The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-23 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT.—Sept. 22.

OLD COURT.

Trophy Knight, 37, was indicted for the wilful murder
of Henry Grove.
Mr. Payne and Mr. Mew conducted the prosecution ;
Mr. Sleigh defended the prisoner.
Mr. Laurance Ormerod, house-surgeon at St. Mary's
Hospital, deposed, that about 11 o'clock at night, on the
29th Aug., the prisoner came with a child to the hospital,
and he observed that it was just dead, and he noticed
that there was a large bruise on the forehead, and
blood was issuing from the nose and mouth. He made a
post mortem, examination, and discovered a great many
bruises on the head, and there were also scratches on
the face. Upon examining the interior of the head, he
found that the outer plate iof the skull had been frac-
tured, and this injury corresponded with the principal
external bruise. A quantity of blood was suffused on
the brain, and he had no doubt that the death was occa-
sioned by external violence operating upon a very ema-
ciated frame. The body of the child was very much
emaciated, and in his opinion the emaciation was pro-
duced by the want of proper food, as all the integral
organs, and particularly those referring to the digestive
powers, were remarkably healthy.
Cross-examined—The injury upon the head, which
was the most serious, he did not think likely to have
been inflicted by the hand of a woman. For a short
time, when the prisoner brought the child to the hospi-
tal, she cried and appeared to be very much distressed,
and she told him -that the child had fallen accidentally
from the bed, and that its head struck against a box
that was by the bedside.
Ann Grove, the mother of the deceased child, deposed
that she placed it with the prisoner to nurse. She was
to pay her ss. a week. The deceased was about eleven
months old at the time of its death.
Julia Barnes and Mrs Rock, lodgers in the house in
which the prisoner resided, having been examined,
Mr. Sleigh made a very able speech to the jury on
behalf of the prisoner, and after obierving upon the utter
absence of any motive on the part of the accused to com-
mit so serious a crime, be urged the probability that the
fatal injury had in reality been occasioned in the man-
ner stated by the prisoner, namely, by the child haring
fallen from the bed during her absence, and struck its
head against the box by the bed-side.
Mr. Justice Erie having summed up, the jury, after
deliheratinf, about a quarter of an hour, returned their
verdict, firnin the prisoner guilty of manslaughter, but
they at the same time recommended her to the merciful
consideration of the court.

Toe !earned judge inquired of the jury whether they
were of opinion that from the balance of evidence it ap-
pared that the prisoner had behaved kindly to the child,
up to the time of the unfortunate transaction ?

The jury said they were una.niniously of opinion that
she had.

His lordship then said, that taking into consideration
the recommendation of the jury, and the other facts of the
case, he was about to pass a sentence which might be con-
sidered a very lenient one. He believed, however, that
the prisoner had, while under the influence of drink,
struck the chl!d without any ictention to do it any
serious mischief, ani he hoped the present proceedin4
would be a Wareing to her for the rest of her life. He
then sentenced her to be kept to hard labour for one
month.

William Lye surrendered to take his trial for the man-
slaughter of

The jury found the prisoner guilty, but recommended
him to mercy, and he was sentenced to be imprisoned,
without bard labour, for one month.

TIIIRD COURT.
(Before the Recorder.)
OBTAINING MONEY BY OFFERS OF MARRIAGE.

Thomas William O'Keefe, 46, labourer, and P. iarenne
O'Keefe, his son, who had been out upon bail, were in-
dicted for having by fraud and by false pretences, con-
spired and obtainad from Priscilla East the sum of 1251.,
with intent to cheat and defraud her thereof.

