The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-10 00:00:00

+4, k
1- I. MARCH 10, 184:0.

' A number of witnesses were called, who proved that
the prisoner had frequently threatened to kill the de-
ceased, on account of light conduct, which he charged
her with being guilty of, he being in love with her,
although she had never given him the slightest encou-
ragement. Other witnesses proved that ho had been
near the spot where the body was found, before and after
the period at which it is supposed the murder was per-
petrated.
Ann Cook--I live at the Coach and Horses Inn, at
Pershore. On Wednesday morning, Dec. 6, the pri-
soner came to the house about seven, and had a pint of
cider. He gave me twopence. I drew him another
pint, for which he gave me half-a•crown. He was very
nervous, and dropped a portion of the change. I got a
candle, to light; he pushed the candle with hii hand,
and said he could see to find it himself. I noticed blood
on the wristband and back of his hand, but whether of
the shirt or frock I could not say. I observed him tuck
it under with his other hand. Ho was in the house
about two hours. He said he had come from Broughton,
shich is two miles from Pershore. He went out of the
house several times towards the river, by the back of
the house. lam positive I saw blood on his hand.
William Harris—l am superintendent of police at
Pershore. I apprehended the prisoner on the morning
of Dec. 7, in a lone barn about a mile from P, !shore.

He had two smock frocks on; ono of them had blood on
from the wristband up to the collar. There were spots
on the gathers of the neck of the frock. There were
several marks of blood also on his waistcoat. He had
trousers on, and two clean shirts. I took him to the
station-house. He met a man, and said to him " Weil,
Jack, I am going to bo hanged."
Cross-examined—l had previously told him he was
charged with the murder of the girl. He said " I did
not do it." He was on the straw in the barn. He said

Let me tie my shoes first. He put his handsin-lais
pockets, when I threw him on his back and searched
him. I found a knife, a bag, and 13. 4d. in money.
Frederick Tyler went with his father, on the Satur-
day after the murder, and found the stick produced in
the ditch. It was covered with water and briers. There
were some light-coloured hairs on it, of a similar colour
to the hair of the deceased Mary Ann Staight.—(The
stick, a short clubbed one, resembled a mallet, a most
formidable looking weapon, was here produced in the
court, and caused a universal sensation, as being doubt-
less the instrument by which the unfortunate girl was
deprived of life.) On the Monday before the murder
prisoner said Mary Ann Staight had been scandalising
him. He bad a billhook or hacker in his hand, and said
she (deceased) wanted it put through her b— head.
The deceased was a well-conducted young woman, about
15 years of age.
Thomas Panter—l know the stick produced. I had
it for nearly eight years. I used it for driving hedge
stakes, arid afterwards cut a portion of it off, and used
it as a sort of hammer to drive in taps, or anything of
the kind. I missed it on the 16th of November. I saw

it the day before on the potato patch, at the back of our
house, where the prisoner was digging potatoes, and
when he finished the patch I found it was gone.
John Clarage—l am a surgeon. On the Bth Decem-
ber I examined the body of deceased. I found a wound
on the top of the bead, an inch and a half long and
threes inches wide, extending to, and exposing, the
bone. Beneath the wound was a depression of the
bone. There was also another wound. On re-
moving the scalp, I found an extensive frac-
ture, extending from the top of the head down to the right
eye, tied a second depression in the forehead, with a
piece of bone forced on to the brain. There was a good
deal of blood between the scalps. I removed the upper
part of the skull and found a quantity of blood on the
brain, caused from a fracture; the brain was otherwise
healthy. Those injuries, in my opinion, were sufficient
to cause instant death. The body was otherwise healthy
in every organ. The stick produced is in everyway calcu-
lated to have caused those injuries, and inflicted the
wounds I saw. There would be an issue of blood from
those wounds, more particularly the larger one. I saw
blood on the prisoner's smock, which would probably be
so, or a similar splashing, supposing the person who in-
fliet4cl the injury to have been behind the victim.
Cross-examined—l think the wounds must have been
inflicted by two blows. One wound was more superfi-
cial than the other, which had mashed the skull, and
must have been given with ferocious violence. The de-
ceased's bonnet was broken; instant death must have
been caused, and no great deal of blood would therefore
flow from the wound. The deceased was of full grown
stature for her age; the blood would splash downwards.
Re-examined—The girl's bonnet had been saturated
with water. I cannot swear whether the bonnet was
broken by the blow or not.

