The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-17 00:00:00

(Before Mr. Justice Blackburn and a Special Jury.)

THE SAID' GLOCCESTIILMIDIZ RAILWAT COMPANT V. WOOD
—The BANE V. PRICi—THZ BA= V. WITROLONEW—

THE SAME V. SMITH.

Mr. Hawkins, Q.O. and Mr. Watkin Williams were for
the company ; and Mr. Montagu Chambers, Q C., Mr.
Hansen, and Mr. J. Sharpe represented the several defen-
dants.

These were actions to recover calls for the purpose of
carrying on the works of the above railway, and in one or
two of the came the defendants sought to be relieved from
their liability upon the plea that they had been induced
to become shareholders by fraudulent and false represents.-
talons. There was, however, not a tittle of evidence to
support such a pleat and in the result verdicts were taken
for the plaintiffs in all the cases, subject, however, to
certain technical points tlias were reserved for future con-
eideration.

OXFORD CIRCIJIT.--GLorcarns, Atro. 16.
CROWN Couim,—(Before Mr. Justice Shee.)
THE DIIRSLIT ELECTION RIOTS.

At two o'clock the trial of the four parties charged with
a riot at the declaration of the poll on the late election for
West Gloucestershire took place. The cam appeared to
excite a good deal of interest, and the court was crowded.
Mr. Motteram conducted the prosecution ; and Mr. H.
James and Mr. J. H. Gough defended. Several jurors
were challenged on behalf of the defence.
_ . _ _ .

Henry Wo;ciward, Alfred Bdmister, Rowland Hill the
younger, snd Richard Lacey were charged with riotously
assembling, with others, to the number of ten or more,
on the 31st July last, at Dursley, and &manning Sir G.
Jenkinson sod Captain Arthur Kennedy. Other counts
varied the charge, the fifth and 6th counta charging a com-
mon assault. All the prisoners
.pleaded not guilty except
Hill, who pleaded guilty, but withdrew his plea, his coun-
sel, Mr. James, observing that be did not know the dif-
ference. He had not yet arrived at years of discretion.
(He was about fourteen years of age). All the witnesses
were ordered out of court on both aides.

Mr. Motteram laid before the jury a statement of the
facts, and the same witnesses were called as before the
magistrates at the recent preliminary investigation. The
examination of Sir G. Jenkioson produced a scene. Being
asked by Mr. James whether Mr. Grantley Berkeley was
in his company on the day of the election, he replied that
he (Sir George) was in Mr. Berkeley's company.
Mr. James—Was not Mr. Grantley Berkeley in your
company
Sir G. Jenkinson—l was in Mr. Berkeley's company.
Mr. James—Was Mr. Grantley Berkeley in your com-
pany
Sir George—He was.
Mr. James—lf you had said so, Sir George, at once, you
would have saved us some time.

Sir G. Jenkinson—Well, you are paid for your time,
I suppose.
Mr. James appealed to his lordship whether Sir George
could be allowed to answer in this way, adding, " Thank
you for that observation, Sir George."
Sir G. Jenkinson—Well, it is so, is it not' You are
paid for it, I suppose. The judge interposed, and there were some symptoms of
applause on the part of the audience.
His lordship hoped there would be no noise. He did
not want to be cheered.

