The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-12 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

NORTHERN ClRCUlT.—Liverpool, Dec. 11.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron PARKE.)
John Hampson, 34, was indicted for the wilful
murder, at Manchester, on the 17th of August, of
Mary Hampson.
Mr. Monk and Mr. Assheton Cross conducted the
prosecution, and Mr. Ovens defended the prisoner.
The prisoner and the deceased were man and wife.
By trade be was a clogger, and the woman worked in
a factory. It appeared that they did not live very
comfortably together, and the evidence showed that
on the night of Sunday, the 17th of August last,
they were quarrelling between ten and eleven o'clock.
A woman of the name of Bethell saw them go into
their house about five minutes before ten o'clock, and
she then beard the prisoner charging his wife with
drinking. She retorted that it was not at his expense,
but did not deny that she had had some drink. She
was, however, sober. They were heard by Mrs.
Bethell to continue their angry words after they
entered the house, and the prisoner was seen by her
to get up several times and go towards the deceased,
on each of which occasions she heard a smack as if
he was striking her. About half-past ten o'clock
Mice Helliwell heard the gavelling going on, and
soon after saw the prisoner come out of the house,
and the deceased come to the door and shout after him
to go where he had been before. She then shut the
door and locked it, upon which the prisoner turned
back and called to her to open it, but she did not do
so. He went aside as if he was going away, and the
deceased then opened the door and looked out, upon
which the prisoner came for ward and went in, and
the door was again fastened. It would appear that
soon after this a Mrs. Hargreaves, who lives in the
adjoining house, was awakened by a noise as of some
one falling down stairs, but was somewhat confused
in her mind, and the prisoner and his wife being fre-
quently to her knowledge in the habit of quarrelling,
she thought nothing more of it. This witness spoke
to the fact of her clock having struck.. eleven about a
minute before the noise she described. There ap-
peared to be some discrepancy among the witnesses
as to time, for George Small, a very material wit-
ness, proved that at five minutes past eleven he spoke
to the prisoner as he was passing his door and going
in the direction of his own house. In about twenty
minutes he 'returned to Small's house, and, the door
being then shut, he knocked until it was opened, upon
which he said " My wife has fallen down stairs, and
I believe she has killed herself." In reply to Small's

question as to how it was, he said that he had knocked • 1
at the door, and his wife had got up out of her bed,
and on her way to let him in lisd fallen down stairs
and had been lying there half an hour, and the
door was fast and he could not get in. Small went
with the prisoner to his house, and found the door
locked inside. Eventually, after Small had got a
hammer to remove the fastening of the shutters, the
prisoner got in through the window. Mrs. Small
then came up, and the door was, at her request,
opened. Upon entering they found the deceased lying
on the floor in her chemise, her head being sideways
on the centre of the bottom step of the stairs, and her
feet pointed towards the door. There was a quantity
of clotted blood where her head had lain, and she had
also bled from the nose and right ear. She was quite
insensible, but they raised her up, and put her on
to a chair. Small begged the prisoner to go to Dr.
Race, but he said it was of no use ; " what a d--
fool he should look to go for a doctor for a drunken
woman." He persuaded him to go, however,
and he returned, saying Dr. Race would be there
directly. It would seem, however, that the prisoner
never went for him. The deceased was subsequently
removed to bed. She groaned once, but did not speak,
but began to vomit considerably. Dr. Race had not
arrived up to half-past twelve o'clock, when Small
left the house. There was a clothesprop lying on
the centre of the stairs when this witness first went
in, and it was over this the prisoner averred that his
wife had fallen. She was found with her head
touching the bottom end of the prop. The deceased
lingered until three o'clock on Friday morning, when
she expired.
Mr. Evan Thomas, surgeon—Was sent to the de-
ceased on Tuesday night by a Roman Catholic cler-
gyman, as no medical man had previously seen her.
Upon examining her he found her in bed quite insen-
sible. There was a wound towards the temple and
behind the ear, about an inch long, lacerating it very
much. He considered that she was labouring under
compression of the brain. On examining the body
he found contusions on the left collarbone behind the
right shoulder, on the left side, near the arm-pit, and
a very large one about four inches in extent below
the left breast, one on the right groin, one over the
right knee, one inside the left knee, and several on
the shins. He made a post mortem examination on
the Saturday, when he found the skull fractured
across the base, and a good deal of blood effused into
and upon the brain, which, in other respects, was
healthy. There was also a rupture on the left ear.
The witness gave it as his opinion that direct vio-
lence must have caused the wound on the ear, unless
she had fallen on something sharp, and that that had
been the cause of death, and expressed himself as
being perfectly satisfied that all the injuries could not
have been caused by a fall down the stairs, though
such a fall might have produced some of the bruises
he had observed. He thought that the same blow
which in his opinion inflicted the wound on the ear,
misht have caused the fracture of the skull. She was
five months advanced in pregnancy.
Upon cross-examination, this witness said he would
not say that, had she fallen, of herself even, upon the
sharp edge of the stair the wound on the ear might
not have been produced by such a fall.
Mrs. Flinn, a woman who was in the habit of
going to work at the prisoner's house, saw the de-
ceased on the Monday morning, when she was sen •
sible but very drowsy, and she then complained of
headache, and the witness bouund her head round
with a handkerchief. The prisoner told her that he
only pretended to go to the doctor, as it was only a
drunken bout, and he did
.not wish to be the laugh-
ingstock of the neighbourhood.
The Learned JUDGE here recalled the medical
man, who said, in answer to a question from his
' Lordship, that though the bruises were all recent he
would not say that they might not have ben inflicted
' at different times.

