The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-02 00:00:00

His LORDSHIP, having enlarged on the effrontery of
their conduct, sentenced both tho prisoners to be trans.
ported for ten years.

MIDLAND ClRCUlT.—Leicester, July 31.

CROWN COURT—(Before Mr. Justice PATTESON.)
George Cope, a person of education, aged 27, was con-
victed of having, on the 26th of June last, feloniously
uttered and put off to one John Kirk a forged order on
request for the delivery of 21b. weight of quicksilver,
with intent to defraud one Jonathan Hodgson and
another. A previous conviction for felony against him
was read, and there were two other indictments for utter.
ing other forged orders for the delivery of goods in the
same name within two days of the uttering for which he
was tried. Ho was sentenced to be transported for the
term of twelve years.
Charlotte Needham pleaded guilty to a charge of steal-
ing a half-crown, the property of Ann Batson, and was
sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for two
calendar months.
(Before Lord Chief-Justice DENMAN.)
John Clarke was indicted for maliciously wounding
John Smith, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.
Mr. Simpson prosecuted, and Mr. Bittleston defended
the prisoner.
On the part of the prosecution, it was proved that on
the evening of the 12th of June the prisoner and the
prosecutor, with several ocher persons, were assembled
at a public-house at Syston, and that a quarrel arose
between the prisoner and the prosecutor, in the course
of which the prosecutor having pushed the prisoner
aside received from him a blow over the left rye.
The prisoner then ran away to his own house, which
was a few yards off, and the prosecutor almost im-
mediately followed him. Oa reaching the prisoner's
house, the prosecutor stated that the prisoner pre-
sented a gun at him, and that being atraid that the
prisoner intended to shoot him, he went back to
the public-house and got two other men to accom-
pany him to the prisoner's. On their return they
saw the prisoner in his own yard with a crutch
in his hand, which ho immediately took into the

Tlie jury, after some deliberation, returned a verdict
of Not Guilty.
The trial excited a good deal of interest, the distur-
bances at the place in question having been frequent, and
threatening letters received.

WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Bodntin, July 31.
The Devon assizes terminated on Friday afternoon.
The last cause was an action brought by the assignees
of the Honiton Bank against one of the customers of
that bank for balance of an account. The matter ex-
tended over a period of many years, and to the extent
of upwards of 100,000/. Mr. Butt, in opening the plain-
tiff 's case to the jury, stated that, in general, juries were
told that a case would last some hours, but in the pre-
sent instance he was sorry to inform them they would be
detained at least ten days, and then they would be paid
ad. for their attendance. The instantaneous effect pro
duced on the jury by this announcement was perfectly
ludicrous. One of them jumped up and stated that he
had come into the box, understanding that the cause was
a short one, but that he was exceedingly unwell, and he
entreated the Court to excuse him. After some time the
counsel consented to try the case with eleven jurors, and
that fortunate man was permitted to leave the box. The
jury were then told that they must take pen, ink, and
paper, and put down the different cheques that would be
produced in evidence, most of which were under 201., and
when the cause was over they must add them up, end
then go into a minute calculation of interest. This seemed
completely to upset the jury. The foreman rose, and,
amidst roars of laughter, by his gestures appeared to be
imploring the judge to allow him to retire. The judge
was almost convulsed. At length, when silence was in
some degree restored, the foreman begged to go home.
This, however, he was told was impossible, and the cause
proceeded till three o'clock, when the parties came to an
arrangement, and the jury were told that they were dis-
charged, and that the country was indebted to them for
their services. We may here state that upon one occa-
sion during the assizes, a juryman observed to the judge
that he and some of his fellows had been serving for
some days, and he hoped they might be allowed to go
home.

