The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-20 00:00:00

PRICE OF SUGAR.

The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, computed
from the returns made in the week ending August 17
1847, is 245. 914 d. per cwt.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

NORTHERN ClRCUlT—Liverpool, August 18.
Mr. Sergeant Murphy again sat in the grand jury-
room to-day, to assist in disposing of the criminal cases.
CROWN COURT.—(Before the LORD CHIEF BARON )
Mary Squire (21), a Married woman, stood charged
with having. at Manchester, feloniously and of her malice
aforethought, killed and murdered Joseph Squire, her
infant child.

Mr. Monk appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. J.
Pollock defended the prisoner.
It appeared from the evidence of Thomas Crogate and
other witnesses, that the prisoner, who lived in Back-
garden-street, in Manchester, and who was supposed not
to have been in a sound state of wind when she com-
mitted the act, had been seen to approach the window of
the first floor of the house in which she dwelt, and to
cast the child, which was but two years of ege, into the
street before the house. She immediately afterwards got
out of the window herself, which was not a great height
from the ground, feet foremost, and in that way slipped
down into the stree=t. The death of tho child was at-
tributed to the injuries it sustained in being thus thrown
from the window. The prisoner had previously be-
trayed symptoms of insanity, and had on the same day
observed to her husband that she had "made the
child's frock very pretty," by tearing up the gar-
ment. She had been ill of a fever same time before,
and the fever produced delirium; and that fact was at-
tested by two young medical gentlemen, Mr. King and
Mr. Brodie.
The prisoner, under these circumstances, was Ac-
quitted, on the ground that at the time when she killed
the child she was not so possessed of her reasoning facul-
ties as to make her a responsible person.
Mr. PoLLoci then suggested to the Learned Judge the
propriety of obtaining from the jury their opinion as to
the present state of the prisoner's mind, with the view
of furthering the object of any application which might
hereafter be made in her behalf.

His LORDSHIP did not see how that question could
now be put to the jury. Any further facts that it might
be necessary to adduce with such a view might be laid
before the Secretary of State in the form of affidavit.
MARRIAGE IN A DISSENTERS' CHAPEL.— George
Hawes (25) was charged with having, at Manchester, on
the 7th of September last. feloniously married and taken
to wife Martha llelsby, his former wife, Mary Chadwick,
being then alive.
Mr. Monk appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. J.
Pollock for the defence.

The facts usually established in a case of bigamy were
proved, namely, that the prisoner had been married on
the 19th of July, 1841, at Ashton under-Lyne, to Mary
Chadwick; that she was still living ; and that subse-
quently, on the 7th September last, he married Martha
Helsby, at the Collegiate Church in Manchester.
The former of these marriages, however, had been
solemnized in a building at Ashton, called the Israelite
Sanctuary, and according to the rites of a sect the mem-
bers of which were worshippers in that building. Two
of the sect, Mr. James Brindley and Mr. John Stanley
were witnesses, and the first of these, who is a
g tated that Mary Chadwick was
l-irsoc calledsetr at-Du lt
step-daughter.
.ld' sW Witness had been present at her
marriage with the prisoner. The registrar of marriages,
Mr. Whitehead, was present, and notice of the marriage
had been duly given to him. (Mr. Monk observed to
the Court that:the place had been licensed under the Act
of Parliament.) They lived together for ten months.
The doctrine taught in the " Sanctuary" was that of the
Trinity. Witness believed in the bible, " from back to
back," from one end of the book to the other.
Cross examined—They called themselves " Israelites."
Prisoner himself was not of that persuasion at the
time of the marriage, though he did intend becoming
one of the body to which witness belonged. He then
attended no place of worship.
Mr. POLLOCK took several objections on respective
defects in the evidence, and referred to the statute
touching Dissenters' marriages, 6 and 7 'William IV.,
cap. 85, and especially to the 42d section of that
Act, in which it is enacted, " That if any
person shall knowingly intermarry in any place
other than the church, chapel, registered building,
office, or other place specified in the notice, &c., or a ith-
out due notice to the superintendent-registrar, or with-
out license, &c., or in the absence of a registrar, &c.,
that marriage shall be null and void." Ile contended
that it did not appear that there had been a lawful mar-
riage. Mr. Iligginbottom, the superintendent registrar
of the district, could only say that he had no doubt of
having received notice of the marriage to take place
within three months, and the notice, being in writing,
ought to be produced. It was not here, but at the re-
gistrar's home. Section 7 of the Act required that
there should be a certificate from the registrar of the
fact that the requisite notice had been given to him. No
such notice was produced, and it was necessary, in
proving this charge, to show by the best evidence—
namely, the certificate itself—that such certificate had
been issued, because, otherwise, according to the terms
of the 42d section, it would not appear but that this
marriage was null and void in law.
Mr. MONK submitted that it was not necessary to ad-
duce this documentary evidence. There was no doubt
that the place of solemnization was one in which a mar-
riage might lawfully take place. It was not a question
of law, but one of evidence, and this was a case in which
applying the common-law rule, amnia prcesumuntur rite
acta, the evidence of the public officer would dispense
with the production of a document issuing from himself.
His Lordship retired for some minutes, apparently for
the purpose of conferring with Mr. Justice Wightman
upon the question.
On his return, the Learned JUDGE said, that the
point was one of importance, with reference to civil
as well as criminal cases, and that it was one which
ought to be reserved for future consideration. That,
his Lordship thought, should be done in a manner to
occasion as little inconvenience to the prisoner as pos-
sible; and if he were convicted, the best way then:would
bo to permit the prisoner to be at large upon his own re-
cognizance to appear whenever called on.
and
His LORDSHIP then told the jury that he should leave
Mr. Poraacri. was quite willing to assent to that course,
it to them to decide simply, whether the two marriages
had been duly proved in fact ; and if they should find in
evident© given, would
have to be determined elsewhere.
the affirmative, then the question of the legality of the
first marriage, according to the i

His LORDSHIP directing that the prisoner should be
discharged on entering into his own recognizance.
Joseph Speed, aged 30, indicted for the wilful murders
of his wife and two infant children, at Manchester, was to
have been tried to day ; but Sergeant Wilkins, who ap-
peared for the prisoner, stated to the Court, that as there
had as yet been no opportunity of adducing evidence for
the prisoner, and as there was reason to suppose that
material evidence respecting the state of the prisoner's
mind at the time of the act would be forthcoming, this
appeared to be a case in which justice required that the
inquiry should be postponed.
His LORDSHIP concurred in the• opinion of the
Learned Sergeant, and, therefore, directed that the in-
dictment should stand respited until the next assizes.

THE GREAT FIRE AT MAIDENHEAD.—OR Tues•
day evening, at eight o'clock, a considerable body of fire
remained amidst the immense heap of ruins. The whole
of the mills and private residences, together with the
brewery, are now levelled with the ground. The mill
was well stored with corn, and the brewery adjoining
was filled with malt, hops, &e• The property destroyed
was of great value, but we regret to state that the whole
of the insurances on the same will not exceed 8,0001. It
is needless to state that that sum will fall short of the loss
sustained. The stock, which was most extensive, was
insured for only 1,9701. Unfortunately several persons
who had grain at the mill waiting to be ground will be
serious losers by the calamity. An investigation was
instituted on Tuesday, to learn, if possible, how the
disaster happened, but without success.