The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-25 00:00:00

1851.

for it is evident that a man having such intention only
would have fired either up into the air or down into the
ground. These appear to be questions necessary for
your consideration. I have further to say to you that
you ought to bear as much as you possibly can with this
very important fact, that Mr. Smith is undoubtedly an
exceedingly timid man—that he could have no malice
whatever towards the individual whose life he sacrificed,
and we have noreason to believe that he was influenced at
the moment by any worse feelings;than those of extreme
fear and anxiety to protect himself and property. I
have attempted to submit to you the several points which
appear to me to bear upon this lamentable case. I be-
seech you to weigh ►ell the whole, for you have a most
important duty to discharge. Your verdict must be one
of three—either that Mr. Smith did it under the ap-
prehension that he was going to be injured either in
person or property by a burglar, consequently is justified
or excused for the offence committed; or that the reason
assigned did not justify the means adopted, therefore he
is guilty of manslaughter; or if you can prove it to be
the case, you must say that be has been guilty of the
highest crime of murder.
The jury retired into an adjoining apartment to con-
sider their verdict. After an absence of exactly an hour's
duration they returned, and
The Foreman said, we find Mr. Smith " Guilty of
Manslaughter."
The CORONER said ho had a great deal to prepare
before he could conclude the proceedings; therefore, he
suggested the adjournment of the court to Thursday
morning at ten o'clock, when he would read over the
depositions and take the recognisances.
The jury were then bound over in their own recogni-
sances of 101. each to prosecute the inquiry until finally
completed.
At this moment the Rev. Mr. Benson, the vicar of
Brampton, entered the room in great haste, and evidently
in a state of painful excitement, and exclaimed, " He's
quite gone, quite gone; the poor mau (alluding to Mr.
Smith) he is quite gone out of his mind."
This caused great sensation and sympathy amongst
those who remained, and a deep and sorrowful expres-
sion overspread the countenances of all on hearing the
painful intimation.
It appeared that Mr. Smith had been told the result of
the inquiry, which so overwhelmed him that he cried
and sobbed like a child, subsequently sinking into a state
of imbecility of mind, in which sad condition he still
remained some hours after when we withdrew from the
painful scene of this remarkable and awful visitation.
The magistrates in attendance, with some of Mr.
Smith's friends and his professional adviser, went up to
the unfortunate gentleman's residence ; but they found
that owing to his dreadful state of mind it was utterly
impossible to take the usual steps consequent upon such
a verdict of the coroner's jury.
After we left the village we understand that Mr.
Smith continued in such an excited and deranged state
of mind, that the magistrates (who had waited nearly
the whole day for the purpose) were obliged to leave
without having the question of bail settled, either as to
the sureties or as to the amount, Dr. Graham having
certified that the reverend gentleman was in such a state
of mind that it would be most dangerous to communi-
cate anything to him of an exciting nature. An appli-
cation is to be made to a judge for an order to admit
Mr. Smith to bail without his having to appear betore
the magistrates ; and the coroner has drawn out a cer-
tificate of the deranged state of Mr. Smith's mind, in
order that this step may be taken.