The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-24 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT.—(This Day.)

OLD COURT. -
The first sessions during the present mayoralty com-
menced this morning.
The Recorder, in charging the grand jury, observed
that they would perceive that the calendar contained
about the usual number of offences, but there was
nothing in any of the cases to be submitted to them
involving any question of difficulty. There war, he
regretted to observe, an increase in crimes of a serious
description, which called for the most serious consideration
and such a circumstance was to be exceedingly regretted.
One of the offences that seemed particularly on the in-
crease was that of highway robbery with violence. The
calendar contained a case, of murder the whole facts of
which would be submitted to them in due course. With
respect to any question of law that might arise therein
they would have nothing to do, but their duty would
simply be to hear the whole of the evidence that would
be adduced before them, and upon the facts then elicited
it would be their duty to find a bill accordingly. With
these few observations he should remit the grand jury to
the performance of their duty.
After a short absence several true bills were brought
up to the court and the trials proceeded.
Up to the time of our report leaving nothing of the
slightest interest occurred in either of the courts.
POLICE INTELLI

:GENCE.—(This Day.)

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

RUFFIANLY ASSAULT ON A FEMALE.--.Micltael Fitz-
gibbon, an ill-looking old fellow, was placed at the bar
before Mr. Beadon, charged with violently assaulting an
elderly woman named Jane France, of 3, Park-street.
The prosecutrix, whose head was bandaged up, stated
that she was on her way home on Saturday night, about
half-past 12, and when in Oxford-street the prisoner
stopped her and asked her ;f she knew where he could get
some drink. She told him the public-houses were closed,
and he then invited her to take coffee with him. She ac-
cepted his invitation, and after leaving the coffee-house he
made a very improper proposal to her, which she in.
dignantly rejected. The prisoner then struck her a
dreadful blew between the eyes, knocked her down, and
immediately ran off. A constable pursued him, and
took him into custody.
Police-constable 202 C said, about half-past 12, on
Saturday night, he was in Southmolten-street, when be
saw the complainant and the prisoner standing near the
corner, in conversation together, and ail at once the
prisoner struck the woman on the head and felled her
to the ground. She fell with the back of her head
against the kerb, and broke her comb, several of the
teeth of which entered her head. Witness pursued the
prisoner and took him into custody, and the watnan was
subsequently taken to the hospital, whete her wounds
were dressed.

The prisoner, in defence, said he was very drunk at
the time, and having an idea that;the woman had robbed
him h knocked her down.

Mr. Beadon said that was a most lame defense to
such a charge. The prisoner had been guilty of a violent
and unprovoked assault upon a defenceless woman, for
which he must be severely punished. 110 (Hr. Beadon)
should therefore commit him to the House of Correction
for one month, with hard labour.

HUDDERSFIELD MECHANICS' I.N. ,21'11T. llET:o::neTr::Larno-
nual soiree in connecti?n, with this institution is to be
held on Wednesday and 1111..rsday next, and promises to
be of an unusually interesting character. Lord e-ode-
'al:I:n:1 ditriha-
zich, M.P., the Right Hon. Sir J., S. Pakington M.P.,
present on the
and Rev.
optCAiclooreaanl.j. ;So:
of:- Gonvyt.erhtinbzh.e,Oa'sivii
eiw.,:Pvaidci.ehl,cd3e.NntpTaetriddeCHa.y.S3l'reaTvc. SeelnVi ri
invitations)\'
ncngkdl
tietaohrmetbhee
presidency of
general
l the
will Friday da.y able;
Lord Goderich, and the soiree will be held on the follow-
ot°n and to entertain
honour Major-
to visit Hud-
GinegueeVraenti)%dbiattn is
sy
also
so
publicp orpeocseerciA!
but it is not
qhuialit:tceagilinbittat"thneciligeen
qdr6g6vld at all curing the week, an Intilnation having
been received on Friday whica throws doubts upon the
cPailtiOn,