The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-09 00:00:00

BUSINESS OF THE COURT.

Py the rising of the court to-day all the cases in the
list had been disposed of. The London sittings will com-
mence on Monday next.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

LANCASTER WINTER ASSIZES.
LIVERPOOL, Dec. 7.
CROWN COURT.
(Before Mr. Baron Alderson.)
MURDER.

Thomas Copeland was placed at the bar for the wilful
murder of Richard Sunderland, a police officer, on the
Ist of November last, at Liverpool. From the deposition
of several witnesses, it appeared that on the day iu
question an election of Aldermen took place for the
borough. At Shaw's public house in Cavendish-street,
where there were a number of voters, a mob of about a
dozen assembled, and threatened that if they did not get
drink they would break the voters' heads. In conse-
quence of the excitement among the crowd, two of the
voters went for the assistance of the constabulary. On
their arrival they went to the opposite side of the street
when they kept shouting and hissing. The prisoner was
observed to take a prominent part in the mob. He was
heard several times exclaiming, "they must have
drink," and " we won't let the car go," refering
to the car which the voters had stopping on the outside
of Shaw's house. The crowd was very soon dispersed,
however, and Welsh, one of the police, followed pri-
soner up to the corner of Cavendish-street, shoving him
and telling him to get home. At the corner of this
street prisoner became very furious, when Welsh ar-
rested him to bring him to the Bridewell. Prisoner made
a sudden dive under his arm, and struck Welsh on the
back part of the head, at the same time making off.
Welsh pursued him, followed by Sunderland (the de-
ceased) to a court where he resides. On passing through
the room on the ground floor, prisoner was observed
lifting a large knife off the table, and running up stairs.
Before he got to the top of the stairs, Welsh had over-
taken him, and a scuffle ensued, which lasted some
minutes. Deceased then came to his assistance, and
they endeavoured to get prisoner as far as the front
door,' holding him by the throat, when he put his right
hand into his trousers pocket, taking therefrom the knife
and stabbing the unfortunate man in the groin. De-
ceased exclaimed, " Oh," and
then fell. He was
removed to the Northern Hospital immediately, when
death put an end to his sufferings in about ten minutes
after.
The prisoner was defended by Mr. Atkinson, who ad.
dressed the jury in an eloquent speech on his behalf.
The jury retired, and after an hours' consultation
returned into court with a verdict of " Manslaughter."

Lord Campbell—Do socialists believe there ought to
be a community in women ?
Witnees—l never heard of it. '
Examination continued—l never heard him say that
men and women ought to live promiscuously together.
I have not heard that Mr. Halse forbad him to sleep at
Brunswick-square because of his late hours. He left on
account of his wife's conduct. I work as a journeyman
in Regent-street.
John Beare—l am brother to the plaintiff, and now
live with him at 2, Salisbury-terrace, where he has lived
tor the last year. In January or February, 1851, I
!ant to Brunswick-square. My brother was ill. I saw
"1Y brother's wife and the defendant in the lobby as I
kit figoing up-stairs to my brother. I saw defendant
brothee; and place his hand on her. I told this to my
house in3;en or eight months afterwards. He left the
His wife
coabruary, 1852, and went to Salisbury-terrace.
gether in oetonleblextek to him there. She left him alto-
Susan and mar; 1852, and went to Brunswick-square.
and used to coniteoheU were the defendant's servants, •
4lisbury-terrace nearly every night, (Before Mr. Baron Martin.)
asking my brother's wife
vitSarah
come to Biunswick-square.
She ultimately IeftSTABBING.
s_e_9h Lee, her sister, who had
been in the defendant's Edward Gay was charged with assaulting, with intent
Her brother has been
in defendant's service for'reriircee to do bodily harm, to Anne Gill, on the 26th November.
27th 'Tune, I went to the eefen.,e orf?ur years. On the It appeared that the prisoner and the prosecutrix were
at River Cottage, nornsey, witr the country residence , elfin king in a public house in Old Hall-street on the
,cys plaintiff, early in I
the morning. harles Thomas evening referred to, when prisoner and witness had some
and zith es, He is ! words which arose out of some frolic. She then left,
now out of thew ay. I went
hedge facing the door of River Cottage, IneYaself by the and prisoner followed her as far as the entrance to
wife come out at the door and look round „IhPlaiuLtifrs Thompson's-court, where he struck her, and knocked
was suspicious. She returned to the holnie, aadong" she sh ,
e her down, but could not say what the wounds were ;in-
defendant then came out together, and remainedinatnild le flicted b
garden for an hour and a half. He picked a flower anal The prisoner said that she kissed and kicked him seve-
gave it her, and kissed her hands. He also played 1
her with any instrument, but merely his hand. ral times during the evening, and that he did not strike
with her dress, she resting:.
on his I saw 11, 1
one else. At about half-past. Twelve nine the defendant months' imprisonment, with hard labour.
took the train up to town, and the plaintiff'sl GAROTTE ROBBERY.
wife went intu the house. In the evening, 1 1
1 Charl es Richards was sentenced to five years' penal
about half-past five, I watched the defendant return to TreProilsoarneet for one of those garotte robberies, which
River Cottage. Thomas rang the bell, which was : lard, very frequent occurrence in this part of Eng-
answered by plaintiff's wife. He inquired for Mr. '
litet. on a person named Cross, on the 29th September
liaise, who came out. Thomas slid--" I saw you two
this morning dressing in the room together, and saw
you undressing there last evening. You slept together
last night." She said, " Yes, I did sleep with him in 1 - ----e----
N-S' -
that room." The defendant said, " i e had slept i 111 A, , ION HOUSE.—/fary
there with her, and my brother might get his remedy peered to be about sevenyears of age, was brought before
where he thought proper." Thomas was then working the Lord Mayor in order that her case (a charge of beg
for me. I have made every effort to find him. While ging) might he adjudicated upon by his lordship. The
we were standing together three gentlemen passed, two facts are as follow :—Sir Robert W. Carden on Monday
of whom are here to-day. I have frequently been there caused the child, who was ragged and barefooted, to be

.--.
His Lordship in passing sentence said that the preva-
lence of the use of the knife in Liverpool required an
awful example to be made. The sentence is that you,
Thomas Copeland, be transported for the term of your
life.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.