The Express.
London, England, 1858-03-23 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

NORFOLK CIRCUIT.—Btray ST. EDMUNDS,
lieu= 20.
CROWN CO LI RT.

Robert Olif was indicted for feloniously killing and slay-
ing Mary Ohff, his wife, at Icklingtoun.
detzaared that the puttee had quarrelled, owing to the
having taken to drink, and the prisoner had been
seas to strike demand (though not so violently as to make
her nagger, and whether with the Sat or open hand was not
proved,) two or three times, and that the deceased shortly
einem& complained of her heed, but she told a neighbour
that her husband bad not burt her. She, however, gradually
becalm Tome, and died in a few days. The evidence of
the surge= was to the effect that the appearances be ob-
served ht =examination of the head after death denoted a blow,
such as might arise either from her being struck very vio-
lently indeed (though this would have been followed by great
suffering on her part), or from a fall on some hard substance.
Several winnow* on their croes-examination proved that the
weasees's system was subject to certain peculiar irregulari-
ties, and that at particular times elle win in the habit ot com-
pinning much of headache; that she had also latterly taken
to habits of drinking, which would encourage apoplexy, of
which she died.

The jury were consulting at the close of the case for the
prosecution, when his lordship expressed hie opinion that the
deposition before the coroner of a man named Capp, who,
from Alas, was unable to be present at the trial, and who,
if able, would not be called for the prosecution, should
be read on behalf of the prisoner. It stated that some days
bikes the quarrel he saw Mrs. Oliff at her house, that she
thee complained of her head, and that while he wu present
she MI dove in a fit, with her forehead on the top bar of the
sate. With this 'widows before them, coupled with the
weal of proof of any particular violence in toe blows struck
by , sad the woman's statement that her husband
hatisot but her, sad the &borne' of the great agony which
might have bras (spooled as the result of a blow struck with
the violence required to account for the appearances the eur-
gam had deecribed, sad the predisposing mums of apo-
plerty—ooold the jury safely come te • conclusion of the
primer's faih?
- -

• verdict of Not guilty was Immediately gi.ven, and the
=wee discharged, after a mutable admcontion from his

OXFORD CIRCUTT.--BElZwssuar, MARCH 22.
CROWN Mr. Baron Watson.)
FATAL POACITRO iNCOIINTRIL

John Hughes, John Herne, Reaherd Proses, end Jame,
Wright, were charged with the wilful murder of George
Norton, one of the gamekeepers of Richard Corbet, Esq., of
Adderiey, on the night of December 6, 1867.
Mr. Sootiand and Mr. Warren prosecuted; Kr. Neale and
Mr. Talfonrd defended the prisoners.
The estates of Mr. Corbett, situated in that part of Shrop-
shire abutting on the mining districts end the counties of
Stafford and Chester, ere subjected to the inroads of large
numbers of pearlier', who arrive armed end attended by
dogs; ommegnesdy, a coneidmable number of keepers are
employed to watch the preserves. About 11 o'clock on
the night in question the keepers, sixteen in number,
assembled near Child's Erroll, and heard shots in
the flolywell cover. They at once proceeded thither,
sad woo came up with a large body of poachers, numbering
about 48. The head keeper asked them what they were doing
there, and told them they must consider themselves pri-
soners, calling upon them to surrender. They replied, " Oh,
your eyes, corns on ; we an ready for you this time."
The poachers then backed into an open space, when there
wen ao trees, shouting all the time threats snit curses. The
heed keeper loosed his dog and celled to the decayed, George
Norton, under-keeper, to let his dog go. The keeper's dog
caught John Hughes, sad George lkileyome of the imbiber",
west up and took him. The poachers then formed In
calling to the keepers to come on sad they would blow their
brains out. The keepree's dog then went at the line of men,
and they discharged live guns at it. The keepers nutted
forward and tried to take the poachers, who resisted, and a
&spent' struggle took place, which continued about half an
hoar, dating which some severe blows were given and re-
ceived, and In whist' another man, Richard France, was
taken. The keepers inn armed with short thick sticks, and
forenklable little weapons called " keepers' &lie," the flail
=mead to the handle by a leathern thong. The
had rats and spurs. The spear, were formidable
implements. Oa a stook, five fest long, wee placed an iron
hoed, urns tease keg, brought to a tapering steel point.