The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-24 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT.—(This Day.)

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Baron Alderson.)
THE CASE OF MESSRS. STRATUM, PAUL, AND BATES.
—Mr. Bodkin applied to the court to fix the trial of this
case for Friday morning. He said the Attorney-Gene-
ral was instructed to conduct the prosecution, and coun-
sel were specially retained on behalf of the defendant,
and it would suit the convenience of all parties that the
case should come on this day.

Mr. Ballantine, who appeared for the defence, said he
bad no objection to the trial being fixed for Friday.
Baron Alderson said that as it appeared to be conve•
nient to all parties the trial should coma on on Friday.
The defendants were not in court.

MußDEß.—leabella Mary Jolley, 43, single woman,
was indicted for the wilful murder of her mother, Isabella
Jolley.

Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Clark conducted the prosecu-
tion. The prisoner was defended by Mr. Ballantine.
The facts of this case were of a very extraordinary
nature. The evidence was very voluminous, and the
trial occupied the' greater part of the day. It appeared
that the deceased was a very aged woman, and that
she and the prisoner lived together at a house in
Hill-street, Knightsbridge, no other person being in
the house but a servant. It appeared that they were in
reduced circumstances, and that a scheme they had in
view of obtaining subsistence by means of letting lodg-
ings had entirely failed, and the prisoner had, in conse-
quence, exhibited a good deal of despondency, and had
frequently expressed an intention to destroy herself, in
order, as she said, to escape being compelled to go into
the union workhouse. The occurrences in question,
it appeared, took place on the night of the 15th August,
and it appeared that, on the previous evening, the
deceased was put to bed by the servant about two
o'clock, and on the following morning when she took up
the breakfast to the bed-room of the deceased she found
the door locked, and very soon afterwards the prison er
said that her mother was dead. The neighbours were
called in, and the prisoner then repeated the statement
that her mother was dead, and she said that she had cut
her own throat. Upon being asked why she had
not called in a medical man, she said that she owed
her doctor a little bill, and she was afraid he
would not have come if she had sent for him, and
she said that she did not like to tell the servant,
because she was a Roman Catholic. A coroner's in-
quest, it appeared, was held, and the jury returned an
open verdict ; but in consequence of some facts that
subsequently transpired the prisoner was taken into
custody, and was eventually committed by the magis-
trate upon the present charge. The principal facts that
were relied upon to support the charge were, that a few
days before the fatal occurrence the prisoner had taken
the razor with which the deceased was un-
doubtedly destroyed to a cutler in the neigh-
bourhood, and told him that it belonged to a gentleman
who was lodging with her, and she wished him to set it,
and lie did so ; and she took it away and afterwards
brought him the same razor, and said that the gentleman
complained that the razor did not cut sufficiently and
wished him to give it a sharper edge. She left the razor
with him for a few days and then took it away. It was
also proved that the prisoner had complained of being
in very great distress, and upon one occasion she
said that if she had had a sharp razor in the house
that morning she should have cut her own throat,
and when she was told that this could not do
any good, and that if she destroyed herself she would
leave her mother behind, she replied that she should not
do that. The prisoner, it appeared, had always behaved
with very great kindness to her mother, and it was
urged that it was not probable she should have commit.
ted such a dreadful act under the circumstances, and
that the more probable conclusion to be arrived at was
that the deceased old lady had destroyed herself.
After the examination of several witnesses, the jury
returned a verdict of not guilty.

NEW COURT.
(Before Mr. Baron Martin.)

John Grace, a letter-carrier, was indicted for stealing
two letters containing cheques, the property of the
Postmaster.

Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Polard prosecuted ; Mr.
M'Euteer defended.
The prisoneris a letter-carrier and also a sorter.
On the 3d of September two tradesmen at Grave-
send posted letters containing cheques, one for 46/. and
the other for 1/. Upon the sth, in consequence of
something that transpired, the prisoner was searched,
and upon him was found portions of the tsvo letters so
posted which had not been delivered, and upon search-
ing the prisoner's place in Swan-place, Old Kent-road,
some other letters were found. The prisoner said he was
not a thief, but that he had neglected to deliver them.
The jury found the prisoner guilty.
Mr. Clarkson said that pasts of the envelopes of a
great many letters had been found at prisoner's house.
Sentence deferred.

THIRD COURT.
(Before Russell Gurney, Esq., Q.C.)
Richard Dakin, 21, tailor, was indicted for a highway
robbery, with violence, on Charles Lewis Thinnat, and
stealing his watch and chain, valued at 91.
Mr. Thompson prosecuted, and Mr. LiHey defended.
The prisoner is another of the ticket of-leave ruffians who
infest this metropolis. The prosecutor, a compositor,
was going home about one o'clock in the morning, upon
the Bth of September, and had called in at the Eques_
Ulan Tavern, Blackfriars-road, when the prisoner got
into conversatio❑ with him, and followed him, prosecu.
tor, as far as the Magdaien, when four other men came
up, and, seizing hold of him, ill-treated him very much
and stole his watch from him.

The jury found him guilty, and he Was sentenced to
four years' penal servitude.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—(This Day.)

MANSION-HOUSE.

ROBBING AN EMPLOYER.— Wm. Brown, was charged
before Alderman Sir Win. Carden with stealing five
large enamelled hides, value 11/. 55., the property of
his employer, Mr. W. R. Shaw, 40, ring williani.
street, London-bridge.

The prisoner was in the employ of the prosecutor as
his warehouseman, and on Friday last he went to the
shop of Mr. E. J. Cooper, leather seller, City-road, and
said he knew a man who had five skins to sell for 355.
each, and asked him to purchase them. At the desire
of Mr. Cooper he brought them to him the following
day, when he was told to leave them and to call on
Monday for payment. In the meantime he gave the skins
to a police-cfficer, and did not see the prisoner again
until he was in custody.
A servant in the employ of the prosecutor identified
one of the skins.

Mr. Shaw said the prisoner had the sole charge of the
warehouse, and had been in his employ for nine years,
and was earning 235. per week. He had missed seven
skins, and was enabled to state one of the skins pro.
duced was in stock on Oct. 4, and had never been sold.
Tht currier's marks were taken off.

Foulger, detective, apprehended the prisoner at the
prosecutor's premises, and charged him with having
offered the skins for sale. He denied it, and he then
took him in a cab to Mr. Cooper, who identified him as
the man who offered them for sale. On searching him
an invoice of the goods, made out ill the prisoner's hand.