The Sun.
London, England, 1834-08-05 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—NEWC4STLR, Aoo. 2.
CHARGE OF MURDER.

The Right Hon. Lord LYNDHURST took his seat at the
Guildhall this morning at nine o'clock, and immediately pro-
ceeded with the trial of

William Willis, aged 22, charged upon the Coroner's In-
quisition with the wilful murder of Thomas Lee, at Hebbum
Quay, on the 23d of July last, by throwing him into the river.
There were other counts varying the charge.
The prisoner, since his committal, has altered greatly in ap-
pearance, from the mental agony which he has endured. His
presentiment has been that he should certainly be hanged, and
his appearance at the bar was that of a man whose energies,
both of body and mind, were completely prostrated. He stood
nearly motionless during the whole trial, with his hands raised
and clasped together almost convulsively. He seemed scarcely
to breathe.

Mr. INGHAM enumerated the facts of the case, as detailed in
the following evidence :
Michael Mullat examined by Mr. LITTLEDALE—IS mate of
the Ebenezer' of Ipswich, which, on the 22d of July, was.
lying at the lowest staith at Hebburn, which is on the south
side of the river. On the night in question, at half-past ten,
saw the deceased at Redhead's public-house ; a great number
of other persons were also there. They were dancing. About
half-past eleven the deceased happened to put out his foot
when in a 'sitting posture, and thus it came in contact
with the foot of a young woman, and broke her sandal. The
young woman went and told Daniel Stewart, who told Lee
it was not a manly action. Lee said it was done accidentally,
and afterwards Stewart and the young woman shook hands
with him. Witness was in company with Lee, Abraham
Tranmore, master of the Ebenezer, Palmer, a seaman, and
Dean the mate of the Francis. Has since seen the body of
Thomas Lee, which was taken out of the river by a man
named John Thompson.
George Palmer was at Redhead's public-house, at the
dance, that night. It might be ten o'clock, and came away
about two or half-past. Came away with Lee (the deceased)
and two lads. Witness then went towards the ship ; Dean,
the mate, went forwards. Witness, the two lads, and Lee
remained upon the quay. When they had goti about fifty
yards some people, from towards Redhead's public-house,
began " heaving" stones. Witness said, " Friends, what
are you heaving stones for ?" and a man whom he saw
answered, " Come back, and I'll break your head." Could
not tell who the man was. The person who was heaving stones
might be about twenty yards off. Saw another man about
three or four yards off, and a woman was standing on the bank
of the quay, about five or six yards from the men. When the
cry was made, " Come back and I'll break your head;" witness
said; " Friend, do you want me ?" and he said, "No, the
other one" (meaning Lee). Lee said, " I'll go and see what
they want with me." Witness and the other two men went
walking on slowly, and Lee went back.
By the JUDGE—The man who was throwing stones was about
five or six yards from the river.
Re-examined—Witness had not got as far as where the ves-
sel was lying when he turned round, and saw a man throw
another man over the quay into the water. Witness might at
that time be about forty or fifty yards off
Thomas Wrink was then sworn.—The witness was appre-
hended upon the charge, but admitted King's evidence on the
investigation before the Coroner. Upon the present occasion
he was examined at considerable length. He said he was at
Redhead's public-house, and left there a little after two
o'clock. The prisoner Willis was of the party. The witness
left Redhead's house about half-past two. On coming down
towards the quay he joined Willis's wife. She was standing
at the corner of the road. Witness remained withher for a
minute and a half, during which time his attention was at-
tracted by a noise upon the quay lower down. He saw a man
calling out to another to come back, and he would break his
head. There was another man at a short distance, and the
first man went towards him. They then joined, and witness
saw a " scuffle" between the two men. He then went away
and saw no more of them. On going home the prisoner
Willis and his wife came up to the witness, and all three went
on together.
The prisoner made no defence, and Lord LYNDHURST
charged the Jury.
The Jury then retired, it being about half-past twelve
o'clock. After deliberating half an hour, they returned a
verdict of guilty of manslaughter.
The Foreman of the Jury, in pronouncing the verdict, made
a short pause after the word " guilty." The intervening in-
stant, before the addition "of manslaughter," was one of
breathless anxiety. The prisoner raised his firmly clasped
hands in convulsive agony, and seemed more dead than alive.
When the additional words were pronounced, Mr. Gray, the
gaoler, turned to him and said, " It is only manslaughter."
The culprit rejoined (again clasping his hands, and looking
up to heaven)—" I know it. Yes, it's manslaughter." He
then added, in an under tone, dropping his hands, and bowing
his head on his bosom, " it's a good job."
The noble and learned JtTDGE then addressed the prisoner as
follows :—William Willis, you have been found guilty, after a
most attentive and anxious inquiry, by a jury of your country,
of the crime of manslaughter—of having sacrificed the life of
a
your
the particulars brutal violence.iclr that lt
at
havei sbeenunnecessaryso
for me, after e thento carefulhotfeelinvestigation
should
not t that at hasdischarge been
my givendut y to
if
your case, to
recapitulate
amply gone
I were to pass upon you a light punishment. The sentence of
the Court, therefore, is, that you be transported beyond the
seas to such place as his Majesty in council may direct, for the
space of seven years.
The business terminated here this evening. The Commis-
sion was opened at Carlisle this day by Mr. Sergeant ACIIERLY.
There are, we understand, but eight cases there, two of which
charges are murder.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HO USE.

