The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-10 00:00:00

THE CONVICT HALL.

The following memorials have been sent to the
Home Secretary :

To THE RIGHT HON. SIR GEORGE GREY, M.P., SECRE-

TARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT.

The memorial of John Skirrow Wright, of Birming-
ham, manufacturer, and William Morgan and Alfred F.
Morgan, of Birmingham, attorneys-at-law,
Humbly Showeth,—That George Hall was convicted
of the murder of his wife at the assizes at Warwick, on
Thursday, the 3d day of March, 1864, and received sentence
of death, and that the jury recommended him to mercy on
account of the provocation which he had received.

That your memorialists have interested themselves in
the case and have carefully inquired into the circumstances,
and one or more of them have seen and examined each of
the persons whose affidavits are sent herewith, and your
memorialists are all satisfied that the particulars of the pre-
vocation received by the convict, and more particularly set
forth in the said memorial, are as follows :

George Hall was married to Sarah Anne Smith on the
27th of December, 18G3, after courting her for several
years, and after the marriage they went to a house which
he had taken for his future home. On the same afternoon
she left her husband, in opposition to remonstrance, but
on the following day her parents brought her back to his
house. On the next day (Sunday) she visited without
.the knowledge of her husband a man named Martin Toy,
or Tye. Sho afterwards returned to her husband, and
they lived together till Sunday, January 3. During that
interval she was haughty and cross in manner towards her
husband, and did not seem to love him. On Sunday,
January 3, she left her husband without assigning any
reason, and returned to her father's house. On than, Sun-
day she saw Toy, and during the follo‘%ing week was fre-
quently with him, and committed adultery with him more
than once.

On Saturday, Jan. 9, she went to the Prince of Wales
Theatre with Toy. They were seen there by a man named
Joseph Flowers, a fellow-workman of George Hall, the
convict. Flowers sent a message to Hall, who came to the
theatre to meet them as they came out.
Hall described what passed to his master, Mr. Simmonds,
as follows :—When he met his wife with Toy he asked her
what she meant by being with some one else. She replied,
"I mean what you see, and I shall still continue to do so."
Hall said, "If you mean to carry on in this way you must
give me the things that belong to me, or it may be the worse
for you," and she then pulled the wedding ring from her
finger and the earrings out of her ears, and gave them to
Hall, at the same time slapping him on the face, She
laughed at him, and went oil with the other man.
According to Toy she was about to strike him, but he
said, " Don't strike the fellow." On that night and on sub-
sequent nights, till shortly before her death, Toy had con-
nection with her.

On the 12th January Sarah Ann Hall took out a sum-
mons against her husband for having, as she alleged, threat-
ened her when they met outside the theatre. On the 11th
the summons was heard before the magistrates, who, upon
George Hall saying that there was a comfortable home for
his wife to go to, advised her to return to him, which she
refused to do. The summr.ins was dismissed.

From the 14th January to the 16th February Sarah Ann
Hall continued to live at her father's and Toy continued to
visit her there. Toy's presence caused quarrels between
the father and mother of Sarah Ann Hall, and led to an

assault by the father on the mother, on the 14th February,
for which he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment
in Birmingham gaol. He is now undergoing that sentence.
During the whole interval between January 3, when his
wife left him, and February 16, George Hall was so much
distressed as to attract the notice of his employer and
fellow-workmen, He described his wife's conduct to his
master and asked his advice. After the hearing of the
summons on the road h -zoo he wept like a child. He said
to his master " I do love her, and could die for her, and it
is such a trouble to me to hear continually of her unfaithful-
ness. I have been told that she slept with another man,
but I will try to forget her. I would have done right by
her. She never let me know she did not care for me before we
were married, and when she was short of work I have often
helped her. lam doomed to be miserable for life," Mr.
Simmonds then asked Hall whether he had any idea of her
conduct before their marriage, or if he had himself been
guilty of any wrong towards her. Hall replied, "No, I
always treated her well; and never had any wrong intentions
towards her; and when I married her believed her to be a
virtuous woman. I loved her too much to do her harm."
On several occasions he appeared to Mr, Simmonds and
others so much distressed as hardly to know what ho was