The Inspector of Police proved that the prisoner
stated to him that his wife had fallen down stairs, and
that she had told him that she was some months gone
in pregnancy, and she was sure she could not re-
cover. This witness described the nature of the
staircase in the prisoner's house, from which it ap-
peared that the stairs go right up into the room above,
but that the banister stops short of the room by about
two feet, so that the head of the staircase is left de-
fenceless.

The deceased's sister was called to prove that she
was perfectly sober on the day in question, having had
nothing but a little whisky.
Another inspector proved that at the bridewell, in
answer to the charge of beating his wife and endan-
gering her life, he said, " I declare to God I did not
beat her ; I merely gave her one slight tap on the
head ; she fell down stairs when she was going to let
me in."

Mr. Race, apothecary, of Oldham-road, Man-
chester, who lives about 150 or 200 yards from the
prisoner, proved that no one came to him on the night
in question to go to the prisoner's house.
Mr. OVEIVS addressed the jury on behalf of the pri-
soner, and contended, that no proof being given ofany
malice in this case, the charge of murder could not be
substantiated, and that the principal question for their
consideration was whether or not this was a case of
manslaughter. He urged them not to allow them-
selves to be prejudiced by the very natural feeling
they might have from a good deal of the evidence that
the prisoner had somehow er other, from his ill-treat-
ment, caused her death. The Learned Counsel the❑
went at some detail into the consideration of the evi-
dence, and concluded by leaving the case with confi-
dence in the hands of the jury.
His LORDSHIP summed up the evidence with great
minuteness, and
The jury, after considering for some time in the
box, retired from court, and in about half an hour re-
turned with a verdict of Guilty of manslaughter.
Sentence was deferred.

John Charles Keith, the Irish soldier, who was
convicted on Monday of assault and robeery, was
called up, and having received from the sergeant of
his regiment an excellent character, was sentenced to
six months imprisonment.
NISI PRIUS COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice ERLE.)
Patrick O'Toole, who was yesterday convicted of
not surrendering under a fiat in bankruptcy, was
sentenced this morning to be transported for seven
years.
John Kilburn was indicted for having, at Liverpool,
unlawfully and by force and violence assaulted, re-
sisted, and obstructed George Jones, he being an
officer of the Customs, and in the execution of his
office.
The jury convicted the prisoner, at the same time
recommending him to mercy.
The Learned JUDGE, in passing sentence, said that
it was of great importance that officers should be pro-
tected in the discharge of a public duty ; but, taking
into consideration that the prisoner had hitherto borne
an irreproachable character, and the recommendation
of the jury, he thought the ends of justice would be
attained by sentencing him to six months' impri-
sonment.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS, Dec. 11.
(Before Mr. IVITHANI, Deputy-Assistant Judge, and
a bench of Magistrates, at the Guildhall, \Test-