Mr. Win. Coooer arid Mr. H. Gifford prosecuted ;
and Mr. Parry appeared for the elder prisoner, and Mr.
Ballantine and Mr. Ribton for the younger one.
•The case excited the greatest interest in consequence
of the position of the parties upon both sides. The elder
prisoner, although described in the calendar as labourer,
is well known in the dramatic and literary circles, and
is son to the dramatist of that name. Both prisoners are
well-dressed, fashionable-looking men, particularly the
elder one, who wears a well-arranged entire beard.
Mr. IV. Cooper having stated the case, which he did
by merely recapitulating, in a brief and concise manner
the evidence he was about to lay before the jury, called
the prosecutrix, a fashionably attired, pretty-looking
woman, apparently about 30 years of age, who, having
been sworn, said—My name is Priscilla East. At pre-
sent reside at No. 25, Harrington-square, Hampstead-
road. In May, 1853, I was living at No. 16, South-
ampton-street, Fitzroy-square. My sister then lived
there with me. We resided at a boarding-house. The
two prisoners lived opposite. In that month, whilst I
was walking in Fitzroy-square, the elder prisoner came
up and first accosted me. He apologised for doing so.
lie said he thought 1 was from the country, and did not
know any friend, or he should have soucht an introduc-
tion that way. I repulsed him, and he again apologised,
bowed, and left. The same night I received a note, mak-
ing an appointment to meet him the next day. I did
not do so, but went out with my sister instead. He
wrote again, appointing to meet me. lam an or-
phan, and hare property. I did, after the second.
letter, meet him in the square. My sister was not
with me. He said his name was John and
he was a single man, and his intentions towards me
were of the most honourable character. About three
weeks after this the elder prisoner offered me marriage,
and I looked upon him as my accepted lover and future
husband. About one month after our meeting we were
out driving in a carriage, which he had hired, with my
sister and the younger prisoner. We called at several
places, and at each of them his son went in, and when
he came the elder prisoner said, "Have you succeeded?:"
and seemed much troubled when the other said " No."
I asked him the cause of his trouble, and fie said he had
promised to pay 101. that day, and asked me to lend it
to him, which I did. In a month after he borrowed of
me another sum of 151. In fact, he spoke to me of I lie
political affairs, and said he had an action about the, no,
and that all his money was locked np, and he want ed
1001. to pay the law expenses. The younger prisoner
was with him at that time, and also when I lent bins
that sum. In the month of August we were out in this
carriage, and drove into Cannon-street to a place he sale
was his lawyer's. Whilst waiting at the door there, he •
sent the clerk out with a note asking me for the loan a t
1001. I sent him back word "No.' He then came out
and said it would be a great loss if he did not have it ;
and I arranged to let him have it to prevent his ca se
from falling to the ground. Upon that day I lent hi us
121., and 1001. shortly after. He knew when I thou Id
have it, as he had asked me all about my affairs. Ife
said he was going to Liverpool to have his case trie 3.
He had all along sail he intended to marry me, but the tt
he wished the matter kept a secret for family reason s.
He then went to Liverpool, and wrote from there f it
ine to go down, and I tfoxight he then meant to mart 3-
me, and went dawn with iny sistc-r, and we went ;o
lodgings at a boarding-house which he had prepared. I.
had all the requisites prepared for my marriage. P
said he should not then be married, but that I se
to await the result of his law-suit, and that ,re
were to go abroad for that purpose. I and .11 ty
sister then came back from Liverpool, and tocJ
lodgings together' for a few weeks, and from the
I went to Brussels, and lodged in a boarding-hour
After I had beet, there about a f,rtni,llt caw B.
I then lent hiin 161. He again put off our marria
for family reasons of ilia own. When I found we *qui a:
not to be married I came away, and went to my marrie
sister at Calais. He, the elder prisoner, came there,,
and again professed marriage, and at his request I came•
over alone to England, to sell out a share in the Sun.
Fire-office, which I did, and took the money over to
Antwerp, and there gave him 2501. I then came back_
to my old lodgings in Southampton-street. This was its
October. He bad then said that if he married then hr
should lose 3001. a year and 8,000/. I then did Hod
hear from him for some time, and did not see him again '
until January, and we had a disagreement. I then told. '
him I heard he had been married, and he said that it was
true, but that he was free to marry, as he had bon.,
divorced from his wife, in consequence of herebeinee in-
sue. I told him I did not think his neres.vitth
and he said he did not know whether.- was that or
Keith. Down to the time of his being taken into. cus-
ody I always thought I should be his wife. A day or se ,
before hie arrest I met him by chance in Vine-street; we
shook hands, and I asked him if ever he intended to give.
me back my money, and said, "What am Ito do to live,
if you do not return it to me ?" He said, " Why, my-
darling, you must come and live with me." I said,
"What do you mean ? Do you mean that lam to live.
with you as your mistress ?" He said, " You know what
lam when I make up my mind to a thing you know-
lam a determined man. lam one that do'es not care
for God or man, and do not think to escape from me ;
and what difference can a few words from the parson
make I" (Several letters were here put in, and one with
the seal of a foreign count). He always used the seal
when writing to me.
Cross-examined by Mr- Perry—After the whole of th
money had been advanced (5241. was the amount) I took
an acknowledgment for the whole. I did dine with him
at the Hotel de Paris, in the Haymarket. That was
when he had broken his ribs.
Mr. Parry—ls that a cure for
having
ribs ? (Laughter.)s
She then explained that he, met with an •
was anxious to see him •
acci-
dent by falling down stairs, she
might be .;
but not wishing to expose him to what said if
she came to his lodging, and being somewhat recovered,
proposed she should dine with him at the hotel named.-
Afterand the
the dinner
Cross-examination continued. ly
sister
younger prisoner were of, the party.
•
the prisoner said he should take mysister
nephew to go to the Haymarket, as the
and his
piece was one
he much wished her to see.

Pray what was the piece named ?
" Willikins and his Dinah." (Roars of laughter.)
Was that the original one ?
No, I forgot ; they went to the Olympic.
Oh, then there they did see the original " Willikins."
(Increased laughter.)
I stayed at the hotel with him. He was very unwell,
and laid upon the sofa. When my sister and his nephew
came home we supped together, and had wine and bis-
cuits, and my sister and myself were seen home by them.
I neVer offered to go and see him disguised as a boy. I
did wish to go and see him, and offered to go disguised,
but I think it was the disguise of an old women. Dur-
in last Christmas I agreed to marry Mr. Nott. It wag
~.Q\ Fe:::.o.• O'Keefe 1:n,1 not written to Inc fur s,me tune.
L',l4 411 the came Lac't I pave At.. Nott up. I na,:t Mr.
Nutt b.Y, is being at the same boArding-house, ..Air.
Niitt:- lit proposed three times to me. •At the fourth
pioposal i accepted him.
Evidence was then given to show that in February