_ .
doing.
During this period, and before and after the scene at the
theatre, he saw his wife in the presento of hot mother,
and tried to persuade her to return to him, and behaved to
her most kindly. (in the 16th of February he met her by
appointment, alter leaVing work, and passed the riming at
her mother's. Her mother said in her evidence that his
manner was very kind, lie put his left hand on her
shoulder, and loaned his head against her, as ho usually
did, in an affectionate way, and they whispered together.
This went on for some time. When he rose to leave the
house she stood up to follow him before any thing was said
about following him." She did follow him, and went out
with him. This was shortly ,before the murder, which
took place between eleven and twelve o'clock at night.
When called upon, before receiving sentence, the prisoner
made a long statement with earnest emotion. He said,
among other things, that, at some time or other, his wife
taunted him and said, " The first child shall be sworn to you,
but it will not be yours; it will be another man's." Sarah
Ann Hall died ou the afternoon of the day after she was
shot. Martin Toy was present for an hour and a half before
her death.

George Hall accused himself of having shot his wife
with a revolver, and at the same time gave up a common

pistol as the weapon with which he had done it. One of
the witnesses stated that he said to his parents, " I told you
all I'd do it, and I have done it." Both parents deny that

_ .
they heard these words,Q declare that no such intention
had ever been expressed to them. At the police-station ho
said, " I did not intend to kill her."
Your memoralists laid before the learned counsel who so
ably conducted the defence of the prisoner evidence of the
facts above stated, with the exception of those stated by Toy
in his affidavit, and
by the prisoner after verdict, which
were 'not previously known to your memorialists. They
were advised by counsel that they did not amount in law to
evidence of such a provocation as would reduce the pri•
soner's crime from murder to manslaughter, and that in a

legal point of view they were evidence of motive only. For
this reason no witnesses were called for the prisoner at his
trial, except Mr. Simmonds, his employer, who spoke to his
character.

Your memorialists submit these facts to your considera-
but which is, at least, as strong as those
tion, in the hope that you may feel that they show the exist-
ence of a form of provocation for which the general rules of
law could not be expected to make provision beforehand,
by law reduce murder to manslaughter. They believe that
the prerogative of pardon is especially intended to provide
for such cases, and they therefore humbly pray that you
will take into your favourable consideration the strong re-
commendation of the jury, alai be pleased to advise her
I'lljesty to communicate the sentence of death passed upon
George Ilall for some less severe punishment.
And your memorialists will ever pray,
JOHN S. WRIGHT,
WILLIAM MORGAN.
ALFRED F. MonnAN.

1,.... ram. ...+

Birmingham, March 7.

Sir,—l have the honour to forward by this night's post
a memo' ial from inhabitants of this town and neighbour-
hood praying for the royal mercy on behalf of Geo. Hall.
I am informed that the memorial was not commenced
until Saturday, and that it may be taken as the spontane •
ous expression of the sentiments of the inhabitants. It con-
tains 50,366 signatures, aad many further sheets will pro-
bably be received to-morrow.
I may be permittel to add that the people of Birming-
ham, as a community, are not easily excited and have great
reverence for the law, as evinced by the peaceable char4cter
of all their demonstrations for the last quarter of a century.
I therefore feel that I am justified in submitting to that
that the present expression of the anxious desire of the
people for the exercise of the royal clemency is entitled to

WILLIAM HOLLIDAY, Mayor of Birmingham,
The Right Hon. Sir George Grey, M.P.,
Secretary of State.