Ann Turvey—The deceased, when found, had the
strings of her bonnet in her hand; it was off her head,
and under her in the ditch; the pasteboard of it was
broken, and the back part of the silk was parted from
the fore part—that is, the crown was nearly torn away,
and there was a quantity of blood in the crown of it.
Some other witneaaae, amounting altogether in number
to thirty, having been called for th prosecution,
Mr. COOKE addressed the jury with the considerable
force for the prisoner, contending that he was insane, and
that all his conduct, as deposed to on the trial, evidenced
the fact.

Mr. Justice COLTMAN summed up the voluminous evi-
dence very minutely, and intimated to the jury that the
expressions alleged to have been used by the prisoner
did not constitute a state of insanity which would render
him legally exempt from the punishment accruing to the
consequences of his acts.
The jury, atter a quarter of an hour's deliberation,
found the prisoner Guilty of wilful murder.
His LORDSHIP, having assumed the black cap, ad-
dressed the prisoner, telling him that he had been found
guilty on the clearest evidence of one of the most inhu-
man and cold-blooded murders ever heard of, by which
a young and innocent girl had met an untimely death,
just as she was entering into life, as it were. He must
look for mercy elsewhere, and prepare for the state into
which he must shortly enter, as his time on earth would
now be short. The prisoner was then sentenced to death
:n the usual terms.

The trial occupied nine hours.
Pulley was defended through the kindness of the
High Sheriff, John Dent, Esq.
At Nisi Fritts a special jury cause before Mr. Baron
Platt occupied the greater part of the day, and had just
concluded when our report left.
At present there appears no probability of the business
of these assizes being concluded within the time allotted,
which is generally admitted to be too short.

MIDLAND CIRCUI .—Lincoln, March 9.
The commission for this county and city were opened
by Chief Justice Wilde, at three o'clock yesterday after-
noon. There were seven criminal cases for the city,
which were disposed of, the Court sitting until a late
hour. Two only were of a nature and of interest enough
to command a report, and those aro noticed below. For
the county there are nine cases, two of which are spe-
cial juries. The calendar contains the names of 47 pri-
soners, and among them are comprised the following
serious offences:—Murder, 2; arson, 4; manslaughter,
1; stabbing and cutting, 1.
Owing to the illness of Mr. Justice Maule, the Chief
Justice presided at the Nisi. Prius Court;:Mr. White-
hurst, Q.C., and Mr. Humfrey, Q.C., assisting in other
courts, and the causes, save an undefended one, were
postponed.

CRIMINAL COURT.
Daniel Ormsby, aged 33, was charged with man-
slaughter. It appeared that in the afternoon of:the Bth
of September, the prisoner, who is a butcher, was driving
his cart, containing a couple of pigs, furiously, as one of
the witnesses described, and at the rate of, 15 miles an
hour. A child was in the middle of the road, the pri-
soner was shouted to, but though he attempted to pull
up, he could not succeed in preventing the girl being run
over, from which she sustained such serious damage as
to die on the 24th of the same month. It was proved
that the prisoner was a man who bore a very good cha-
racter, and several witnesses stated he was on his right
side of road, and only going at a canter.
The jury returned a verdict of Acquittal.
Charles Hastings, aged 22, was charged with cutting
and wounding Lydia Gresham, with intent to murder;
there was a count charging the minor offence.
The prosecutrix was a person with whom the prisoner
cohabited, and was an individual of very loose character.
It would be seen that he had entered her room under
the influence of some jealous feeling, occasioned by her
having been been visited by a gentleman. Having en-
tered the room he locked the door, but some females in
the house being alarmed at cries of murder, broko open
the door, and they said, " He had done for her, ho had
cut her jugular." Subsequently the prisoner attempted
to cut his own throat.
_ _

The jury were out a considerable time ; ultimately
they returned a verdict of Guilty of the intent to com-
mit serious damage, but acquitted him of intent to
murder. Sentence deferred.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—York, March 8.

