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

NORFOLK CIRCUIT.--Norwich, July 23.

The commissions for the county of Norfolk and this ancien,
city were opened yesterday afternoon by Mr. Sergeant
Byles, in the absence of the Learned Judges of Assize, who,
having attended Divine service this morning at ten o'clock in
the time-honoured cathedral, repaired to the County-hall at
twelve o'clock. The entry on the civil side falls below the
average, there being only thirteen causes, and on the criminal
side there are but forty prisoners, whose alleged offences
are of a lighter complexion than is u-ual in this county,
there being four cases of arson, four of rape, two of felonious
cutting and shooting, one of horse stealing, one of robbery,
one of burglary, three of housebreaking, one of uttering a
forged banker's receipt, sixteen of larceny. and one case in '
which the prisoner, a woman, aged 33, is charged with ad-
ministering cantharides to a female with intent to murder
her, but in that case the grand jury threw out the bill.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice WlLLiams.)
Sarah Kastings, aged 32, stood charged with uttering a
forged order for the payment of 95/. at Great Yarmouth, on
the 2d, of September, 1844, with intent to defraud Messrs.
Gurney.
Mr. Palmer and Mr. Drewry were counsel for the pro-
secution.

It appeared that in June, 1844, the husband of the pri-
soner, an illiterate and frugal man of 54, deposited the sum
of 951. in Messrs. Gurney's bank at Great, Yarmouth, and
received the usual " accountable receipt" from them in ac-
knowledgment of the paper. In the September following
the prisoner took this instrument to the bank, and stating
that she was the wife of the depositor, demanded the payment
of the principal and interest due thereon. The clerk told her
that the signature of her husband was required, and she took
away the paper, which she returned in a short time, bearing
for endorsement the words, " Mr. John Miller Hastings,"
which she said was her husband's signature, adding, by way
of explanation, that he was a "Mister," and as she conceived
had a right so to sign himself. The clerk, however, struck
his pen through the word " Mr.," and then paid the sum of
951. 6s. sd. to the prisoner, who was not seen after that day
in Yarmouth, or elsewhere, for twenty -two months, though
information was given to the police, and Mr. Hastings in-
sisted on the bank repaying the money to him, on the ground
that
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peared in Yarmouth, and she was taken into custody on the
charge.
Tue jury having deliberated together for some time, re-
tired to consider their verdict, one of them, the brightest of
the lot, observing that " they didn't exactly know what to
say to it." After the lapse of half an hour, they returned
into Court with a verdict of Guilty, whereupon
His LORDSHIP, having expressed his entire concurrence
with the verdict of the jury, sentenced her to be imprisoned
for twelve months.

Eliza Ward, aged 25, was charged with setting fire to an
outhouse at Stow Bardolph, in this county.
Mr. Cooper conducted the case for the prosecution, which
was of the clearest possible character, the prisoner having
repeatedly acknowledged her act, while she justified it as a
retribution on her master, the prosecutor, for having refused
to pay her journey home after he had discharged her from
his service without just cause.
The jury having found the prisoner Guilty, sentence was
deferred.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.— Worcester, July 23.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Sergeant GAZZLEE.)
Richard Farley and Ann Jones were indicted for forging a
will, purporting to be that of William Welch, of Llantillo-
pethlow, deceased, with intent to defraud the heir-at-law of
the said William Welch.