The Express.
London, England, 1857-07-15 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE

HOME CIRCUIT.

JULY 14.

--- -
The commission for the county of Essex was opened on
Monday, and this morning both courts proceeded to business,
the Lord Chief Baron presiding in the Crown-court,
Mr. Justice Wiles on the civil aide. The cause list and gaol
CaltillinT are both light, the only serious case to beilisimseil of
being a charge of murder.
Mr. JR/4k,, Wines disposed of several common jury causes,
but none of sufficient iuterest to the public to require a report.

(Before ties—CMdelief Baron.)
John Saw Clabr, a reepeoeshle-looking middle-aged man,
surrendered to take hie trial upon a charged steeling a letter
containing two buff-eovereigna and twelve postage etampe,
the property of the Poritmester-Bennet.
Mr. Wonlswurth, 8.C., sad Mr. Murrell, conducted the
premonition. Scrjeattt Piny and Mr. Codd were Nomad fur
the defence.
It appealed that the prisoner had been fur mere then ten
yearn in the service of the pest-Whop at Reenfurd, and that
him duty wee to deliver the letters that arrived by the morn-
lug mail. and to maim in miming the lettere at the Itomford
office. There bad been a greet many complaints, previous to
the 20th of May, of the loss of letters containing
money that had been sent to Hanford, and Mr.
Seulthurpe, a gentleman holding a reeponeible pe-
ahen at the bead Wilco in St. Martin's-le-Grand,
on that day, in consequence, took the usual course, under the
sanction of the Puerineeter-Doneral, of rending what is called
a test letter, containing two marked half-mvereigea and
twelve postage etemps, addreesod to Mrs. Wardell, at the
Dolphin Inn, Romford ; and another letter, which did not
contain any coin, moat the manse time peeled to Mr.Wardell,
at the mime address, arrengementi having been previously
made that pereune 'Mould be at the Dolphin to mein
the letters, or to report if they miscarried. The mail beg
containing the letters arrived in duo enures at Rum-
ford, and the primmer wee engaged in meting them,
end the ono riddremed to Mr. Well was delivered, but
the letter containing the money and stamps did not make its
appearance. Information was at once conveyed to the Peet-
office authorities in London, and about 8 o'clock the same
evening Mr. Sculthorpe, aocompanied by an officer named
&nee, attached to the Poet-ottioo, came down to Hereford, and
et once institutol the nemimary inquiries to ascertain what
bail become of the 111111141017( letter. A ktler-,ttrivi iiatned
Milton, whose duty it wee to have delivered the letters en the
evening in question, wee first exafelned. He was in a state
of intoxication at the time, but he maimed to have performed
hie duty ea well who was able, and nothing was found upon
his peronn, and euripicion Mull then directed to the prisoner,
which was etrengthentA whin it was aocertained that he bail
assisted to sort the letters when they arrived. It appeared
that the prisoner bore a very good character in the town, and
was considered a partieulerly pious person, and upon in-
quiries being made for ben, the tater discovered that ho had
gone to church, and he met him walking back from thence
with s prayer-Lek in his hand. pun the officer telling him
that he sum wanted at the post-otnie he became eery much
agitated, and Mt hey were going along be observed that thepvi-
Boner wee fumbling in his pocket, and he then put his Mind be-
hind him, and just as they arrived at the doer of the poet-office
the prisoner dropped a half-euvereign, which, urn being
examined, turned out to ho one of thine that Mr. Seulthorpo
bad placed in the letter. The prisoner at first declared that
the half-sovereign sou his, and that he had had it for two
menthe, but upon Mr. Sculthorpe saying that this was Im-
possible, as he had himself placed it in a letter at fear
o'clock that Male afternoon to London, the prisoner made
no reply, and he wee then taken lute custody and eventually
oumniitted en the pemeet charge, the magistrates, however,
in cone quente of. his good character, consenting to allow
him to be at large upon bail; and he now [surrendered to take
his trial.
Mr. Serjeant Perry addressed the jury for the primmer
with his usual ebility end eloquence, and he endeavoured to
show that the half sovereign had not been eutliciently clearly
identified, and also that if he had been the thief the pottage
stamps and the second hid sovereign would hove been found
upon him, or there would have been some evidence to show
that be had divined of them.
A great many respectable inhabitants of Readied and the
neielibourhood were called as witnemes for the primmer,
and they all concurred in giving him an excellent ehsrrieter.
The Lord Chief Baron having summed up, the jury,
after a ',beet ilelibeeition, fiend the prison, r 170,1ty, but
strongly recommended him to mercy on ea-could of the cha-
racter lie hod relived.
Judgment was deferred.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—Yonx, JULY 13.
CROWN COURT.
(Before Mr. Baron Chauntll.)
Sarah Jentnii‘an, aged 2.1, was charged with the wilful
murder of Joseph Jeumeisoth her illegitimate child, in the
pariah of Skelton.
Mr. Priee stated the ca.*. The prisoner was de livered
of • male child in February, 1844. Fur about two
years Mrs. Marley, of Sleights, near Whitby, heel
charge of the child. Prisoner then got in arrears for its
maintenance. She took the child with her to the bootee of
Mr. Pearson, where she eawa in service. He would not allow
it to remain with her. Prisoner said she mold leave it in
charge of motor friend. at Mangra Park, and set oil to go
there with the child. She was seen going in another dire,
lion. The wrnnina of the child were found M a field in the
neighbourhood snore months afterwards.
Mr. Deviant% addreeeed the jury for the prisoner.
Ilia lordship cornered up, and the jery returned a verdict
of Umillq, accompanied by • recnmmeudari n, on the ground
that the prisoner lead the child to maintsin without the
meana of doing so. His lordship then passed sentence of
death upon the prisoner. earneetly imploring her to puss the
remainder of her lifo in repentance.