Yesterday a person of respectable appearance, named J.
Card, was brought before the LORD MAYOR, charged with
having embezzled money to the amount of 2,2231. lls. 2d.,
the property of Mr. R. Edmonds, silkman, of Milk-street,
Cheapside.

Mr. Ashurst, the solicitor, attended for the prosecution, and
Mr. Humphreys for the prisoner, who was apprehended by D.
Forrester, the officer.
Mr. Ashurst stated the particulars of the transaction which
led to the prosecution. Mr. Edmonds, who was a Magistrate
for the county of Kent, was a large manufacturer in Maccles-
field, and had a warehouse at No. 1, Milk-street, Cheapside,
where he employed the prisoner as his clerk and servant. A
notice had been sent to the prisoner stating that his services
would be dispensed with, and the manager of the prosecutor's
business was directed to call upon him in order to have the
accounts arranged preparatory to the separation. The pri-
soner did not think proper to be in the way for two or three
days to meet the manager and give in his accounts, but the
prosecutor ascertained the cause of his absence from the fol-
lowing letter, which was transmitted to Milk-street, addressed
" Richard Edmonds, Esq." :
" Mr. Edmonds—Oh, Sir, I am utterly unable to see you, and
know not what to do with myself. I cannot meet you to balance
up the accounts. I am for ever lost. The greater part of the list
of accounts I gave Mr. \Variance the other day I have received,
and am utterly unable to settle with you ; therefore am entirely in
your hands. Icannot, I dare not, ask forgiveness ; therefore do
with me as you think best. I have felt for a length of time such
horrors that I cannot endure it any longer, and am now prepared
for the worst. But oh my dear family ! Oh I cannot, I cannot,
bear it. There is only one thing that I have thought of that would
bring me out of this great trouble. Should you think fit to have a
young man to take the entire management of the books and cash,
and give me I per cent. on my sales, you to take the house and
everything on your own account, so that I have no expense what-
ever. I to receive the 1/. per month as usual, and the overplus to
go towards discharging this dreadful loss which you ought never to
sustain. This will save you the loss and my utter ruin. This I
know could be done, for it would so relieve my mind; had I only the
sales to attend to I could much increase the business. But I can-
not, I dare not, urge it. I am in your hands, and must submit al-
together to your will. Yours, most sincerely,
" July 31, 1834. " JOHN CARD."
The list alluded to contained thirty names, amongst which
were those of some of the very first houses in the metropolis,

