The Express.
London, England, 1850-03-25 00:00:00

ANN MERRITT.

The Daily News, alluding to the respite of Ann
Merritt, announced in Saturday's Erpress, says
We have the greatest satisfaction in announcing
that the convict Ann Merritt, lately lying under sen-
tence of death in Newgate, has been respited during
her Majesty's pleasure. The respite was sent down
from the Home-office at an early hour on Saturday,
and information of the feet reached us in the follow-
ing gratifying note from Mr. Under-Sheriff Millard:

TO TIM EDITOI OF TIM DAILY NEVII.
Sir,—Next to the duty of communicating to Ann
Merritt the favourable consideration of her appeal for
mercy, is the duty of informing you of her reprieve
Nottinguri latoon.
that I can say can adcgoately express the
high sense I entertain of your kindness in the notice
of her case, and your exertions on her behalf, which
haws led to the happy result I hasten to communicate.
The life of an innocent fellow-oreature his been
saved. Faithfully you'll,
JAMES JOSIAH MILLARD.
Cordwaiaers' Hall, March 23, 1850.

THE CABE OF ANN MERRITT.

(Prom the Daily Na.)aa

Oar readers, of whatever sex or party, will rejoice
to hear that the efforts which have been made to save
the life of ANN MERRITT have been attended with
success. Early on Saturday a communication teas
made by the Home Secretary, to the Governor of \car.
gate, that the execution of thin unhappy women a= uld
be respited during the pleasure of her MA.!LSTV. '1 kris
implies, we apprehend, • reconsideration of her else,
which, we may observe, is not recdered leas remarks-
ble by the circumstances which are generally atated to
have attended the reprieve.
We mentioned the other day that the defence of
this prisoser had devolved upon the sheriffs The
defence which these officials are enabled to afford in
certain instances out of the fund at their disposal is
not conceded as a form ; it is reserved fcr caws in
which reasonable doubt appeals to exist of the guilt
of a prisoner, and where that prisoner's position pre-
cludes the possibility of retaining the counsel required
for the defence.

And here we may observe that there are few cha-
ritable funds in existence which have more benefi-
cent objects, or which are more clean agecualy
administered, than "the Sheriffs Funds' of Lont:on
and Middlesex. Those who are familiar with the
proceedings of the Central Criminal Court can testify
that scarcely a session passes without this fund being
the means of affording assistance to some pitiable
case, for which the sympathy of all who hear it is
actively excited. During the present Shrievalty a
very careful and discriminating, and at the same time
a very benevolent and liberal, spirit has guided the
application of these resources. Each sacceedi4
month some unfortunate has been rescued from the
miserable fate which awaited her at the hands of the
law by the interposition of the very officers who have
too frequently been regarded as its mere admiMe.
trators. By such humanity lustre has been refitettl
upon the administration of justice and a grace Ll 4
been imparted to the office of the sheriff, at oc,c
adding to its popularity and increasing its importance.
The conviction of ANN MERRITT, who was de-
fended from their fund, appeared to the Sheriffs to
render necessary some review of the evidence given
in her case, so as to enable them to satisfy their own
minds that she had not been defended without reason-
able cause. Accordingly, the facts of the case were
carefully reviewed. ANN MERRITT was found guilty
on a medical opinion, and it certainly seemed that
that unsupported opinion opened a very important
question in medical and chemical science—a question
on which additional information and investigaticn
might fairly be required. It was accordingly decided
to submit the evidence for the consideraticn of the
first physicians, surgeons, and chemical anthvities,
and to request, for the satisfaction of the Sheriffs,
their unbiassed opinion on the facts.
The judgments of such men as Sir B. BRODIE, Dr.
LEESON, Dr. BILLING, and that Nestor among che-
mists, Dr. CBE, are stated to have been quite decisive
upon the point raised by Dr. LETUEBY's evidence—
namely, whether arsenic could be retsired in :he
stomach for a period exceeding four hours without
passing into the intestines. The foregoing authori-
ties, and ()there, were unanimously of opinion :oat
from the dense and scarcely soluble character of
this poison such a result was quite within
the range of possibility : indeed as our readers are
aware numerous cues are on record in wh;ch arsenic
has been known to remain in the stomach much longer
than four hours; and such being the case there was
nothing in the evidence against ANN MEnitirr es-
tablishing, in any way, her commission of the crime.
But fortunately for the unhappy prisoner it became,
it seems, unnecessary to cite casts or procure further
evidence on this point. It is 'teed that among the
medical men consulted there chanced to be
an eminent practitioner, well-known by sn
established work on the properties of poi-
sons. This gentleman's opinion concurred with
those of Sir B. BRoDIE and Dr. URE, but, as a friend
and colleague of Dr. LETIIEBT, he considered it right
to consult that physician before submitting his opi-
nion to writing. The result of such cor,u.tation was
that Dr. LETHEBY requested twenty-four hours to
deliberate. Before the time had expired he addressed
a letter to hie friend for communication to the sheriff,

