The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-27 00:00:00

TINE FOR GIVING NOTICES UNDER THE BANKRUPT ACT.

In a case where a party was summoned under the Bank-
rupt Act, with a view of making him a bankrupt, an objec-
tion was taken as to service of the notice. It was urged, that
by the 29th Rule 'of Court four days' notice must be given,
which, it was contended, must be taken to mean four clear
days. '
The Learned COMMISSIONER said there was another clause
which appeared to be frequently overlooked. in which it was
declared that in all cases where any particular number of
days was mentioned in the Act they should be taken exclu•
sive of the first and inclusive of the last, except it should fall
on a Skinday, Christmas-day, Good Friday, or other day ap •
pointed for a public fast

ASSIZE INTALLIGENCE.
WESTERN ClRCLUT.—Devizes, July 23.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice Enna.)
Frederick Satrkins was indicted for the manslaughter of
Job Gale, at New Sarum, on the 3d of June.
No learned gentleman was instructed on the part of the
prosecution; but Mr. Ball defended the prisoner.
The first witness called was James Lacy, who said—l am
a bricklayer at Salisbury. I purchased a pony on the 3d of
June. The prisoner was there. About half-past nine in the
morning Sawkins asked Gale to bring him some mortar up,
but he refused, and said Sawkins was only there for a few
days, which I thought irritated him. Sawkins said, "If you
say that again, I'll break your neck." Sawkins then went to
Gale, and put his hands on his shoulder, and they both fell
together. Gale then said, " You've broken my thumb, and
I'll make you pay for it." They had been working together
for a long time. I never knew the prisoner quarrel.
Cross-examined—There was no blow struck.
Robert Vining—l am a blacksmith. On the 3d of June I
heard Sawkins and Gale swearing at each other very much.
Sawkins called for mortar, and Gale said he should not serve
him. Something was said, and then Sawkins said he'd break
Gale's neck, and he jumped off the scaffold and pushed Gale
ou the shoulders, and they both fell.
George Senior—l was surgeon to the infirmary. Gale
came there on the 3d of June. The soft part of his thumb
was much lacerated. I recommended a poultice. It went
on well till the 6th, when ha was admitted an in-patient.
011 the 9th, matter had formed, and it was opened. On the
11th he said he could not open his mouth, but I found he
could; but on the next day there was lock-jaw, and on the
16th he died. The lock-jaw was occasioned by the wounded
thumb.

Cross-examined—He died of lock-jaw.
Mr. BALL then addressed the jury for the. defence, and
contended that the whole of• the evidence showed that the
death of the unfortunate man was purely the result of acci•
dent, and that the intention of the prisoner was to make
Gale carry him on his back.
Several persons gave the prisoner an excellent character.
Mr. Justice ERLE, in summing up, said if the jury were of
opinion that the prisoner, in the prosecution of an illegal
act, inflicted bodily injury, and that the man died in conse-
quence of that injury, the prisoner was guilty.
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty, and the prisoner
was sentenced to be imprisoned in the common gaol for one
week.

John Webb and Alfred Webb were placed at the bar,
charged with having feloniously ravished Charlotte Bernell,
at Westbury.
Mr. Hodges conducted the prosecution ; Mr. Ball defended
the prisoners.
It appeared by the evidence of the prosecutrix, who was
a modest-looking girl of seventeen, that she lived with her
grandmother at Westbury, but worked as a weaver at a
factory about two miles off. On the evening of the 16th of
March she was returning from her work, at about nine
o'clock, when she was met by the prisoners, who are both
married men. They spoke to her, and wished her good
night, and then Alfred took her round the neck, and got
her to go into the yard of the Anchor Inn, which was close
by. John then went in and got some beer, and they pressed
her to drink. She, however, would not, and they then let
her go on her way home. She went on some way until she
got into a lane, when she found that'both the prisoners were
following her. John Webb got hold of her and pushed
her down the lane, while Alfred stayed at the top of
the lane and watched. John Webb then got her down
and accomplished his purpose, after which Alfred came
down and also committed a felonious assault on her,
assisted by his brother. -She screamed and cried murder,
but no one came to her assistance, when both the prisoners,
hearing a noise, ran away. The prosecutrix Immediately
went home and told her grandmother what had taken place;
and witnesses were called, who stated that they had seen the
men trying to make her drink at the Anchor Inn, and also
that they heard cries in the direction of the lane, at the time
the girl stated that the assault had taken place. A surgeon
was also called, who proved that a capital offence had been
committed.
Mr. BALL then addressed the jury for the prisoners, and
Mr. Justice Bute having summed up, the jury, after a
short consultation, returned a verdict of Not guilty.
The verdict caused the greatest astonishment and indigna-
tion in the court.
James Franklin was indicted for maliciously stabbing Henry
Mobbit, with intent to murder him. There was a second
count, laying the offence to be, to do grievous bodily arm.
Mr. Swayne conducted the prosecution ; Mr. Stone de-
fended the prisoner.
It appeared by the statement of the witnesses for the
prosecution, that the prisoner was going along the road
to Trowbridge on the night of the 16th of May, ac-
companied by a young woman, when he was overtaken
by four or five young men, of whom Mobbit was one. The
young woman struck one of the men on the shoulder, upon
which he said to her, " If you do that again I will knock you
down." Upon which the prisoner turned round and knocked
sohinmerdotwhenn. clpied
Uaon thisou where's my knife? where's my
a general fight took place. The pri-
knife ?" He then put his hand in his pocket, took out a
clasp-knife, and struck Mobbit in the head near the left
temple, dividing the temporal artery, and inflicting a wound
nearly an inch in depth.
tenAdier.dSth I.l°:tE thetandedrsetsasbedwasg
juivryenfobry the prisoner in the prisoner, and
self-
defence,con-
to prevent his receiving a serious injury from the
violent attack which had been made on him by the five men.
Ile also called two witnesses in support of this view of the -