The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-07 00:00:00

A&SIZB INTELLIGENCE.

HOME OIRCUIt--Cznaglosp, Mum &
(Bohn lard Obiat Juselse'Eria)

ISTR•OIDINAST CRLECIR OP 6110011 NO.
Mr. Wham Brom, a respectable-looking man, a farmer
at Boyars, surrendered to take hi trial for feloniously
shooting at Ralph Marlton Palmer, with intent to maim
and disfigure him, and also with intent to do him grievous
bodily harm.
There wee a mooed indictment which charged the dates-
dant with maliciously shooting at and injuring a horse, the
property of the same prosecutor.
This ease has created a groat deal of interest in the
county, on asionst of the position of the prosecutor, who
Ii
the am of Colonel Palms a gentleman el large property
I la the seighbourbood of Epping, and who filled the office
of high sheriff last year, and also the peculiar cdrourn-
maces under which the she imputed to the. prisoner
nemed to hare been committed. The prisoner is a person
el respectability, who farm a small farm. his own pro
petty, not far from Natieg-perk, the residence of Co-
lossi Palmer.
Mr. Philltehh prosecuted; Mr. Werke war cotusiel to
the defence.
The learned counsel for the promotion in opening the
cage to the jury said that although there were a number
of counts in the iodietined. the substantial charge aphid
the primmer was that be had discharged a loaded gun at the
poesestor; mad with what 'Moat he did so it would be for
them to diode. The primmer compled a small farm at
Boyden, in this county, which esuntry was bunted by the
harriers kept by that well.kuown and respeoted sportsman
Kr. Vivo, sad he believed that his pack of barriers had
the good will of everybody In the neighbourhood, and that
the fanneregoomelly anterteieed ao objeaties to them. The
prosecutor wee a gentleman, a member of the bar, the *on
of Colonel Palmer, of Nasing-path. He wee cm a visit to
his father in Jrsun Met, &edge the 6th of that moth he
went out with has brother, Mr. Archdale Palmer, for tLe
purpose of having a day's sport with Mr. Vigee's barriers.
They bad killed use her about two deleak in the day, in
the neighbourhood of Boyden, and the prosecutor and his
brother were returning home, when they get into a
sort el coeupatiorwiray, which they expected would
' lead them into the high road, but inatoid of it doing
so, it led to a bid belonging to the prisoner. They were
then looking far a convenient part of the bodge to go over,
when the prisoner came towards them Ina great passim,
with a gun in him hand, and when be was not more thee
from thirty to thirty.llve yards from the prosecutor, be
levelled the gun deliberately at him and fired. The charge
took effect on the horse of the proctiontar, and lir. Palmer
himself also was slightly injured In the knee. Some me-
' variation then took place between the prosecnior and the
poisoner, sod be let them out of his farm into the road; and
oit the same evening the prisoner went to Naming-perk and
made a statement, in which be admitted that be had dis-
charged a loaded guy at the presernitm het mid something
about not intending to ajar, him. It was under these
circumstances that the present charge bad been preferred ;
and the jury would my, when they had heard the evidence.
whether the prisoner ought not to be convicted, at all
events, upon some of the 001111i4 is the indictment.
Chief Justice Ede, in summing op the am to the jury,
mid there could be no doubt upon the evidence that the
primer had discharged a loaded gun at the prosecutor, and
the question they would have to decide was with what
intent that act was committed. hemmed to be alleged oe be-
half of the prisoner that be bad sustained some damage in me-
moonset* of the bounds goingover his land, but this really bad
bathing to do with the case. It was his duty to tell them that,
although the prosecutor was undoubtedly a trespeseer, this
was no justification for the prisoner making use of • deadly
weapon, and in a somewhat similar case that comma M
this county • good many years ago, whoa a Captain Moir
was charged with shooting a person who was treepamieg
upon hie land, and who refused to leave after being
repeatedly warned to do so, be was convicted of murder,
and the law took its course. No man had a right to discharge
a deadly weapon at another under such circumstances, and
if he did go, be was reepoosible for all the cionaimummee
that resulted from each an net.
The jury, after deliberating for some time, said that they
found tbe prisoner guilty of unlawfully wounding.
The learned judge told them he could not receive this
verdict. There had bees no wound inflicted, and the jury
must, therefore, upon the pretreat indictment, return a ver-
dict of either guilty or not guilty.
The jury then 'gala deliberated, and in • short time
they stated that thew did not believe the prisoner intended
to do any injury to the prosecutor.
The leered judge said that this amounted to a verdict of
Not Guilty, end that verdict was accordingly recorded.
The prisoner was thee tried upon the other indictment.
which charged bias with maliciously wounding the horse of
the prosecutor.
The same evidence was again shortly gone into, and the
jury, after a short comultatinn, found tbe prisoner Guilty,
but recommended him to mercy on *comet of the aroma-
deems under which the act was committed. . _

The learned judge, in passing sentence, said that be
thought the jury had taken a tight view of the cave, and
that the prisoner very probably did not intend to do any
injury to the prosecutor. He had, however, no douht
allowed hie temper to get the better of him, and it was
very necessary that he and every one else should know that
the law would not for a moment sanction the resorting to
deadly wespoi s upon such provocation as he appeared to
fancy that he had received. At the lame time, taking into
consideration all the facts of the ease, and the recommenda-
tion to merry by the Joey. he thought it would be sufficient
punishmect tf he directed that be should be imprisoned and
kept to hard labour for three months.