The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-23 00:00:00

MERCER V. CURLING.

This was an action to recover c,.mpensation for certain
services perthrmed by plaintiff. on account of the de-
fendant, in reference to the projected railway called the
Kentish Coast Railway.
Mr. Sergeant Channell and Mr. Peacock appeared for
the plaintiff, and Mr. Locke for the defendant.
It appeared that the plaintiff is a solicitor at Rams-
gate, and the defendant in the year 1845 was engaged
as solicitor for a railway speculation, called the Kentish
CoaA Railway, and his name appeared on the prospectus
of the Company, as he acted in that capacity. The
plaintiff was employed to mike up the books of reference
for the npighbourhood of Raraslzate, and was engaged in
other matters in connexion with the railway, and he now
sought to recover the amount of his demand for those
services.

The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damages;
231. 78.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—York, July 20

BIGAMY.— REGISTRY OFFICE MARRIAGE Richard
Major, aged 24, was indicted fJr marrying Eliza Birley,
his first wife Martha Jane bei:,g alive:
It appeared by the witeesses that the prisoner and
Martha Jane Rumel, both being under age, were mar-
ried on the Bth June, IS4I at the Register-office, Man-
chester. After living with his wife eight months, he
left her, and went to work at Sheffield for Mr. Birley, at
wood carving. He paid court immediately to Birley's
daughter, and after eight months married her at Roth-
cram Church, and returnir,g to Sheffield lived with his
nee' spouse eight months, and left her also. Birley got
intelligence of the previous marriage, and took up the
prisoner.
The defence set up by the prisoner was, that the mar-
riage at the Registrar's-office was a nullity ; that his
father-in-law had told him so, adding that the young
man and woman were both free from all matrimonial
contract, being under age at the time of the registra-
tion. He was therefore at liberty to marry Eliza Sir
ley, but her father caused the prosecution tin ough sheer
spite, because the prisoner would not work any longer
with him, and pay the rent of a house be (Birley) had
taken for the young couple.
The jury disregarr!ed this ingenious defence, and
found him Guilty, and sentenced him to eighteen calen-
dar months' imprisonment with hard tabour.
Had the prisoner not been so young when his mar
riage was registered, the Learned Judge, Mr. Baines,
told him the sentence would have been transportation.
Richard Hague, aged 26. was indicted for breaking
and entered in the night the house of John Keen, at
Sheffield, and stealing bed-hanging, a sheet, and other
property, on the 22d of June last. Mr. Heaton and. Mr.
Pnillips prosecutel.—The jury found him guilty of bur-
glary, and a previous sentence, for felony against him
having been ',roved, the Learned Judge sentenced him
to be transported for ten years.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—Lincoln, July 20.
(Before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE.)
CRIMINAL COURT.—CASE OF ADMINISTERING 'POI-
SON —Joseph Hewett, aged 23, was charged ith hav-
ing, on the 4th o. June, at Spalding, administered to
Henry Goodilfe a certain corrosive sublimate of which
he died. Mr. Wing conducted the case for the prosecti
tion. The prisoner was undefended. The facts of th,
case were very few. The prisoner and the deceased
were labourers; the deceased being of the age of la.
He had complained to the prisoner of being diseased,
which he was afrai,i would come to his master's ears,
and he should be discharged; and he wishod to know of
the prisoner whether he knew of anything that would
do him good. The prisoner stated he had before cured
himself with something, and be would give it to de-
ceased, whereupon he obtained someeorrosive sublimate,
aed the deceased, taking too large a dose, died very
shortly after. The only question in the ea3o was whe-
ther the prisoner hail acted with that degree of careless-
ness which would make him amenable to the law, there
being no doubt his intention had been to do the deceased
good rather than harm. The jury acquitted the pri-
soner.
BIGAMY.—James Handley, an Irishman, was charged
with having intermarried with one Sarah Lahan, his
former wife being still alive. Mr. W. H. Adams con-
ducted the case for the prosecution; Mr. Griffin de-
fended. The prisoner married his first wife at Bedford,
as far back as the year 1836. Living a very cat and
dog life, they agreed.. in one thing, and that was to
separate. The wife continued to reside at Bedford.
The husband, after roaming about in different directions,
settled down at Stickney, in Lincolnshire, where he set
up housekeeping. In the October of 1844, the second
wife, a widow, came to lodge with him, and in the March
of 1845 they married. The case was clear enough, but
the fact of the length of separation, and other matters,
were extenuating circumstances. The jury found the
prisoner Guilty. Sentence six months' imprisonment.
Nothing of interest occured in the Nisi Prins Court.

WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Dorchester, July 20.
CROWN COURT. •
(Before Mr. Baron PLATT).

CHARGE of MIIRDER.—James French, aged 35, was
indicted for the wilful murder of John Steers, at Lyn,.
Regis, on the 9th inst. The facts of the case were ex-
tremely simple. It appeared that on the night of the Bth
July the prisoner and the decea.-ied (who was 93 years
of age) slept in the same room at a lodging-house in
Lyme Regis. Two of the children of the Lndlord were
also sleeping in the same chamber. About half-past
twelve o'clock the people of the house were alarmed by
cries of " tire," " murder," &c Jackson, the landlord,
entered the room occupied by the prisoner, who tame-
dtately jumped out of bed and com,ceneed attacking the
deceased violently with his fists. lie was ill a state of
nudity at the time, and whilst he w4s ‘• beating and
thumping the old man in every pos,ible manner," (he
prisoner)cried out "murder," " tire," us loud as he could
call. Jackson endeavoured to remove the prisoner, who
instantly gave him a violent blow which knocked him
down stairs. At length a man named Hodderinterfered
and the prisoner was taken away from the bedside of
the deceased. The prisoner then said, " It's a mistake,
it's a mistake; it is not the man I thought it was. I

hope I have not hurt him." The prisnner was then
taken into custody, and as he was going down stairs he
asked for a glass of water, which, however, was denied
him, and he said, "You can't refuse um a glass or-
.
water!" About eight o'clock in the morning a surge( i
was sent for, and the deceased lingered until four o'iieell:
in the 'afternoon, when he died. In the course of the
same evening the constable who apprel.ended him asked
him " How he could think of b.etting a poor old man in
that way?" and he replied that there were a number of
pe: sons round him, and he thieight they were going: to
murder him. " Some of them," continued the p, bolner,
" were dressed like warriors, with moust.ehies, and
carrying swords in their Ends. I wasn't going to be
murdered, and so I took my own part." It appeared,
moreover, that the constable asked him if he had any
quarrel with the old man, and he said, "No; I never:
had an angry word with him."
The constable stated ie evidence that he believed the
prisoner had been deranged,
.6 inure or less," fur the
last ten years. Some years thefor ill-treating.
prisoner was
charged before the magistrates
and it then became a qireytion whether ho ouaht
to be
imprisoned or sent to a. lunatic as)lurn.
Mr. nirden, a surgeon at LyiLe, preyed
that
he made
a post-rnurrem examination of tie b 0.• ) r
. . 0 the deceased.
and that h:, found the brain was eh,-
rged with extrava
B:ited blood. lii his opinion, the
a deceased died of eon-
ghe.
td
of the brain, arising f
which were very severe, the h roin external injuries,
d and face of the de.
ceased being covered with bruises. He had known the
prisener for some titne, and, according to his judgment,
Lie aim riot in pessess.
Mr. KAIIIILAKE a d:lres°r 1
of
his
senses.sed the jury for the prisoner,
and stated th,t he was prepared to call several witnesses,
.vho woi,ll prove that the u:. ,ertunate man was labouring
uad all in.
her,dit - - . ,anity.
Y tr. n —awn PLATT said it appeared to him to be quite
unn, cessary to call any witnesses to prove that the man
was insane, as the evidence already gi,en led to the con-
viction that he could not at the time have been in such a
state as to render him responsible for his arts.
Mr. Duke, governor of the county gaol, informed the
Court that last eight t'•e prisoner was :wain in a very
ur:ous -tan', and th,a he attempt, d ti, "tea, ue" the iron
•iteistetil in his c• 11. saying tt at he was beset b, pc. -pie
.:he want., d io •-• ui il r tern.
The jury eeteedi i I return. d a v:e.dic . of Not
Guilty, on the ground of insanity.
The Learned JUDGE ordered the-prisoner to be con •
fined in the gaol during her Majesty's pleasure.