The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-30 00:00:00

nesses who had been examined that day. After
some further remarks he left the case in the hands
of the jury, and it would be for them to say whe-
ther this was not a subject that required further in-
vestigation before another tribunal.
Th room was then cleared, and after a quarter of
an hour's exclusion the public were re-admitted,
when—
The foreman said that their verdict was wilful
murder against Samuel Gardener and Elizabeth
Humbler. _ _ _

The inquisition having been signed the coroner
made out his warrant of committal of the prisoners
to Newgate, and witnesses were bound over to ap-
pear and give evidence against them at the next
session of the Central Criminal Court.

ST. ALBANS PETTY SESSIONS, Sept. 27.

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF TRESPASS IN PUB,-

SUIT OF GAME.

(Before Mr. Martin and a Bench of Magistrates.)

This was an extraordinary case (which had to be
abandoned at an early stage of the proceedings),
promoted by Major Stapleton against a gentleman
named Hopton, on sworn information of a boy, for
trespassing in pursuit of game.
It will be recollected that on Saturday, the 20th
inst., Major Stapleton pleaded guilty to having tres-
passed in pursuit of game upon Mr. Hopton's land,
and was fined in the full penalty of 40s, with costs.
It was stated at the conclusion of the report of the
proceedings that a summons for a second trespass
would be taken out against Major Stapleton, and it
will be seen from what transpired at the petty ses-
sions to-day, that a second information had been
laid. In the meantime the cross-information against
Mr. Hopton had been promoted by Major Stapleton.
As in the previous case, Mr. Blagg, solicitor, of
St. Alban's, appeared for Major Stapleton ; and Mr.
Annesley, of the same place, for Mr. Hopton.
Before the case was presented to the bench,
Mr. Blagg desired to know whether there was
any prospect of a settlement of the matter without
making sport for other people.
Mr. Ann esley wished to know on what terms.
Mr. Blagg said that no further cause of complaint
as to trespass should be given on the part of Major
Stapleton or Mr. Hopton,
Mr. Annesley having consulted his client, said Mr.
Hopton would consent to such an understanding
only:on the condition that Major Stapleton should
proceed with his case against that gentleman.
Mr. Blagg said the evidence he had was quite
conclusive, as to trespass on the part of Mr.
Hopton.
Mr. Annesley—My client says that there is not
the shadow of foundation for the charge, and that
the case must proceed.
Abel Giles having satisfactorily answered ques-
tions from the bench as to his knowledge of the
nature of an oath, was then examined by Mr. Blagg.
He said—l am ten years of age. lam in the em-
ploy of Mr. Peppercorn, and on this day fortnight
I was minding sheep in a wheat stubble field be-
longing to my master. A short time before my
dinner time I saw three persons with two dogs
come out of the field called Oakley's field (this is a
portion of Mr. Hopton's shooting ground) into my
master's field. I was at the time lying down by
the side of the footpath. The dogs were a black
and white one.
Did any of the persons carry guns ?—Yes, one of
them. He was a tall person. The white dog was
running about, and the black dog was following
behind the persons.
By the Bench—Only one person carried a gun.
Mr. Blagg—Was one of the persons a keeper ?
Yes. Mr. Hopton's keeper, who lives at Hall-
heath. The third person was a boy. The tall per-
son shot a bird (partridge), and the boy picked it
up. After that they left and went on Mr. Pack's
grounds. Since that time I have seen the tall gen-
tleman ; he was pointed out to me by a person of
the name of Slough. This was a week afterwards.
I have seen him to-day. That is the gentleman
(pointing to Mr. Hopton). I live with my aunt,
and mentioned what I saw to her on this day fort-
night after I got home; I also mentioned it to
Slough, and it was then that he took me to point
out the gentleman.
The Bench—How far were you from the gentle-
man when he shot the bird