and the Home Secretary in which he qualified his
opinion given on the trial, statieg, it is said, that it
such a case be was bound to admit that, though the
probabilities were opposed to retention of &Teen,:
longer than four hours in the stomach, yet that it was
within the bounds of pcseibility that such a rem::
might have happened.
Upon a consideration of these facts the Home Secre-
tary, it seems, issued a respite during her Majesty's
pleasure, and "with a view to further investigation
of the case." Indeed, the authorities, as it appears to
us,'were placed, in this instance, in no small dilemma.
The evidence of Dr. LETIIEBT losing withdrawn, it
becomes quite a question whether the prisoner is not
entitled to a free pardon. Such would b • undoubtedly
the opinion of the learned judge who tried the prat
loner, because he distinctly charged the jury that, if
they attached no weight to 1)r. Lessen': opirion,
it would be their duty to pronounce in favour of her
acquittal.
However, with the resulting proceedings in this case
we have comparatively small concern. Our duty has
beendose in protesting—and successfully protesting—
against the intended execution. We heartily rejoice at
having been in any degree instrumental in the pre-
servation of this woman's life. It recta with othere,
and more especially with her relatives and friends, to
take advantage of the breach which the battery of
public remonstrance may have opened for them, and
to protest against the punishment of this woman for
a crime of which, as the evidence now stands. she is
clearly fir from being proved to have committed. We
have only one word more to say, and that relate,
rather to future criminal proceedings than to past
occurrences. It is to be sincerely hoped, that the
public exposition of this case may do good
an cautioning both scientific men and lawyers ',ors:
the danger of off-hand evidence. ANN Itleeeirr's is not
the only instance which shows the danger of foregone
conclusion!' in criminal jurisprudence. We obsers
from our assize intelligence that MERCY Nest ms,
whose case we called attention last autumn, has again
been tried at Shrewsbury, and that at
last the jury have found a verdict of Not Guilty.
This woman must have been familiarized with the
Shrewsbury Assize Court. This is the third time she
has been placed at that bar on the same charge ; fix
juries in the two former instances having both bees
dismissed without arriving at any verdict whatsoever.
It was quite obvious, as we said lest year, that no
jury could convict upon the evidence presented in
that cue; and it now seems, as we then predicted'
that all that has resulted from these repeated trials
has been that this woman has been kept in gaol for tt‘
months at the public expense, and not without some
imputation being cast upon the parties who acted fer
the crown of pushing her prosecution to an almost
extreme length.

JUDGES' SALARTF.B.—This evening (hlordiej)i ..11`
debate on the Chief Justices' thistles Bill, the quessi n
the salaries to Judges of the several courts wi:l be twitch'.
forward. The Lord Chancellor has 10,0001. a yea and the
Master of the Rolls 8,0001. It is propos, dt3 tie the rise,
of ktlts Chief Justice of the Quern's Bench at 8,0001 . acti
that of the Common Plc is 'at 7pow . which Wad" h,';‘'
been received foe some time. The Chief Baron of the WI.
chequer hes 7,0001., and all the other judges of the espcnq
courts 3,5001. each ; of course, the income tea is deductio
from all them.

TIIE HlIK;TIIE SE T.-PRO
MP POSED C
S.HANGES LN
TA LAW

TO VIII SIDITOS 01P 711 SIPRESII.
, —ln continuing my remarks upon tbe resolu-
tion. proposed by Sir C Wood, I will pus by the
al core, made in respect of leases of mines, Ste.,
and at corn rents and I will advert at MOO to the
two most material items of neetgagee and 'Wks.