minster.)
Edward Clarke, aged 28, a tailor, was indicted,
charged with having unlawfully and maliciously as-
saulted Maria Susannah, his wife.
It appeared that the prosecutrix was the wife of the
defendant, and that they had resided at No. 30,
Stephen-street, Rathbone•place, and that on the
night of the 21st ult. she had returned home at about
half-past eleven o'clock, having been to the theatre
with her brother. Upon her arrival at home she said
she should like to have some porter, whereupon her
husband remarked, " that she had had enough already,
and should have no more." The prosecutrix said
" she had not had anything to drink," and, on her
making this statement, her husband struck her a vio-
lent blow on the chest, which knocked her down. She
got up, and her husband was about to strike her again,
when she seized hold of a washhand basin as a means
of self-defence. The basin, however, fell from her
hand, as from the effects of the blow and fall she had
not sufficient strength to hold it. The defendant had
taken off his boots, and one of them he now picked up
and struck his wife on the head with the heel of
it. On the heel chanced to be an iron tip. On re-
ceiving this blow she fell to the floor insensible, and
bleeding profusely from a wound produced by the
heel of the boot. She could not tell anything that
took place afterwards until she found herself in bed ;
and Elizabeth West, a found woman who had been
staying at her lodgings with her, produced a hand-
kerchief used in stanching the blood—it was com-
pletely saturated. On the Saturday night the defen-
dant came home about half-past twelve o'clock, and
found her iu bed. lie said, " Oh, you are in bed,
are you, d— you ;" and declared he would have
some beer. She told him it was too late to get
beer, but he said it was not, and the people in the
house selling beer, the young woman West went down
to see if she could get some for him. When she was
gone down the wife got out of bed, took her husband
by the arm, and wishing things to be agreeable,
asked him not to be ridiculous, and to get into bed.
He pushed her from him with great violence, and
said he was not going to bed with her that night,
and directly afterwards he took up a hammer
which was used for breaking coals, and struck her with
it at the back of her right ear. He was about to re-
peat the blow when she held up her hand, and the
hammer caught one of her fingers and cut it severely.
She then fell down insensible. When she recovered
she found herself bruised in various parts of her per-
son as if from kicks, and she was taken to University
Hospital.—(The hammer was produced.)
Elizabeth West, the young woman referred to by
the prosecutrix, gave corroborative evidence. She
stated that while the prosecutrix was lying insensible
on the ground on Friday night the defendant kicked
her violently in various parts of her person. After
the prosecutrix recovered she threw a candlestick at
him, and when witness saw him strike her with

heel of his boot she was so frightened that she ran out
of the room. After wards she got the prosecutrix into
bed and bathed her head, which was cut open on the
top. On the Saturday night after he had struck her
with the hammer witness saw him kick her in the
lower part of the abdomen. She called out for as-
sistance, for she saw the prosecutrix was insensible.
She did not see him use the hammer, but she found
it afterwards under the table. She could not say
whether there were any marks of blood on it.
The defendant asked the witness if she had not said
to his wife that it was her (the wife's) fault, as she
bad aggravated him when he was in a good temper.
Witness denied having ever done so.

