The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-25 00:00:00

along with the mob, and as they came to the house the band
played " See the Conquering Hero comes." They came to
the back door, which was strongly fastened with one lock,
three bolts, and a chain. The defendant Balmford led the
others on, showing them what to do; and the defendant
Hounsfield told the mob not to mind the policemen, for that
they had no business there. The back door was for some
time tried to be forced, .but without effect. Balmford told
them " that instrument (meaning the crowbar) would not
do," and another was sent for. The latter instrument, a
" sculler," now produced, was about three and a half feet
long, of iron throughout, and with two blunt prongs at one
en* The door was then soon forced. Dr. Holland, who had
two or three others with him, besides the policemen, opposed
the mob by standing against the door, but the police suggested
that no further opposition should then be offered, for fear of
mischief; and, therefore. the mob were pernitted to rush in.
From forty to fifty of them came in and proceeded to the
kitchen, shouting and making a great noise. At this
time Mrs.i Holland was so unwell as to be confined to
her bed. Upon entering the kitchen, Mr. Hounsfield began
dancing about in an exulting manner, and called out to his
companions that he had at last got possession of his paternal
hearth. He made a speech to those around him, which
lasted for several minutes, and was received with applause by
the auditory. He said that a part of the people there might
go to the public-house, but not to go away, as they would
be wanted to throw out the doctor's furniture. Ale was then
y, but it did not appear upon whose
expense. Five shillings, however,
the party as the sum that
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was to be paid for it. Defendant Hounsfield came to Dr.
Holland again then, and began talking about the latter
leaving the premises. Witness, in order to gain time, and
while more of the police were sent far, answered that be bad
not quite made up his mind what he should do. The de-
fendant said he would give him two hours. Witness said to
him that Mrs. Holland was too ill to be removed; upon
which Hounsfield,
re-
inforcement of police, the doctor, on his return, found Mr.
Hounsfield reclining on a couch in the drawing-room, and
as all a fet
chof his. Having gone to Sheffield for a w addressing the mob, observed that that
Mrs. Hounsfield sitting by reading one of the witness's
books. The mon were finally overcome by a considerable
body of police, about thirty-five, who were furnished with
side-arms for the occasion, and headed by Mr.' Rainer, the
chief constable. Warrants had been obtained in the mean-
time, and Mr. Hounsfield and his wife were apprehended on
the spot, and taken away in a cab to Sheffield. The four
other defendants were also taken there, and as they were be-
ing led away, Dr Holland, and those who badcharge of them,
were followed by the rest of the mob and pelted with stones.
Being cross-examined by Mr. Ingham, Dr. Holland said
he understood there was some relationship, by marriage, be-
tween his landlord and the family of Mr. Hounsfield. The
defendant's family once had considerable property in the
neighbourhood. Knew of no differences between the families
except what were owing to the insolvency of Mr. Hounsfield,
who had been in gaol for eight or ten years. The mob did
not strik any blows. --
The evidence given by Dr. Holland was confirmed by Mr.
Thomas William Parkin, clerk to Mr. Coupland, who is a so-
licitor at Sheffield, and by other witnesses.
Mr. INGHAM addressed the jury fur the defendants, sug-
gesting many circumstances in mitigation of their conduct on
the day in question.
The jury desired to retire for a short time, and on their
return found all the defendants Guilty.
His LORDSHIP, in passing sentence, said this had been a
case of very violent and quite unwarrantable conduct on the
part of all the defendants. But there was a great distinction
to be made between defendant Hounsfield and all the rest,
for in him the act had been infinitely more criminal and de-
serving of greater punishment than in his companions, which
latter he had been the means of leading into the lawless pro-
ceeding. The law never could allow persons to prosecute
their claims to property, however well founded, in this out.
rageous way, and when, in spite of the law, people would
do it, the security of property and of society required that
punishment should follow the offence, in order that there
might be example. Upon the defendant Hounsfield, there-
fore, the sentence was, that he be imprisoned in the house of
correction at Wakefield for nine months; the other de-
fendants, four labouring men, whose offence certainly was
of a character less serious, were severally to be imprisoned
in the same house of correction for three months.

WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Devizes, July 22.
The commission for this county was opened here yester-
day by Mr. Baron Platt. The Learned Baron was met and
escorted into the town by the high sheriff (Lord Folkestone),
with the usual formalities. This morning Mr. Justice Erse
and Mr. Baron Platt attended Divine service, and then pro-
ceeded to the Assize Court; Mr. Justice Erie presiding in the
Crown Court, and Mr. Baron Platt at Nisi Prius.

- The business here is very light. The cause lists contain
an entry of only eight causes, of which one is marked for a
special jury. There are only 26 prisoners for trial, and none
of the cases are of a very serious character. On analysing
the calendar we find the charges against the prisoners to be
—rape, 2 ; assault with intent, 1 ; manslaughter, 1; arson, 4;
bigamy, 1; stabbing, 1; burglary, 1 ; robbery, 2 ; larceny,
12; and false pretences, 1. Of these we find that only one
possesses superior education; twelve can read and write im-
perfectly ; two read well ; five imperfectly; but six can
neither read nor write.

CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice Eats.)
Zebidee Abbott was indicted for maliciously setting fire to
a rick of bay, the property of Stephen Smallcombe, at
Broughton Gifford, in this county.
Mr. Prideaux appeared for the prosecution.
The prisoner, a lad of about the age of 15, and evidently
of weak intellect, was not represented by counsel.
Mr. PILIDEAUX, in opening the case, told the jury that the
evidence could leave no doubt upon their minds that the
prisoner set fire to the rick, but that a question might arise
as to whether he was not of such weak intellect as not to
know right from wrong, and be conscious that he was
doing that for which he was criminally responsible. If
they were satisfied of this, it would be their duty to acquit
him on the ground of insanity. He then proceeded to call
the witnesses, who clearly proved that the act was com-
mitted by the prisoner. One of the witnesses, the father of
the prisoner, stated that he was almost an idiot, and that
he did not believe that he was capable of knowing right
from wrong; four•fifils of his time he could do nothing
with him, but he could occasionally send him on errands
which sometimes he had sufficient sense to execute, and at
other times not. The evidence of some of the other wit-
nesses also tended strongly to establish the mental incapacity
of the prisoner, one of them speaking of him as " Poor
Zebidee Abbott," and another as " James Abbott's foolish
son." When being asked how he came to burn his hand, he
said it was trying to put out the great big fire.
Mr. Justice ERLE having summed up, the jury almost im-
medietely returned a verdict of Not Guilty, on the ground of
insanity, and he was thereupon ordered to be kept in con-
finement during the Queen's pleasure.
No other case worthy of a report has been tried to-day.
All the business of the assize is expected to be got through
in the coarse of to-morrow.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—Lincoln, July 22.
HUGHES V. JOHNSON, M.P.
This was an action to recover the sum of upwards of
2,0001. for work and labour done as an engineer.
Mr. Wildman and Mr. Haynes were for the plaintiff ;
Mr. Whitehurst, Q.C., Mr. Humfrey, Q.C., and Mr. Wad-
dington, were for the defence.
The plaintiff was the engineer of the Leicester, Melton
Mowbray, and Spalding line; the defendant was General
Johnson, the Member for Oldham. In order to fix the de-
fendant, Mr. Lacy, joint solicitor with Mr. Bass for the de-
funct company, was called, and he stated he and his partner
were concerned last November in getting up the scheme in
question; they were joint solicitors from the Bth of October.
There was an office in London, 4, Trafalgar-square, and one
at 19, King's Arms-yard, his own office. The promoters met
generally at my office. Knows Mr. Collins, the Member for
Warwick. He was on the committee. He called at my
office. Knows also the defendant in this action. Prospectuses
were printed and published. The railway came late in the
day—rather too late. The prospectuses were not sent about,
but applicants had them. Letter of introduction was sent
to General Johnson, and witness saw it at General Johnson's.
Went down subsequently with the plaintiff to General
Johnson's. Mr. Hughes produced his plans. The line was
to go through the grounds of the defendant. That was ex-
plained to him. Their conversation was principally as to
the direction the line was to take. General Johnson ex-
pressed his opinion as to the line, in some respects favour-
able, in others not. I stated to him that I was indebted to
the kindness of Mr. Collins for the names of Mr. Etwall
and Mr. Villiers, the Members for Andover and Wolver-
hampton. Dwelt a long time en the way we were to pass
through the General's property. An appointment was made
for the following Tuesday. Defendant said he expected to
be in London in a few days. He was waiting for a letter
from Mr. Collins. Witness asked the General whether he
would like to appoint his own solicitor? that they were al-
ready in communication with Mr. Bell, of Bowen, but they
did not wish to appoint any person disagreeable to him.
The General said they could not appoint a more active or in-
telligent person.
Cross-examined—Mr. Hughes was appointed by Mr. Fox.
The defendant objected to the line as originally projected,
and pointed out the properties of other gentlemen to whom
it would have been a nuisance, whose names he mentioned.
The company's first name was the Birmingham, Leicester,
and Spalding; the other name was the Leicester, Melton
Mowbray, and Spalding. Remembers pointing out to the
General the names of Etwall and Villiers in the prospectus.
A meeting was hell, and they decided upon calling on each
committeeman for 604 Mr. Hughes has been paid 800/. or
9001. 2,100/. was his demand for engineering. The demand
on the company and in this action was the same thing. Did
say he disappoved of the action. Might have Aid it was a
rascally action.
sq.,
engineer. as an
Mr. Sweeting, of 4, Trafalgar-square, was formerly soli-
citor to this company. The*.e was a resolution come to, ap-
pointing plaintiff engineer. His name appearedinthsaltepirnog-
sepnegeitnueser.as
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Mr. Haddon described himself as principal leveller to the
company.
gthee county
The Learned JUDGE observed, " He must be an awkward
customer."
t jyualnyd2t3o.wn of Nottingham
The case failed from want of proper particulars of demand,
and the plaintiff was nonsuited.
which
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prisoners
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and five in the city gaol.
This day Mary Goodall, who had been found guilty at the
attempt the woman operated upon died, was sentenced to
yfo fourteen p
labour, the point raised
two years' imprisonment and hard
last assizes of an attempt to procure si.ortion, of
in ber favour before the twelve judges having been decided
against her.

