Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-10-02 00:00:00

THE FALKIRK BANK FRAUD.

The trial of the prisoners charged will the Falkirk bank
fraud, has ended after four days hearing The jury, after
an absence of nearly two hours, by a majority of nine to
six, delivered the following verdict: —" The jury. by a
majority, find the pastel, William Reid guilty of the first
second, third, fifth (to the ex ent of £720), and sixth
charges as libelled ; and find the panel Thomas Gentles
guilty of tt'l the charges libellel ('he fifth, only to the
extent of £750.) The jury desire to state to the Court
their unanimous opinion that neither of the panels received
one farthing of the money ; and also, itt consideration of
the t' hole circumstances cf the case, and the very high
estimation in which the panels were held by their fellow-
townsmen, the jury in the strongest manner possible
recommend them to the leniency of the Court."
Lord Hand‘ side then passed sentence en the prisoners.
He said: The jury have by their verdict, which is a
discriminating one with reference to the charges and the
evidence, found you gui ty of the crime of breach of trust
and embezzlement. My charge to the jury would, I dare
say, convey to their minds the belief that, had I been one of
their number, I should have concurred with the majority.
I desire to say that I thick their verdict is an important
one for the law of the country, and I ant sure it must prove
a salutary one wherever it is known. It will convey to all
persons in situations of trust that, though they do not parti-
cipate in the act of embezzlement so far as to derive pecu-
niary advantage from it, still by neglecting and disregarding
their trust, and &ding or assisting or screening another in
the commission cf that act, the law holds them guilty of
the crime, that conviction will follow upon evidence, and
that punishment ntu-t then be executed. It is a very great
satisfaction to me that the jury have coupled their verdict
with a recommendation to the leniency of the Court, and
that they have stated the reasons for which they give that
recommendation, in which they unanimously agree, and
which ate so strong in themselves. But for that recom-
mendation I fear that the sentence which my duty would
have cal ed on me to pronounce would have been one of a
very degraeitg character indeed. But giving all the just
weight to the recommendation of the jury which the
'reasons assigned entitle me to do, and looking n the
recommendation
.of a jury at all times as entitlei not
only to the attention of the Court, but to a certain degree
of deference on its part, and assuming as I d 3 that 15
men in a jury:box truly represent the feelings of the com-
munity to which they belong, and that their opinion is a
reflex of the feelings of their fellow- countrymen, I feel
that the recommendation given by the jury, to leniency in
the punishment, is one which will meet with general
approval. I think it of great importance to all parties,
that whatever sentence is pronounced here, should be one
which shall carry with it the sanction of judicious path°
opinion. lam sati fled, therefore, that I pronounce the
proper punishment, under all the circumstances of the
- . i
case, by limiting it to one of imprisoment. Lordship.
then formally p ed sentence on the prisons s of .8
month' imprisonment each, in Perth Penitents .ry

TROOPS Fox lanit.—The next Australian mail steamer,
which 9, ill leave Southampton 12. h October, w'll take out
220 Artillerymen and a number of medical cfri!ers, to pro-
ceed by the Overland route for rervice in India.