The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-08 00:00:00

THE CONVICT HALL.

In reference to the case of the murder of the
convict's wife, at Birmingham, three weeks ago,
particulars of which, and of the husband's trial at
Warwick assizes, have been already reported
in The Sun, we have now to add that the
horrible circumstances are exciting an unprece-
dented interest in the county, and persons who have
no sympathy 'with foul crimes are using every
effort to procure a remission of the sentence of death
on the ground that the prisoner's provocation was
intolerable, and that great allowance should be
made for the anguish of an iej tired husband, smarting
under such a wrong as that which he bore. A great
mass of evidence has been laid before Sir George
Grey which was advisedly kept back from the jury,
because it did not amount in law to proof that the
provocation was of such a nature as would reduce
the prisoner's crime from murder to manslaughter.
There were many witnesses at Warwick, but they
were, for this reason, not called. They prove that
the wretched wife left the comfortable home her
husband had provided for her on the very day of her
marriage,was next day brought home by her parents,
and that she visited on the third day a man named
Joy, for whose society she eventually left her hus-
band at the end of the first week of her married
life. Her husband was brought to the door of the
theatre on the Saturday night and saw them com-
ing out together, and asked her what she meant.
She replied in Joy's presence, " I mean what you
seer" and attempted to strike him. The man be-
came incensed, but did not know what to do. He
grieved for a month, frequently seeing his wife at
her mother's, and implored her to return. At last
on the 16th February he visited her, and after an
affectionate interview he shot her. In the interval
it is now proved that she had been receiving the
visits of Joy, and that adultery had been repeatedly
committed, and that after she was shot and before
her death Joy actually was with her in her bed-
room at her mother's. All this may well have un-
settled the husband's mind. At all events, it has
produced great commiseration for the prisoner at
Birmingham. The excitement in the various manu-
factories, where the workmen crowd to sign peti-
tions for mercy, is very great. We understand the
legal and medical profession are sending up sepa-
rate memorials, and that the solicitors' memorial
already numbers 100 signatures, while the general
town memorial is signed by many thousands. These
documents will reach Sir George Grey this morn-
ing. The prisoner's employer, Mr. J. S. Wright,
and others, with the counsel and solicitors iu the
case, have seen unremitting in their efforts.

The old Star Chamber in the House of Commons
has been alloted to the Parliamentary reporters for a club
room, in which they will be able to get all the delicacies in
and out of the eeason, and be at peace for a moment from
intrusion.—Court Journal,

CORK V. GALWAY.—A correspondent writes to us :
—"lt is said that as Galway, from its port being un-
safe and want of cargo or trade, was unsuitea for the packet
station, there are three rivals in the field, Cork with its
magnificent harbour, Foynes at the mouth of the Shannon,
and Waterford, the latter ports in which Mr. Malcolmson,
the great steamship owner, is much interested. The gene-
ral opinion is that Cork is the beat adapted, and that if it
was made the terminus, there would be lines of steamers
from Bordeaux, Nantes, and Cherbourg to meet the
American steamers there.