111".""tr t. mortgages. Here a similar question arises
▪t• &averted to under the head of conveyances.
The vamp to at permit imposed upon any mortgage
of i• land.. estate, or property, real or personal." By
the rearl.itioss three words are to be
retained, ad
is
addttioa are to be foaled unr old friends, " or any sum
metier or thisg whatsoever." Except this puma
to„dor to the &lees to be subjected to these stamp,
three to wit any material alteration until we arrive at'
&Pltibt. m closes. These 112%) now created by the
dr.cot of titlrdeeda, and moat constitute a charge
• soon the lands. estate, or property comprised in
orb ;" but the Chancellor proposes that, in re-
prim dd• fosm of srearity, a liability to taxatios
shoteil be extended to the deposit also of " any in.
▪ ,rat or writing relating to any property, matter,
ar ' Hug,' and " any writing whatsoever whereby 1
interamett, or writing, land., estate, pro-
perty. matter, or thing. shall be made or become
earged as a asearity in law or in equity." enamel.- !
rid men will regard this extension with some dislike,
tormorb a. it brirgs the stamp law in contact with
dale ramifications of heehaw, and this ss well
fro small es for large sums, and into transactions
Eitherto mallet. on credit alone, for it is dim.
Fit to conceive bow it will be possible
to otrain any temporary aeoommodation from
a barker or say other person, unless there be
~we writing given to the letder bi which he
bare a this on some " matter or thing," or
• am* instrument or writing relating to same
rop.r:y. matter, or thing beloogiag to the borrower.
I teed not, however, dwell oa this point, as it is one
eh ch the intelligence of your readers will speedily
arply for themselees.
itwe introduction of a constantiy rising graduated
ki*.• makes it imjoasible that any maximum stamp
.• I'd be Axed for mortgages for uncertain amounts.
a natural iccoovenience resulting from the
it'd as such it scarcely falls within the altered/as
• ~ law which it is my object especially to poiat
• ;
-namely, such as are not the necessary sense
, • ot an altered system, and as were net Me•
.t:ed or alluded to by the Chaocellov. I wilk
fore. only OM IMP, as to 'lds portion of the pew !
tee law, that the provision as to the 'tempi,'
Inc such geed, and which readers it effective only
il•st m.wnent of stamping, will be the source of

. --
trainer. and may be tee cause of much lose.
A. to set-lemmas, annuities, rents, or yearly
tans, n-ld also shares in any employ or corporation,
r ar. nor made subject to an at/ ralorem duty under
this head. This is not proltably a very material alte-
Teti m. h s more important change is made by a pro-
vision -sit where, upps any settlement of land "any
sum of at.r.ry cr stock shall be charged thereon,
or ane power shall be given to charge any such
• will any sum of money or stock for mi-
lks lotti rar children or otherwise, the ad valorem
627 Its: b hanged
in respect of such sum or
rots- 'lre commercial and trading community are
rcalc:y afltcld by the alterations as to equitable
mrszu,si and t!..e landed proprietor will suffer by
ire ta-gein r. gard to settlements. The language
is tr very clear. bat the mildest meaning must, at
least. It t.is : that if a landed es-ate be put into
attfacvnt sal the deed contain the ordinary power
to mite isyrti.-ts fir younger children (say 20,000 L),
i- rat. of a second marriage to raise further po-
tions fr the children of such second marriage (say
th.n that such settlement will, in addition

now liable, be subject to
. in respect of such sum of
ly be raised at some time,
wholly or partially, never
the altered stamps which
. covenant and warrants of
is mainly to point out the
the measure now pro-
mo far as the test of the

speech of the Chancellor
reported in the newspapers, that
t reduction in the lower stamps
vetted that be would be obliged
it the duties on the larger
ed at the statements contained
an Thant's,- lut, and I have
iished to find that 'lterations
asive, and involving such a
the stamp laws, should be
redaction of taus. If the

~are troubled you be correct,
.enkins" appears to be about the
-in by the change; for el-
-. 121111 of eels or mortgage a
effected in the 'tamp, yet the
obtain this relief will be sub-
►tion by the additional amount
proposed to bring in charge.
I am, B:c.,
A SOLICITOR.

