The Express.
London, England, 1858-03-15 00:00:00

WESTERN CIRCUIT.—ExErza, :React 13.

•
The business of the Devon assizes commenced et the
Castle of Exeter yesterday; Mr. Justice Crowder sitting et
NMI Prim, and Mr. Justios Wiles in the Crown-court.

(Before Mr. Justice Willa.)
George William Yates, a lieutenant in the Coast-guard
service, wee charged with shooting at Nicholas Blank, a
labourer of South finish, with intent to do him grievous
bodily harm.
Mr. Con proescuted, and Mr. Coleridge defended the
prisoner.
It appeared that the prisoner who is a person of great
respectability, had the commend of the coast guard station
at Hope, on the South Devon coast. On the 23rd of
February the prosecutor, being authorised by a labourer
m J aid ervis to receive Is. 9d. from the primmer,
which was due to him for • day's work, went to
his house in the morning. The money having been
demanded the prisoner said, " Off, I want nothing of you;"
end immediately drawing a pistol pulled the trigger, but the
cap only snapped and the pistol did not go off. 'TM prisomr
then struck the prosecutor with the pistol several times,
which rendered him insensible, but only wounded him
slightly. Finding what he bad done the prisoner ordered
the chief boatman under him to take care of the prose-
cutor, and on the following day he told Captain Herbert
what he bad done, saying he hid only acted in self-defence.
It sppeared that some time previous to the sseault, the pri-
soner had stopped the prosecutor, who was carrying a sack,
and in his official capacity demanded to see the contents of
it, but prosecutor refused to allow him. He was than
rought before Captain Herbert, but on his begging pardon
the aarge was not pressed. The prisoner bad also im-
punded the prosecutor's donkey, so that there was evi-
dently ill blood helve( en them.
For the defence, it was contended by Mr. Coleridge that
the prosecutor went to the prisoner'. house for the purpose
of insulting and provoking him, and on his refusing to
leave the prisoner struck him, but with no intention to do
him grievous bodily harm, as alleged.
The jury dequitted the prisoner.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—Yottic, MARCH 13.
(Before Mr. Juatioe Mee.)

DARING BURGLARY AT OILDERSOME RECTORY, !CZAR

John Hainssoorth, 35, end Josiah Williamson, 27, were
charged with haring, et Oildersome, on the 13th of Febru-
ary, Mysteriously entered the house of the Rev. A. 0.
Kinsmen and stolen therefrom about 30i.

Mr. Blanchard and Mr. Haines prosecuted; Mr. Middleton
defended Williamaon ; and Mr. Seymour appeared for Heins-
worth.

prosecutor is the rector of Oftdersome, near Leeds,
and on the night in question his house ware blarionely
entered and robbed by five or si: men. The family
' consisted of the prosecutor, his eon, and wife, and two
nieces, and they, with the servants, retired to rat
about ten o'clock, at which hour the premises were locked up
and left perfectly safe. Between one and two o'clock nut
morning the prosecutor was awoke by a noise in the hones,
and he was alarmed at hearing footsteps on the staircase.
Ise • moment or two afterwards he heard • scream in the
room where his nieces slept. H. went into the room, when
he observed a man with • pistol in one hand and • lantern in
the other, and he ordered the prosecutor to return to bed or
he would blow his brains out. The prosecutor went beck to
his own room, and was followed by the ruffian, who stood at
the bedside with • pistol, and then pulled the bed clothes
over his head. Hearing a noise, the son of the prossoutor
sprang out of bed, and in the dark went to a chest of drawees
for dm purpose of procuring a pistol which wen loaded. Before
he grasped hold of it the bedroom door was suddenly forced
open, and three men made their appearances, all of whom
Wife armed with pistols, which they presented, and one had
a lantern. The fellows were disguised, two having masks
ea, and the other had his face blackened with the addition
of bile streaks on each cheek. The 111ifians were joined by
two others, who had no firearms, and one of them bad Mr.
Kinsman's pistol handed to hit by Hainsworth. On ob-
taining the pistol the ruffian presented it at Mr. Kinsman,
but did not discharge it. Hainsworth left the room, sad re-
tweed in • few moments with a life-preserver, which he
flourished over Mr. Kinsman's head, remarking that he
knew there was money in the house, and if it was not given
up he would murder. Mrs. Kinsman jumped out of
bed, end barged that her husband's lite might be
' spared, and all the mosey should be given up. Mr. Kinsman
went downstairs Into the breakfast room, and wee followed
by some of the party, to whom be gave 261. in notes, and
ems gold and silver. Mr. Kiesman returned to his bedroom,
when he found a man ransacking the drawers. The fellow
went away, and be and his cowardly associates, five in ntICI•
her at lost, departed from the house, signifying their inten-
tion to return and murder the inmates in the event of any
alarm being crested. The care for the prosecution wee one
of identity. Mr. and Mrs. Kinsman and Mrs. Hooke, one of
the steam spoke positively to the prisoners, but the prolo-
cutor meld not speak to them, as he was so agitated at the
time. When Hidesworth was apprehended he alleged that
he passed the night when the burglary was committed at his
mother's house at Holbeck ; and when Williamson was taken
into custody he had in his pockets • bine substance similes Is
appearance to the colouring matter whith had bon eniplo
ed
In streaking his face on the night of the burglary. A diver
watch and gold ring belonging to the prosecutor were stolen,
but them have not been traced to the poesenion of the
pewe=
In defence, the learned counsel contended that the identity
of the prisoners hid not been established beyond doubt, end
urged the it would be very unsafe eo convict two men of
so serious an offence, upon such unsatisfactory testimony.
On behalf of Williamson, • witness was called to prove
that be slept with the prisoner on the night of the burgery.
Other whimsies wire called to show that Williamson bad
a sore knee, to which he applied ointment end powdered
blue, this amounting for the bite sublimoo found fa his
poobot
no jury found both rimers 61/40y.