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

CRIMINAL COURT.—(This Day.)

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Baron Alderson.)
THE CASE OF MESSRS. STRAHAN, 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 tile prosecution, and coun-
sel were specially retained nn 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
had no objectiov, to the trial being fixed for Friday.
Baron Alde.cson said that as it appeared to be conve•
tient to all parties the trial should come on on Friday.
The d'efendants were not in court.

IVIr,RDER.-18abella Mary Tolley, 43, single woman,
wP..s indicted for the wilful murder of her mother, Isabella

Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Clark conducted the proseou-
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
clays 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, anel she wished him to set it,
and be did so ; and she took it away and afterwards
brought him the same razor, ant 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 ha 1 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.
MsEnteer 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 461. and
the other for 11. Upon the sth, in consequence of
something that transpired, the prisoner was searched,
and upon him was found portions of the two 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 parts of the envelopes of a
great many letters had been found at prisoner's house.
Sentence deferred.