The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-24 00:00:00

WESTERN ClRCUlT—Devizes, July 22.
CROWN COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Mainz.)
Richard Fuller, Charles Palmer, and James Hobbs, were
indicted for having, on the 9th of May, committed a rape upon
Harriet Godding.
Mr. Merewether conducted the case for the prosecution, and
Mr. Ball defended the prisoner.
It appeared from the statement of Harriet Godding that she
was twenty-eight years of age, that her husband, to whom she
had been married seven years, was a journeyman bricklayer,
that he had been out of employment two months, and they
were reduced to the lowest ebb—they had no money, no home.
On Saturday, the Bth of May, they had not eaten any thing
all day, but in the evening they called at a gentleman's house
near Swindon. They made their case known to him, and
happily he knew the neighbourhood from whence her husband
came. He gave them supper, and allowed them to sleep in
one of his cow-sheds. On the next morning (Sunday) he
gave them money wherewith to purchase their breakfast, told
them they might sleep again in his cowshed, but desired them
not to come till after dark, as he did not like to see poor people
about his premises. The man and his wife then wandered
away, and in the afternoon went into a public-house to get
some refreshment, where they met the three prisoners. Fuller,
finding that Godding had no money, gave him a pint of beer,
which he and his wife drank. Fuller then began making over-
tures to the wife ; but she would not listen to him. He, how-
ever, declared he would have his will of her that night. The
husband, a poor half-starved creature, asked what was the
matter, upon which Fuller, who has but one hand, but has af-
fixed to the arm an iron stump, knocked down the husband
with this stump. The wife interfered, and this brute then
struck her on the forehead with the same weapon. The poor
people were frightened, and left the house, intending to pro-
ceed to their miserable hovel. They were followed by these
wretches and overtaken, and they then Gne and all committed
the offence for which they were indicted. All this was ac-
companied by the most horrible language and most brutal
treatment, and is perhaps one of the worst cases that has been
heard of in recent times.
For the defence several witnesses were called with a view of
showing that the woman was intoxicated, that she had winked
at the men, and had conducted herself with great levity, but
they broke down in their cross-examination.
The woman gave her testimony exceedingly well, and no one
could doubt the accuracy of her statement, in which she was
supported by other witnesses.
The Learned Judge having summed up,
.The Jury found all the prisoners Guilty.
Mr. Justice MAULE then told them, that had the offence
been committed some time since, their lives must inevitably
have been sacrificed, but as an Act of Parliament had now
passed taking away the punishment of death for this offence,
although it had not yet come into operation, still he should only
order judgment of death to be recorded against them. They
would however, be sent out of the country.
A feeling of horror pervaded the Court during the whole of
the trial, the details exhibited such a case of brutality.
Edward Ladd was convicted of having assaulted Ann Per-
rett and Emma Perrett, being each under the age of 12 years,
with intent, &c.

From the evidence it appeared that the prisoner was the
uncle of the little girls, and that he had been in the habit of
conducting himself in an indecent manner towards these little
children.

The Jury found the prisoner Guilty, and he was sentenced to
one year's imprisonment and hard labour.
This was a case of most horrible depravity.

ST. BOSWELL'S FAIR-SCOTLAND

This great annual market for almost every descrip-
tion of stock, was held on Monday last, About the
usual number of lambs were brought forward ; but, as
buyers had determined to purchase at lower prices than
in former years, few sales were effected before seven
o'clock, A.M.. an hour at which, for some years past,
one third of such stock used to be disposed of. Ex-
posers, however, persisted in demanding the prices
which they had formerly obtained, and for the best
kinds of lambs, had almost succeeded in realising the
prices of last year. J. Murray, Esq., of Lauder Barnes,
sold his bred lambs, ewe and wedder, at 225. per head ;
Mr. Hewit, of East Maines, sold his wedder lambs, of
the same description, at 235. ; the current prices for
stock of the same bre ed, ran at 18s. to 235. ; few, if any,
obtained more. Half and three-parts bred lambs, of
which the market was chiefly composed, might be said
to run at from 12s. to 20s. Mr. J. Bryden sold 400 of
his Glenormisl on lambs, all in one lot, at 18s. per head,
with only a small luck-penny ; Mr. James Bryden sold
another lot of lambs, ewe and wedder, which appeared
to be more than half-bred, at 18s. 6d. ; Mr. A. Purves,
one of Lord Lauderdale's stewards, sold a lot of wed-
der lambs, from Lauder Castle, :at 19s. per head, which
was considered to be a high price ; Mr. Robert Ballan-
tyne sold a lot of ewe and wedder lambs, half-bred, at
18s. 6d. ; Mr. Wright, Carfrae, sold his lot at 17s. 6d. ;
there was one lot, three parts bred, sold at 21s. 6d., but
we do not recollect the name of the seller. We did
not observe any Cheviot lambs in the market, it being
too early in the season for such stock. There were
few old sheep in the fair. We saw only one lot of black-
faced wedders, which were said to be sold at 21s. each.
Young sheep, if fat, sold at about sd. per lb. Rough
hogs were so very inferior, that we do not think fit to
mention the prices which they obtained. There was
a great attendance of wool-buyers, and although there
was rather a good demand, still prices did not run very
high. The best parcels of half-bred hog wool sold at
from 265. to 275. per stone of 241 b. Cheviot white and
half-bred ewe, at from 225. to 255.; laid Cheviot, at 145.,
155., and 165.; black faced white, at 135., 145., and 15s. ;
but in a market such as St. Boswell's there often occur
prices both above and below those quoted. The show of
cattle was only middling ; those fit for the butchers sold
at from 6s. 6d. to Gs. 9d. per imperial stone, of the best
description, but inferior quality could be bought for less;
grazing quality were less sought after than we have seen,
although prices were very similar ro,o those obtained in
neighbouring markets. Good mulch cows still main-
tained the large prices which they have obtained in
other places during the course of this summer. Draught
and saddle horses sold at good prices, but those of an
inferior sort, and those worn out, were, as usual, ill to
dispose of.