The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-01 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

The Duke of Cambridge (Inspector-General of Ca-
valry) arrived at the cavalry barracks a few days ago,
for the purpose of inspecting the 17th Lancers. His
Royal Highness arrived by train, and proceeded at once
to the barracks, where he was met by Lieut.-Colonel
Lawrenson (the acting colonel of the regiment). His
Royal Highness having inspected the regiment expressed
himself satisfied with the discipline of the troops, and,
after partaking of luncheon with the colonel, took his
departure the same day for town. It has been reported
that the head-quarters of the 17th Lancers are about to
remove to Dorchester, and that only ono troop will be
left behind ; but we cannot trace this report to any foun-
dation. On the contrary, we are informed that the
Duke of Cambridge stated to Colonel Lawrenson that
there was every probability of the regiment remaining
here the whole of this year.—Brighton Gazette.
The portion of the Royal Horse Artillery ordered to
be stationed at Brighton are expected to leave Wool-
wich in a few days, and will consist of two captains,
three lieutenants, one assistant surgeon, two staff ser-
jeants, three cerjeants, 138 rank and file, and 124 horses,
and will be quartered at the cavalry barracks, under the
command of Colonel Eyre. Two troops of the 17th
Lancers will remove from the cavalry to the infantry
barracks, Church-street, the head-quarters, and one
troop, it is stated, will leave for Dorchester.

THE MILITIA.:—The Sussex Light Infantry will as
semble on the 4th May, fcr 28 days' training at Chi•
chester, under command of His Graee the Duke of
Richmond.

THE ARMY IN IRELAND.
Captain Dwyer's company, 14th, has joined head-
quarters from Newcastle, on relief by a company under
Lieut. O'Toole. Captain Budd's company, 14th, has
arrived at Cahir, and replaced Captain Townsend's com-
pany, which joined head-quarters on Tuesday.
The troop of the 3d Dragoon Guards at Limerick is to
move to Ballinrobe, the one at Gort to Athlone, and a
troop at Cahir to Athlone.

The troop of 7th Dragoon Guards at Cork is to move
to Limerick, and the one at Waterford to Gort.
The 3d Dragoon Guards from Cahir and Gort are to
be removed to Longford, and not to Newbridge.
The order for regiments marching into the country is
discontinued for this week, and field exercise is substi-
tuted for the next four months.

Major Douglas, llth Hussars, Dublin, has presented
a silver medal, for meritorious conduct and length of ser-
vice, to Troop Serjeant Major Todd.
Captain Daubeney's company, 62d, at Roscommon,
is to join head-quarters, at Athlone. Captain Hewett's
company, from Tullamore, rejoined head-quarters.
Colonel Frith has resumed his duties as inspecting
field officer of the Dublin recruiting district, after severe
illness.

Three privates, 71st, at Cork, are sentenced for in-
toxication and mutiny—John M'Court and Archibald
Park, to 168 days' confinement and hard labour each;
John Laughlin, to two years' hard labour and 50 lashes.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

WESTERN CIRCUIT.—TAUNTON, MARCH 3
(Before Mr. Justice Erle.)