CROWN COURT. (Before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE.)
Harriet Sturdy, 29, and Rebecca Martin, 21, were in-
dicted, with twp other persons, for the robbery of a man
named Abraham Verity, at Leeds, on the 14th Novem-
ber last.

It appeared that the prosecutor, a shoemaker in Leeds,
in going homewards, was accosted by a girl, who took
him into a house in George's- street, sa3itig that her hus-
band was there, and wished to see him. Immediately,
however, on his entering the house, the prisoner turned
the key in the lock of the door. As prosecutor was en-
tering the house, two other women haul also come in,
and thus he became locked up with Sturdy, Martin, and
two other women. The whole four surrounded him,
Sturdy standing over him with a fire-poker in her hand
while two of the women held him, and the fourth rifled
his pockets of a purse, containing a half-sovereign in
gold. three pounds ten shillings in silver, and a gentle-
man's gold ring. The door was then opened, and the
woman who had obtained the purse ran off with it.
When the prosecutor attempted to fellow her, the three
others prevented his doing so. Soon eer this he got
away, arid gave immediate information to the police,
with whom he returned to the house, and finding Sturdy
there, she was at once given into custody. The other
prisoner was apprehended about a quarter of an hour
later.
The jury convicted Sturdy, but acquitted Martin, and
The Learned JUDGE sentenced the former to be trans-
ported for 10 years.
James Josh. Jones was indicted for arson, at Miming-

[PRICE SD.

ton, in. February, and setting fire to a stable, the pro-
perty of Thomas Moore.
Mr. Moore said he had a thatched stable at Minning-
ton, in the North Riding. On the 15th of February it
was burst down. It appeared from the e►idence that the
prisoner was seen within half a mile of the place just be-
fore the fire.
The jury found him Guilty, and
His :11-JortnsurP directed him to be brought up to be
sentenced tomorrow.

Wm.. Grenthend, aged 40, and Thomas Johnson, 40,
were indicted for night-poaching, at Aldborough, in the
North Riding, on the lands of Richard Bassett Wilson,
Esq., I wing armed with guns and bludgeons on the night
of the 37th December last.
The three watchers of Mr. Wilson were out in a plan-
tation, • when', they heard the reports of air-guns and
pheasa ats fly away, and men rushing among the trees
and branches breaking off the trees. Presently three
men cAme through the hedge, and one of the watchers
rushed 'Ton them, on which the prisoner Johnson, who
had a cried " Stand back." However, the watcher
rushed in, and they both came to the ground, and were
up and down several times. Johnson then struck the
watcher several times with the air-gun and cut his head.
Grenthend was fighting with another watcher, but even-
tually the prisoners were overpowered.
They were found Guilty, and the prisoner Johnson was
charged on another indictment for wounding one of the
watchers, but no evidence was offered on it, and so he
was acquitted on that indictment.
His LORDSHIP sentenced them to be imprisoned, with
hard labour, for a year.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
NAVAL AIDE DE CAMP TO HER MAJESTY.—Captain
Sir James Stirling, Knight Commander of the Re-
deemer of Greece, commanding the Howe, 120, in the
Mediterranean, has been appointed Naval Aide-de-Camp
to the Queen, vice Sir A. P. Green, promoted. This
officer, lieutenant of 1809, commander 1812, and captain
1818, was midshipman of the Glory in Calder's action;
and of the Diadem at the siege of Monte Video; and
commanded the Brazen on the coast of America.

