The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-15 00:00:00

an indecent haste in bringing the action, and that
nothing could have been fairer than the conduct of
the dcra:dants, who had made every mend possible
for what they had inserted.
The jury relired for half an hour, and then found
a verdict for the defendants.

OXFORD CIROUIT.—STAFroRD, March 14.
CROWN COURT.
(Before Mr. Baron Channell.)
THE GOVERNMENT PROSECUTION OF THE REV. 11. S.
FLETCHER.

The rev. prisoner agaia surrendered to his bail
when the court opened this morning at 9 o'clock.
Baron Channell said that he had had an oppor-
tunity since the previous night of considering the
very many ingenious and well-argued objections
that were brought forward on the previous evening.
With reference to some of them, he had had no
difficulty in coming to an opinion, and that opinion
was against the prisoner. The objections were
mainly involved in two questions. First, whether
the prisoner at the bar was a trustee for the pur-
poses described in either of the counts of the indict-
ment? Second. if he was, whether he was a trus•
tee under an express trust in writing within the
L act of Parliament under which the indictment was
founded. Now, that point he proposed to reserve
for the consideration of the court which was esta-
blished for resolving crown cases that might be
referred to them. For the purpose of having the
point reserved for the consideration of that tribunal
he should decide against the prisoner. He thought
it was clear that the prisoner had appropriated the
moneys, and therefore that question need not be
put•to the jury, but he thought it would be well for
Mr. Matthews to address them upon the point of
whether the prisoner appropriated the money with
intent to defraud.
Mr. Matthews inquired of his lordship if it would
not be necessary to go to the jury to consider
whether Mr. Fletcher ever acted as a trustee.
His Lordship said that there was abundant evi-
dence to show that the prisoner had so acted from
the time of his appointment in 1838, up to last year.
There was also abundant evidence to show that be
was also treasurer and secretary, and it did not ap-
pear to him that the prisoner was less a trustee
by being secretary and treasurer, but having all
these offices, it became easy for him to make appro-
priations which he could not otherwise have accom-
plished.
Mr. Matthews then addressed the jury for the
prisoner as to the intent, and his Lordship having
summed up at considerable length,
The jury, after about ten minutes' consultation,
found the prisoner guilty of appropriating the
money with intent to defraud the depositors.
His lordship then said that if the prisoner could
find bail, himself in £750 and two sureties in the
same amount, he would postpone the sentence.
Mr. Dowdeswell, on behalf of the crown officers,
would afford every facility for the finding of such
bail.

On the application of Mr. Matthews, the bail
was afterwards altered to one surety in the amount
of the prisoner's bond, and two or more others in
the third ,£750.
Time was given to produce bail, and the rev.
prisoner was removed to the cells below the court.
During yesterday and a greater part of the day
before be was provided with a seat in the dock, and
during the proceedings held down his head upon
the handrail. On more than one occasion he was
observed in tears.