Mr. Justice COLERIDGE replied, that he wished he
could grant the request, but it was impossible; he knew
how hard it was upon the jurors. In his opinion the
jury should be selected from a different class of men.
It was a mistake to suppose that because persons had
been summoned as special jury-men they were therefore
exempt from serving on common juries. He was glad
to find that in Devonshire the juries bad now been se-
lected from a superior class of persons.
The Learned Judge had given a similar opinion on a
former occasion. 'lt appears to be the practice to sum-
mon persons of what may be termed " low degree " as
jurymen. while the rich and well educated are scarcely
ever troubled, and then they receive a guinea tor per-
forming a duty for which the other men get only
eight-pence in the Nisi Prins Court, and nothing in the
Crown.

The commission was opened on Saturday at Bodmin.
The High Sheriff met the Judges at the entrance of the
town, but he did not pay them the respect to which they
are accustomed. Instead of four horses to his carriage
he had but a pair of very small one.", put to an immenrely
large carriage, cutting a most miserable appearance. The
calendar for this county is heavy in point of number,
there being 45 prisoners for trial; the offences, however,
are light. There are 10 cases in the cause list. The
Judges attended Divine service yesterday. This morn-
ing Mr. Justice Coleridge took his seat in the Crown
Court, and Mr. Justice Williatns sat at Nisi Prius.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—Durham, July 31

The assizes for this county commenced this morning,
Mr. Justice Erie presiding at Nisi Prins, and Mr.
Justice Cresswell in the Crown Court.
The cause list contains 17 causes, of which two are
special juries—viz., " Nicholson v. Attwood" and " Hodg-
son v. Smith."
The Crown calendar is somewhat heavy, and contains
the names of 54 persons to be tried. Some of these are
for ordinary larcenies; but there is one for murder, two
for manslaughter, one for rape, one for an attempt to
commit same offence, one for concealing the birth of a
child, two for offences against the coin of the realm, 13
forLburglary, five for feloniously wounding, one for arson,
one for bigamy, four for stealing from the person, and
one for sheep-stealing.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice CRESSWELL.)
Joseph Beaney, aged 22, was charged with having, on
the 26th instant, at Chester-le-street, feloniously killed
and slain John Burn.
Mr. Fenwick appeared for the prosecution, and Mr.
Matthews for the prisoner.
It appeared that the prisoner and deceased, together
with three or four other men, were assembled together
at a public-house called the Milt-house, on Black Fell.
One of the party, named Thornton, had been married the
day before, and was giving them a treat. Words arose
between deceased and the prisoner, in consequence of the
former having uttered au expression against the charac-
ter of the mother of the latter, and those words led to a
fight between the two men, in which four rounds took
place, and which resulted in the death of Burn, who was
severely struck and cut about the head and face, and
who expired almost immediately at the close of the fourth
round. The men had gone out for the purpose of fight-
ing, but the Learned Counsel for the prosecution stated
that it was a fair stand-up fight, no foul play having been
resorted to by the prisoner.
Mr. Robert Davis, the surgeon called in, gave his
opinion that Burn had died of concussion of the brain,
and that that had been produced by the blows observ-
able, and received in the fight.
no Under
tbe disputed,
h tese im
andrcut circumstances, ciets
e, as v
id tohne cause t
y a r o
soof
tn deaththee oul
con-
testd
above described, Mr. Matthews declined addressing
there could be no doubt
as to the offence charged having been committed.
it fh et
hjeayr yc'r ewd hi
toe dw etrhee dei rvei cd
teendc eb.y the Learned Judge that
Verdict—Guilty.
His LORDSHIP, is passing sentence, told the prisoner
that, although the law would make allowances for the
weakness of a man's nature, and there appeared to have
still
nsome provocation in
twoth mene language used e
leynggdeceased,aeina
it was
deliberate fight; and although he (the prisoner) had
acted upon this occasion without malice, his act was
wilful and criminal. His Lordship trusted the punish-
ment he should award would be sufficient as a warning
to the prisoner himself for his future conduct, and that
there might, under the extenuating circumstances, be a
sufficient example made by the sentence of fourteen days'
imprisonment, with hard labour.
William Gilroy, aged 17, was indicted for having, at
Dalton•le-Dale, on the sth of April last, feloniously killed
and slain W. Graham.

