The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-27 00:00:00

BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.

Males
Females ...

Total ...

... 650
... 607

...1,257

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.
Before Mr. Justice CRESSWELL and Mr. Justice

MAULE.)
On their Lordships taking their seat on the bench
this morning, John Ovenston, who was remanded from
last session, standing indicted for feloniously shoot-
ing at Mr. George Crawley with intent to murder
him, was placed in the dock to take his trial.
Ryland and Mr. Laurie conducted the case for
the prosecution, and the prisoner was defended by
Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Huddlestone.
M. RYLAND having opened the case for the prose-
cution, proceeded to call the following witnesses :
George Crawley, the prosecutor, examined by Mr.
LAURIE—I am a wine-merchant, carrying on busi-
ness in Mark-lane. I became acquainted with the
prisoner in November last year. He and a person
of the name of Creemer were co-assignees under the
estate of Mr. Bond. I had supplied them with goods
on one or two occasions, and in the month of January
last they owed me a sum of 1501. I applied for pay-
ment, and not succeeding in obtaining it, I commenced
lan action against the prison er and Creemer. In the mon th
of August last an execution was put upon the goods in
the prisoner's house in consequence of a Judge's order.
In consequence of a message I received, I came to my
counting-house in Mark-lane on Saturday, the 14th
of August, about four o'clock in the afternoon. I
saw the prisoner sitting in a chair, and I asked him
whether he wished to see me. He replied in the
affirmative. I then asked him to be good enough to
step into an adjoining office. When the door was
closed he turned round, and said " What does all this
mean ?" I was about to make a reply, when I was
wounded in the face with a pistol. I was immediately
taken to St. Thomas's Hospital. I noticed nothing
peculiar in the prisoner's manner except a shaking and
trembling in the head.
John Yates, examined by Mr. LAURIE—I am a
clerk to Mr. Crawley. I know the prisoner at the
bair. He came to the counting-house in Mark-lane
on the 14th of August, about a quarter or ten minutes
to four o'clock. There was a person of the name of
Legg in the counting-house at the time. When the
prisoner came in he said he wished to see Mr.
Crawley. I went for the purpose of' bringing Mr.
Crawley to him, when the prisoner followed me part
of the way. I desired him to return, which he did.
When Mr. Crawley entered, the prisoner said he
wished to speak to him. Mr. Crawley asked him to
walk into the counting-house, which he did, and Mr.
Crawley followed him. Immediately afterwards I
heard a report of a pistol, and a cry of " Murder,"
from Mr. Crawley, who came staggering out of the
counting-house and ran into the street. I then im-
mediately locked the door of the counting-house :
after which I heard another report. A policeman of
the name of Strickland came in afterwards, and we
went together into the counting-house, and saw the
p;-ironer sitting on a chair, with his head resting on
his knee, and bleeding very much. I always con-
sidered him a reserved kind of man, and one who
seemed to have his thoughts always intent upon busi-
ness:. I never noticed anything peculiar in his man-
ner, other than what I have stated.,
John Strickland, a City policeman, examined by
Mr_ LAURIE—In consequence of some information I
received, I went to Mr. Crawley's in the afternoon of
the 34th-of August last. I entered the counting-
house, and found the prisoner sitting on a chair with
his bead on his knees. I saw a pistol lying on the
desk. It was not loaded. I also observed a second
pistol, which was lying on the floor, and appeared to
have been recently discharged. The prisoner said,
" That damned villain Crawley has caused all this ;"
and he also said he wished the ball had gone through
his own head. He several times afterwards asked
how Mr. Crawley was getting on. He also said that
he had always tried to get his living in an honest
way, but had been hardly dealt with. I searched the
prisoner, and found that letter produced signed
" J. O."

