The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-19 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.
WORCESTER, WEDNESDAY, JULY 18.
CRIMINAL COURT.
(Before Chief Baron PollOck,)

Pitcebe Mason, aged 27, servant, was charged up,,n
three several indictments with administering poison to
Wm. Hardy, John Hardy, and George Hardy with in-
tent to murder them, at Halesowen, on the 11th of
July.

Mr. W. H. Cooke appeared for the prosecution ; the
prisoner was undefended.

It appeared that in the month of November last the pri-
soner was sent for by the wife of Wm. Hardy, a brick-
layer at Oldbury, and asked to stay with her and nurse
her during her illness. She consented, and, as the sick
woman died in the course of the same month, the pri-
soner continued to live with the husband, and took care
of his children. There was no doubt, upon the evi-
dence, that she had always treated the children with
the greatest kindness up to Wednesday last, when
she was seen to take upstairs a cup, saying she
was going to give the children, who were in bed, Borne
senna tea. She immediately afterwards put on her bon-
net and went to the house of her sister-in-law, and told
her to fetch the doctor to the children. This was imme-
diately done, but before the doctor could arrive a young
woman who was downstairs in the house heard the child-
ren cry, and going up to them, found that they were all
sick and vomiting. They complained of great thirst, and
in consequence a considerable quantity of milk and water
was given them to drink. When the doctor arrived,
two of the children appeared to have recovered, but one
of them, the eldest, was suffering from depression, aris-
ing from vomiting. Search was made, and in an adjoin-
ing room a cup was found containing some senna leaves
add sugar of lead, and on further examination of what
had come off the stomachs of the children there could
be no doubt that they had taken sugar of lead. When
taken into custody the prisoner admitted what she had
done, and gave as a reason that the father
had promised her marriage, but had slighted her,
and that, such was the love she bore the children, she
could not bear the idea of being separated from them.
On the part of the prisoner a long statement was read
which she had made before the magistrates, the sub-
stance of which was that she had yielded to the,solicita-
dons of the father of tte children on receiving a promise
of marriage, and that he had since slighted her. She
also .rapeated the statement which she had before made
of the love she had for the children and the pain she felt
at the prospect of being separated from them.
A most excellent character was given to the prisoner
for humanity and kindness.

Chief Baron Pollock having summed up tne evidence,
The jury, without hesitation, found the prisoner
Guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy.
Sentence deferred.

MURDER.
Joseph Meadows, aged 23, whitesmith, was charged
with the wilful murder of Mary Ann Mason, at Dudley,
on the 12th of May, 1855.
Mr. Huddleston and Mr. Cresswell appeared for the
prosecution : Mr. Kettle defended-the prisoner.
Mr. iluddleston having opened the case to the jury,
the following witnesses were examined :

William Ingram said=l am a miner near Dudley.
On the 12th of May last I was at the Sailor's Return
public-house with William Robinson, between 8 and 9
in morning. The prisoner was there. The servant was
mopping the house. I heard the report of a carbine, at
a distance of 6 or 7 feet. The girl feli to the ground.
I ran to the prisoner, and said, " You have murdered
the girl. What did you do it for ?" The girl was stand-
ing about the middle of the kitchen.
Cross-examined—l had not seen a carbine previous to
the report.

Mail, Hunt said—My husband keeps the Sailor's
Return, at Kate's Hal, near Dudley. I saw the pri-
soner on the evening of Friday, the 11th of May. He
passed as the brother of the servant, Mary Ann Mason.
She did not speak to him. I saw him the next morning.
He had some ale. He remained in the kitchen. I bad
assisted the deceased to clean the kitchen. I left the
room, and when I came back to the door I saw the pri-
soner with the carbine. The flash came in my face.
The girl fell towards me. She breathed for about 15
minutes, and died. The shots struck her under the left
ear. My husband came in and collared the prisoner.
The only word I remember the prisoner saying was,
" Now I'm satisfied."

Cross-examined—This is the first time I have been
examined. I had been in and out of the kitchen that
morning. I had not seen a cArbiue before it was fired.
On the Friday night he was talking about matters which
I thought he did not understand. He was talking about
the war, the shells, and the guns.
William Robinson said—l was at the Sailor's Return
on the morning in question, and saw the prisoner there.
I heard the report of a gun, and saw the girl fall. On
turning round I found the carbine on the ground. The
prisoner picked it up, acid I took it from him. He then
said, " She should have given me an answer."
Cross-examined—The deceased was mopping the floor
when the gun was fired.
Jukes said—l am a constable. I was sent for, and
took the prisoner into custody. I charged him with
shooting the deceased with the carbine. He said, "I've
had my revenge ; I have heard them say revenge is
sweet. I left home for that purpose. I've done it, and
now I am satisfied." I found a powder-flask in his
pocket, with a little powder and some caps. On the way
to prison he said, " It's not my sister ; it's a young
wbman I've followed for about teu months. I was de-
termined if I could not have her nobody else should."
He also said, " I pulled the carbine from behind my
back, and fired it off in an instant. I threw it down to
pick the girl up, but was prevented."
Cross-examined—l have refreshed my memory by
looking at a copy of the depositions. A copy of toy de-
position was, brought to me about a week ago by a young
man named Robinson. I left the copy at home.
William Hunt said—l keep the Sailor's Return. The
prisoner came to my house about 10 minutes before 7
o'clock. I served hun with some ale. I heard the re-
port and ran into the kitchen and collared the prisoner.
I said, " Oh, you vagabond ; you've shot your own
sister!" He said " I've done what I intended to do."
The prisoner came to my house the previous evening.
The deceased screened herself behind me as if she didn't
wish to see him.

Cross-examined—Thomas Price came with the pri-
soner on the Friday night. I said that night the pri-
soner was the biggest sawney I ever saw in my life._ I
said that to the deceased. I saw nothing mad about the
prisoner.

- Joseph Rann said—The prisoner was my apprentice.
He came home at 2 o'clock ou the Saturday morning in
a state of intoxication. I left him on the sofa. I came
down at 7 o'•clock and found he was gone. I saw the
prisoner at the gaol, and said " You've done for your-
self now." The prisoner replied, " I intended to do it
before I started." The carbine, &c., are my property.
. Cross-examined—Tne prisoner waa quite intoxicated
at 2 o'clock in the morning. I saw him again at 12 or
1. He did not appear to be sober then.
W. E. Johnson said—l am a surgeon at Dudley. I
saw the deceased, and exa nined the wound behind her
I believe that caused her death.

Cross-examined—l examined the tongue of the de-
ceased. One or two shots entered the nerve which
moves the tongue. The injury would prevent speech.
Mr. Kettle addressed the jury for the prisoner, and
contended, that they ought not to convict him of the
crime of murder upon statements alleged to have been
made by him in a state of intoxication.
Chief Baron Pollock having summed up the evidence
with great minuteness, the jury, in about five minutes,
found the prisoner guilty.

The Chief Baroa then said the case was one of the
clearest which bad ever come before a criminal court,
and that it appeared from the evidence that the prisoner
had predetermined to commit the crime some time be-
fore he had actually committed it. His lordship then pro-
nounced the solemn sentence of death in the usual form.
The prisoner was then removed.