The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-08-10 00:00:00

NORFOLK CIRCUIT.

I SUFFOLK ASSIZES, Dear ST. EDNOND.S, AUO*l* 1
(Beftwa Mr. Jail ce GASELCE and a Special Jury.)
roan V. ratmitost.
This was an action for words spoken. The plaintiff WWI • farrier
or veterinary surgeon at 31ildenlisli, in this county; lA* defendant
is a stirgeon residing at the same place; and the charge sea, that
the tlefent:ant had said of the plaintiff (under circumstances speci-
fied), " he (the plaintiff) was the death of his first wife, and he
might its have gone to Bury for it ;" the inuendo alle;ing this ta an
Imputation of murder, or at least manslaughter. against the plain-
tiff, Bury being the Assize and gaol town of the liberty. Tetere
were otli`T counts, charging the defendant to have said, on the death
of the plaintiff"' housekeeper. Mary Wing, that the manes might
to be most rigidly inquired into, far that he (pla.ntiftt had murder.
ed his former wile, or woman, by giving her '.inpreper medicines
for a peculiar complaint, which caused her death. Further counts
mated the ine.:'s word, to hate been used, tv i:hotit any inuendo a 'a
their import; and there was a plea of epccia! dair.age to the plai a: i 9
in his business. 'the defendant pleaded the general issue, without
setting up any justification.
Mr. John II synutn (the first witness for the plaintiff) said I are
one of the ('onmers kW this (aunty. On the 15th of September Inst
I wrist to Mildenitall to take an inquest on the body of a child ; tl.e
child had died auddimly by breaking a blood.yeas. On that .1 .it
(the 15th of September) I sew Mr. Primrose in the streets of 31,1-
denhall ; a woman named Mary Wirg had just died in the tow..,
and was not yet buried ; this woman was the plaintiff "s housekeeper.
The defendant and I had a conversation that day about theplainedh
Ile led to it. Ile said, when he met me, " You hare been over
here on an unpleasant bucineint"--alluding to the death of the rtiiid
that I have mentioned. I said, .• Yes, I have; and I am afraid I
must have another before I leave the parish, for I have heard. of the
death of a woman kept by a man et* the name of Ford; slid her
death was so sudden that I think I must take an inquest on hil...
After 1 said this 51r. Primrose• answered me. as nearly as I can
recoffect, in these terms :—" I tli:iik you are quite right; for I
told that man myself when his former wife died"—' I agt not quite
cure whether he said" former wife" or '. former mistresi")--" Ind.;
him that he was the death of her; and he deserved to have gone to
Burs Gaol for it." I did afterwards hold an inquest on the bo.ly
of :Mary Wing; the verdict was—" Died by the visitation of
God."

Mr. Arthur Lloyd Gedge examined—l am a surgeon hying at
Mildenhall, and recollect the 15th of September. when Mr. Wnv -
man came over td hold the inquest on the child. I had a colver-
sation with the defendant, Mr. Primrose, oh that day. He sniJ,
speaking of the death of Mary Wing, " I think the present bu-
siness ought to have the most rigid inquiry, for he has aturd-r:d
his wife (meaning Ford); that Is, he gave her improper
for a certain complaint, which was the canoe of her death."
The Jury retired for about half an hlur, at the cud of vatic:
time they found a verdict fur the plaintiff—Damages 201. ; ,tind:ng
upon the tab count nay of the deeiration, which charged the word.
spoken without any

IRELA__r___ ND.

WEXFORD ASSI7,F.B, Wrbsssowr, Ava. 4.

HORRIBLE figt,IIIATICISM.
John Carroll, N:cholas Wic tt, James De-ocreas, Patrick
Paret, Nicholas Corrisli, and In ter Seems, the three latter of
whom had surrendered since the previous day, were placed at tb:
bar.