Mr. John Thomas—l was co-assigned with the
prisoner fora pershonis-ohfatnhde name.. .of Bond, and am
by
him. -writing. The letter pro..
acquainted with
duced is writtenanTdhheasletatlerradwyhaicplpieawreads
addressed to Mary Dixon
ii
the
epdr
in the newspapers, was her'e read
arm. George
acquaintedL e g gweitxhamo
—oselcuatmor an
,an
offi office
and am theOaccountant,
of August last I went to Mr. Craw.ley
Mark-lane, where I saw the prisoner. I asked him
to to take a chair, whilst Mr. Crawley was sent for. I
did not notice anthing particular in his manner. I
ever always considered him a man of excitable
how
temper.
James Ryley—l am a clerk to a wine merchant,
next door but one to Mr. Crawley's. I heard a
pistol report on the afternoon of the 14th of August,
in consequence of which I went into
counting-hou Mr. Crawley's,
and there saw the prisoner in the se,
with his head laying on his hands.. He said " I shot
Mr. Crawley because he has ruined me ;" he also
added, that he hoped Mr. Crawley would get better,
and wished he (witness) would get good medical ad-
vice for him.
Francis Nicholls, wine merchant, 14, Mark-lane,
corroborated the evidence of the last witness.
J. Edmunds, City policeman, said he accompanied
the prisoner. to the hospital in a cab. The only ob-
servation he made in the cab about the occurrence
WAS that " he was quite prepared,"

Francis Kersey, attorney for Mr. Crawley, and
who conducted the proceedings against the prisoner,
and Mr. Creamer, was next examined, but only with
reference to the action.

Mr. llarris, surgeon, in Fenchurch-street, said Mr.
Crawley was brought to his surgery shortly after four
o'clock on the day in question, when he examined his
wounds. There was a wound on the right jaw. Mr.
Crawley, at his own request, was taken to the hos-
pital. He afterwards attended the prisoner, and he
found him wounded under the left cheek. He asked
" how poor Crawley war," when witness replied
" very well." '1 he prisoner made no observation to
that. He appeared very dejected. He said he was
sorry the ball had not gone through his own brain.
Mr. Crawley's wound was of a very serious cha-
racter.

By Mr. CLARKSON-It appeared from the wound
on the prisoner's cheek that the pistol was fired off
through his mouth.
Mr. Solley, senior, assistant surgeon of St. Thomas's
Hospital, said he saw Mr. Crawley about eleven
o'clock in the evening after the occurrence, and after
probing the wound he extracted a ball from it. It
was a very dangerous wound. Mr. Crawley was
about a fortnight in the hospital, and it was about a
week after that before he was quite well.
Mr. M4Alurdo, surgeon of Neingate, stated that he
saw the prisoner first about the 28th of August, and
since that tithe he had been constantly under his care.
He had seen nothing that led him to think that he
was of unsound mind.

Cross-examined—l think he is a reserved man.
I have sometimes found that great trouble caused by
family and pecuniary misfortune has occasioned tem-
porary insanity. I consider that the gentleman who
presides at the head of Hanwell Lunatic Asylum has
had great experience in cases of insanity, and his
opinions upon the subject I think should be treated
with great deference.
Mr. Charles Holding, deputy surgeon of Newgate,
said he had carefully watched the conduct of the pri-
soner, and frequently conversed with him, and he had
no reason to believe that he was otherwise than a
person of sound mind.
This concluded the case for the prosecution.
Mr. CLARKSON then addressed the jury for the
prisoner—He said the question for the jury to de-
cide was not whether the prisoner was a person of
sane.mind at the present time, for that he admitted,
but Whether he was of sane and of sound mind when
he fired off the pistol at Mr. Crawley. The fact of
his having taken two pistols with him and trying to
destroy his own life, after attempting that of the pro-
secutor, and the circumstance of his having written
the letter which was produced in the Court relative to
the disposal of his affairs after his death, were the
main reasons upon which the medical men he should
call founded their opinions as to his sanity. In
cases of insanity, it was generally found that the
attack was immediately succeeded by some vexation
and disappointment occasioned by family misfortune
and pecuniary distresses, and in the present case
there could be no doubt that the prisoner's mind Was
worked up to a state of insanity, in consequence of
the proceedings which were taken against him by
Mr. Crawley. The Learned Counsel, after dwelling
upon some of the particulars in the case, read extracts
from a work on insanity, published by the Society
for the Diffusion of Knowledge, and also from other
wo:ks, for the purpose of showing that insanity arose
in most cases from moral and not from physical
causes. He then concluded by an urgent appeal on
behalf of the prisoner, and proceeded to call the fol-
lowing witnesses :
Sir John Easthope examined by Mr. HUDDLESTON
—He said, I have known the prisoner for twenty
years, and whilst I considered him a very sensitive
man, I always found him very kind, humane, and
Mr. Tite, architect of the Royal Exchange, who
was deeply affected whilst he gave his evidence,
spoke highly of the prisoner's character, and stated
also that he had known him for a considerable num-
ber of years. He saw him about two months before
the unhappy occcurence, and he noticed a change in
his manner.