In the further cross-examination Sir George said that
on the morning when he came to Donley some one had
tried to frighten his horses with • basket, and he had
struck at him with his whip, but missed him. He did
not believe that be bit any one. He did :not strike softly.
He was perhaps as capable of striking hard as Mr. James
or any other man. A great many people hooted him as he
entered the town in the morning.
Lady Jenkinson and her daughter also gave evidence.
This closed the case for the prosecution, and Mr. kfot-
term withdrew the charge as against Hill, he being only
• boy.
The judge expressed his regret that he had been kept in
custody from the Monday to the Saturday of his commit-
tal, and added further that he really had no right to have
been put in the dock at all.
Mr. James then addressed the jury for the amused, ridi-
culing the idea of a riot, expressing his regret that the
ladies should have been annoyed, and commenting strongly
upon the change in the tactics of the prosecution in strik-
ing out the name of Mr. Grantley Berkeley, and so on.
He also ridiculed • passage in the indictment which alleged
that Sir G. Jenkinson had been assaulted and beaten,
" and his life greatly despaired of."
We learn by telegraph that the jury Acquitted all the
prisoners.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT. —Lirvrapoor., Aro. 16.
During the present assizes the judges have occupied for
the first time the handsome new residence provided for
them by the corporation. Their lordships now occupy a
fine commodious building formerly known as Newsham
House, which is situated on the West Derby road, and in
one corner of a new park now in promos of laying out.
The " lodgings" are surrounded by ornamental grounds,
and command an extensive prospect of the surrounding
country, including the Lancashire and Westmoreland
hills. The interior of the house is most handsomely fur-
nished, with ample accommodation for both business
duties and social pleasures. A greater contrast could
scarcely be imagined than is exhibited by tbe cheerful,
comfortable residence now allotted to her Majeaty's judges
as compared with the dismal, dark, and dreary " lodgings"
in St. Anne-street they were for so many years doomed
to occupy in assize times.
There are 118 causes entered for hearing at these anima,
40 of which are marked for special juries. Eighteen
causes were disposed of on Wednesday (most of which
were undefended), including five that were withdrawn, so
that at the opening of the court on Thursday exactly 100
remained to be tried. These included nine actions against
railway and five against other public companies. One
case, the West India Pacific Steamship Company v. Guion
and another, will, if tried, occupy the court at least a
week there being about 100 witnesses for examination.
The dispute, we understand, arises out of the explosion of
the steamer European, at Colas). In all probability the
matter will be partly heard, and then referred. The
special jury causes will not be taken before Monday.

(Before Mr. Jtirtice Smith.)
ACTIOX AGAINST A STIANSHIP OMNI&

In the case of Fletcher a. Powell, a wholesale
provision dealer of Liverpool sought compensation
from the owner of a Bristd and Liverpool steamer for
damage done to • number of cheeses, which it was
alleged had been improperly stowed on board defen-
dant's steamer. It was alleged that the cheeses, which
were from Bomersetabire, were damaged to the extent of
3d. perlb. all round. For the defence, it was urged that
some of the damage bad been occasioned while the cheeses
were under the care of the railway company from High.
bridge station to Bristol, and that he was not liable for
this ; that the cheeses were properly stowed on board the
steamer ' • that their condition on arrival at Liverpool was
owing to their newness, and that the plaintiff should have
had them packed in boxes or hampers, instead of sending
them loose.

A verdict was recorded for the plaintiff, damages 30/.,
with leave for the defendant to move. The damages were
laid at 501. odd.

(Before Chief Justice Born)
MANIILACOHTIB.

.john Henry Parsons, 33, sailor, was indicted for the
manslaughter of Bridget Cannon, nshwoman.
The case for the prosecution was, that on the 12th
April the parties met m a public-house. Northumberland.
terrace, Everton. Cannon and two other women, named
Cunningham and Cotter, appeared to have partaken freely
of beer and created •• disturbance. Cunningham wished
to smoke • pipe, and deceased objected, and the three
commenced to wrangle so furiously that the publican
threatened to turn them out. The prisoner and
another man were drinking in an adjoining par-
tition of the bar, and wished to interfere with the
women, and foul langunge was used on both sides. Shortly
after this deceased left the public-house with • fish-knife
in her hand, and the prisoner left by another door. The
other women then came out, and the prisoner knocked
them down. He nest kicked the deceased and stabbed
her with • pocket knife just above the collar bone. One
of the important arteries was punctured, and the blood
having collected and clogged on the deceased's lungs, caused
her death.
_ _

The evidence being conflicting upon the crou•exami-
nation, the jury gave the prisoner the benefit of the doubt,
and Acquitted him.

FATAL EXPLOSION AT THE FAVERSHAM Gus-
POWIMR WORML —OM Thursday morning an explosion
of what is called • green charge" took place at the
works of Messrs. Hall and Son, gunpowder manufac-
turers, Faversham, involving the merinos of two lives,
besides fearful injury to two other men. As the mill had
been stopped for some hours, the canes of the explosion is
at present a mystery. At the time the mill blew up the
two ordinary attendants (John Lyon and Oeo. Bramble)
were close to it ; also Benjamin Barber, a millwright, and
Thos. Pepper, a labourer. Lyon and Bramble were fright-
fully burnt. From the Bret no hope was entertained of
their recovery, and during the night both died. Barber
is badly burnt about the face, neck, arms, and bands, and
be is blind, but hopes are given of recovery. Pepper is
also blind, and be is injured about the face, hands and
arms, but his burns are not so bad me the others, sad it is
expected his sight will return.