The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-24 00:00:00

THII BT. EULLKNI3 NUIDZIL

The trial of John Smirk, charged with the murder of
Adam Mather, at Windle, near St. Helen's, on the 21st
July, was opened this morning, and excited great atten-
tion and interest, the court being crowded.
Mr. Torr and Mr. Watson appeared for the prosecution ;
and, the prisoner haring no counsel, his lordship assigned
the defence to Mr. Henchell.

The prisoner, when asked whether he was guilty or not
guilty, exclaimed in a loud voice, " Cod forbid that I
should be !" He looked very pale and anxious, and during
the learned counsel's address to the jury be scanned the
latter with painful eagerness, as if to watch the impression
leimle upon their minds.

The Cane was not finished when our parcel was di-
spatched.
Met Paws Courr.—(Before Mr. Justice Smith and a
Special Jury.)

ACTION FOR PERSONAL INJURIES AGAINST THE LANCASHIRZ
AND TORASHIRE RAILWAY.

Yesterday the jury awarded 7:.0f. to Mr. Royston, the
son of an Accrington draper, for personal injuries. He
Wei proceeding from Accrington to Hacup on tue 18th
February when a collision occurred, and be was much in-
jured about the head and spine. It wan feared that para-
lysis would supervene.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

(Before Baron BramwelL)
nTRAORDIVAIT PROCIITINO.

Mr. Avory, the clerk of the court, called the attention
of the Recorder in the course of the day to a circum-
stance which, he said, was of very great importance in
eonnection with the administration of justice in that
court. A person named Frederick Lee. carrying on busi-
ness as a harness maker in Brownlow-street, Drury-lane,
was summoned to serve on the petty jury, and some one
attended and answered to the name and was sworn
on the jury. In consequence of some information be
received' lie went on Tuesday up to the jury box and
inquired if a person waned Frederick Lee was serving
on the jury, and one of the persons in the back row
answered to the name, and he then thought there must
)IIVI) been some mistake in the information he had re-
ceived. He had subsequently, however, received further
information, and he questioned the party, and he admitted
that he was not Mr. Lee, but only his foreman. and he said
that Mr. Lee bad sent him to do duty for him as a juror.
The consequences of such a proceedi
ng as this might be
most serious, and he felt it his duty to bring the matter
before the court. _ _ _

The person referred to was directed to stand forward,
and in answer to queatioes put by the Recorder, he said
that he had merely done as he was directed by his master,
and was not aware that he was doing wrong.
The Recorder inquired of him whether he took the oath,
and was sworn as Frederick Lee.

He replied that be had.
Mr. Avery said that in the first place the person coin.
plained of had been guilty of a gross contempt of court.
He hail very nearly committed the crime of perjury, and
he and his master would certainlybe amenable to a charge
of conspiracy to break the law. He added that it was •
question whether all the proceedings of the court in which
the unqualified juryman had taken a part were not void.
The Recorder, after conferring with Alderman J. C.
I.Awrence and Alderman Waterlow, ordered the person
now before the court, to pay a fine of rd. for contempt of
court. He also inflicted • fine of 1001. upon Mr. Lee, but
process in this case was not to issue until the first day of
next session, when Mr. Lee would be called upon to show
cause why the fine should not be inflicted, and it was
stated that in the meantime the question would be
considered, whether an indictment for conspiracy should
not be preferred against both parties.

A WARD TN CITANCIIRT.—YeNTATINky, at Vice-
Chancellor Melina' Chambers, an application was made on
summons before Mr. Edwards, the chief clerk, relating to
the propos•lsof a marriage settlement of a ward whom Lord
Justice Corns had given permission to marry on the settle-
ment of her fortune being agreed upon. The chief clerk
declined to interfere in the matter, es it was not vacation
business, eni the young lady, he thought, might wait three
months, when the case could be beard. The parties inti-
mated their intention to go before the Vice-Chancellor, at
his country seat, on the matter.