Mr. W. John Hall gave similar testimony, and
said he considered him quite incapable of managing
his affairs when he saw him shortly before the oc-
currence.
Mr. Tillard, solicitor, gave evidence to the same
effect.

A clerk in the office of Messrs. Parker, solicitor,
stated that be had noticed a great change in the pri-
soner's manner, arising from the state of his affairs.
He was the most docile client he ever was acquainted
with, and it appeared to him that his memory had
greatly failed him.
Mr. Henry B. Hall, accountant, who had known
the prisoner twenty-two years, said be saw him on
the morning of the 14th of August about nine o'clock,
and he appeared to be in a very excited state of mind.
During the last three years he had lost about 3,800/.,
and to that and other misfortunes he attributed the
great change which had lately been observed in his
conduct.

Several other witnesses were called who had known
the prisoner for many years, and they concurred ge-
nerally in the foregoing evidence.
During the examination of the sisters of the pri-
soner he wept much, and appeared greatly affected.
Dr. Connolly, chief physician of Hanwell Lunatic
Asylum, stated that he had for many years directed
his attention to cases of insanity. He had had an in-
terview with the prisoner, and had read the deposi-
tions and heard the evidence given, and his opinion
was that the prisoner at the time of the occurrence was
not of sound mind. In innumerable cases he found
that pecuniary and domestic troubles had deprived
persons of their reason. He had known several cases
analogous to the present. This opinion was subse-
quently confirmed by the interview which he had
with the prisoner.
Cross-examined—l am of opinion that the pri-
soner was not aware he was committing a guilty act
at the time of the occurrence.

_
Mr. Winslow and Mr. Strette, surgeons, stated
they were of opinion, for the same reasons given by
Dr. Connolly, that the prisoner was of unsound mind,
and incapable of knowing the moral nature of the
act when he committed it.
The case for the defence having been concluded,
Mr. LAURIE was heard in reply.
Mr. Justice MAULS summed up and explained the
law to the jury.
The jury retired to consider their verdict, and after
an absence of three quarters of an hour, returned
into Court with a verdict of Not Guilty, on the
ground of insanity.
Some persons applauded in the gallery, but it
was immediately repressed.
The prisoner will be confined during her Majesty's
pleasure.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.
(THIS DAY.)
Marianne Hibert, an elderly respectable-looking
woman, was indicted for stealing two kitchen ranges,
several stoves, and a large quantity of metal and
brass house-fittings, the property of Mr. Charles
Christopher Badeock.
It appeared that on the 26th of August the pri-
soner took a house from the prosecutor under an
agreement, and remained in it until about a month
ago, when she suddenly decamped, taking the key of
the house with her, and upon the prosecutor causing
the door to be forced open, he found that the house
was completely gutted of all...the fixtures, which it
was subsequently ascertained the prisoner had sold.
The jury found her guilty.
The ASSISTANT-JUDGE said a more impudent rob-
bery had seldom come before him. He sentenced her
to six months' imprisonment with hard labour, and,
only for her age, he should have inflicted a more
severe sentence.