Improvements at Guildhall,

A committee of the Court of Common Council, to
whom the subject had been referred for considera-
tion, have just reported in favour of a series of im-
provements in and about the neighbourhood of
Guildhall, involving the entire reconstruction on a
new plan of most, if not all, of the offices of the cor-
poration, so as to adapt them the better to the gene-
ral business purposes of the civic authorities, and to
obviate the necessity of a large expenditure on every
public occasion, forispecial entertainments or other-
wise. They report that from 1800 to the present
time the sum of £72,101 has been expended on re-
pairs and alterations in the Guildhall alone;
£32,928 in fittings it up on Lord Mayor's days;
£42,312 for special entertainments ; and £25,911 in
connection with the law courts—making in all
£173,322. On the Mansion-house during the same
period the sum of £68,581 has been expended in
repairs; £57,199 for furniture, plate, books, &c.;
and since 1852 £10,603 for sculpture, being a total
of £136,383. Although the committee feel that it
would be desirable, if possible, to retain the ancient
Guildhall, they find that from its position dividing
the entire area into two unequal parts, the difficul-
ties in laying out the ground in a satisfactory man-
ner would be increased, and an extension of thespace
for new buildings necessitate& They find that the
area of Guildhall . might with great advantage be
extended, and the hail itself spared, by taking in
the space occupied by the Bankruptcy Court and
some other adjacent buildings, and they have placed

themselves in communication with the several owners
of property. These have in almost every case stated

that they are not unwilling to treat with the Cor-
poration for the sale of their interests upon equitable
terms. The Company of Coopers, whose ancient
hall occupies a considerable part of the space which
would be wanted, are also ready to co-operate with
the Corporation. The Committee recommend that
as there are funds of the Corporation now awaiting
reinvestment in the purchase of freehold land, and
as it appears to them highly desirable that the build-
ings adjacent to the Guildhall should be in the
hands of the Common Council, not only with the
view of carrying out a plan worthy of the Carpora-
tion, but also for purposes of general improvement

in the neighbourhood, they should ba empowered to
enter into negotiations with the several parties in-
terested in the property for its purchase. The re-
port of the Committee, of whom Mr. Kelday is the
chairman, has been adopted by the Court of Com■
mon Council, and referred back to them for execu •

tion. In the meantime the existing roof of Guild-
hall, which had become much dilapidated by time,
is being replaced by an open one, in accordance
with the architecture of the building, and after plans
designed by the late Mr. Bunning, the city archi-
tect. The stone front of the hall, being in a crippled
and defective state, owing to its imperfect founda-
tion, is also undergoing repair. The new roof will
be of oak,filled in with Gothic tracery and partially
glazed, and Gothic windows will be substituted in

lieu of the 16 Raman windows on the north and
south sides of the hall. The new roof and win-
dows are estimated to cost £18,000; the rebuild-
ing the front of the hall, £1,500; the adapting
rooms for the purposes of the library, £2,300;
the repairing and decorating the various law
courts, £2,000; and the painting other parts of the
buildings connected with Guildhall, £400; making
in all £21,200. The contract for the principal

works is being executed by Messrs. Myers, who are
under an engagement to complete them by the Ist
of October.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS,

POST.—The campaign in Jutland has been opened
with a victory which the overwhelming strength
of the invaders, lees than their valour, enabled them
to secure. The Austrians have come in collision with
the Danish outposts and have repulsed them. With
the particulars of the engagement we are not yet ac-
quainted, but the reports from German and Danish
sources agree in staing the result to have been dis-
astrous to the Danes. At six o'clock on Tuesday
morning the Austrian army crossed the Koldingau
in two columns, and, after a march of about seven
English miles, encountered a small force of Danish
cavalry, which it compelled to retreat northwards
towards Veils. At this town, however, or, as it