Mary Amory was indicted for the wilful murder of her
female illegitimate child, on the 13th of March, 1852.
Mr. Day and Mr. Beer were counsel for the prosecu-
tion ; Mr. C. Saunders defended the prisoner.
The prisoner was committed for trial in April, 1852,
but on the case coming on for trial at the last summer
assizes, it was postponed on the application of the coun-
sel for the prosecution, in order that a child 6 years of
age, who was a most material witness in the case, should
be instructed by the chaplain of the union as to the na-
ture and obligation of an oath. The child was an ille-
gitimate child of the prisoner, and when examined by
Mr. Baron Platt at the summer assizes, was found ut-
terly unacquainted with the principles of right and
wrong, and totally without any idea of religion. The
facts of the case were as follow:—The prisoner was a sin-
gle woman, living with her parents at Bishops Lydiard.
About 6 years before last April she had been confined of
an illegitimate child, which had been brought up by, and
lived with, her at her parents. In February, 1852, it
became evident that she was again about to become a
mother, and her father became so much enraged at this
that he turned her out of doors. She then took refuge in
the Taunton Union. On the 27th of February she said
she should leave the union. The master remonstrated
with her on her doing so in her then condition. She
said she should go, and that she had to meet her
sister, and she left, taking with her her child, then
6 years old. On the 3d of March, she went with her
child to the house of a Mrs. Edwards, who kept a lodg-
ing-house, and asked for a bed for herself and child. Mrs.
Edwards gave her a bed, and observing that she was large
in the family way, asked her where her husband was ?
She said her husband died six months since. She went
to bed early, but in the course of the night she said she
was very ill, and was found to be in labour. A midwife
was sent for, and shortly afterwards she was delivered
of a female child. She had with her a bundle, in which
was a complete set of baby's clothes, in which the child
was dressed, and there was also a band put round the
child's belly. The prisoner remained at Mrs. Edwards
until the 12th of March, when she left, saying she was
going to Bishops Lydiard, to the father bf the child, to
have it christened. She had before this admitted that
she was not a married woman, and while at Mrs. Ed-
wards's she had relief from the union. When she left,
she took her little girl and her infant with her. She was
next seen at the house of a Mrs. Barge, at Slogumber,
without the infant. Mrs. Barge knowing that she had
been in the family way, asked her what had become of
her baby? She said it had been still-born. She slept
that night at Barge's, and the next day returned to her
father's house. On the 30th of March the body of a fe-
male infant was found in a copse near Bishop Lydiard. It
was much decomposed, and eateniby vermin, but round its
body was a band, which the midwife afterwards swore she
believed to be the same she put round the prisoner's baby.
A coroner's inquest was held, and some time afterwards
suspicion fell on the prisoner. When she was asked what
had become of her infant, she-stated she had sold it to
some gipsies she met on the road, and that she should not
have done so if she had not been in great distress. The
body was exhumed and further examined, but the cause
of death could not be :ascertained. The band round the
body was identified by the midwife, whereupon the pri-
soner was committed on a charge of murdering it. When
she was first taken up, she said to the matron at the
lock-up—" There's a baby found in the wood, but I did
not put it there." The matron said—" I don't want to
ask you a question." She then said she should know if
the child was hers, if she saw it. That she was going on
the road to Bridgwater, and had sold the child to gipsies,
but it was through distress.
The last witness called was the little girl Sarah Jane
Amory, the daughter of the prisoner, who is now about
seven years old.
Mr. Saunders contended that the child was an incom-
petent witness, owing to her extreme youth and want
of intelligence.
Mr. Day was heard on the other side, and contended
that the competency of the child to give evidence was
solely a question for the judge.
Mr. Justice Erie said he thought the best course
would be for him to examine the child himself, and he
accordingly had the child taken into a private room.
On his lordship's return from examining the child, he
stated he had examined the child, and that the result of
the examination left his mind dissatisfied with the com-
petency of the child to give evidence, both on the score
of religious knowledge and also memory. He had asked
her when she was first taught to say her prayers, and
she replied last Friday. He then asked her who taught
her. She said she did not know. She had not heard
of a Saviour. When asked if she had heard of the Son
of God, she said yes. When asked his name, she said
the Holy Ghost. He therefore thought she, was not
competent to give evidence.
Mr. Saunders addressed the jury, contending that the
identity of the child was not made out, but even if they
thought it was, still there was no evidence that the pri
soner murdered it.

Mr. Justice Erie having summed up with his usual
care and impartiality,
The jury acquitted the prisoner.
Lewis Perron, was indicted for having maliciously cut
and wounded a woman, whose name was to the grand
jurors unknown, with intent to kill and murder her, at
Bath, on the 11th of January last.
Mr. Phinn was counsel for the prosecution!; Mr. T.
W. Saunders defended the prisoner.
The facts of this case were rather of an extraordinary
character. The prisoner was committed fof the wilful
murder of the poor woman; and an indictment sent up
before the grand jury, but they ignored it.
The case will be better understood in the form of a
narrative. It appeared that the prisoner is a porter at
Bath. On the night of the 11th of January he was at a
public-house in Avon-street, Bath, which is a low part
of the town. While there a strange woman came in,
who appeared to be an Irishwoman by her language.
She got into conversation with the prisoner and another
man named Bernett. They drank together, and left
at about eleven, and were seen to go down a lane lead-
ing to the river. While in the lane the woman and the
men were heard scuffling and in altercation. They were
also seen to go on to the towing-path of the river by a
lad named Ellerton, who had followed them. He heard
a scuffling, and then the man Bernett ran by him. He
went on, and saw Perron and the woman together. She
was chasing him and calling him a villain, and putting
up her hair. She said she would go to the station-
house, and Perron said he would show her the way.
They went on a little way, and were ahead of Ellerton.
He heard her say, " Where are you taking me to ?" It
was very dark. He heard their footsteps. Soon after
he heard the woman cry out, "Murder Jesus ! mur-
der !" Immediately after that Perron came running
back, and said " Oh, Christ !" Ellerton ran back after

Perron, and he saw or heard nothing more of the

woman. At this very time, a woman-, who keeps a
ferry close to where the cry of murder was, heard

piercing screams. She went out, and called out, "Is
there any ono in the water ?" but there was no reply.
Nothing more was seen of the poor woman ; but in the
afternoon of the next day her body was found several
miles down the river, under a mill-wheel, where, in all
probability, it had been washed by the stream, the river

being much swollen at the time. Her body was examined
by a surgeon, and on her forehead was a slight wound,