The Express.
London, England, 1859-08-06 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTALLIGENCIL

HOME CIRCUIT.,--CzoyDoN, Avourr b.

The commission for the noway of Sarrey was opened on
Thursday, and business was
_peeoesded with in both courts
this morning at ten o'clock, Mr. Judos Crowder presiding
on the civil aide, and Mr. Judie. Blackburn in the crown
court. The poi cslendar contains the mime of IC prisoners,
but none of the Whims appear to be of a heinous character.
On the civil aide 120 MIMS are entered, 20 of which ars
special jury cam.
Clown Sros.—(Bafare Mr. Justice Blackburn.)

Richard Air, 20, a private soldier, was indicted for stsalieg
a watch from the person of the Rev. William Stuart.
Mr. Raspy prosecuted ; the prisoner was defended by Mr.
WsiTife %ay. Mr. Stuart, the prosecutor, deposed that he was
in Hint-street, Guildford, on the night of the 2nd July,
when the prisoner ante up to him and said that he wanted a
bed, and witness told him that if he really wanted a bed he
would not object to pay for one for hint. The primmer
directed him to a place where • bed could be procured, and
he accompanied him there, and saw • man, whom he aged
if he conla tell him whore the soldier could have a bed, sad
he wee willing to pay for it. While he was talking to this
man, he felt the make a pun at his watch, and he
said to him, "What are you doing V' and the prisoner
ren away, and be raw hie guard dangling, sad his watch
was gone. He gave an Mane, but the prisoner succeeded in
getting away.
The prosecutor, upon being crow-examined, said that he
was the curate of the perish of Stoke, near Guildfeed. He
had been to the rail's, station to inquire about a parcel, and
it wee half-put eleven o'clock at night when the offence oc-
curred. He went to the hotel near the railway, and hod a
glare of ale. Hs afterwards went to the White Lion hotel,
and had another glass of ale, or he might have bed
two. The street where the robbery occurred was called
Swan-lace, and he bed Sind heard that it was one
of the worm neighbourhoods in Guildford, end that
none but proetitutes and bad characters lived there.
Swan-lane was not the direct way to his own
residence, end if he had not gone there be would not have
met the soldier. The prisoner first accosted him ro well a
he could remember, and he did not offer to take him to • place
in Swan-lane where be could get a bed. The prisoner told
him that he could get a bed there. He did nos go into any
Mum with the prisoner. He did not Asp the Lena the man
he sew in the Imre, but he certainly amuck et bin,, and his
hand went round and touched him on the We. (A langs.)
He did not peeler going home by the way of Swan-lane
because be knew it was inhabited by prostitutes. (A lunch.)
The only reason ha mat there wee because the prisoner told
him that It was a place he woad be likely to get a bed.
John Lovett deposed that be was standing near the and of
Swan-lane on the night la gestation, and saw the prosecutor
and the soldier walking together. They came up to him,
and the prosecutor gave him a slap on the face, and said,
"Can you find us • bed?' Witness told him that the
houses were all shut up, and it was too lens, and he should
have looked out fir • bed before, sad the prosecutor then said,
"lam a clergyman ; you know that." Witness told him he
wen not aware of it ; and added that he wait a " pretty cler-
gyman" to hit him, and he had better not do it spin. (A
laugh.) The prisoner then asked him to tell him wham be
could get • bed, and the prosecutor said that be would pay
for it, sad at the same moment witness saw the prisoner
make • snatch et the prosecutor's chain, and ran off, and the
chain dangled loose.
Cress-examined—When witness firth saw the prosecutor
and the prisoner they were standing close to the Swan pub-
11c-itoese. it was shut, and one or the other was rapping at
the doer. The prosecutor came up to witness, and at once
gave hi. a slap on the mouth. (A laugh.) He certainly
was not very sober. He did not walk particularly straight. (A
laugh.) Swan-lane was uthabited by very loom characters
indeed. (Renewed laughter.) It wee bodily 12 o'clock at
sight when the offoeoe occurred.
Mr, Wonky, in hi address to the jury on behalf of the
I prisoner, made some very strong observations on the conduct
of the prosecutor, and he sill there could be no doubt that
at the time the trenesctioe took place be was in e state of in-
toxication, and that he had been wanderiag about the town
in that condition, and might have lost his watch before be
met with the prisoner.
Mr. Justice bleckbarn, in summing up, saM that merry of
the tacts that had appeared en the evidence wen very painful
to hem, but the question for the Puy was, whether or not it
was made out to their eatistacteon that the prisoner hid
stolen the watch from the prosecutor.
The jury, after deliberating for some time, said they could
weeper and they sccordinglyretired. They wereebeent about
en hour, and, upon their return into court, they Lund the
prisoner (briny.
Sentence wee deferred.