The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-27 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY—Aug. 24.
(Before Mr. Commissioner FANE, )
COLLS, TWOMPSON, AND HARRIS'S BANKRUPTCY, LATE RILL-

BROKERS, OF LOMBARD-STREET.
In this case the bankrupts appeared before the Court to pass
their final examination. Very few creditors attended, but ad-
ditional proofs, to the extent of 19,5561. ss. were admitted,
making, with the proofs admitted at the sitting for the choice
of assignees, a total of 136,6951. 18s. 2d. already proved against
the estate. None of the proofs offered to-day were contested,
and the subject of the claim of the London and County Bank
was not in any way alluded to.
In answer to a question from the Commissioners as to the
expected amount of dividend, the official assignee said that is
quite uncertain. There are still a great number of bills which
may eventually come against the estate.
The bankrupts were then sworn to the truth of their ac-
counts, and were severally declared passed.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
NORTHERN ClRCUlT.—Liverpool, Aug. 24.
CROWN SlDE.—(Before Lord DENMAN).
William Jenner, a middle-aged person, respectably dressed,
and of respectable appearance, was indicted for the wilful mur-
der of Mary Jenner, his wife, by shooting her with a pistol.
Mr. Starkie and Dr. Brown conducted the prosecution, and
Sir G. Lewin and Mr. Murphy the defence.
The Court was crowded to excess at an early hour, very great
interest having been created in consequence of the prisoner
having been for many years a respectable merchant in this place.
Mr. STA axiE having stated-a brief outline of the case to the
Jury, called the witnesses.
George Jenner, the only remaining child of the prisoner, an
intelligent lad, deposed, that on Friday, the 26th of April
last, the family consisted of his father, mother, brother, and
himself. He went to bed about eleven o'clock, and slept with
his brother in the front bed-room, and his father and mother in
the back bed-room. lie was awoke in the morning about six
o'clock by the report of a pistol ; his father was standing beside
the bed with something in his hand. It was a pistol. Witness
jumped out of bed, and eaught him by the hands and held him
against the door. He got loose, and witness went down stairs
to the front door, but could not get out, and he went into the
parlour ; he then heard the report of a second pistol, and his
lather came down stairs, and caught hold of witness with his
right hand. He had two pistols. Witness caught hold of ene
and got it from him. Ho wanted it back. Witness wanted

to go upstairs to see his mother. He did so, but did not find
her, and came down again, when the prisoner followed him
and got hold of him. He struck the prisoner on the head
with the pistol, and asked him what he did so for. He said
he was crazy. Witness then went into the kitchen, and
thought lie heard his mother call. He found her on the
floor. There was blood about her head. He spoke to her
but she could not answer. The prisoner came down, and
witness tried to raise her up, but being encumbered with the
pistols could not. Prisoner asked witness to give him them.
Witness said no, he would throw them away. He then went
into the yard and threw them into the midden. lie told
witness to come in, but he refused, and said he would go for
a surgeon and the police. lie them went out of the back
door and along a lane. He met a man whom he told to
get a policeman, and went himself to get Mr. Ackerley, the
surgeon, and returned in five or ten minutes. The policeman
was there then.

On cross-examination the witness stated that the prisoner
had always been kind to his mother. About eight months ago
he was in a state of great excitement, and brought home very
ill. His face was red, and he was very lively. Mother raid
he was foolish to think so much of things that were past. In
October or September there was something about prussic
acid, and Mr. Ackerley and another surgeon were sent far.
After that witness or his mother always came home with him
!loom the counting-house.
W. Maddock, a policeman, went to the house and knocked.
The prisoner asked, "Is that George ?" The policeman said
" Yes," and he was let in. He found Mrs. Jenner lying in the
kitchen, bleeding from a wound in the side of the head.
Other policemen came, and they found a double-barrelled
pistol on the kitchen floor—one barrel loaded, the other dis-
charged. Another double-barrelled pistol was found in the
prisoner's pocket, both barrels loaded. A box, with materials
for leading them, was also found. To Rice Smith, inspector
of police, the prisoner said that Mr. Roberts was to blame for
all this ; and if they all four bad gone to the cemetery together
it would have been right. He said his wife had been a good
wife, and spoke of his two fine boys. When the son George
came the prisoner asked the boy to kiss him. He said, "
you shot my mother and brother, anl you wanted to shoot
me." He said, " Yes, we should all have come to poverty."
He said he had been unfortunate in business, and he had been
crazy for a long time. He then wrung his hands and said,
" On 1 Mr. Roberts, Mr. Roberts, what have you done tl my
wife and family !" Mrs. Jenner lived till the 6th of May, and
then died.

After some discussion a deposition made by her was received
in evidence; it stated that on the morning of the occurrence
she had come down before her husband. He came down shortly
after with his shoes in his hands, and was going to clean then:,
as the•servant was absent. He went up stairs again. She
shortly after felt a shock, and thought he had had a tit. She
shortly after heard the children crying out 4. marder," and she
called Mr. Jenner. She then became insensible.

Mr. Ackerley stated, that he said to the prisoner, " This is
a sad business." He replied, " Yes, lam a deranged man ;
you've been here before, you know."
On cross-examinatiwn Mr. Ackerley stated that he and Dr.
Benning had been called in in November, when it was sus-
pected that the prisoner had taken prussic acid, and remedies
were administered. Hs soemed then to be labouring under
insanity—a monomania as to the state of his affairs, which he
thought in a ruinous condition.
A number of witnesses were called to speak as to the state of
the prisoner's mind, and the Jury, after a short retirement,
returned with a verdict of Acquittal, on the ground of insanity,
The verdict appeared to give universal satisfaction.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

OLD COURT.

William Bradford, aged 50, described as a butcher, was
indicted for the wilful murder of Ann Bradford, his wife,

The Grand Jury ignored the bill for the capital charge, but
found ene for manslaughter.
Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Espinasse conducted the prosecution.
The prisoner was undefended.
Margaret'Aliller stated that she was servant at the Black
Swan public-house, Rosemary-lane. Saw the prisoner on the
3d of August, about four o'clock. He was drunk. His
wife came into the house in a few minutes afterwards. She
was sober. She said to the prisoner, shall I take your beer
home, and he said yes. She then went out. The pri-
soner remained behind. After she had gone he said to the
witness, that good-for-nothing old woman, I will either murder
her or do for her.

Thomas Maynard, police-officer 74 H, was in Wentwnrth-
street on the day in question at the house of the prisoner. It had
a small shop. There was a crowd round the door. The windows
were broke, and the goods of the shop rolling out. Saw the pri-
soner inside. Asked him if he knew a female that was outside
that was making a noise. He said he did ; it was his wife.
Witness said, why don't you let her in? He said he would
not, for she had threatened to cut his head open with the
tongs. Witness said, " nonsense, he would prevent all that."
He said, " as you request it, I will do so." Asked the woman if
she would be quiet, but she made no answer. The prisoner
opened the door, and she went on in a very violent manner.
She was very drunk at the time. About nine o'clock the next
morning was in Wentworth-street again, and met the pri-
soner. Asked him him how he settled the matter, and he said
his wife was very ill. Witness said he hoped he had not ill-
used her. He said lam very sorry, but I did strike her in
the face in the night ; but he did not think it would cause all
that injury, as he would not have her die for a thousand pounds,
for if she shoted, he would be hanged for it.
Further evidence was given, which left no doubt that the
husband inflicted the blow.

The Learned JUDGE summed up, and the Jury returned a
verdict of Guilty, but recommended him to mercy on account
of the strong provocation he had received.
The prisoner was then sentenced to four months' imprison-
ment and hard labour.