The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-01 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME ClRClllT.—Hassross, Frs. 28.
The oomodesion of assizes for the county of Rertfo
was opened yesterday ia this town by the Lord Ohief
Bares. There are a lugs number of persons for trial, but
most of the offeuces charged are of a very trivial character,
sad such as would under ordinary drcumernor have been
disposed of at the quarter serious. As, however, the jos.
tices have not thought fit to bold an adjourned session for
that purpose, they will have to be tried at these assizes.
The ruse list will not be published until this (Thiusday)
morning, and it is enured that the court business will not
begin until 12 o'clock.

OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Rraprifo, Fn. 28.
(Before Baron Pigott.)
Jo& Morris, dies &waders. alias Dwyer, aged 49, me
indicted for feloniously and without lawful excuse Nag
at Wee (before the expiration of his sentence of 20 years'
transportation) within the United Kingdom of Greet Bri-
tain and Ireland, viz., at Reading, on the 28th of June last
Mr. R. Hariogton was counsel for the prosecution. and
Mr. Peter appeared foe the prisoner.
From the evidence it appesred that the prisoner was
tried at the Bedford Lint Assizes, in 1854, in the name
of Saunders, oa the charge of having committed a bar.
glary at Leighton Burned, and stolen 100 watches, chains,
and keys, .M 0 knives and forks, and other property. He
was convicted, end sentenced to transportation for 20
years. He was removed from Bedford Gaol to Milbank,
and sent from there to Norfolk Island to undergo his
punishment. In the month of June last the prisoner and
two others were apprehended in Reading for housebreak-
ing, and all of them were convicted at a sessions mhos-
quently held for the borough. At that time he was sus-
pected of being a returned convict, and inquiries were in-
stituted by direction of the Treasury. Mr. Roberts, the
governor of Bedford Gaol was sent to heading to see
all the prisoners, with the view of ascertaining
whether he could recognise either of them as being a man
who was sentenced to transportation in 1854. Mr. Roberts
proceeded from cell to cell, end when he saw the prisoner
he identified him as the man who was tried at Bedford
twelve yesn ago for burglary. He asked him hie ;=
and the reply was " Williams." When Mr. Roberts in
how long that had been the case the prisoner said ' some
time." Mr. Roberta afterwards remarked that he was
going to swear at the snipes that he was the John Saunders
convicted of burglary in 1854. and then advanced towards
him to unfasten his shirt to see certain peculiar masks on
his breast. The prisoner evidenVy convinced that there
was no mistake with reaped to him, said, "It's all right
I know you, and the officer too." Hs added that he received
a pardon from the governor of the island, and that in
coming home the ship was lost, and his papers were conse-
quently lost.
In Memo, Mr. Pater stated that it was known that
there was a system of ticket-of-leave, and there could
have been no difficulty in the Treasury showing that the
hadnot received such a ticket. Be was instructed
fOirey rthat the prisoner was transported to Australia ;
whilst there he received a pardon from the governor,
which fact was communicated to the authorities in this
country. After receiving_ the pardon he left the colony
and went to Singapore. He next took ship with • view to
ristate Gape of Good Hope, but the captain put in at St.
and his papers were lost.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty, and Baron Pigott
sentenced him to twelve months' imprisonment, and them
to penal servitude for the term of his natural life.
The prisoner observed that the Home-office well knew
that be received a pardon, and he expected that a clerk
would have been present to have proved it.
The learned Judge said if it were so, them was no doubt
*Sift would be done to him.
(Before Mr. Julio. Smith.)
Masse Wades Bernherd Kirchhoff, a Prussian, aged
37, was brought up for arraignment on the charge of having
attempted to discharge • loaded revolver with intent to kill
and murder Superintendent Purchase, of the Reading police
fame, on the 28th of December last.
At the time of the prisoner being taken into custody be
was considered to be of unsound mind. When brought into
wart he behaved in • annoy way, and would not take off
his hat.
Mr. Maurice, surgeon, and Mr. Ferry, governor of Reading
gad, were examined as to the prisocer's sanity, and they
both expressed their opinion that he was deranged in mind,
sad was not capable of knowing what was going on.
Mr. Justice Smith thereupon directed him to be detained
until her Maiassteplessure should be known respecting
him. His lordship informed the jury he bad received • coin-
neunication from Prussian embassy that inquiries bad
been made in Prude respecting the prisoner, and it had
been ascertained that he had been in a mad-house there.
The prisoner, on leaving the dock, ran down the steps,
and sat up a maniacal laugh.