The Express.
London, England, 1861-07-15 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT.—HarsoaD, JCLY 13.
CROWN SlDE—(Before Yr. Justice Blackburn.)

Janes 3ssids, 25, • gipsy, was indicted for feloniously
assaulting and ravishing Anne Heron.
Mr. Bushby conducted the prosecution ; the prisoner was
defended by Mr. Lysley
It appeared from the statement of the learned counsel for
the prosecution, and the evidence adduced to support it,
that the offence of which the prisoner was accused was can.
mated under the most aggravated circumstances. The
prosecutrix, who gave her evidence in • very simple and
artless manner, is • respectable young woman, the &ashter
of a labourer living near the village of Rickmansworth, and
it appeared that about 6 o'clock on the evening of the 13th
of May she went out for the purpose of purchasing some
articles of grocery for the family, and she had to go
through • der lil where there was &public footpath. As she was
proceeding on her way she saw the prisoner and two other
men sitting on a gate, and as abe approached them the pri-
soner jumped off the gate and went up to her, and addressed
her by saying, " Well, girl, where are you going to? She
replied that that was no business of his, and was about to
proceed, when the prisoner laid hold of her in an indecent
manner and attempted to throw her down. She recited,
and a desperate struggle took place between them, daring
which her clothes were literally torn from her back, and
she, at length, had nothing on but bar chemise, and
she became im weak and exhausted, that the prisoner
succeeded in forcing her upon the ground and accom-
plishing his object. It appeared that while this was
going on, the prisoner's companions remained sitting on the
EON and did not attempt to render her the least assistance,
and when she had an opportunity the trig got np
and attempted to go away. When shedid so the prisoner
mid he had lot done with her yet, and ran after her, and
threw • shawl round her face, and again endeavoured to
throw her upon the ground. She struggled with him as
well as her strength would permit, and, one of the other
men, upon seeing this, ran up, seized the proaecutrtx, and
assisted to force her clown, and the prisoner then again ro-
=lls offence. It may be imagined that the proem:n-
-4s at this time in • most pitiable condition, but she
endeavoured to get away r well as she cuuld, and as she
was leaving the prisoner galled out to her, and said
that if she told anything about him he would
murder her the next time be saw her. The
poorgirl reached home with a great deal of difficulty, and im-
mediately told her father what had happened, and after she
had sufficiently recovered they proceeded in search of the
prisoner, and came up with him at no very great distance
from the spot where the outrage had been committed, and
the preeecutrix immediately pointed him out to her father,
who asked him what be had been doing with his daughter.
The reply was that he knew nothing about her, but upon
the father saying that he was the man he wanted, and
he should mum him, the pri cner exclaimed, " Ob, if you
MOM that, you I give you leg bail," and he
that ran off, and soloseded in getting away. A police-
onutablii, awned Parker, was then applied to, and on
the following day be accompanied the prosecutrix and
her father to • place on the borders of the counties of
Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire, where there was a
pogof gipsiea, and the prisoner, who was among them,
was again identified by the prosecutrix, and given into cue.
tody. Upon the constable telling him what he was charged
with, he at first declared he was entirely innocent, and had
no
knowledge whatever of the prosecutes, but when the
emetable was conveying him to gaol he asked him whether
he thought be should get twelve months for what he had
done ; and, upon his replying that it was impossible for him
=what the malt would be, the prisoner said that be
consider himself very Incky if be " got off " for three
months. The prisoner, when before the magistrates, de-
dared that he was not the man who had assaulted the pro-
seestrix, and the only defence that was attempted to be set
up for him by his learned counsel was that the prosecutrix
might possibly be under a mistake as to his identity.
jury atonee returned a venlict of Guilty, and the pri•
moor was esetenced to penal servitude for fifteen years.

OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Woseceres, JOLT 13.
The comminion was opened for Worcester city and county
here thin evening. the Judges being Mr. Justice Hill and
Mr. Justice Keating. The calendar is rather heavy fur
summer sagas, there being 36 prisoners for trial in the
county and four to the city.