The Sun.
London, England, 1833-07-12 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT.—HERzFoRD, JULY 10.
TRIAL or THE PUGILISTS FOR THE MANSLAUGHTER OF

SIMON BITRNE.

James Burke, better known as Deaf Burke, and Ri-
ckard Curtis, having surrendered themselves this morning,
were put to the bar, and pleaded " Not Guilty " to an
indictment charging Burke with having inflicted divers
mortal bruises, in a pugilistic contest at No Man's Land,
on Simon Byrne, whereof death ensued ; and Richard
Curtis with having aided and abetted him in the felony by
acting as his second.
Mr. RYLAND conducted the prosecution, and after an
able address to the Jury, he called—

S. G. Shaw; reporter to the County Press, who said
he was present at the fight, which took place on the Nth
of May last, at No Man's Land, between Simon Byrne
and Deaf Burke. Byrne was seconded by Ward and Spring,
and Burke by Gaynor and Curti•. The men fought for a
long time, upwards of three hours, with alternate success.
Sometimes one was down, sometimes the other, and some-
times both together. About the 50th round both men
were down, and Burke was undermost. Burke smiled,
and tapped his antagonist good humouredly on the shoulder.
The whole combat was conducted with great good humour
on both sides, particularly on the part of Burke. Witness
saw the men conveyed out of the ring.
The doctor who attended Byrne said that when the body
was exatnined after death had taken place, there appeared
to have been a former disease in the lungs. There was no
external injury answering to the internal appearances
which could h tve caused death.

The Learned JUDGE here stopped the case, and directed
the Jury to acquit the prisoners. When the verdict of
acquittal was announced, the spectators cheered vociferously.
Spring, Ward, and Gaynor, immediately surrendered ;
but no evidence being offered against them, they also were
pronounced Not Guilty.

FIRE AT MACCLESFIELD.—On Monday,
a fire broke out in the large cotton factory of Mr. J.
WA LLERS, and continued burning, in spite of the exer-
tions of two engines, for two hours, till the walls only
remained. The loss is estimated at about 5,0001. or 6,000/.

A robbery of the most daring description, in
which so much as some thousands of pounds' worth of
property was removed, occurred on Monday evening. At
about half-past eleven o'clock a female servant of Mrs. L.
Fox heard some persons in one of the upper rooms, and,
on going up, discovered that the door was locked. Mr.
ABRAHAMS, an inspector of police, was immediately
called in, and it was discovered that some persons had
effected their entrance into Mrs. Fox's house in Corson-
s.reet, Mayfair, by crawling over the tops of some out-
houses from the direction of Shepherd's market. The
thieves had ransacked two rooms, and while they were
so engaged had locked the doors of all the apartments
Laving communication with those which they were plun-
dering. The outhouses were covered with valuables tied up
in some elegant cashmere shawls, but only two or three
articles of value were carried off.

MELANCHOLY CATASTROPHE..—On Sab-
bath night the wind began to blow a strong gale from the
north-west, and on Monday morning there was a heavy
sea on Ayr bar, st hen the Nancy of Saltcoats, Captain
SHEARER, appeared in the bay, making direct for the har-
bour, about eleven o'clock. Soon after the brig was
descried, two pilot boats put off for the purpose of con.
electing her safely into the haven. One of these boats be-
longed to HENRY FRENCH, and was manned by four
wen—viz., the owner, JAMES MURPHY, HUGH KELLY,
and PATRICK HARVEY ; the other boat contained DANIEL
and JOHN HUNTER, WM. GIBSON, DOGALD M'MILLAN,
and WILLIAM HAMILTON. As the brig was sailing at a
very rapid rate, she had nearly reached the pier head be-
fore either of the pilot boats approached her, when both
boats put about with the view of running alongside and
hoarding her, but in the anxiety to secure the fare,
FRENCH'S boat came athwart the bows of the brig just as
she reached the pier head, when Capt. SHEARER directed
the helm to be put hard down, in order to avoid coming
in contact with the devoted boat ; the order was
promptly obeyed, the vessel drifted her course, but
the heavy surge thrown off her larboard bow,
struck the boat, and filled her, when she instantly
capsized, and the four men were left at the mercy of the
waves. At this time the other boat was within 100
yards a-head, waiting for the brig, and the instant the
accident occurred Captain SHEARER called to HUNTER
and his companions not to mind offering any assistance to
his vessel, but to put about for God's sake! and save the
drowning men. The reply from HUNTER'S boat, what-
ever it was, could not be heard ; some one on board was
observed to hold up his hand, and she continued her
course up the harbour. Great indignation was felt and
loudly expressed by the public that not even an attempt
was made by those in HUNTER'S boat to rescue FRENCH
and his companions from their dreadful situation ; but as
auinvestigation has very properly been instituted by Mr.
HURDOCII, the Procurator Fiscal, we decline going int°
details in this place. The whole four continued Co sup-
port themselves above water for some time, but as the
swell was heavy and the breakers followed each other in
rapid succession, completely covering the victims, two of
them—FRENCH (who had a wooden leg) and MURPH
disappeared in about five minute, from the time the acci-
dent took place, and were unfortunately drowned. Neither
of them was married, but we have been informed that
FRENCH supported his ard father and mother by his la•
Dour as a pilot, and from the profits of a small public.
house which he lately opened on the south quay ; his body
has not yet been found, but MURPHY was picked up yes.
rdiy near the Gas-works, on the south beach, between
t o and three o'clock. The boat was cast ashore en the
th side of the river, near the lime pits, —Ayr Ot,erver.