It was stated that the prisoners would not join in that chal-
lenges.
hlr. Darscobb—Thera we must try them tieparately. The other
prisoners were withdrawn from the bar, and Father Carroll alone
allowed to remain.

The Panel was here called over. It consisted of Sos names, 116
of whom answered. There were several challenges, principally
on behalf of the prisoners, and at eleven o'clock the Jury air
►worn.

31r. DICKSON, Counsel for the prisoners, said, that the Jury
having been sawn, he would now allow all the prisoners to be
tried toeether. All the prisoners were then put to the bar, a,.d
the indictment having been read, and the several prisoners given
in charge:—
Mr. Da taco e K. C. stated the ease foe the Crown. He said
that this was one of the mo.t distressing cases that ever came be-
fore a Criminal Court of Justice Whether it were viewed in refer-
ence to the reicrend character of prisoner at the bar, se as SAG
in which the life of a fellow-creature had been forfataid. Tire
King, for whom he prosecuted, had a right to knOw by what means
one of his subjects came by her death, and the Jury were placed
In that box for the purpose of ascertaining the fact. A case sat •
similar nature to that which he was now about to state to them
never before occurred in Ireland, nor was there a parallel to be
found for it in the annals of British History. Before. kW-
ever, his going into the merits of the case, tie would call upon the
Jury to dismiss from data minds all impressions injurlobs to the
prisoner, whether received through the medium of the newspapers,
or conveyed by public rumour. He would call on the Jury to
spiritualize themselves, and be influenced entirely In the verilt:t
they should give by the evidence which should be laid before
them. The defence to be set up was well knot& ; and the Counsel
fur the prisoner indicted as the principal could not feel grainy
pleasure in establishing that defence than be (Mr. Driscoll should
in having it clearly ascertained, that this atrocious murder was
committed while the prisoner was labouring under mental derange..
ment. The prisoner at that bar, and he stated it with !egret was
a Clergyman, a Minister of the Almighty; and it was • latireot-
able, a melancholy, thing, to find a man of his cloth and calling
mixed tip in a transaction such as the present. He stands at the
bar to take his trial for hli life, and foe the heinous Crime of slat-
ing a fellow-asature. The indictment tells you that the victim
which he has 'aerated was only three and • half years old—sacri-
ficed under peculiar circumstances of barbarity, and sleughtered in
her parents' house. Gentlemen of the Jury, before you can arm :
the prisoner, you must be convinced that it had ph esed God to
takeaway his bat, his greatest gill to man—reason and to leave in
its stead darkness and distraction. Should you come to such a de-
cision, the spirit of the law will walk with the prisoner, and bring
hint out unhurt. This urifbittenate man fancied that, in Imitation
of our Saviour, he could expel devil': and in one of those exor-
cisms was the mure:cr, which is the subject of the present investi-
gation, committed. There are other pawns indicted with the
Rev. Gentkman who assisted at the melancholy sacrifice; one ato
brought a light at his command (fur it was night), and others Cr
supplying the fatal tub with which the murder was effected, and
for assisting and aiding by their presence and encouragement in
its perpetration. If those persons acre aware that murder was is.
tended, they are guilty as accesuaries. If, however, they let re bt:t
the victims of a besotted superstition, and acquiesced under d e
impression that a miracle would redly be performed, you must
take from the Judge, whether, in the eye of the law, they are, .1
such a case, guilty of murder. If, said Mr. Driscoll. I euipho.
maniac to commit murder, though he may he acquitted, I must be
found guilty. There was not, however, any reason to supports
that the prisoners were setuated by any such motive. The wit-
nears who will be produced were present during the whole occur.
rcnce, and can form a just idea of the state of mind In which the
Rev. Clergyman was at the time, and if, on their cross-examination,
the Counsel at the other side can get out of them that he was le.