would appear, on the north bank of a small river
which takes its name from the town, the Danes
a_ade a stand. Their force ouly consisted of three
infantry regiments, three batteries of artillery, and
two regiments of cavalry; and, as we may readily
believe, after a gallant resistance it was compelled
to give way before the Austrian columns, and to
retire northwards towards Horsens. Whilst the
Austrians were advancing in a northerly direction
the Prussians proceeded towards Frederioia and
succeeded in driving in the Danish outposts at
Gudsal. In this affair the Danish General and
the chief of his staff were wounded. According to
the latest telegrams the allies were advancing on
Priedericia in great force, and an attack upon that
town vras hourly expected. In Jutland, as in the
south of Schlestigf superior numbers prove more
than a match for courage and valour. To those who
believe that England is not conclusively pledged
to neutrality, the course which events are taking
in Denmark may reasonably cause alarm. It would
neither be the duty nor the policy of this country
to make herself the arbiter of the disputes of other
States, but, as experienee has shown, the greatest
prudence and the most extreme caution may prove
unavailing to prevent embroilment in quarrels
whose sphere angry disputants are determined at all
hetards to extend, The English Government have
been nntiring in their endeavours to restore peace,
and the only apprehension which need be enter-
tained is lest they evinced in too striking a manner
their desire to abstain from war, The German
Powers have undoubtedly conceived the notion that '
under no circumstances would England array her-
self in arms egainat Germany, and their entire
course of Conduct since the commencement of the
present year has to all appearances been based
upon this assumption, The Dano-German war is
scarcely two months old, and yet let any one reflect
on what was the state of public opinion in this
country before the Germans crossed the Eider
and he Will be convinced how thoroughly mistaken
the large majority of persons were both in respect
to the policy of the German Powers and to the pro-
bable attitude of the British Government. The in-
vasion of Schleswig by Austria and Prussia ap-
peared to most men such an act of madness that it
was forthwith set down as a pure impossibility.
The arguments so freely advanced and so apparently
conclusive must be fresh in the memory of all.
Setting aside the absurdity of the Great German
Powers proclaiming themselves the champions of
oppressed nationalities, we were reminded that
Austria had a watchful enemy ready to cross her
southern frontier, and that Prussia possesaed cer-
tain provinces on the Rhine which, on her assuming
an aggressive attitude, might not improbably fall
into the hands of a crafty and powerful neighl36:g.
Besides, there was England, who would, as soon as
the first blow was struck against the integrity of
Denmark, blockade the German ports, sweep from
the seas the tiny fleets of Austria and Prussia, and
place at the commend of Denmark an army suffi-
cient to hold the entrance to the peninsula against
any force which the invaders might bring to the
assault of the Danewirke. Then, again, we were
asked what the German Powers intended to make
war about. Were Austria and Prussia about to endan-
ger the peace of Europe,and risk a general conflagra-
tion in whoseflemes they would undoubtedly be enve-
loped, in order that Schleswigers should hear ser-
mons in German instead of Danish, or should be
ruled by an Augustenburg instead of a Glucksburg ?
The whole notion was too absurd, and the timid
were quieted with assurances that Austria and

Prussia, though apparently aggressive in their tone,
were in truth most anxious to preserve the peace of
Europe, and were only too desirous of curbing that
impetuosity on the part of the minor States which
would otherwise infallibly prevent war. We took
occasion to demonstrate the fallacy of these argu-
ments long before the appearance of the allied
armies on the banks of the Eider, and whilst the
AustroaPrussian contingent still constituted the
reserve of the slender force despatched by the Diet
into Holstein for the purposes of Federal execu-
tion. We pointed out how vastly different the
prosont appearedi wheniregarded from a German
point of view. In the first place we showed
that, whether rightly or wrongly, the German
Powers would conjecture that the occupation of
the Duchies by their armies would not be made
a casus •belli by Great Britain. The English
Cabinet had always inclined to the belief that
Denmark had violated her engagements towards
Germany, and it was therefore not norea.
sonabie to suppose that it would not resent an
attempt by the latter to obtain redress. Other con-
siderations of a nersonal kind, unquegionably