and the plan of fraud adopted was ingeniously executed, but
became too extensive to remain longer undetected.
The prisoner, it appeared, began to act upon this system soon
after he was taken into the employment of the prosecutor.
Supposing that he received on one day 5001. from Messrs.
Morrison and Co., he gave them credit in his book for 4001.,
or 4501., and he appropriated the remainder of the actual sum
handed over to him to the satisfaction of some antecedent
fraud. Perhaps a few days afterwards he made up for the de-
ficiency in Messrs. Morrison's account by applying part of an-
other receipt, and thus he continued to patch up, week aftei
week, until the amount overwhelmed him.
Mr. Edmonds stated that the prisoner was employed by him
as a clerk and servant, and was to give in a weekly account of
the cash received by him. On the 3d of May no credit was
given by the prisoner for the payment of 5431., but on the 10th
of May there was credit given in the book by the prisoner for
4371. 155., in the name of Messrs. Morrison and Co., of Fore-
street.

Mr. Tickle, pay-clerk at Messrs. Morrison and Co.'s, de-
posed that on the 3d of May he paid to the prisoner the sum
of 5431. in a check on Smith, Payne, and Smith, on account
of Mr. Edmonds, for goods sold by the prisoner.
Mr. George Tessin, a clerk at Messrs. Smith, Payne, and
Smith's, paid the check on the 3d of May.
Three other cases in which entries had been made by the
prisoner not corresponding in amount with the sums received
by him were also gone into, and it was proved that the defici-
ency in the payments was 1541. 14s. ; the cash received by the
prisoner amounting to 1,3751. 145., and the cash paid in by
him not exceeding 1,2211.
Mr. Ashurst was ready to produce evidence upon the other
charges of embezzlement, but
The LORD MAYOR did not think it was necessary to enter
upon any fresh cases at that time.
Mr. Humphreys submitted to the LORD MAYOR that the
cases just stated could not be charged as cases of embezzle-
ment, his client not being in - fact a clerk or servant of Mr.
Edmonds, but a commission agent.
Mr. Ashurst contended that the prisoner was to all intents
and purposes the clerk and servant of the prosecutor. The
prisoner kept the books ; the bills were all made out in the
name of Mr. Edmonds ; the receipts were signed by the pri
Boner for Edmonds ; the prisoner's liability was never pledged
and he lived in Mr. Edmonds's house.

In answer to a question put by the LORD MAYOR,
Mr. Edmonds said that the prisoner was, when first in his
employment, paid with a salary, but afterwards with a per cen-
tage on the goods he sold ; and the prisoner was to pay 1001. a
year towards the contingent expenses.
The prisoner was then remanded.
A young man, named Towers, stated to the Lord Mayor
that having received a letter signed " Joseph Ady, No. 11,
Circus, Minories," promising advantage of a considerable kind,
he went to Mr. Ady to know what benefit he was receive, and
was told that he should receive the necessary information upon
payment of 20s. He objected to the payment of so large a
sum, and Mr. Ady consented to take the sum of 175., and
promised if the information should prove of no avail to return
the money. The information did prove of no use whatever,
for it communicated no more than that a Bill had passed Par-
liament repealing all taxes upon churches, &c. Upon apply-
ing for his 17s. to Mr. Ady a plump negative was given to the
complainant by that person.
The LORD MAYOR-If you summon him to the Court of
Requests at Guildhall I have no doubt that you will get your
money.
Mr. Hobler stated that Mr. Ady would doubtless upon being
summoned return the money, as he was not very desirous of
appearing before the Commissioners.

BO W-STREET.
James Purkis was charged with robbing his employers,
Messrs. Alderman Copeland and Co.
The prisoner was employed at the extensive warehouses in
Portugal-street, and suspicion falling upon him, he was watched,
and detected in stealing three glass cruets.
The prisoner begged for mercy from the Alderman who
was present as the prosecutor ; but that gentleman said the
prisoner had received more acts of kindness from the firm than
almost any other workman, and forgiveness was quite out of
the question.—Fully committed.
ANOTHER ROBBERY BY A SERVANT.—Anthony Faulconer
was charged with stealing a 101. note, the property of his
master, Sir N. H. Nicolas, of Torrington-square.—Fully
committed.

