The Sun.
London, England, 1837-03-20 00:00:00

OXFORD CIRCUIT.—STAFFORD, M4RcJK 17.

James Sirdefield was indicted for maliciously stabbing his
wife, Mary Sirdefield, at Darleston, in this county, on the '2Bth
of November last. The evidence of the prisoner's wife proved
almost beyond doubt that her husband was lab,;uring under in-
sanity. Mr. Baron Bous N D stepped the case, saying it was clear
that the prisoner was a person of unsound mind, and, therefore,
not accountable for his actions.

PRIUS COURT.—KELSALL U. BOULTON.
Mr. Serjeant LUDLOW (With Whom wai Mr. Lee) stated the
plaintiff's case. Ile said this was an action for defamation.
The Learned Counsel, having stated the facts of the case,
the Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages forty
shillings.

SATITkDA V.

The commission will be opened at Stafford this evening.
The common jury eases have all been disposed of. Out c-,f
seven special jury causes two only were tried, two being made
remanets, two referred, and one being undefended. Mr.
Baron Parke would have had no difficulty in getting through
the whole nisi prius business, but althcugh there were only
sixty-two prisoners for trial (a session having' been held a
day or two before the A,sizes), and although Mr. Serjeant
Ludlow assisted in trying prisoners yesterday, it was found
necessary for Mr. Baron Parke also to lend his assistance
in order to deliver the gaol. The Aisiz .s have lasted for a
whole week, and the Learned Judges have sat late each day.
The difficulty found in getting through the criminal heirless
has arisen, in a very great degree from the operation of the
Prisoners' Counsel Bill, as in each case in which a prisoner is
defended by Counsel, let the case be ever so clearly proved, a
speech is made in his behalf, and where witnesses have been
called to speak to his character, the Counsel for the prosecu-
tion have in some instances replied. And this the Counsel
are obliged to do—first, because if they did not they would
seldom get briefs, and next, if they do not address the jury,
the prisoner is at once found guilty, the jury supposing that
the prisoner must be guilty, his Counsel having nothing to say
in his defence.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT—DEBBI-, MARcll 17.

The Commission for this county was opened on Tuesday
last, business commencing in both Courts at an early hour on
the following morning. The calendar contained a list of above
thirty prisoners, who were mostly charged with the commission
of crimes of a light nature. The cause paper contained ten
cases, three being special juries.
BOSTON V. MINES, GENT, &C.

_ .
This was an action of trespass and false imprisonment.
The plaintiff had been taken on the night of the 18th of
November last in a spinney, the property of Mr. Moore, the
present High Sheriff. He was taken to Appleby Hall, there
to be dealt with for some offence against the Game-laws, but
which did not then form the subject of inquiry. He was de-
tained there that nighti ,and brought by the keeper to Ashby-
de-la-Zouch on the day following, and then began the part
Mr. Dewcs bad in the matter, he having On his own autho-
rity given an order for the constab!e of Ashby to take charge
of Boston. in whose custody be was kept for the space of nine
or ten days, without being taken before a Magistrate, or set
of Magistrates ; and, at last, when he was so •taken before
.then, the case was dismissed, and the prisoner set at liberty.
It was for that act of injustice that the present action was
brought.
The Learned JUDGE having summed up,
The ju;y returned a verdict in favour of the defendant.
In a second action, Boston v. Moore, Eeq,, and another,
which arose out of the,same transaction, in which the plaintiff
sought to fix Mr. Moore, on account of some direction he was
surmised to have given to his keepers to bring all persons
caught poaching on his land to his !'ruse, the plaintiff having