The Sun.
London, England, 1834-03-31 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTftLIGENCE.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—Yorta, MARCH 28.
(Before Mr. Justice ALDERSON.)
Abraham Bamford, aged 21, was indicted for
having feloniously assaulted John Cawthorn, on the
King's highway, on the 26th of January last, and
stealing from his person 161. 13s. 6d., and other
articles.—Verdict Guilty.
There were two other indictments against the
prisoner, on one of which he was tried and found
Guilty.
During the trial the prisoner put in a confession,
acknowledging that during the last 12 months he
had committed many robberies.
His LORDSHIP deferred passing sentence, but told
the prisoner to prepare for the worst.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.—MONMOUTH.
(Before Mr. Justice PARK.)
Louisa Leitig, a " buy-a-broom" girl, attired as
that class of persons usually are, was charged with
stealing a watch, the property of Aythan Smith.
It appeared from the evidence of the daughter of
the prosecutor, a very intelligent child of about 12
years old, that on the 18th of March the prisoner
came to the house of the prosecutor, who, as well as
his wife, was from home, and that the prisoner,
having come in and warmed herself, said that if
the child would give her some bread she would
give her a broom. The bread was fetched, and on
the return of the child the prisoner was gone and
the watch missing off the mantelshelf. Mrs. Smith,
the wife of the prosecutor, pursued the prisoner to
Abergavenny, where, on the prisoner being searched,
the watch was found in the crown of the " buy-a-
broom" cap which she wore.
The prisoner, when called on for her defence,
cried bitterly, and kept on uttering something in the
German language.
Mr. Jan Muller said—l reside in Pontypool.
The prisoner was in my employ to sell brooms. She
always behaved honestly. She is a poor friendless
girl, a native of Hesse. She came over to this
country with a person that she expected would marry
her, but he has left her.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty, but recom-
mended her to mercy on account of her being a
foreigner, and far away from her own friends.
Mrs. Smith—My Lord, I hope you will be mer-
ciful to this poor girl. I hope you will, as I don't
know what misfortunes may happen to my own
children.
Mr. Justice PARK—I will take the case into
consideration.
At a subsequent period of the assize the prisoner
was sentenced to be imprisoned for three months.
George Harding, a very respectable-looking man,
aged 60, was charged with stealing two ash poles,
of the value of 25., the property of the Duke of
Beaufort.
The prisoner made no defence, and received a
good character from several witnesses, one of whom
stated that the sort of wood called cullens is picked
up by the p-oor, but that this is not the sort of wood
of which hoops are made. Verdict—Guilty.
Mr. GORDON was instructed, on the part of the
Duke of Beaufort, to recommend the prisoner to
mercy, as the only object of this prosecution was to
cause it to be understood that the cottagers must
not help themselves to the ash poles, though his
Grace had no objection to their having the smal
wood.

His LORDSHIP sentenced the prisoner to one
month's imprisonment.

NORFOLK CIRCUIT.—Noamcn, Alma 29.
(Before Mr. Baron V►UGHAN.)
William Pye and James Watts were' indicted for
feloniously setting fire to a stable or outhouse in the
occupation of Henry Mayes, of Coltishill, in this
county, on the night of the 16th of November.
Mr. Baron VAUGHAN having summed up the case,
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty against
William Pye, but felt some doubt as to the case of
James Watts, and therefore acquitted him.
The Learned JUDGE deferred passing any sen-
tence for the present on the convicted prisoner.
William Thirkettle was put to the bar, capitally
charged with having violently assaulted Maria
Thirkettle, his wife, with intent to murder her, or
do her some grievous bodily harm.
The prosecutrix gave a detailed account, in the
coolest manner possible, of the assault committed
upon her. On the night of the 7th of October she
was in bed awake, with a baby along with her,
whom she was suckling, that being the fourth child
which she had had by her husband. He was in the
bed room, but did not come to bed ; he complained
of a pain in his stomach, and was restless and uneasy.
He came and sat down by the bed side, and said to
his wife, " Your hand feels cold, and your head
hot." Soon after this she fell asleep, but was
awakened by receiving a violent blow across the
forehead ; she saw her husband, and said to him,
" What have you been doing to-night ?" She be-
came insensible, and on coming to herself was
covered with blood, and her husband gone, but he
returned again bringing with him a person who was
a gentleman's gamekeeper, whom he had told that a
gang of poachers had broken into the house and
assaulted his wife. The gamekeeper described the
state in which the woman was when he came to the
house. He went for a surgeon at her husband's re-
quest. (The surgeon described the wounds which
the woman had received upon the forehead, and said
he at one time considered her life to be in danger.
The brain was somewhat affected.) Upon cross-
examination, it came out that the motive for this act
was jealousy, the woman haaving accused her husband
of forming an intimacy with another female.
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty of assault-
ing with intent to murder, and the Learned Judge
immediately passed upon him the sentence of the law,
assuring him that he had not the slightest chance of
mercy on this side the grave.
Sarah Wiseman was indicted for setting fire to a
stack of barley, the property of William Ecclestone,
of Billockby, farmer, on the night of the 17th Feb.
The Jury returned a general verdict of Not
Guilty, and she was discharged.

