The Sun.
London, England, 1823-12-30 00:00:00

HIGHWAY RONDTRY.

George Masan, John Williams, and I'MWinn 011 edge, were
indicted for assaulting William Lucas on the King's highway
at Betchworth, on the 6th of October last, putting him in fear,
and forcibly stealing from his person a metal watch, three gold
sovereigns, and about six shillings in silver.
Mr. ADOLPHUS stated the case for the prosecution. The
facts proved by the several witnesses called for the prosecu-
tion were these :—The prosecutor was a labouring man, living
at Betchworth. On the tith of October he had occasion to go
to Reigate for medical advice for some of his family. Ile owed
some rent to his landlord, who lived at the latter place, and
took with him about N. 6s. in money, composed of three sore-
reigns and the roNt in shillings and sixpences. A fair wns
held at Betchworth on the day in question. Not finding his
landlord at home, he was returning towards Betchworth about
nine in the evening. his way lay over some common fields
near Betchworth, and when be got into the fields three men
stopped him, and said they would have his money. Before he
could make any reply, they threw him down, stopped his
mouth, and pulled his hat over his eyes. They hurt him con-
siderably on the back of his head and shoulders by squeezing
him with their hands, and made his nose bleed. having over-
come him in this manner, they rifled his pockets of his watch
and money, and then went off. Subsequently the prisoners.
were diicovered to have been the robbers; and the Jury being
satisfied with the evidence adduced, found the prisoners Guilty—
Death.

HUG 11 COURT OF JUSTICIARY.

EDINBURGH, DEC. 23.

The Court met this morning, at the usual
hour, when Catherine Paterson was brought to the bar, accused
of the murder of Margaret Baird, or Dunlop, in her own house,
on the South Bridge, on the night of the 11th, or morning of
the 12th of August last, by inflicting on her head and body
certain wounds, of which she died on the 14th of October fol-
lowing. The indictment contained another charge, namely,
that of assaulting, striking, and maiming the smelt] argaret
Baird, and severely wounding her, to the great effusion of
her blood, and imminent danger of her life. Paterson pleaded
Not •

It appeared from tha evidence..that op the !light in giostion,
a number of men and women were in Ilaird's house, which
natericaurone, on the South 13rifige, with an entry from
Niddry-street ; that a quarrel took phiee among the women,
several of whom were drunk ; and after much gross and ahu.
sive language, they bad recourse to blows. The prisoner
Paterson, in a paroxysm of rage and passion, dashed se-
veral culinary articles through a window, by which the
kitchen received a borrowed light from Mrs. Baird's bed.
room. In this lied-room Baird and two other women were
standing at the time, and the former was first struck on the
side by a tea-boiler thrown by Paterson, and afterwards cut
on the cheek by a waali•liand basin. Paterson after this sallied
from the kitchen, armed with a smoothing iron, and meeting
Mrs; Baird in the passage, struck her a blow with it, which
laid open her skull. The police were called in, , who disarmed
the prisoner, and took the whole party to the police.ollice.
Mrs. Baird's wounds were there dressed by the surgeon of the
establishment, and she was sent back to her house, the other
women being next day sentenced, to '3O day's' confinement
in Britiewell for rioting and fighting. Dr. Black, the police
surgeon, visited Mrs. Baird the next day, and although he
thought the wound was not dangerous, urged her to go to the
Royal Infirmary, where it would have been carefully treated.
She, however, neglected this advice, and continued for some
time to carry on her disgraceful occupation, and in the use of
spirituous liquors, to which she was much addicted. About a
fortnight before she died, it was proved she had a ball in her
house, and was drunk, and danced herself on the occasion.
Several of her cronies, who had undergone their punishmept in
Bridewell, visited. her afterwards, and found her in apparent
good health, though still complaining of the wound in her head.
Ten days before her death. Dr. Black again saw her, and
found that a slight erysipelas, or inflammation, had taken
place, which gradually became worse, and *as followed ify de.
lirlum and death. Erysipelas might have taken place without
the blow ; but if there was any risk attending the wound, in-
dulgence in intoxication, or other irregularities, was certainly
the very worst treatment which could have been given to it.
After the evidence, the Lout ADVOCATE. gave up the
charge of murder as ho hadnot been able to connect the death
of the woman with the blow previously given, so closely as to
ask. the jury for a verdict on this charge. He, however, con-
tended that the minor charge in the indictment was sufficiently
established in evidence.

The Jury, after being addressed by the LOUD JUSTICE
CLEAN, and without retiring from their box, founts the prisoner
Guilty of the assault libelled, ;Ind she was thereupon sentenced
to seven years' transportation. _ .

7 DEOEMIIER 24.
AtoRIVA .tt OHRE RY.--John. Douglas, accused of attacking
and assaulting James Anderson, and of robbing him, on theist
of September, of a silver hunting watch, with a riband and key,
and Ws., in a lane at the east end of Portubello, on the high-
road to Musselbordi was found Guilty, but recommended- to
mercy by the jury.
In discharging the Jury, the Loan JusTrcs Ci.saix re.
marked, that they ought to have said on what grounds their re-
commendation was Inade,cor neither he nor thu other members
of the Calla saw any support to it:
lard Gt Li, IE 8, in proposing the judgment of the Court, said,
that the necessary and inevitable consequence of the verdict
which hail been given, left the Court no alternative but that of
pronouncing the last awful punishment of the law. It was
knoWn to the Court, though the Jury knew nothing of the fact,
that the prisoner had formerly been convicted, and the Royal
mercy had already been extended to him in consequence of an
informality in the written verdict upon a former trial. Ile had
already heard the awful sentence of the law'pronounced against
him, and this only proved the great difficulty-of reclaiming
those who wandered into the paths of vice. Within the short
space of two years this man had twice appeared at the bar in
the same situation.
The LORDJtrSI lon ay:Mt.—John Douglas, you have, after
a patient investigation, by a most inteligent Jury, been found
guilty of a henious crime. lam sorry that from the circum-
stances which have already been noticed 'by my Learned Bre-
thren on the Bench, to gay, that it is nty duty to announce to
you that your fate may be considered as waled. I should ill
discharge my bounden duty, if I disguised the conviction of
my mind that the recommendation of the Jury will be of no
purpose: Indeed it would be a very sad crisis in the law if it
were necessary to prove the fact of attrocity as connected with
The evidence has developed a systematic plan for
ration of a robbery; and when I transmit the recom-
taheropbebrepreyt.
MClldatton of the Jury to the proper quarter, I shall feel it my
bounden duty to lay the whole circumstances of the case before
his Majesty's advisers. It is also my duty earnestly to teem..
bability, iv about to taake place—that of appearing before
enil to you
your to prepre for the great change which, in all pro_',
M ak Y
er: ou will be assisted in your devotions by the Mini-
sters of the gospel. Do not waste the few days that yet remain
to you in the indulgence of idle hopes. nis Lordship that
read the sentence of the Court, ordaining the prisoner to be exe-
cuted on Wetin:!idu the 2lith of January.