Witness—About 100 yards.
Cross-examined by Mr. Annesley—l do not
know Mr. Hopton, but I think I had seen him be-
fore he shot the bird. I saw him shoot it in the
morning. It was before dinner. I have my dinner
at one o'clock. It was before dinner that the bird
was shot—it was about 12 o'clock.
By the Bench—l know it was about 1 o'clock
when I had my dinner, because I asked the time of
a person who was passing by.
Joseph Slough, in the employ of Major Stapleton,
deposed to the boy having pointed out to him Mr.
Hopton as the gentleman who shot the bird.
This closed the case in support of the information.
Mr. Annesley put it to the Court whether it was
necessary to enter upon the case ror the aefene..
when it was notorious that on the 13th inst. Mr.
Hopton was in conrt at 1 o'clock, in support of his
information against Major Stapleton.
The Bench said it was necessary for Mr. Annesley
to tender evidence of the facts he desired to prove.
Mr. Annesley, in defence, said this was the most
unfounded case ever brought into Court. On the
13th Mr. Hopton left London by the 10.45 morning
train, arrived at St. Albans a little after 12 o'clock,
was in attendance at the Court at 1 o'clock, and at
half-past 2 was in his own shooting ground, a con-
siderable distance from Mr. Peppercorn's property,
which he did not approach until 5 o'clock in the
afternoon. He would proceed to prove to the Bench
that this was a trumped up case of the most dis-
graceful daaracter. He then called
John Tooley,who deposed as follows—l am keeper
to Mr. Hopton. I was in this Court on the 13th,
when a summons came out against Major Stapleton
for trespassing on Mr. Hopton'F., grounds. I saw
Mr. Hopton on that day, bltween 12 and 1 o'clock,
within a short distance from this place—at Mr.
Kinder's brewery. I stopped with Mr. Hopton un-
til about 20 minutes past 1 o'clock, when he left to
go to his own grounds. I met him at Pack's farm
(about two miles from St. Albans) in about an hour
after. Mr. Hopton had not a gun with him. I take
care occasionally of his gun, and have charge of his
dog. On the 13th his gun was at Mr. Pack's farm,
and his dog with me. I left the gun at the farm on
Friday. A gentleman of the name of Greaves walked
over to Pack's farm with Mr. Hopton. It was about
half-past 2 that I went out in attendance upon
Mr. 1 Topton and Mr. Greaves. I never left them
till they ceased shooting. We never went near
Mr. Peppercorn's land until about five o'clock.
That was when we were in Oakley field. Mr.
Hopton did not shoot a bird in that field, but Mr.
Greaves shot one. We did not go upon Mr. Pep-
percorn's ground. We did not have two dogs with
us ; we had but a white one. No boy was with us.
The bird that was shot by Mr. Greaves fell on the
other side of the hedge which divides Oakley's field
from Mr. Peppercorn's land. I said to Mr. Hop-
ton that the hedge belonged to him, but he would
not allow me to get the bird.
Cross-examined—Mr. Hopton was not shooting
on Friday, the 12th, or on Saturday, the 11th.
Mr. Annesley—l now propose to call Mr.
Greaves, who was with Mr. Hopton from half-past
ten on the morning of the 13th until eight at night,
and that gentleman will give further proof that the
whole case is a fabrication from beginning to end.
Mr. Blagg—We admit that the boy is mistaken,
and we abandon the case.
Mr. Annesley pressed for the evidence of Mr.
Greaves, but the bench decided that no further evi-
dence was necessary.
The information was then abandoned.
Mr. Hopton withdrew his second information
against Major Stapleton, and the parties left the
court.

COMING OF AGE.—The coming of age questions
are high mysteries. Do all men attain years of discretion
at the same moment in their lives—as the clock strikes 12
on the night preceding their 22d birthday-22d because
they are 0 years on their first—does nobody ever between the
ages of 18 and 25 grow less discreet every day ? Diversity
of character, say the lawyers, can have nothing to do with
it. Twenty-one is the age at which every man ought to be
discreet. Prodigious truth I Bilkins at 21 publishes rhap.
sodies of verse ; Dilkins at 21 converts all silver that he
touches: into pastry; Filkins at 21 crams for examination,
and gulps information down in undigested lumps ; but they
are all equally patterns of Blackstonian discretion. Ho is
the 13th English Prince of Wales who comes of age this
year, on Sunday, the 9th of November. Of his predeces-
sors, only four held the title when they came of age, so this
is only the fifth of such coming-of-ages known to English
history. Of the four who thus came of age as Princes of
"Wales, three came to the throne. Four of the princes mar-
ried, and of these only one made a Princess of Wales a
Queen. May the omen be absent from this celebration ;
for all England joins the present prince in wishing that it
may be 40 years and more before he can be king.—Dickens's
" All the Year Roicnd."
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