,NG DISTRICTS.
sNcHzernm, Nandi 23.
School Association ar• prs-
slie Is the Free Trade
s view to the diecusaios of the
sebum is bend, aad of its slain'
the Monday leliowiag the Meyer of
nephew with • very ounerowdy.
stile end influential requisition,
:ewe Hall ca the sane question.
dumb party will not be able to
'ag es they nuesetled is doing a
the R 47 Hugh Stowell is
pledge at cos of his late
dimmed people that they
se he woe tke leader of
astitipated Usk he will make a
present memo= to eldest the objects
ueeting. The friends of ea mom .
however, Night sot to allow then-
by • gentlenso sad his follower
maims, inhabiteate of this borough,
debt, are vastly Weldor to them is
IS fairly meowed. If tbe Mends
Schools mint are net spethetie
Int they met aspen bud
a of it.
sad Parikenestsay Asmesistion
exertions as seeinete the ob.
1, end Ili. PAW" who has
esiesionue ofe bbd
towns la olds= pHs of liss
asesalliwildp. The need
_- the mei,
freeholds, bas is umweer W ,
Nike toss the igiiiikes if Ohs
that h M doe imasiess et Ibie
Nana of issilake be gums'
ander tee present defeetke
close ottesnien loade,orastfrel
remedies. Kr. lameßNbia, whit
iswe of the Asti-Coen Lew Islam k
n'reehold Lead Aseekdas eseastly
sad the Meehan assallie, is
'bays alrea
ladleatehldy bias tam.
tee gnat
bat huh wpm dam bass.that kw stibselplkse, *earn
comp► ativoly lbw I amber At sub
,t district ; beweww_ pale Mr be
p aad mayor me the bad el lbw keel
weans more asirtie ibis ibis.
tried,
Udse rut sowiw wM
la e salgthe
A Dixon has sams doarbead.wn to Man-
. her Majesty's Camaliaissis, cs
committees sad rouse the spirit of
tufacturen to emesking worthier of
saythiag tboa have yet gives
I sea hear his energy, task
great service. The
several !mangles, =ref
r neglected those in 411111104 t.
capable of beteg timed Is a mime
has been a went Of best sad seal
arrangements which has suffered the
. Iszseptat,ly.
abet:continues to be szesedlaily
though already below a reassiestiti
In addition to the disseuseglog
%bine, the sews from Song ins-
ea.% precludes hot* of say
for that qui rter. The hoses=
retold of busiest, which night be
able :spring, sad there is a general
etasa melt in the way of any ex-
Ike Ware.

mg
pro.

