The Express.
London, England, 1850-08-01 00:00:00

HEREFORDSHIRE ASSIZES.

The commission ol assize for Herefordshire was opened on
Wednesday last, by Lord Chief Justice Campbell. Between
two and three o'clock the sheriff and a numerous cavalcade
went cut to meet his lordship, who arrived in the city of
Herd .rd between 3 and 4 o'clock, when he immediately pro-
ce,ded to the Shire-hall and opened the commiesion. His
lordship aft. rwards proceeded to the cathedral (the first time
any judge has attended there for a great r umber of
Tears, in COON queue of its having been rut of repair), when
divine service was performed. The calendar of prisoners for
this comity is very light, there being only sixteen for trial
in the county gm I and four in the city Raul. The principal
offences with which prisoners are charged are uverinet forged
notes, burglary, highway robbery, stabbing, tn.! sheep steal-
ing. We have heard of very little business in the law courts,
and, altogether, we should imagine that this aril be a very
unprofitable assize for the gentlemen of the long robe.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.-s _IIREIVSBURT, JULY 30.
FIRM/ lIITO A DP ELLIN° HOUSI

Edward GougA, a miner, aged 24, was indicted for firing
a loaded gun, on the 30:h of March last, into the dwelling-
house of Mr. Richard Gerbit, at Lair ley, near Wellington, in
this county, with intent to kill and murder him. A second
count in the indictment charged the °Mom; es an intent to
maim ; and a third count laid it as en intent to do grievous
bodily berm.
Two other men, named Dories and Rogers, had been ap •
prehended on this charge, but the grand jury ignored the
bill against Davies, end R gets, who was admitted to bail,
turned Queen's evidence.
The prosecutor, Mr. Richard Gerbil, lives at Lawley, near
W. fling on, and is land agent to Lord Forester. On the
night of the 30th of March, av prosecutor and his wife were
retiring to bed, about half-peat ten, prosecutor had jest
knelt down by a chair at the bedside to say his prayers,.
when he heard the report of a gun discharged
against his bedroom window. On examining the apartment
next morning he found eleven large shot about the room,
and the panel of the window perforated from the effceta of
thins shot.

Mr. Huddleston, in stating the ease for the prosecution,
said the only motive which could be assigned kr inducing
the prisoner to e,mmit this atrocious oat was, that the pro-
secutor, in hie capacity of land agent to I,:rd Forester, had
i-sued a summons against the prisoner (or poetising, and the
prisoner bad said to a policeman that " old Dicky (}orbit,"
meaning the prosecutor, had been the cause of his being
discharged from employment at the Hernias), Iron work,.
The principal evidence against the prisoner was that of his
two companions, Daviis and Rogers, who sated that on the
day named they all three wit out for a day's ramble ; that
Rogers, at prisoner's r. quest, brought a gun wi.h him, and
alter purchasing some powder at D %witty Omen, they went
fora stroll round the WrAin, and towards evening made
their way to a public house in Wellington. Alter having
some drii,k they went on their way towards home, and
Davies and Rogers both told the rather incredible roe, that
when about 150 yar,'s from prosecutor's house they heard
the report of a gun, yet never till that moment missed the
prisoner Gough. They alleged that as soon es they heard
the shot they then missed him, and 'lmre immediately
afterwards prisoner came running up to them, and ex-
claimed, Now let's get on, I have sent tight dowse at the
window." . .

The fact of the prisoner and his two companions being met
sear the prose tutor's house oa the night in quiecion by dif-
ferent parties ws roved, and this being all tue evidence for
the peomeutitn, and the prisoner being undefended by
counsel, hi. It rtiehlp summed up the one to the jury, who,
titer some ansultation, toucd a sadist that the prisoner wan
Guilty Of a common assault, but there was no evidence to
prove that Mr. Oar'eit, the promcutor, we. in his room whoa
the shot was tired.
TM kedge appeared taken by aurprise by this strange Ter-
diet, IS Oarhit'a evidence was conclusive that he was is
the room it the time the shot was tired. and there we. •
lieht in die row, which persona outside the house could sm.
His loettellip told the jury if they thought se ens was In the
vow Wiest .he shot was tired of course there could be ae
wash, and their verdict wculd be one of not genie.
The jury, after consulting again, returned verdict of Net
path and as plazas: was discharged,