The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-02 00:00:00

NORTH VALES ClRCUlT.—Chester, March 3

CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice NI IGHTMAN.)
THE MURDER NEAR BIRKENHEAD.—This case, which has
excited considerable interest throughout this part of the
country, has to-day taken a turn which has produced no less
surprise. It was a charge against three persons, named
Robert Lynch, William Nowland and Patrick Tallant , for
the wilful murder of Thomas Peacop, a respectable young
,
man who formed one of the firm of Golding and Co., corn-
merchants, Liverpool, and who resided at New Ferry, about
three miles from Birkenhead, on the Cheshire shore of the
Mersey. The prisoners were committed, chiefly on the testi-
mony of an accomplice named Michael Burns,in the month
of September last, nine months after the murder was perpe-
trated, and who was also in gaol on the same charge.
On an application being made for the appearance of Burns,
to give evidence before the grand jury,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for the Palatine intimated to
the Court that he had read over the depositions, and after
carefully considering them, he did not feel it his duty to ac-
cede to that course, as Burns would be put on his trial.
The JUDGE—I understood you intended to take his evi-
dence as approver.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL for the Palatine—lie has made
a statement, but it is entirely uncorroborated. I thought, in
the first instance, that he should be admitted as an approver ;
but as there is no corroboration of his testimony, I do not
think it would be safe to proceed on his evidence against the
other men, as there would be no likelihood of a conviction.
I propose, therefore, to put Burns on his trial, on Ilia own
statement, for the highway robbery.
The JUDGE—Very well. Of course you will use your own
discretion.

Just before the Court rose the grand jury made the last
presentment of bills. They returned true bills for murder
and robbery, with violence, against Michael Burns, the ap-
prover in the Rock Ferry murder case, and ignored the bill
against the other three prisoners charged with the murder of
Mr, Peacop.

A true bill for murder was returned against Mary Evans,
charged with poisoning her child at Bebington.
The grand jury were then discharged.
An order for the liberation of Lynch, Nowlan, and Tallant
was then made by the Court, and they were released from
prison.

NORTHERN ClRCUlT.—Liverpool, March 31.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice PArrasort.)
CHARGE OF MURDER—TRIAL OF NATHANIEL CURRIE CON-
TINUED.
This trial was again resumed this morning at nine o'clock,
when more witnesses were examined for the prosecution.
Mr. POLLOCK addressed the jury for the prisoner in a
speech that lasted for three hours and a half, at the close of
which
His LORDSHIP summed up the whole evidence very mi-
nutely.
The jury retired at about half-past six in the evening, and
remained out something more than an hour. On their re-
turn into Court they returned a verdict of Not Guilty.

MIDLAND CI RCUlT.—Warwick, March 31.
CROWN COURT.
Tin; BEnxtswitta. MunnEL—This morning James Read
was put on his trial for the murder of Thomas Tranter, of
Berkeswell, near Coventry. The case excited great interest,
and the Court was crowded long before nine o'clock, the
hour fixed for the trial.

seateen yearsthe prisoner
awasnd
placed in the dock.
Hcreated some sympathy in his favour.
his youthful appearance
loured taglioni, light
He was attire •din a light-co , y . waistcoat,
neck a black cravat. The indictment having'
- On id- -r-: Justice - - Coltman
and had on his .
prisoner pleaded Not Guilty in a firm
eanistaonlinvgeihgihst
• hurst and Mr. Hayes conducted the prosecution.
Mr. White
soner. Mr. Miller attended for the pn .
Mr. WHITERURST stated the case, briefly preferring, as he
baneednabreleadvooz, the
observed, that the Court and jury should hear the main- facts
against the prisoner from the witnesses themselves.
Evidence was gone into at great length, but as we have
so recently given the details copiously, we abstain from re-
peating them. It will be remembered that the deceased was
found dead in his house, his brains having been knocked out
with a bill-hook, which lay near the body. A young man,
supposed to have been the prisoner, was seen as if coming
from the house ; and there were various circumstances con-
nected with his disappearance from the neighbourhood calcu-
lated to involve him in strong suspicion, &c.
Mr. MILLER addressed the jury at great length for the pri-
soner, and commenced by denouncing, in strong terms the
exclusion of the prieoner's attorney from the examinations
which took place before the magistrates. Mr. M. that
summedpro-
up the evidence, observing that
ceeded to the evidence, which was of a purely circumantial
stances in some parts of the case requiring
nature; and after an address of nearly two hours from the
there
eins
we
lad e
orGentleman,
D esi
ri 1
21upm
grave consideration. One of the witnesses had stated that
he
the s found blood uon the axe and the bill-hook, although
urgeon had stated that there had been only one wound
inflicted upon the deceased. Relative to the evidence
given by Mr. Lazarus., it would have been very important
if he could have identified. tl e
but as the person who
pledged the handkerchief, hut he had doubts upon that
point. The Learned Judge, in conclusion, adverted to the
other important points of the evidence, and terminated his
address at ten minutes past five o'clock; after which the
Notr consulted for five minutes, and returned a verdict a
Guilty.

HOME ClRCUlT.—Kingston, March 31.
(Before Lord Chief Justice DAN
AN and a Special Jury.)
ANGELL v. ANGELL.
This was an action of ejectment to remove possession of
the Attorney-General, Mr. Sergeant Chen-
twenty-two acres of land at Stockwell.
Mr. Sergeant Shee, Mr. Petersdorff, and Mr. Boren were
This cause has been so frequently reported that it will be
unnecessary to go into the particulars at any great length on
niberl lt, haenpdlalkilnrt.iffPeacock for the defendant.
the present occasion. The defendant became poseand of