The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-26 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD cmcurr.--sTATioRD, JULY 26.
Caoins Courr.—(Befere Mr. Justice Blies.)

Wiliam Collier, 35, farmer, was indicted for the wil-
ful murder of Thomas Smith, on the 6th of July, at the
pariah of Kingsley, near Cheadle, in North Staffordshire.
Mr. A. S. Hill, with Mr. Young, prosecuted k Mr. Motto-
ram and Mr. Loxdale Warren defended the prisoner.
The evidence against the prisoner was almost entirel
circumstantial, but it was very strong. The
Mr. Thomas Smith, was the eldest son of a large land-
owner, at Whiston Eaves, nearCheadle, in North Stafford-
shire, and resided on his father's estate. It was his
custom at times to go out at sight for the
trjrof watching his father's preserves and on the
of the 4th of July he arranged with' one of the
servants, • man named Bamford, that they should both go
out early on the 'following morning, Bamford to • place
called Cotton Bank, about smile away, and he (Mr. Smith)
to a cover near to the house, known as the Black Planta-
tion. The servant ggoot up at about 1 o'clock the next
morning, and proceeded to the plea to which he bad bean
sent, and the deceased, two hours later, went to the plan-
tation named. Shortly afterwards shots were heard in the
neighbourhood et the preserves near Whiston Eaves by
some of the villagers who were stirring. Bamford
watched until 6 o'clock, and then returned to the ho
expecting to And his young master there, but he wee told
that the desesaed bad not come back. Mr. Smith, sea.,
became very anxious, and, together with 13amford,he com-
menced smirch about the woods contiguous to the house.
In • quarry where, it is supposed, the deceased would have
stood whilstlwatching, they found ids leggings, and • piece
of sacking which he had taken to lie upon ; and not far
away from this Mr. Smith picked up his son's hat. In the
band there was • white rose, which the poor young genthre
man bad plasal there on the previous night. The (sawn of
the hat :ea torn ia tiniplaces, apparently byshol• And from

behind. A little farther on, in a bollow,
great quantity of briars and fern, they found
body of the deceased. lie wius lying on his Ine.
cold, and had been dead for some hours. When fleet
was lifted up it was found that the skull bad heel ewe&
beaten in. Underneath the head there we ge
blood. and there could be no doubt that death w:: e, Z
by the injuries inflicted at the back of the skull. A e 7.,.
short distance from the body was found a trigger ead-1,..
of the leeks of • gm, and further on part of • rat
was picked up. On the day after the murder a
in the employ of Mr. Smith's father comnewer
eund 4
examine the vicinity to see if he could find say win,
meat such as would inflict the injuries deacribod sal 4
dry ditch in a field on the prisoner's farm he feud :
double bevel of a gun, broken oft et the stock. Oa see
the barrels there was a hair of the same colour es the d
the deceased, and a spot of blood was also observed,
trigger, locks, and stock corresponded with the 44;7
and the gun was identified by a gunsmith, named liej;
who lived neer to Whiston Eaves, as one he sold to 17,
prisoner in November last. When arrested gins Aft
spree of blood on the prisoner's clothing. 714
snit of the poet mortem examination wee
finding of three shots in the deorands deg
and the opinion of the surgeon wee that ye
wounds at the back of the head had keel 4,
tided with a blunt instrument ; in feet,
were such as would be caused by the stock of a guiL
surgeon also examined the trousers of the prisoner, su
found that from the knee downwards they were du% m
U they had recently been s ed, whilst on the jeje
there were several teases of The clothing y-3
sent to Professor Taylor' of London, who found that ne
stains were those of blood, but he was not able to ye
thignish by the means at present within the roll d
science, bun= blood from that of many deems
anima. The learned professor's evidence concluded, si
cue for the prosecution.
We learn by telegraph that at tea o'clock the je,
found the prisoner Guilto, but recommended him to eale—'
on account of his previous good character. Benton
death was paneled in the usual form.