IRISH ASSIZES.
COUNTY ANTRl3l.—Carrickfergus, July is.
CHARGE OF MURDER—TENANT RIGHT. —Lewis O'Don-
nell was placed at the bar, charged with the wilful murder
of Guy Morrow, at Glenarrn, on the 9th of April, by hurling a
stone at him, from the effects of which he languished and
died on the 28th of April.
After the examination of two or three witnesses, the facts
of the case appeared of so mitigated a character that the
Crown
consented to receive a plea of guilty of manslaughter
ontv.

Mr. °linos:sr then called witnesses, who gave the prisoner
an excellent character.
The Learned JUDE called for the informations, and from
these it appeared that the crime was committed on the estate
of Alexander 31‘Donnell, Esq.. of Glenarm Castle, and that
it arose from an infringement of Ulster tenant-right.
Sir Thomas Staples having conferred with Mr. lll‘Donnell's
agent, informed the Learned Judge that though from the in-
formations the offence might seem to partake of a Whiteboy
character, he was happy to say that the agent of Mr. M'Don-
nell had stated that it was altogether free from the cha-
racter attributed to it in the informations.
Judge CnAMPTON—The statement you have made, Sir
Thomas, is very important in favour of the prisoner. While
reading the informations I was afraid that it had sprung from
a state of society in some parts of this country—that it was a
part of that infamous and clandestine code which attempts to
deprive the landlord of his just rights, and contravenes every
constitutional principle Had this character appeared, I
should have visited it with the most signal punishment. I
am happy to find that it is free from this most atrocious cha-
racter, wad that it waa the Millt kniggi of