The Express.
London, England, 1849-07-12 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT.-HERTFORD, JULY 11.
The proceedings of this circuit commenced en Tuesday by
the opening of the commission for the county of Hurts, at
this pbsa, by the Lord Chief Baron ; and business was this
morning proeeeded with in both courts, the Chief Baron
presiding in the civil side, and Mr. Baron Alderson in the
Crown Court. Twenty-two Gauen are entered at nisi prius,
but the greater portion of these are undefended cases, and
there is only one special jury trial. The business on the
crown side is also very light, nearly the whole of the charges
toting of the ordinary description. No cue of interest was
disposed of during the day.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.—ABINGDON, JULY 11.
$770111C MR. BARON ROL7I.
CRIMINAL ASSAULT.
James Ware was charged with a criminal assaalt on Han-
nah Prior, at Wokingham, on the 16th of March last.
On the 15th of March last, the prosecutriz, a prepossess-
ing girl 18 years of age, was walking on the turnpike road
with a companion, a girl about 13 years old, when the pri-
soner met them and insisted on kissing the prosecutric. On
the following day Prior and the same young girl were en-
gaged pulling heath in a plantation near the turnpike-road,
when the prisoner came up to them and again kissed Prior.
The other girl went away a short distance, when the prisoner
threw Prior on the ground, and perpetrated the
offence with which he was charged. The younger girl
witnessed the transaction, and on their return home both
mentioned the circumstance to their friends, in conse-
quence of which the prisoner was taken into custody. The
evidence of a surgeon went to show that the capital offence
had not been committed. The prisoner declined to say any
this, in his defence, and the jury acquitted him of the
capital offenoe, and found him guilty of an assault.
His lordship sentenced the prisoner to be imprisoned and
kept to hard labour for two years.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—OAKLIAII, JULY 11.
A MAIDEN AESIZE.—GRAND JURIES.
This morning Mr. Justice Coleridge arrived here, and
proceeded to the Castle, where the commission was opened
m due form. There was neither a prisoner ner a cause at
nisi prime ; nor was there a member of the bar to be men in
the town.
Justice Coleridge addressed the grand jury at some length.
There happi fled to be only 13 jurymen present, and he
therefore took occasion of the circumstance to give sspression
to his opinion with reference to the question of abolishing
grand juries. He said it was probable that a knowledge
that there would be no business to be transacted had kept
many away, and therefore he was ready to excuse it; be
hoped it was not occasioned by the grawing feeling
abroad that the institution of grand juries was un-
necessary. "I am sorry to say," observed his lord-
ship, " that in some parts of the country an opinion is
gaining ground, that grand juries are unnecessary. That is
a very erroneous opinion, for I take the institution of grand
juries to be one of great value, and which ought to be kept
up. I dare say you have heard that a bill is now before par-
liament, or is likely to be introduced by a high Pgal autho-
rity, for the purpose of abolishing grand juries as regards the
central criminal court of the metropolis. I own that I very
much regret that there should be such an intention. I may
speak with greater freedom on the. subject now, as it has
not yet become the law of the land, end I cannot help Bayles
that I look upon it as • very unconstitutional measure ; for, if
the bill should par into law, it will depend on the decision
of one individual—an individual appointed by the crown,
psid by the crown, and removable by the crown—as to
whether any person shall be prosecuted or no'. There will be
an end to all inquiry by the ancient institution
of the grand jury, and it will depend on a police magistrate
whether any prisoners shall or shall not be put on trial. Of
course, I am far from supposing that, under the present go-
vernment, in the present state of public feeling, and with the
present men as police magistrates, the power proposed to be
entrusted to them will be abused; yet it might be abused
by placing in the hands of the petty jury the sole decision as
to grave offences. and making them the only arbiters of life
and death, or the guilt or innocence of the accused."
A person in the body of the court here rose and said, " My
lord, it will be a revocation of Magna Charts."
Justice Colerigge threatened that if he again interrupted
him he should be put out of court. His lordship having
concluded his remarks,
The grand jury retired, and shortly after returned, stating
that there was no presentment. Hie lordship, accordingly,
discharged them, upon which the high sheriff presented him
with a pair of white gloves. The business of the assize thus
avainated.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—YORK, Juts 11.
Mr. Justice Pattreon and Mr. Justice Wightmen, the
judges of Assize for this circuit, opened the commission this
day. The calendar is above the average as to numbers, but
on many previous assizes the cases Dave been of a more agars-
vsted description. The business before the Civil Court pro-
mises to be above an average, 98 venires being already re-
turned; of these it is expected that 16 will be special jury
cues.

POLICB.—YESTERDAY.
MANSION-HOUSE.
ALLEGED FRAUD BY A STOCK-BROKER.—G. Berington,
the stock-broker, who was some days ago brought up in the
custody of Daniel Forrester, upon the charge of having de-
frauded a purchaser of stock, to the amount of between
2001. and 3001., by means of a forged receipt, purporting to
be the receipt of an official of the Bank of England for the
amount of stock in the Three-and•a-Quarter per Cent. An-
nuities, &c., was put to the her for a second examination.
Mr. Robinson, the gentleman who had brought the charge
in the first instance, did not appear upon being called.
The Lord Mayor asked whether there were any other ite-
misations against the prisoner ?
A professional gentleman said he attended upon the part
of a poor widow who had employed the prisoner to purchase
stock upon the dividends on which and the fruit of her future
industry she had calculated to live in comfort during the rest
of her days. By the fraudulent conduct of the prisoner
however her hopes of independence had been entirely
broken down.
Elizabeth Dimas, the female alluded to, was examined,
and it appeared that she had paid the prisoner a sum of
2631. 12s. 6d. to purchase stock, but as she had given no
written instructions to the prisoner the case did not come
within the jurisdiction et the court.
A gentleman rose in another part of the justice-room, and
said he had a charge against the prisoner exactly similar, he
apprehended, to that of the poor widow.
The Lord Mayor ►avieg aszertained the particulars of the
second transaction, and observed a fatal similarity to the
former, intimated that his jurisdiction was again rendered
null and void by the neglect upon the part of the purchaser
of the necessary forms in accordance with the act.
A third complainant thought there was a point is his case
likely to affect the responsibility of the prisoner. He
bad employed the prisoner to purchase 1001. stock for him,
and he had subsequently written to the prisoner a note, ex-
pressing his wish te purchase more stock, and requesting to
be informed at what time he should transmit a cheque for
the amount. The prisoner, instead of writing, called at his
house for the cheque, received it, and misappropriated the
proceeds.
The Lord Mayor again referred to the act. He could not
look upon the written document which the complainaat re-
ferred to as the sort of written instruction meant by the
statute, and he therefore could not commit upon the strength
of it. It was intimated by Mr. Wontner he was glad to see
that the friends of the prisoner were making arrangements
for the liquidation of the sums of money of which the pri-
soner had so grossly defrauded his customers. It was satis-
factory to know that such was the case, but in dismissing
the prisoner it was necessary to state that the legal escape
from punishment in not the slightest degree diminished the
moral responsibility of the accused.
Mr. Robinson, the complainant, on the lint transaction,
was again called, and not making his appearance, either per-
sonally or by his attorney, the pnsoner was discharged.
It may be useful to mention, that hundreds of applies-
. . . . . . for warrants