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

MIDLAND ClRCUlT.—Nottingham, July 23.

CRIMINAL COURT.—(Before Mr. Jtistice PArrEsoN.,
Btae.my.—Robert Thompson Hardie, aged 25, was charged
with having, at North Clifton, on the 30th of May, 1844,
married Mary Hammond, his former wife being then alive.
It was proved he had married his first wife in 1841, and had
lived with her some months, and that she is still alive.

The second wife stated she first became acquainted with
the prisoner in 1843, and they were married in the May of
1844. She had never heard whether he was married or
single, but took it for granted he was a single man.
The prisoner stated he did not consider his first marriage
lawful, because he never took au oath, or said anything after
the clergyman, or even put a ring on the woman's finger.
It appeared he was married to his first wife in Scotland, ac-
cording to the forms of the church there.
The JUDGE overruled the objection the filioner took, and
stated if a man married in a country where the form differed
from that practised here, he must be governed by the form
existing in the country where he married his wife.
He was found Guilty, and sentenced to one year's impri-
sonment, with hard labour.

July 24.
CIVIL COURT.--(Before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE.)
THE QUEEN v. LORD HARROROUGIA AND OTHERS.

This was an indictment for conspiracy.
Mr. Humfrey, Q.C., and Mr. Macauley were for the Crown.
Mr. Whitehurst, Q.C., and Mr. Hayes conducted the defence.
This indictment, which was found by the grand jury at the
Oldham Spring Assizes, was tried at Nottingham, by con-
sent of both parties. The indictment arose out of
the following circumstances :—The Midland Counties Rail-
way Company had in the year 1845 projected a branch
from Syston to Peterborough, a portion of which
line would go through the lands and a small portion of the
park of Lord Harborough, at Stapleford. This Lord Har-
borough objected to, and was, if possible, determined to pre-
vent. Accordingly, on certain days mentioned by the wit-
nesses, between the .10th of October and the 30th of No-
vember, the noble defendant and the others joined with him,
to the number of twelve, who were all more or less his de-
pendants, did everything they could to prevent the surveyor
for the intended line from making the necessary surveys,
and this they did by causing men with two, poles, with sheets
of calico affixed thereto, to go before the man with the theo-
dolite. Lord Harborough interfered with the surveying by
driving at one time a gig, and at others a break. up and
down the highway where the surveyor was at work. Carts
laden with tree-tops were also brought on the road, and every
possible means were adopted to prevent proper levels, &c.,
from being taken. The hitch in the case was the absence of
any agreement or concert between the Noble Earl and his
co-defendants, much of what was done evidently arising out
of what was dictated on the spur of the moment. During
the time this contest was going on between the two parties,
and which was, more or less, from the 12th of October to the
28th of November inclusive, the village of Stapleford and
the different parts around were kept in a state of agitation.
The Learned JUDGZ seemed to think that it would have
been better had the matter been allowed to drop ; and that
at all events the charge of conspiracy did not seem to be
made out.
The jury returned a verdict of—Not Guilty.'