The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-13 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

NORTHERN ClRCUlT.lii;erpool,—.lsec. 12.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron PARKE.)
John Hampson, who was tried yesterday for the
murder of his wife and convicted of manslaughter,
was called up for sentence.
His LORDSHIP said the jury had taken a favourable
view of the case in acquitting him of the charge of
murder, in which he entirely concurred, but that they
had formed, on the other band, a very unfavourable
view of the case in finding that, owing to his ill-
treatment, his unfortunate wife had met with her
death ; in which view of the case the Learned Judge
said he also quite agreed with the jury. He felt
bound to pass upon the prisoner the severest sentence
of the law for the crime of which he had been con-
victed, which was, that he be transported beyond the
seas for the term of his natural life.
Patrick Goulden, 28, was indicted for the wilful
murder at Manchester of John Owen.
Mr. Wheeler prosecuted, and Mr. Monk defended
the prisoner.
The circumstances of this case occurred on the
night of the 10th
iof October last, upon which occa-
sion a general illumination took place in celebra-
tion of her Majesty's visit to Manchester. The de-
ceased, who was about 50 years of age, resided in
Cable-street, a street running out of Oldham-road.
The prisoner, who lived in the same street, next door to
Mahon's public-house, had married the daughter of the
deceased's wife by a former husband. Upon the night
in questioa between twelve and one o'clock, the pri-
soner's wife and the deceased were standing close to
the beerhouse, engaged in angry conversation. While
this was going on the prisoner came up. There was
a good light over Mahon's beerhouse, and the illumi-
nations, which were general in Oldham-street, made
it easy to see what passed. The prisoner asked,
" What is this row about ? " upon which the deceased
answered, " Your Missis says you are able to fight
me, and I'll fight you in the morning." The priso-
ner said, " I can fight you at any minute,",and imme-
diately struck the deceased. The deceased, who had
not aimed any blow himself, put his hand up to his
eye, and staggered back against the railings. A wit-
ness named Murphy ran up to him and laid hold of
him, placing him in a sitting position on the ground.
He, however, fell, and was then placed upon his back,
and very shortly afterwards was carried to the infir-
mary, bleeding from the right eye. The deceased ap-
peared to be a little in liquor, but the prisoner was
sober and walked steadily. After giving the blow the
prisoner and his wife went into their own house and
closed the door.

Ellen Smith, who lived opposits Mahon's, and was
a witness of the quarrel between the prisoner's wife
and the deceased on the night in question, heard the
prisoner's wife say to the deceased that he had a
sister who was a prostitute, and an aunt who had
been transported. He denied this, and was walking
off, when she asked him to stay, as she was only
keeping him in suspense till her husband came. This
witness then saw the prisoner, who was standing ap-
parently listening about six or eight yards off, draw
something glittering from his right hand coat pocket,
and step forward towards his own door and address
the deceased as above stated. She then saw the pri-
soner draw his right hand up and stab the deceased on
his right eye.
The police 'constable who was called in to see the
deceased spoke to going to the prisoner's house and
inside
refusing compelled to force his way in, the parties
refusing to open it. He found two knives on a
stool, the blade of one being about four inches long,
and the haft of about the same length. On charging
the prisoner with stabbing the deceased, he sai▪ d he
had not done it with anything sharp, but wi▪
th a
wooden chip he had picked up at Isiew-cross. Upon
this, witness going back to Cable-street from the
infirmary, whither he had gone to see the deceased,
he searched about for the chip, but could not find one.
41r. Skinner, house-surgeon to the Manchester In-
firmary, saw the deceased about 1 o'clock on Satur-
day morning, when he was brought there. The eye
was much swollen and bleeding, and at that time he
was unable to make an examination, nor was he able