The Express.
London, England, 1858-03-30 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT.—Kmorrox, MAUS 29.

Mr. Justice Williams concluded the eriminel badness,
with the exception of one ear, which La specially flied for
to-morrow morning, about the middle of the day, and he
then proceeded to try common jury causes. The special
jury cases wall be taken in their order at nine o'clock to-
morrow mottling, and It is understood that the whole of the
remaining common jury osmoses will be taken in the Crown
Coon Whet Mr. iodise Williams. , No case of the slightest
pabito Ward was disposed of during the day in either
court.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—LtvEnroot., Masco 29.
CROWN 8101.--(BeSx• Mr. Aaron Mardi.)
EXTRAORDINARY OAROTFI ROBBERY IX • RAILWAY
CARBIAGR.
Michael Brannon, aged 40, described as a hairdresser waa
indicted for haring at Rochdale, on the 11th February' laU
assaulted Richard Wainwright, and with violence robbed
him of 111. and a silver watch.
Mr. °tined appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Wheeler
defended the prisoaer.
The for is the schoolmaster of the Endowed Schools
at Li rough, near Rochdale, and also treasurer to several
load emanations. On the afternoon of the day in question
he went from Littleborough to Rochdale with 91. 10e.
is his pocket, for the purpose of paying some
claims epos one of the emaciation'. When he
got to Rochdale, however, he met a friend, named
Mr. Goodwin. Some time previously the prosecutor had
lent Mr. Goodwin • sum of 101., but all this had been re-
paid with the exception of 11. 10e. It was arranged between
them that Mr. Wainwright should go on to Manchester in
order to receive this balance. The prosecutor arrived at
Manchester about half-pest fin, and in an hoar afterwards
he met Mr. Goodwin by appointment at AU Mats Church,
where he received the U. 10s. Mr. Wainwright then pro-
ceeded on hie way to the Victoria Station; but in Chapel-
street he went into a druggist's shop and purchased a small
quantity of chloroform, which was put into • bottle. Be
them proceeded to the station, but while passing through
Market-street • drunken man, as he supposed, reeledagainst
him, but on looking round he noticed that the man was not
drunk, but standing perfectly upright. When in the station he
observed the man who had reeled against him. Mr. Wain-
wright took a ticket for Littleborougb, but afterwards he
recollected that he had already a return ticket, and went back
to the offioe where he got his money back; and whit/putting
the money in his purse, it is supposed that the man had an
opportunity of awing what was in it. Having waited until
the man had got into a carriage, Mr. Wainwright got into
another, and the train proceeded on its journey. It arrived
at Rochdale at a quarter past nine o'clock, and he had then
an opportunity of knowing that hie money and watch were
a safe. He had occasion to get out of the carriage, and
then be noticed that the same man got out of his own car-
riage and went into that which Mr. Wainwright had got
out of. The prosecutor became alarmed, and got into an-
other compartment where there was no other penon but him-
felt Just, however, as the train was about tn start, the man
came into the compartment: in which Mr. Wainwright was,
immediately closed the door, end eat down on the opposite
side. As soon as the train moved out of the station, the man
seized Mr. Wainwright by the throat, pulled a revolver
pistol out of his pocket, and threatened to blow his brains
out if he made the least noise. The men grasped him
by the throat, and the prosecutor became insensible.
In' a short time afterwards the prosecutor recovered his
senses, and then found himself lying at the bottom of the
carriage, and the man was attempting to pour some of the
chloroform out of the bottle down his throat, but Mr. Wain-
wright had suffidentpresence of mind to knock the bottle nut
the man's hand, It then fell upon the floor and broke.
The prosecutor had swallowed a small quantity of
the chloroform, and he again became unconscious.
In a short time afterwards the prosecutor again
became t nap:warily conscious, and then he law
the man kneeling on his breast and rifling his pockets ; but
Mr. Wainwright almost immediately became insensible. The
train passed Littleborough, but no person got nut, and when
it reached Walden the guard found the carriage door open,
and upon looking. in found the prosecutor lyiag in a state of
insensibility. Mr. Wainwright was taken on to Todmorden,
where he was examined by • surgeon, who found marks on
his throat as if he had been grasped by the left hand of •
man. There alto appeared to be the mark of a ring on the
little finger of the hand. Mr. Wainwright soon recovered,
and it was then found that he had been robbed of all his
money and his watch, all his pockets being turned inside
out. There be a tunnel on the line just before Waled=
linden, and previous to entering it it is usual for the trains
to pall up, and it is conjectured that the man who had
robbed the prosecutor had got out of the train at this point.