HOME CIRCUIT.-KINGSTON, MARCH 29.
DICAS V. HARMER AND BELL.
This was an action of libel brought by Mr. Dicas,
against the proprietors of the Dispatch, for the pub-
lication, on the 16th of February, of two alleged
libels, on the plaintiff. The first libel was a report
of the trial, " Dicas v. Onwhyn," in which Mr.
Dicas got one farthing damages against the defen-
dant. The second libel consisted in an editorial
comment on the trial, inserted in the column appro-
priated to " Notices to Correspondents."
Mr. PLATT said, the action was brought to reco-
ver damages for a gross and scandalous libel, which
the defendant had caused to be published in the
Dispatch newspaper. Mr. Dicas had occasion some
time ago, in vindication of his character, which had
been repeatedly calumniated in a newspaper called
the Satirist, to bring an action, with a view to re-
press the slanderous course pursued by the editors
of that paper. The jury gave damages to the
amount of 3001., which was satisfactory so far to
Mr. Dicas, that it vindicated his character ; but as
to the money, there was no chance of getting that,
for when it was sought to enforce the judgment, it
was found that the nominal proprietors of the Sa-
tirist were mere beggars. Mr. Dicas also found that
he was constantly afterwards being libelled by them.l
It was of no use, therefore, for Mr. Dicas to bring
Ifurther actions against them, and he thought the
best means to adopt would be the taking measures
for stoppinc, the vending of the Satirist, and with
this view hev caused written notices to be served, by
advice of counsel, on
.all the newsmen, cautioning
them against selling any copies of that paper which
might contain anything libellous upon him. Not-
withstanding this caution, a newsvender of the name
of Onwhyn continued to sell the paper, and to ex-
hibit a large placard of its contents outside his door,
and it was under pretence and colour of giving a
report of the trial brought by Mr. Dicas against
this person that the defendants had inserted in their I
newspaper what constituted the first part of the
gross libel of which he had that day to complain.
The learned counsel proceeded to read the alleged

ibels, on which he freely commented as he pro-
ceeded. The report of the trial;up to the Soli-
citor-General's speech in reply, was read by him
with scarcely any observation. The reply com-
mences by an observaiion of the Solicitor-General
that, when he heard the strenuous exertions of the
Sergeant (Bompas), he almost blushed for him.
Lord LYNDHURST-Why that, if anything, is a
libel on brother Bompas.
Mr. PLATT said it was impossible the Solicitor-
General could have used the language imputed to him.
The Jury found for the plaintiff—Damages .501.
While the Jury were deliberating, Lord LYND-
HURST observed that he had proposed from the first
that the record should be withdrawn, on payment
of the costs of the day, but the clerk of the attor-
neys for the defendants declined taking upon himself
that responsibility.
His LORDSHIP also, while the Jury were con-
sulting, said, looking at Mr. Thessiger, " Did the
Attorney-General really say all this ?"
The answer was given in a whisper which reached
no ears but those of his Lordship.
Mr. PLATT asked of his Lordship whether he
thought it a proper case for a special jury ?
Lord LYNDHURST said certainly it was.