Catherine Moun,'eer, an old woman, was convicted
of stealing a quantity of lead from a dwelling-house,
belonging to Robert Trower.
She said she thought she was entitled to the con-
sideration of her country, and that it ought to forgive
her such a trifling theft after all she ,had gone
through. Her first husband was a soldier, and she
went with him to Ireland during Emmett's rebellion,
and he was killed. Her second husband was killed
at Waterloo, and, of twelve children, no less than six
had enlisted in various regiments.
The ASSISTANT-JUDGE sentenced her to be impri-
soned for six weeks.
Elizabeth Long and Mary Anne Smith, were con-
victed of robbing John Baird of a purse and money.
They have been frequently convicted, and the officers
of the House of Correction described them as the
most disorderly and violent characters that ever
entered the prison. Yesterday morning, as they
were about being taken to the van for removal to
this Court, something bulky was observed upon Long,
and two very stale loaves were found upon her. She
was asked what she hed them for, when she replied
in high glee, "To have a shy at old Jack's wig ; he
gave me six months the last time, and I owe him a
score."

They were sentenced to be transported for ten years.
The prisoner Smith yelled and screamed, and
heaped curses upon the Court and jury, while the
other prisoner seemed to take the sentence with the
utmost sang froid.

SURREY SESSIONS.—(THIS DAY.)
Daniel Connolly, Mary Hagarty, and Henry Casey,
were charged with stealing 2s. from the person of
James Smith on the 3d of October.

It appeared that on the night in question the pro-
secutor was knocking at a public-house in company
with a friend. There were two men and two women
standing at the door at the time, and one of the latter
said to him, " 1)0 you mean to insult me ? " and
slapped his face, while Connolly picked his pocket.
The female prisoner was recognised as the associate
of thieves, and the male prisoners had been several
times summarily convicted of picking pockets.
They were found guilty and sentenced, Connolly and

Casey to ten years' transportation, and iligarty to six
months' imprisonment Ns ith hard labour.
George White and George Simmonds were con-
victed of having stolen, on the 21st inst., two live tame
fowls, the property of James Mann, of llazlemere,
and sentenced to four months' imprisonment with
hard labour.

THAMES.—(THIS DAY.)
Joseph Davis, a master-builder, and George Hill,
labourer in his employ, were charged with stealing
one thousand bricks, the property of the Black wall
Extension Railway Company.
It appeared that the prisoner Davis was engaged
in building some cottages at Bromley, and from in-
formation received, Burt, a person employed by Mr.
Brassy, the contractor to the railway, went to
Davis's premises in Devon's-lane, Bromley, where he
found the bricks in question, which he identified by
the mark of a crown on them. They were sent up
from Kent, and only unloaded on Monday last. The
prisoner Hill was employed to uncart them, and
instead of delivering them at the company's premises,
he delivered them to the other prisoner.
There was no actual proof that Davis bad know-
ingly received them.
Mr. Pelham, who appeared for Davis, contended
that the evidence did not affect his client at all. The
bricks in question were manufactured by Messrs.
Heard and Rutter, and were very extensively used.
Mr. YARDLEY said there was sufficient evidence to
warrant him in committing Hill for trial ; and
although there was no proof of a guilty receipt on the
part of Davis, there was sufficient testimony to call
for further inquiry, and he should, therefore, remand
the case for a week, but would take bail for Davis s
appearance, himself in 501., and two sureties in the
sum of 251. each.—The requisite bail was put in.

ASYLUM FOR IDIOTS.
(THIS DAY.)
Some philanthropic individuals proposed to estab-
lish an institution of this nature, and a numerously-
attended public meeting of those friendly to the
object was held today at the London Tavern. The
Lord Mayor presided.
His LORDSHIP observed that the charity which
they had met to support was one that was greatly
required in that great city. They had no institution
to receive poor idiots ; and if such could be estab-
lished, and those poor creatures rendered rational or
partly so, a great benefit would be conferred on
society. He would lend all the assistance in his
power to forward the object of the meeting.
A report from a provincial committee was then
read, which, after adverting to the theory prevalent
as to any form of insanity being merely physical, and
consequently remediable in degree, made a strong
appeal in support of the?;oposed institution.
Several addresses were delivered, and resolutions
in conformity with the object of the meeting were
agreed to.