On the day following the purse was found lying on the line,
about • mile on the Manchester side of Littleborough, but
it was empty. On the 12th February (the day after the
robbery) detective Smith, of the Liverpool force, met the
prisoner on the landing atege at Liverpool, and knowing
him, the of stopped him and inquired where ha had been.
The prisoner then said he had just tome from Bristol by the
Great Western Railway, where he had been staying for some
time previously. On the 6th March the prisoner was ap-
prehended in Liverpool by detective Suite, and on the Bth
he was Identified by the prosecutor. When Mr. Wainwright
gave a description to the police of the prieoner, he stated his
height at about five feet ten inches, but in reality be is only
five three inches. He noticed, while the man was sitting before
Dim in the carriage, that be had two rings on his
finger, and when Smith saw him on the following day he
had then on a similar number of rings. Mr. Wainwright
likewise observed that the man had a sore eye, and when
taken into custody the prisoner's eye was then sore. There
was no other person but the prosecutor, who identified the
prisoner.
Two witnesses wore called for the defence, who swore that
the prisoner, who lived in Dennison-street, Liverpool, never
left the house fur more than an hour oa the day when the
alleged robbery was committed.
The prosecutor was erineexamined, in order to elicit that
he had in • public-house in the Shoudeltill Market, but
he denied that he had.
' A licensed hawker, named Hewitt, was also examined, and
stated that he was in • beer-house in the Shoude-bill market,
Manchester, where he met the prosecutor, Mr. Wainwright.
A betting transaction took place between the prosecutor and
another man, which resulted in the former losing. The watch
was taken to • pawnshop, and pledged about six o'clock.
This witness, in crops-elimination, admitted that he was a
professional gambler • that be often caught " fists ;" that be
might have been in custody for thieving ; and that he had
been in cutely for gambling. He also admitted that when
examined before the Rochdale megisteates he stated that he
had met the prosecutor in the beerhouse at the Shoude-hill
Market on Wednesday, the 10th of February, and had only
changed the day to Thursday when he was apprehended for
perjury, but he had been acquitted of that charge.
Another hawkweed gambler, named M'Donald, corrobo-
rated Hewitt's statement.
Mr. Wainwright, the prosecutor, was recalled, and swore
that there was not • word of truth in what the two men bad
said. He also stated that several days after the robbery he
was accosted by a man at the Victoria station, Manchester,
who conducted him to • public-house, where he met the
man M`Donald, who uttered to get the watch back for 21.,
but be refused to have anything to do with him.
Hie lordship than summed up, and the jury, after a very
brief deliberanon, found the prisoner Guilty, and he was
sentenced to penal servitude for life.
Cern. Stns—(Before Mr. Judos Byles.)
ZIOGINION a. RAILTON.—HRTACM OF PROMISE OF
MARRIAGE.
The plaintiff In this action, Miss Margaret Higgizienn, is
the daughter of a gentleman of independent means, living at
Mickley, near Mascboster • and the defendant was for
several yews up to 1857 a ;Winner in the house of Jenner
sad dailies, kat merchants, of Manchester. The action
was kneed to recover demagea for • breech of promise of
llaffoi Tbelleiadant pleadr i, first, that ha had never
mob flee promise. and secondly, that it had been put an end
billy mutual ocesseat.
r . Athataa, P.C., In opening the case, stated that In the
year 1850 Mr. Janner, the defendant's partner, was paying
Me addreeme to Mlle Kate Higginson (one of the plaintiff's
claim), and that the defendant used to accompany him
frequently upon his visits to Mr. Higginson's house; that in
Me course of these visits he expressed • wish to be permitted
to pay his addreases to the plaintiff, and requested Mr.
teaser to gait a good word for him to her lather. That
Mr. giggler= stated distinctly and candidly what
tkis be pepomd to make of his property That be afar-
IMMO peened to %spieling' horsed, and *he was accepted.
Thai bo hewed her Siam to go with him on • visit to Ids
Mob lII{ he came constantly to the house,
eel was orgy sail woopisil by all the &hair's family
se her faaafid lain& Tbst he talked tepastay ci Ids
mania" sad the dare awl plata at which Idshould take
place ; and that this dab et tkings continued down to the
10th of February, 1866, Asa he abraptly broke off the en-
gagement, la the following extraordinary Wm.. :
Menche,ter, Feb. 10, 1855.
"Miss Margaret Higgtoson,-1t i. woes a great degree
of anxiety that I commence this letter to you,