Henry Hethertngton, the printer, of the Strand, was con-
victed in his absence, he having neglected to obey the Mah,is-
trate's summons, in two penalties of 201. each, for vending
two numbers of the Twopenny Weekly Dispatch, an unstamped
newspaper. In default he will be committed for six months to
the House of Correction.

MARLBORO UGH-STREET.
Frederick Reitz, the driver of a van, was yesterday brought
up on a warrant by Mace, an officer of this establishment,
charged with the following ruffianly offence under the New
Police Act :

I. M. B. Durrant, Esq., of Gray's Inn-square, was driving
on Saturday along Oxford-street with his phaeton and pair,
when be called out to the defendant, who was going the same
way before him, to drive to the off side. This defendant did
not do, but assailed the gentleman with a torrent of abuse.
Mr. Durrant succeeded in passing him, when the defendant
galloped his horses after him and repeated his disgusting lan-
guage, making use of some strong threats tantamount to the
term of spilling the gentleman. He at length ran his shafts
so near that Mr. Durrant's horses were forced on the pave-
ment, and the wheel of the van injured one of the horses
severely.
Defendant denied the ch:xge.
The Worthy Magistrate inflicted the highest penalty of
40s. for the careless and wanton driving, and the fullest pe-
nalty of 51. for the damage done to the horse, which was esti-
mated at 101. In default of paying the fines to be sent to hard
labour for two months.

MARYLEBONE.
EMBEZZLEMENT.-- William Clement, a youth of respectable
appearance, about fifteen years of age, was yesterday placed at
the bar before the sitting Magistrate, Mr. RAWLINSON, charged
with embezzling various sums of money belonging to his mas-
ter, Mr. W. Murray, an extensive bookseller, &c., No. 57,
Oxford-street.

Police constable E 49 said that on apprehending the pri-
soner he said he had spent the money principally in riding.
The prisoner, who said nothing in defence, was fully com-
mitted for trial. _

QUEEN- S QUARE.
DESPERATE LOVE, OR A NEW METHOD OF WOOING. —Mr.
T. Heuchum' whom we understood to be an engineer, was
charged with being disorderly and annoying Miss Amelia
Preston, a young female about eighteen years of age, the
daughter of respectable parents at Lambeth.
About six months ago the defendant became acquainted with
the complainant, and was .soon so deeply enamoured of her
that be made her a formal offer of marriage, which was, how-
ever, on the lady's part politely declined. The defendant,
however, nothing abashed by the refusal, thought that time
might alter her inclinations, and made her continued offers of
his hand, but all his impassioned eloquence was in vain ; her
heart would not relent, and he still was obliged to put up with
a direct refusal. Finding his case all but hopeless, and his
love increasing daily for the object of his affections, he could
rest neither night nor day, and he was determined that she
should not have any rest either. He therefore altered his
plan of attack on her heart, and knocked the family up at all
hours of the night for admittance, to the great annoyance of
the young lady and her father, who, as soon as they were
about to drop to sleep, were awoke by double knocks and the
ringing of bells. On Saturday night this disorderly conduct
was repeated, and for peace and quietness they were com-
pelled to open the door, when the defendant reiterated his
vows of constancy and love, and threw his arms round the com-
plainant, and he was at last forced to be given into custody.
Mr. GREGORIE said that it was one of the most extraordinary
methods of gaining a young woman's affections to break her
rest at night he -bad ever heard of, and asked the defendant if
he would refrain from going near the house ?
_ _

The defendant with -a
deep sigh said that he might pledge
himself not to go near the house, but he could not swear that
he could keep his pledge.
The complainant said that all she wanted was protection
from his continued annoyance.
Mr. GREGORIE said that it was his duty to protect her, and
ordered the defendant to find sureties.