The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-13 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

NORTHERN CIRCIIIT.—LwzierooL, Dec. 12.
Nisi rims COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice Blackburn.)

GREENHALGH V. kiUTTOK.
This was en action brought to recover damages for a
breach of promise to marry; the plaintiff, Hewietta
Greenhalgh, who is 32 years of age, being the daughter of
a small farmer residing near Bolton, and the defendant,
Walter Hutton, being a farmer of some means, about 56
ye•.rs of age, and residing within 100 yards of the plaintiff.
The pleas were that the plaintiff had always been ready to
marry the defendant, but the latter answered that a rea-
sonable time bad not elapsed, that the plaintiff was not
always ready to marry, that he had not refused to marry,
and that the oontract was rescinded by the agreement of
the parties. It having been ascertained after waiting a
short time that the action was not defended, plaintiff's
counsel stated that a verdict had been consented to for
the plaintiff for 2001., and at the direction of his lordship
a verdict for that amount was recorded.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—DERnr, DEC. 12.
(Before Mr. Baron Channell.)
William Henry Wilkinson, aged 32, moulder, was
charged with wilfully and with malice aforethought killing
and murdering William Mills ltunnacus on the 20th Octo-
ber, 1806, at Dronfield.
Mr, Blackburn and Mr. Parker prosecuted ; the prisoner
was defended by Mr. Bristowe.
Mr. Blackburn, in opening the case, said he should
be able to show that the deceased Runnacus came to his
death by a blow struck by the prisoner, and that it would
be for them to say whether this was done in malice, or
whether the crime came under the less head of man-
slaughter. The prisoner was under notice to leave the
employ of Mr. Lucas, and on the day in question Messrs.
Wilkinson, Hunnacus, and Turner met at a public-house,
in the kitchen, where they had some beer. Deceased said
to prisoner, " You have borne me malice ever since
I struck that bey." Quarrelling ensued ; but up to
eight o'clock deceased wax quiet, and offered to pay for
some beer and go home friends. Unfortunately this was
not the case ; deceased challenged prisoner to fight, who
refused; he then offered to tiAlit both Turner and the
prisoner. Deceased appears to have seen steel in some
cue's baud, and a witness deposed that the next thing was
the falling of Runnacus to the ground and dying. It
would also be shown that Sileock and blargerison saw the
prisoner go round and strike deceased in the left aide.
Turner, upon being taken, said, "It was not me, hem's
my knife," and though he (Mr. Blackburn) supposed the
learned counself for the defence would not suggest Turner
as the culprit, still it would be satisfactory to prove that
it was impossible for him to have done it, as the knife was
closed and clean. A bloody knife belonging to Wilkin-
son, which had been thrown away, was also subsequently
found. He left them to draw their own opinion from the
evidence he should adduce.
A great number of witnesses were examined, and the
prisoner was found Guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced
to lir years' penal servitude.
William Stone, 20, labourer, and William Parker, 24,
labourer, were charged with murdering Joseph Hanson,
at Church Broughton, on the 2:rth August last.
The facts of the case will be gathered from the following
statement made by the deceased a few hours before his
death :—" On Saturday, the With ult., I met withthe two
prisoners, Stone and Barker, at the Holly Bush public-
house in Church Broughton. There were several other
persons there at the same time. I don't know that I had
any words in particular with them whilst in the house.
Inspector Jollitfe was there, standing outside. I saw him
at the time I was coming away. He said to me, 'Go
your way home, Joseph ; and these chaps, Stone and
Barker (pointing to them), made answer and 1,..id, ' We'll
see biro home and I was going home and they followed
rue clone behind, and punned and kicked me all across a
pasture, and when they got into the Slang, near here,
they fell bodily upon me, and kicked Inc and abused me
to that degree that I asked them if they were going to
murder me on the spot. They both did this. I was
not able to tell which was the worst. I have been in
bed ever since, seriously ill. I thought I was a little
better this morning, but I am worse again to-night. I
have been a good bit worse this afternoon. I consider
myself in danger. I shouted for help when they were
abusing use, but I was not within reach of any one, and
no one came. I am very much injured, and they bit
me before and behind, and in all fashions. I don't
know that they used weapons, but their heavy hoots and
hands. I was also beat about my head, where there is
not a free place. They bad me down upon the ground.
I asked them their reason for abusing me like that, and
they made answer, both of them, We'll kill you, you
old —.' There was not a pin to choose in them. I
feel myself to be in great pain and peril of my life at
this moment. It might be about 12. o'clock at night
when we left the Holly Bush. It was not a (lark night.
I could see the persons very distinctly. I was in no
other company but theirs from the time I left the Holly
Bush to the time I got home. I had gone to the Holly
Bush public-house awl Samuel Adams's beerhouse in quest
of William Smith, who owed me some money for beer—
ers. I cannot say that the prisoners tried to rob me. In
fact, they hadn't the chance, as I hadn't much about me,
and I don't know that they offered. Dr. Warren and his
assistant have both been in attendance upon me since it
happened. I have not hail a passage properly since."
After a long trial both prisoners were found Guilty of
manslaughter, and were sentenced to ten years' penal
'tude.

servitl