock was counsel for the prosecution, and Mr. Arany

for ihe prisoner.
It appeared that on the 44th of 'January Mr. Parsons, who
is a farmer, was returning home on the Shaftesbury-road
from Salisbury market, about half-past fire in tke evening ;
he was in a gig, luxompanied by a men servant named Ityall.
After proceeding between six and seven miles, four men
umped out of a plantation ; one man seized the reins of the
horse ; Rysll swore that that man was the prisoner, and Mr.
Parsons believed that he was, but he could not swear to him.
Mr. Parsons said, " What do you want ?" The prisoner,
brandishing a large stick, said," We want money, and money
we'll have ; get him out, look sharp. be quick about it."
Two men then jumped up behind; and tearing open his great
coat, searched all his pockets, arid took out a purse con-
taining about 301. in gold and silver, and two cheques, one
for 441., and the other for 251. 17e. 6d. Mr. Parsons had a
very large sum of moan, about him, but the robbers in their
haste did not find it. The men then ran away, and Mr.
Parsons procured a man named Hibbert to assist him. They
all got into the gig and were going in punuit of the men
when they met a farmer named Brown, who had also come
from Salisbury market, and who had met the prisoner and
three other men in a village on the road. Mr. Parsons
having communicated to Mr. Brown what had taken place,
the latter took Hibbert into his gig, and then follow d
e the
four men, and driving very rapidly soon overtook them as
they were turning into a field. Mr. Brown and Hibbert
then se4ed the prisoner, and a desperate struggle ene
suried,
but Mr. Parsons and a policeman came up and took th
ironer ~to custody. Mr. Brown, when he met the four men
in the village, took particular notice of them, as he thntlgilt
they were suspicious-looking persons, and he swore positively
to the prisoner. A singular circumstance came out in the
COWS!) of the evidence—namely, that the prisoner and an-
other man had been seen in the plantation about half an
hour before the robbery, cutting sticks, and upon comparing
a large stick which the prisoner had in his hand with a
bough in the plan,ation, they were found to correspond.
Mr. Arney addressed the jury on the question of identity.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty, and be was sentenced
to 14 years' transportation.
Rouse SlEALll4o.—ThOnla3 Miles, Charles Caynes,
Caynes, Joseph Dmone, and James Thompson, were Georg in-
, dieted for haring stolen * bay mare, the property of e
Downing Hooper, at Wootten Bassett, on the 24th of

October.
Mr. Slade and Mr. C. Smith were counsel for the prose-
cution, and Mr. Ball defended Miles; Mr. Arney defended
Csynes, and Mr. B. Bayley defended Down*.
Thompson pleaded Guilty,
From the evidence it appeared that Mr. Hooper had a
bay mare stolen from a fit Id at Woottoa Bassett, on the
night of the 23rd of October. Mr. Templar also on the same
night had a black mare stolen from another field at Wootton
Bassett, and Mr. Day had a saddle Bolen from his stable
on the same night. The four prisoners slept at an inn
at Wootton Bassett on the night of the 22nd of October, and
remained there all the nest day, but all left about eleven
cl o'ock that night. Mr. Hooper's field was opposite that
inn. At 7 o'clock the next morning Miles and Thompson
were at hielksharn riding a bay and a black mare, and the
horse Thompson w.• riding had a saddle with blue
girths, but without stirrups (being in the same condi-
lien as the saddle which was stolen from Mr. Day's).
About half-pest 3 o'clock that afternoon Miles and Thomp-
son rode into Frome, on a bay and a black mare. They
baited there, and then went away, taking the horses with
them. The four prisoners were nest seen together on the
27th October at Tutnes, in Devonshire. They had a bay and a
blak mare with thm. he slet at a inn in Totnes upy-
ingc the same room,e and appeared toa be of one paily.occ On
the next day, which was Totnee fair, the sold the two
mares. On the 6th November, Mile. and Thompson went
again to the ion at ?risme. They had then three horses
with them. They went out for a short time, and on their
return they were taken into custody. Shortly afterwatdo
Caries came, and inquired if two men had been there with
three horses, one of which he described. He was told they
were gone out for a abort time. He said be would wait, and
during the time he was waiting he was taken into custody.
Downs
The p was ap
risoners had made statements, chiefly inculpat-
ing each other.
The jury found all the prisoners Guilty, and they were
transported for seven years.
Escape or • PRISONER. -- On Tuesday a prisoner,
who had been tried and convicted of sheep-stealing,
tether late in the afternoon, on going below, went to the
water-closet, and remained there until the trials were con-
cluded, when the prisoners were removed from the court-
house, with the exception of the prisoner, who was forgotten.
He remained in his retreat fir some time, when, finding
the coast clear, he quietly walked off. He has, however,
since been apprehended at Winchester.
APPLICATION roe RELaass.—Mr. Poulden, on the part
of the Post-office authorities, made the following motion be-
fore Mr. Justice Wightmau : It appeared that a lad, 10
years of age, had been committed on the 3rd December,
1847, fur stealing a half-sovereign from a letter at the post-
office at Wootton Bassett. Mr. Poulden stated to the court
that, the matter having been laid before the Attorney-Oe-
neral, ka had consented that the prosecution should be with-
drawn. Mr. Poulden, therefore, requested that the recog-
aisancea might be discharged, and that the lad might be
given up to a gentleman who was willing to take him into
his service.—Mr. Justice Wightman said that course wou
be wait satisfactory, ani immediately granted the application.ld