GREENWICH HOSPITAL. - Captain Thomas Manse,

(1834) has been appointed to theout-pension of Green.
with Hospital, vice Laugharne, appointed to the Green-
wich establishment. This gallant officer entered the
navy in 1798, served in the Elephant with Lord Nelson
at Copenhagen, was in the Hecate at the capture of St.
Domingo, and was promoted, on the expiration of his
midshipman's time, on the recommendation of Sir John
Duckworth, for his gallantry and zeal in boat service.
As a lieutenant he served continuously from 1804 till
his promotion to the rank of commander. He was
wounded in command of the boats of the Rancoon, in
recapturing a merchant vessel off Cuba; was in the Avon
on her escape from the French squadron of Jerome
Bonaparte. He was of the Voluntaire at the destruction
of a French squadron in the Mediterranean; commanded
the Troubridge at the capture of the Isle of France; and
was promoted from the Barham for his gallant but un-
successful exertions in endeavouring to cut out the
American privateer, the True Bred Yankee. He was
promoted to the rank of captain for service in the Coast-
guard from 1834 to 1837.
LIEUTENANTS' OUT. PENsioNs.--Retired Commander
Robert Welch (1836), a lieutenant of 1803, and Lieute-
:mat Cave Gregory (1815), have been appointed to the
out-pensions of Greenwich Hospital, vice Conolly and
Prescott, deceased. Both these officers are old, meri-
torious, and;deserving, from service and circumstances.
They have both sustained injuries in the service, and
the one has a family of ten, and the other of sight
children.
Mate—F. J. Protheroe (1846) to the Racer, 12, fitting
at Devonport.
Boatswain—John Ellery, to be acting.
THE LATE VICE ADMIRAL Ross, C.8.--The re-
mains of this esteemed officer ware interred in the
burial-ground of the parish church of Stoke Damerel,
Devonport, on Thursday. There were 26 carriages in
the mournful procession, which included the naval, mili-
tary, civil, and civic authorities and officers of the
town and neighbourhood. A court martial sitting at
the citadel adjourned their proceedings to attend the
funeral.

PORTSMOYTH, MARCH 9.—The Echo steam-tug will
embark the depot of the 42d Highlanders on Monday, at
Gosport, for Cowe=, en route to Parkhurst.
Commander Thomas Bourmaster Brown died at Has-
ler Hospital, on Wednesday morning, the 21st ult., after
a long and lingering illness, deeply regretted by many
sincere friends, at the early age of 42. He was a
Lieutenant of 1828, and commander of 1841, and was
in command of the Snake when she was wrecked and
totally lost in the Mozamhique Channel, in September
1848. His arduous services in this vessel, and the pri-
vations he suffered at the time of her wreck, being at
the time very ill, brought on a paralysis of the lower
limbs, from which he never recovered. When he came
to England he was sent to Hasler, and has never left it
since but once, and that was to attend the court-martial
on tho officers and crew of the Snake, for the loss of that
vessel. Commander Brown leaves a wife and young
family to deplore his early death.4This makes the second
son Vice-Admiral Brown has lost in the service. Lieut.
Seymour York Brown died some time back from disease
contracted in his services in China.
Tho Janus steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander
Powell, was warped alongside the jetty this morning,
the Rodney being previously hauled off to make room for
her. Her tender, the launch which has been decked
over and fitted to receive a 12-pound carronade, was then
hoisted in, after which her crew were paid two months'
wages in advance. She sailed in the afternoon for Ply-
mouth, where sbe is to wait for dispatches before sailing
finally to Gibraltar.

Tha Sappho, 12, Commander R. C. Michell, got under
weigh at sunset last night, and proceeded to St. Helen's,
where she anchored for the night. She sailed this after-
noon for the North America and West India station.
The Electra, 14, Commander F. W. P. Bouverie, was
paid off into ordinary this afternoon.
The Phoenix screw steam-sloop was taken out this
morning under the superintendence of Captain H. T.
Austin, C. 8., of the Blenheim, to try her speed on the
measured mile in Stoke's Bay. She was obliged to be
brought in at one P.M., having broken her screw, part of
which fell overboard in Stoke's Bay. Her performance
was anything but satisfactory.
In Port and fitting.—Victory, 22, Port Admiral's
flag-ship; Illustrious, 10, Admiral-superintendent's flag-
ship; Victoria and Albert, Royal yacht; Excellent,
gunnery exercise ship; Blenheim, 56, guardship for
steamers; Adventure and Diligence, naval store trans-
ports; Fairy, Fire Queen, Myrtle, and Bee, steam ten-
ders; Echo, steam-tug; Fanny, Port Admiral's yacht;
Portsmouth, Admiral-Superintendent's yacht.
At Spithead.—Superb, 80, and Rolla, exercise brig for
naval apprentices.
In dock.—Princess Charlotte, 104; Blenheim, 56;
Vindictive, 50; Flying Fish, 12; Devastation steam-
sloop; and Adventure, naval transport.
In the steam basin.—Ajax, 56, steam guard-ship;
Retribution and Termagant steam-frigates; Cormorant
steam-sloop ; Urgent, Sprightly, and Bloodhound,
steamers.