Mr. W
a A
caseitßEN very usnion,stoanteedabtohvaet
this was
mseillaforrinthie uttspnraotsuetieti
to the
reported. The prisoner and deceased were both pitmen
at Merton Colliery, and it appeared that deceased having
repeatedly challenged prisoner to fight him, a combat at
length took place on the, evening of the day mentioned,
in a field near the pit. The death, as stated by Mr. A.
'co
Ill'Gregor, surgeon, was occasioned by blows received in
that fight, they having produced effusion of blood on the
brain.

Mr. MATTHEWS, for the prisoner, left the case in the
hands of the Court.
The prisoner was found Guilty, and sentenced to 14
days' imprisonment, with hard labour.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
BAGGING-PETITION IMPOSTORS.—Charles Smith, alias
Standen, alias William, alias Mackenzie, alias Anderson,
Henry Baker, alias Dublin Harry, alias Jennings, and
William Johnson, alias Becton, alias Dean, were brought
before Mr. Bingham, charged with having obtained, or
attempted to obtain, by various false and fraudulent pre-
tences, charitable subscriptions from the benevolent.
The apprehension of the three prisoners occurred in
consequence of a communication made last week to the
Meudicity Swiety's Office by Sir H. Meux, that he bad
been defrauded of 101. by a person who had subsequently
turned out to be an impostor.
Charles Smith was first placed at the bar.
William Horsford said, in consequence of Sir H.
:Noun's communication; he saw Sir Henry on Sunday, at
his residence in Brook-street, and yesterday he went to
Sir Henry's house, and waited according to arrangement.
He was sent for into the drawing-room, and there he
found Smith, who was an old acquaintance, and ho took
him into custody.
Sir Henry Meux said the prisoner called at his house
in Brook-street that morning, and mentioned the name
of Latimer, stating that he called for one guinea, his (Sir
Henry Meux's) yearly subscription to the National
School. He told the prisoner it was no use calling on
him for the money, as he believed he had already paid _

house. In a minute or two he came out, bringing with
him a poker, with which he ran at: the prosecutor,
and struck him a blow over the left eye. The injury
inflicted was very severe; it being the opinion of the sur-
geon that probably the sight was entirely destroyed.
For the prisoner a witness was called, who stated that
the prosecutor, when he first went to the prisoner's, at-
tacked him and threw him down; and when he came the
second time with the other men he endeavoured to force
his way into the prisoner's house, and that the injury
was inflicted in the course of a scuffle which then took
place. _ _

The jury found the prisoner Guilty, under circum-
stances of strong provocation; and
The Learasd JUDGE sentenced him to six months'
imprisonment with hard labour.

(Before Mr. Justice PATTESON.)
Joseph North, Thomas Innocent; Thomas Dunnicliffe,
and William Newham, were indicted for a riot, on the
30th of June last, at Melton Mowbray. The first and
third counts charged them with riotously playing at foot-
ball, and the second with riotously assembling together
and committing a breach of the public peace.
Mr. Mellor and Mr. Vaughan conducted the prosecu-
tion; Mr. Macaulay defended Newham, and Mr. Flood
the other three.

The occurrence happened in a field called the Play
Close, the property of Lord Melbourne, across which
there was a public footway, and wherein the people had
immemorially been accustomed to play games and enjoy
other recreation. It seemed that on one side of tots
close some cottages and outhouses had been built, which
the prisoner and others had deemed to be an infringe-
ment of their rights, and on the 30th of June they as-
sembled to the number of two hundred, made a great up-
roar, and began praying at football, as alleged, merely as
a pretence for creating the riot in question. Newham
kicked the football into a Certain place of convenience,
and he and the three other defendants followed it, and
amid the shouting and cheering of the mob pulled
down the place and damaged the wall of one of the
cottages.

Elizabeth Chaplin, aged 30, pleaded guilty to au in-
dictment charging her with having on the 2d of May
last, at Kegworth, endeavoured to conceal the birth of
a bastard child, and was sentenced to be imprisoned and
kept to hard labour for six calendar months.
This concluded the business of these assizes, at half-
past six o'clock.