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—DUItnAII, MARCH 8.
MURDER AT RARE CASTE/I.—The court met this MOM-
ing at 9 o'clock, and proceeded with tbe trial of William
Thompson (27), William Doman (28 ), and Joseph Olafield
(32), who were charged with the wilful murder of John
Shirley, a whipper-is of the Duke of Cleveland, on the
2nd of February last. The case occupied the court till
nearly 8 o'clock. His grace was present on the bench dur-
ing the whole of the trial, and paid marked and serious at-
tention to its progr M
ees—r. Serjeant Wilkins, Mr. Mat-
thews, and Mr. Pashley were for the prosecution ; and Mr.
Bliss and Mr. Tvghy Seymour for the prisoners—Mr. See-
jeant Wilkins stated the case at length, as detailed in the
following evidence :—Joseph Cockerell examined by Mr.
Matthews : I am a game watcher to the Duke of Cleveland.
On the morning of the 2nd of February last I was at the
house of John Shirley. We left the house together about
half-pa-t 7. I heard the report of a gun in the direction of
the willow beds. The willow beds are a game preserve In
Ruby Park. Shirley was a whipper-in. We proceeded
We
in
the direction of the willow beds, after hearing the shot. I
stood under a beech tree, and saw four or five men. Re-
cognised Thompson and Dowson to be two of the
men. Thompson had a gun. He said, " I will
shoot, I will shoot." Dowson had a gun also,
and he said, " Stand back, or I will fire." Before the words
were well out of Dowson's mouth Thompson fired. Shirley
immediately cried out, " I am shot through the arm," and
instantly stood forward and struck Thompson on the left
side of the head with his stick. While this was going on I
saw Thompson knock Shirley off from Dowsos. Doweon
and Shirley were struggling together, Dowson having first
struck Shirley with the gun. Shirley had got Dowson down
on the ground, and was on the top of him. Shirley cried
out, " Joe, for God's sake, if you are not shot, come to my
assistance, for I cannot survive many minutes." I was still
struggling with the other man, and on hearing this I told
him to give over, and pushed him away. He struck me two
blows with his stick, one on the right eye, and the other on
the left side of the head. They were violent blows, and
i rendered me insensible. 'When I recovered I saw the man
standing looking at me. I was not insensible long. I also
observed Shirley lying on the grass, and Dawson was beat-
ing him with a stick or the butt-end of his gun, on the head.
I said, "Fur God's sake, don't murder Shirley." Thomp-
son, I believe, then said, " Don't kill him out: if its Shirley
you've done enough." Dowson struck at him no more, and
both went away. The other man followed us about
eight or ten paces. I put my right arm under Shir-
ley's left arm, and supported him to the cover edge.
I afterwards wok him to Richardson's cottage in a wheel-
barrow. We sent for a surgeon; before he came I examined
Shirley's wounded arm, and took a wadding out of the
middle of the wound and gave it to Jane Richardson. It
was a leather wadding. Shirley afterwards died. I made a
search and found my own end Shirley's hat, a woollen cap,
a hai cap, and a pair of gun barrels. I have seen Dowson
wear ary
cap like the hairy cap. I remember seeing Thompson.
I afterwards, on the Bth December, saw Thompson and Dow-
son at Barnardcaetle. Dowson said if he had known where
I was he would have gone and taken some of my pheasants,
and if I bad come he would have paid me ; and as for George
May he would give him such &tanning that he should not be
able to get to his house again. May was a watch. r to the
Duke of Cleveland, and was about the same height and bulk
as Shirley when he was dreesed.
E. Monument deposed to some of the articles in the place
where the struggle ensued belonging to the prisoners.
A. Raine, examined by Mr. Matthews: I am a sergeant
of the Durham county police, at Staindrop. I was called up
at near one o'clock on the morning of the 3rd of February.
I went to Thompson's house, and was let in by his mother.
I found him in bed. I chargedhim with being one of the