In the basin—Collingwood, 80; Pembroke, 72; De-
fence convict hulk; and Sparrow ketch.

WOOLWICH, MARCH 9.—The Gladiator steam vessel,
430 horse power, Captain John Robb, has all her rig-
ging taken down and her stores deposited on shore, and
was removed to-day to the moorings formerly occupied
by the Charger coal-depot, preparatory to being paid off
to-morrow.

A vessel of 239 tons burden, the Isabella Sarah, of
Newcastle, Alexander Watson, master, laden with dry
goods, during her progress up the river to-day, in charge
of a waterman pilot, missed stays when opposite the
dockyard, and ran in towards the wharf wall of the basin,
breaking the jib•boom of the Lightning steam-vessel,
and then striking the Charger coal-depot, lying along-
side the wharf wall for repairs, making a large hole in
her stern, breaking the bulwarks over the cabin windows,
and the companion ladder, and cables with which the
charger was moored. The strong cables of the blocks
used in connexion with the shears were broken in several
places, and the Isabella Sarah was held fast by becom-
ing entangled with the other cables attached to the
shears. The injuries sustained by the Isabella Sarah
must be considerable, her jib-boom being broken, and
the bolts holding her bowsprit greatly bent, the whole
of the bulwarks at her bows broken to fragments, the
stock of one of her anchors broken into two pieces,
and her principal anchor, which was swinging at
the time she ran against the wharf wall, has every pp
pcaranco of having one of its flukes imbedded in her
bows, as the exertions of several men with pullies could
not move it from its position. The brig was making
water fast, and the pumps kept continually at work. Mr.
Bellamy, master-attendant, was promptly on the spot,
and very considerately allowed the master of the vessel
to swing her round alongside the wharf as her
anchors did not either of them appear to be service-
ablemamr.
state, and he at the same time recommended
Watson to hire a tug, and take her upther
and into some dock as the best means of savingive river
the t caorngeoe.,
station for toardmreisreabrvlye
itelatmisvienssceoisnatetmoprieaetniohnititioe. have a
They
will
to proceed to sea at a moment s no
situated for the protection of ,thertiieveerw,
haenndtwheililrbseerrveiacd4,
are required.

LTBORGE OMEN.—It is with very great pleasure
'we announce to theatricale ftrl
Scotland
i)a
d x thsa tb
etehne aabvoevr;e
named gentleman
s trip to so
lucrative one.
. flood
nopaidnn of all whodiiotiontofilling
hboonthouproecdktehtes ,thheeahtraes
gained '
the g
at Inverness with their presence during his two engage-
ments, when the theatre was full every night. Mr. G.
Owen proceeded to Dingwall, where he was equally suc-
cessful. After his engagement he went to North and
South Shields, were he also drew great houses; on his
benefit nights crowded in all parts. Mr. George Owen
next appeared (on Monday last, the sth March) in
Dundee, and met with all his old friends, his engagement
being for ten evenings, and expressly retained to appear
in the Stranger and Macbeth, with Miss Cushman.
THE WAR IN INDlA.—Lieut.-Colonel Wilson, of
the 77th Regiment, in this garrison, is to proceed imme-
diately to India, having exchanged with Lieut.-Colonel
Dubourley, of the 64th Regiment, which regiment sailed
from Cork a few years since, for Bombay and the seat
of war. The Gallant Colonel leaves the 77th Regiment,
after twenty-five years' service in that corps.—Hampshire
Guardian.