A person named Hockley, residing in the same
house, said he overheard the disturbance in the dc-
fendant's room on the Friday and Saturday nights.
On the latter occasion he remonstrated with the de-
fendant, and called him a few vile names for beating
his wife, when he said he would have a glass of beer
with witness, and tell him all about it. He asked
witness if he should like his wife to keep had hours
and do bad things. Witness at that time saw the
hammer in the defendant's coat pocket. He thought
it was a poker, and called out to that effect.
Madierow, 126 E, said he was called about two
o'clock on the morning of Sunday, the 231 of Novem-
ber, to No. 30, Stephen-street. He went up to the
defendant's room and saw the prosecutrix lying on
the floor insensible—her head in a pool of blood.
There was a wooed as long as his finger on the top of
her head, and another wound at the back of her ear.
He discovered the latter at the hospital. He found
the handkerchief produced. There were several per-
sons in the room. He asked if any of them would
charge the defendant. No answer was given, and
thinking it likely from what he had seen that the
woman would die, he took him on his own respon-
sibility.
The defendant, in answer to the case, complained
that his wife had kept late hours. On the Friday
night she did not get home until half-past twelve,
and when he asked her where she had been, she said
she had been to the theatre to see the " Bloomers."
He asked her what theatre, and she told him to
mind his own business. He charged her with
having been to a Mrs. Robertson's, when she told
him to trouble his head with his own concerns, and
to go and leave the place, as she bad not taken the
room in his name, and the sooner he was gone the
better. She excited him by saying that, and he struck
her, upon which she took up a knife, and threw a
candlestick at him. He threw his boot at her, but,
whether that cut her head, or whether it was cut

through her falling down, he could not tell. On the
Saturday night she struck him because he refused to
sleep with her. He toll the young woman West to
sleep with her, and that he should sleep in her bed.
She was very violent and threw things about, and the
bruises she got were from falls, not kicks.
This was denied by the prosecutrix and the witness
West.

The policeman said the prosecutrix was taken to
the hospital on a stretcher, and, when there, she had
above 20 fits. Her ribs were severely bruised ; there
was a running wound in her leg as if a piece bad been
kicked out ; and she appeared to have been sub-
jected to a long course of brutal treatment.
The surgeon at the hospital said he bad never seen
a woman in so emaciated a condition from ill-usage.
'est said she had lived with the prosecutrix by
way of protection, as she was afraid her husband
would murder her.

The DEPUTY .JUDGE having summed up,
The jury at once returned a verdict of Guilty.
The brother of the prosecutrix now stood forward
and stated she had gone with him to the theatre on
Friday night, he having met her in the street as she
was leaving work. The defendant had used her most
brutally for three years, and her family, who lived in
the country, were afraid, when they heard of a man
having murdered his wife in Marylebone, that prose-
cutrix was the victim, knowing, as they did, that they
lived in that part of the town, and that Clarke was
continually ill-treating her. Onlya fortnight before
this her father had to interfere for her protection, and
she was never free from black eyes. They had only
lived in Stephen•street a fortnight, and the last place
they lived in they had notice to leave and their rent
was given them.
The young woman West said the prosecutrix al-
ways was afraid the defendant would murder her.
She had never been free from black eyes caused by
the defendant's violence since she had known her.
The DEPUTY. JUDGE sentenced the defendant to
imprisonment with hard labour for twelve months.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.

William James Millson, who has from time to time
appeared under the aliases of Chadwick, Williams,
Baillie, and Dr. Barris, and described himself as
seneschal of Lincoln, the rejected candidate for the
borough of St. Alban's, as well as a preacher and
member of the Society of Friends, was brought up for
further examination on ♦arious charges of obtaining
money under false pretences, and other wise defraud-
ing a great number of tradesman.
Mr. Vann attended, as on the former occasion, for
the prosecution, and Mr. Bury Hutchinson for the
prisoner.

The prisoner was committed for trial on the first
charge preferred against him, and on which he was
apprehended. The same bail was consented to.
WORSHIP-STREET.

Henry Le Noir and James Smith, two determined-
looking fellows, were charged with having been con-
cerned in several ingenious robberies.
The prisoners declined offering any answer' and
they were committed until that day week for the
completion of the evidence.
LAMBETH.

Mary Cole, a girl of eighteen years of age, was
placed at the bar for final examination on a charge of
wilfully setting fire to the house of her mistress.
The prisoner, who seemed to treat the charge with
apparent indifference, was fully committed for trial.