The Sun.
London, England, 1836-03-31 00:00:00

CAMPBELL V. MACKAY.

Mr. KNIGHT, on the part of Lady Campbell, widow of
the late General Sir James Campbell, stated this was a pe-
tition that her Ladyship, as one of the guardians of her
infant children, might be at liberty to take them to reside
in the South of Europe, on the ground that a southern
climate was absolutely necessary, for their health -and pre-
servation.

The whole day was spent in reading affidavits of the most
conflicting nature from a number of the most eminent men
in the kingdom as to the effect of climate on scrofulous or
strumous diseases ; and also as to the necessity of removing
the children out of the kingdom in reference to their indi-
vidual health.
The evidence was not concluded when his Honour rose
for the Easter holydays.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT.-KINGSTON, MARCH 29.

The Commission was opened yesterday, and business
commenced this morning. Air. Justice Vaughan charged
the Grand Jury. Sir N. C. Tindal sat in the Civil Court.
Nineteen prisoners are for trial, but none of the cases are
of an aggravated nature, if we except the Chipstead bur-
glary. On the Civil side 22 causes are entered, six of which
have special juries.
CROWN COURT.
THE CHIPSTEAD BURGLARS.

MARCH 30.—Jan:es Hills,William Harley, and William
Fisher, alias Curly Bill, labourers, of ruffianly appearance,
were indicted for burgiariously breaking and entering Mint
House, the dwelling-house of Mary Ann Long, at Chip-
stead, on the night of the 2d of September last, and steal-
ing various articles, her property.
Mrs. Mary Ann Long called in and examined by Mr.
CLARKSON—I am sixty-six years of age, a widow, and re-
side with my sister, Mrs. Scholefield, at Mint House,
Chipstead, which is a lone house, situate between Gatton
and Reigate. On the night of the 2d of September last,
I, Mrs. Scholefield, her son (Mr. Rankin), and a female
servant, were the only inmates. About ten minutes past
one in the morning I was awoke by hearing the dog, which
was kept in the yard, barking violently. I got up and
opened the bed-room window, and thinking that some per-
sons were about the premises, I hallooed out that they had
better keep out of the way, or I would put a bullet into
their stomach. I did so to intimidate them, and then re-
tired to bed. Shortly after I heard a noise and again got
up. On going to the window I saw a man trying to get
in. He had smashed the pane, and was armed with a
stake. I seized hold of the stake and tried to wrest it from
him, but he was too strong for me, and struck me a violent
blow on the head, inflicting a wound of an inch and a half in
length. I then called to my nephew, Mr. Rankin, and he
came armed with a cutlass. He made a cut at the man,
but the night being very dark, and there being railings at
the window, he missed him, and he got down the ladder and
went away. I then lit three or four candles, and went
down stairs for my nephew's gun, and my nephew loaded
the gun. About half or three quarters of an hour after-
wards we heard a great noise outside the house, and the pa-
nel of the south door looking out upon a meadow was
smashed in. We heard the voices of six or seven men, who
entered the house. They remained down stairs three quar-
ters of an hour. We then heard one of the men say, " Now

we will go up stairs ;" and I heard what I supposed to be a
man crawling on his hands and knees ; I judged so from
the scraping his toes made along the floor-cloth. Mrs.
Scholefield was very much alarmed, and cried out for mercy.
The men said, " Give us 501., or 30/., or 20/." I told
them that all my money was in the bank, and my plate at
my banker's. One of the men said, " I will murder you,"
and another man said, "We will murder you all." They
then forced in the pannel of the door, and a man at the
bottom of the stairs said," Go it, my boys." Mr. Rankin then
dropped on his knee, and presented the gun through the
pannel. I could only see the rim of the hat of a man, who
appeared to be stooping down. Mr. Rankin fired, and the
men fell back, and the candle went out. They all then went
away. We fastened up the door as well as we could, and
then went into the parlour, and found that the men had
drunk two bottles of wine. We also found the cores of four-
teen apples. They had taken away a watch, some cruet
frames, and other articles. I cannot identify any of the
prisoners.
Mrs. Scholefield examined. I am the sister of the last
witness, and slept with her on the night in. question. When
the pannel was broken in, I had a full opportunity of seeing
. the faces of Hills and Harley. The light was full upon the
face of the latter. I was afterwards shown Harley before
the magistrates.at Reigate, and he rolled his eyes about in
the same manner then. I have not the slightest doubt they
were the men, and will say so on my dying bed.
Captain Rankin gave a similar testimony as to the forcible
entrance, &c.

a gardener, between five and six o'clock in the

morning of the 3d of September, saw- the prisoner Hills
lying on Walton Heath, under the furze. .He was covered
with blood, and had only his shirt and trowscrs on. He
assisted in getting him some water, and he then walked
away in the direction of Sutton.
Anne Murrell keeps the Spotted Dog at Turnham
Green: On some night in September last, she could not
F.:ly the date, a man came into her parlour and offered her
a watch in a green case, which she purchased for 4s. 6d.
and some beer. Shortly after Fisher came in, but he did
••ot speak to the man, and- they went away at different
times.

The watch was produced in Court, and Mrs. Schole-
field identified it as her property.
Mr. Justice VAUGHAN observed that the Jury must de-
cide upon this most extraordinary case, and most extraor-
dinary it was ; for Mrs. Long, an old lady of sixty-six, and
indeed all the party in the house bad displayed a degree of
self-possession—a determined and collected mind, and cou-
rage and manly spirit—that would have done honour to any
officer in the army or navy. Indeed, they had done them-
:elves the greatest .honour. His Lordship then minutely.
went through the evidence.
The Jury consulted for a minute or two, and then re-
turned a verdict, finding Hills and Harley guilty, and ac-
quitting Fisher..
Silence having been proclaimed, the Learned Judge ptit,
on the black cap, and proceeded to pass sentence. He bao.
endeavoured to discover some mitigating circumstances ;
but he could find none ; be therefore besought them to
prepare for that death which sooner or later must come to
all, but speedily to them, and endeavour to obtain that
mercy-from above of which he could bold out no hopes to
them in this world. .

Mr. Justice VAUGHAN observed that the conduct of Mrs.

Long and Captain Rankin, and indeed of all the party, had
been so praiseworthy that if they would accept a reward,
he should recommend one to be given. It might be but a
small sum, but it would mark the high estimation of their
heroism and courage.