sane, and which we most sincerely hope, then the prisorer must
be acquitted. They will find us searchers after truth, not % indic-
Wye prosecutors.
Wm. Furlong 11131 then called and examined by Mr. Do-
.—Lives at Ballysheen, in the parish of killinick. Is
acquainted, and was before the 9th of last month, with the Rev.
Mr. Carroll. Knew him since ha was able to walk. Lives in the
same liberty with him. Knows Thomas Sinnott t he lives in
Kilinick. Recollects seeing Father Carrell on the 9th of tut
month at Sinnott's house. Saw him first that day at seven o'clock
in the evening, at the widow Neat's house, near Sinnott's. Was
at her house, where there was a great number of people. Father
' Carroll was at that time walking on die road with his 'hat a:
There were from two to three Intedred people there : some were
kneeling, and some standing. Heard some of the people sat,.
" Jesus, strengthen the man." Father Carroll then came up to
where a woman of the tame of Moran was laving speechless on
the ground. The priest came up with his hat tato where ?Ire.
Monai was laying. lie looked at her for sonic time ; he dam
maimed twice with his to:, and said, " Begone !" After which
he spit neon bee. He then irew hiniself on his back, cod nabbed
the back of his hand for some time against the gravel, until he cut
it. Father Carroll then walked tip and down for some time clo.e.
to Mrs. Moran. Ile thought when he saw Father Carroll throw
himself back that he ars mad, and could. prove it. Iritness wen
at first kneeling, hut when he saw the priest throw himself back.
got up. Father Carrell, after a short time, stood over Mrs. Me-
ran's head, and said, " Jesus, Jesus, Jesus ! Father, Father.
Father ! assist me !" and at the sane time he kept moving his
hand round. Ile then said some words in Latin, which witness
did rot understand. The majority of the three hundred persons
present remained kneeling all the time. Witness made no observa-
tion on the state of dlr. Carroll's mind at that time. The priest
then went away towards Sinnott's. Witness tenueieert! some time
with Mrs. Moran, and then followed Father Carroll to Sinnett's.
with the intention of fetching him out. A great number also went
down the road after the priest. Sinnott's house was about forty
perches from where Mrs. Moran lay. Witness was so much con-
fused by the conduct of the priest that lie cannot say h,os soca
after the priest he went to Sinnott'a. 'flee TORN, when he Brasted
at Sinnott's, was crowded. The kitchen door was partly shut.
Father Carrell was in the room off the kitchen. Tide room was
also so crowded that lie could not rev the priest. Heard water
dabbing about the room. Saw the priest afterwards. Thoagbt
;he child was under the tub. When he first saw the Priest he was
in the bed. Saw a tub then ever the child. Father Carroll was
standing on thr bottom of the tub, and he sometimes leaped anal
pranced upon the tub ; and wliiie leaping on the tub, he said,
Jesus, Jesus. Jesus ! Father, Father. Father I" Sac the father
and mother of the child in the room where the priest was. After
leaping on the tub he sat down, and expressed some words. Re
sat there front dace to three and a half; untoosened his gaite...
anal took elf his stocking, and rubbed 110 leg with his hand.
During this time Father Carroll whistled a hornpipe, the name of
which wittier.* forget+, and kept time with his foot. Did cot ice
the child till four o clock In the morning ; the child was thew dead.
At four o'clock be took the priceu away. C, n't any who took the
tub of the child. Did not go near the eitikl till he brought
Father Carroll away. I leld the stirrup while the priest mounted
his horse. Returned to the house in about fire minutes aftet
Father Certell left it. Saw Sinnott and his wife. The child was
then on the bed, and the tub at the foot of it. The child was at
this shoe dead. Heard the child cry when he first went sate due
house ; did not hear the child say any thing, except " 0 daddy.
daddy' Mammy, mammy ! save me !" [The witness haw
identified Father Carrell). Told a person of the name of Shure
that the priest was deranged. Tha occurred whiht Father Car.
roll ass in the mom. Also told his (wetness'.) wife of it. See.
while Father Carroll was sitting on the tub for Fathct Kee.