to rug pra-na Isii 7nshqsch ..aa.auff •.,s %on.? .WONNA.
.0. :.. rat. of a second marriage to raise further p:
tin• fv the children of each second marriage (e
) then that such settlement will, in additio
t) the .tatn:a to which it is now liable, be subject
at . 1, ' ~,, stamp of 731. in respect of such sum
, . . '• which say pcesibly be raised at some tie
V. each =wale,' either wholly or partially, nes-
-1-.:••.:-.•• payit le.
I h.re not adverted to the altered stamps whi
w.... 2. payah:e on deeds of covenant and warrants
ratter. for my object is mainly to point out t
iii: ri variations between the meteor* now pc
t).): std the existing acts, so far u the test of tJ
:3117, %:t be coccernecL
*it.ti:,teedirig ITJUI the speech of the Chaaoell
of tic ExAegier, as reported in the aewspapers, th
le proprei a great reduction in the lower stam
teen .....:., 2nd regretted that be would be oblige
13 -.r..teeec r mewhat the duties on the larg
tr.,-..2•1. I was surprised at the statements contain,
1 enr raditg article on Thossdiy last, aud I ha
r.-s ,le-t:y been astoniehed to find that alteratio
it nriepit; and extensive, and involving such
;we it.crii_sed scope to the stamp laws, should
pouch undo. cover of a reduction of taxes. If ti
a7-I:,s wit', which I have troubled you be corree
..:_- • preih,e Miss Jenkins" appears to be about ti
it; ;tam who will gain by the change; for I
.....1: :pc some transactions of se le or mortgage
TIT :.1)f l'w. may be effected in the stamp, yet t
r pence' who will obtain this relief will be au
i•.••:•)itcreued taxation by the additional mono
it 727.1ty which it is proposed to bring in charge.
I am, Licc.,
::cut .. A SOLICITOR.
THE
HANUF.kCTURING DISTRICTS
NANCHIESTEI7I Nairn 23
T:. Linca•hire Public School Association ars p
line ~ t...t s hi 0 ,tll4 public meeting is the Free Tn
E.- .Ir./iCay test, with a view to the dismission of I
1r.t.:.;..i I tc it.ch their schema is based, sad et its alai
r, ; ......c ..w.r. Ins the Monday followirig the Meyer
Xll.r.h.tti tea in c 'optima, with a very 111111110•11
4t.t at Le-I respectable and isihiestial regoinitil
tassel : s venting It the Tema Hall os the sane gaud,
I:•ts.k.rad that the chunk party will set be able
nu; tcu :atter meths, as they soseseled is doing!
La.., at .at ;ow; but the Hew. Heigh Stowell
*4 s nee enacted • pledge at me of his I
lattsrsst tram two thossaad people that th
lA4 A preens ; sad as he wee the leader
tie -b. 7.° ' 4Ptitititha it is satinpated tau he will nab
tun, 'erupt ea the presses omen= to ideal the ebje
etti :pa-/en elfin meesisg. The friends ed sa sue
11'.'t :".4E 4 thostila, however, sight see to slim the
11•,...c.,.....e eatesteel by a gestioses sad his Plow
ur"w` "- KIWI/ is eida& tatbaltattliS of eh barciai
1114 •V 4 thin us be se assalri • "WV lehdrie *111."
mew' wen toth penes atessered. U tie Ain
one Linnet n Public spasm are set spas
Ury_
~..i.-.,a.e. Si easy vinery, bet lay mesa smut h
.:.,...,_. cs,,ar es the pnee of it
_ m.ett.rer Laaceial and Parlissesahary Areedell
•1, • .;,..s.d to nisi ia its 'leftism /10116M0 the,
t fr .e.,.t it was four:dad, and Ms. Prentiss. wise I
wr,'Kle'l tae conceit aline maniatien at needs. it
,i 4,4 ...""`:!'_' lad g) stews is various tarts of I
ain't .0 SUlPied secretaryship. The me
....,
_O. M menus ia the meaty weetiteemimi
_._ %tam a th. freeholds, him is like meow,
1
r '74 ,re.sienh,e impulse hem the ar 1
1,7 .
.4 lam infistoted that It is the= of 1
u! • 4 pwslt, ism in that rune of ormaidthiss ISt gewe
....„_',eat
,n • nisebverameat ender the pressed defeat
":.4. Pt wctabas, with close attositios to the met
• ...s.
_JaccesLate sinaediss. Mr. Joseph Hiekis, v
t-,:.-i• 'Least iterstary of the Aati•Cors Law Lawn
~...?•,_o7*.stery of the Freehold Lead Association rem
'..7, it Mastbswer sad the Northers tessatir,
ii;••• to ;Mt sad hOO shares have already bees tab
em
la favour of tke great ladostrial Eel
1,,...
t.',.l_le. aitheno nade bet Luis pogrom down A
L, ~ it',7
.ftel snry one that the oabseriptiam, UM
1..,
... suit•, wen comparatively Itrw be ZILISINIF *lft •
tt., ~.7 I kLd sepal cu Amin; mad however easy
cta-..,.c.5.4_,uts bishop aad stayer at the of the Is
1,, kiir,:+l.4 other wow mare esergstie this tb
rat , 'l', 'ball be tried, as great mom 1
~, ~,
~ 1,0 same is this atighbeewheed.
th.ii,..? 3i, Hepworth Hirst has sore dews to M
sist.„.4N.:••mtaest of her Majesty's ComikelOSllM
G., ~_:•", " 'remise semaittess ant raves the spirit
1,..., :Lula and manislaskann to sossetklag worthis
..,i1 ui WM them alibis. they have yet gi
14., Aft' !" frees whet I ass leer el his UMPIrly• G•
use. b.,,...4 • 4 may he of great sank,. The prevent
lt,, t...7„,!Le Nan with several drawbacks, and if
/,„.,.., • twee ahoolutaly neglected dace is elan.
I,,,,;:,,r'PPWt haft bees eepeW or betog plead and,
a..... 4.'r "At. "--swery kr hese a want of Mat
1.... , ~,,,?,0 heal arrangasents which has sallied
~, it' ` ' "11l most lamentably.
pe,...4
....Yin %role sserket:coatioun to be exceedingly
1,, ~. t•• Penes, though already below a tea moral
si;,.' IL4taalls to read I ad • 'tha 6
e. 12 dill= to ._....
r.... .1.. r :11, !Oda.. std Clio', the news from South At
:".,,,.,,,,,:t :i.e.:: t todd.Las
t., precludes hose of any ape
hat 'joiner. The home to
„,t•.:7,4, qieß the' extent of busiams which night
i.. q ~.0,
,ti a favonrable :spring, sad there Is a goat
b's:',:trti.stililcsblieavitaa6w to athrbfaia Ili
waY
at
as;
, ...,
im,,I.P.AIJING.--Ii is dated t° be the int
;,, 1.4",,, LL mat to pat aa sad to " spodal. pl•
I,„__ IL ',sperm Courts at Weetnieiler, by Wig 1..,7, a wnwure is the House of C
,7. " seadis,„,., acti ilatillollll to abolish
it
• at,. ii Onl, and thereby to Unfolds the i
ecru .4 law pncsedair.