The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-07 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT.—(This Day.)

, OLD COITAT.
(Bafore Mr. Justice Wightrnan.)

THE MURDER OF A CHILD BY ITS MOTHER AT ISLING-
TON.—At the sitting of the Court, Celestina Somners, 24,
married, was indicted for the wilful murder of Celestina
Christmas, by cutting her throat.
Mr.. Bodkin appeared for the prosecution ; and Mr.
Ballantinc and Mr. Itibton defended.

The prisoner does not appear near the age stated in
the calendar, looking nem like a girl of 15. She is a
very sickly-looking, fair woman, as her hair is somewhat
to-red.'and.there is n.-thing at, all !Wiser appease
Rees 4o indicate that &menet of. ferocity which it might .•
be presumed a person committing so dreadful a deed
would possess. She was dressed •in rather well-wora
black, and seemed to pay very little attention to what
was going on, but kept aeking the attendant who was
with het in the dock for the smelling bottle.
Mr. Ballantme said that, although the case had been .
fixed for tins morning, he now made application to the
court to allow the trial to be postponed until next ses-
sion, and the ground upon which he made the appli-
cation was, that a fall and ample opportunity might be
afforded to inquire into-the conduct of the prisoner, who.
had exhibited Some peculiarity and eccentricity at
several periods of her life, and he thought it -
would be more satisfactory if her application
was acceded to. This case was one of a niobt
fearful kind, and the consequences that might re-
atilt to the unhappy prisoner were equally fearful. The
circumstances under which the crime was committed
were most extraordinary, and be believed it would be
more satisfactory fir the imposes of justice if the trial
were postponed to the next session.
Mr. Bodkin, on the part of the prosecution, offered no
opposition to the application, and the trial was cons&
'quently postponed to the April session.
THE OUTRAGE AT THE SUREET THEATRE.—Frederick
Quennell, 38, was indicted for feloniously cutting and
'wounding William Hurconsb, with intent to do him some
grievous bodily harm.
The facts of this case have been recently before the
public. The prisoner, who was related to the unfortu-
nate man who was executed a few years ago at the .
Horseinenger-lane Gaol for minder, was employed at
the Surrey Theatre hi some subordinate capacity, and
the prosecutor was employed at the same establishment
in a similar manner. According to the evidence of the
prosecutor, the prisoner had repeatedly threatened him
that he would do him some injury, and also said that he
should not mind being hung, as his cousin was, for 1
him. On the 23d of February, it appeared that
the prisoner was more violent than usual, and he
told the prosecutor that he would have his life before
night, and while they were both in the dressing-
room the prisoner took up an iron bar and struck the
prosecutor two tremendous blows on the back of his el
head, at the same time exclaiming, "Blood for blood, 1
lite for life I" The prosecutor declared that. he was not
aware of having given the prisoner any provocation ; '
but he admitted that on the same day the transaction
took place he hid struck the prisoner. The injury re-
ceived by the prosecutor appeared to be of a very severe
character, and for a short time dangerous results were ,*
anicipated, -

Tbe prisoner, in his defence, said that the prosecutor,
was continually annoying and insulting him, and that he
had struck him on several occasions. He declared, how-
ever, that he bore him no animosity, and if he struck
him at all on that night he must have been drunk.
The jury found the prisoner guilty, but recommended
him to mercy on account of the provocation they be-
lieved he had received.

The prisoner was sentenced to be imprisoned and kept
V; bard labour for ten Months, the last week to be passed
in solitary oonfinettamt.

NEW COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Erle.)
, James Syclenham, 40, wheelwright, was indicted for
the marmlaughter: of Jame. Cornwall.

Mr. Payne prosecuted, and Mr, Balla:gine
defended.

It appeared that the deceased, a boy about eleven
years of age, went, during last Janaary, with some
friends to the pit of the Surrey Theatre, which wtts most
inconveniently crowded. The prisoner was there and ,
was very abusive ; the child was standing up in front of
him. This annoyed the prisoner,' ho put his hand
across and gave the poor little fellow a most violent
pinch upon a most tender and delicate part of his body.
The child complained at the 'time of great pain, and
from that time gradually declined in health until the
middle of February, when he died. Previously to this ‘i
prisoner was taken before the magistrate for the at.sault,
and fined. After the death of the child au inquest was,
held upon his body, and upon the result of those pro.
ceedings was the committal of the prisoner upon this
charge.
Toe medical evidence not clearly establishing diath to
have been the immediate result of the injuries inflicted-
by the prisoner, he was acquitted.

THIRD COURT.
(B3lore the'Recorder.)

John King Gurney, 32, coA, was indicted for uttering ;
forged bins, with ►ntent to defraud Henry Michell:;
Hancock.

Mr. Payne and Mr. Codd prosecuted ; and Mr. Ba 1• '
lantine and Mr. D. Binghain Daly defended.
The prisoner had been a cook and confectioner at
Uxbridge, and getting into difficulties had forged the
names of several tradespeople of that town, and got the
bills discounted at the Uxbridge Batik. The prisong
had borne a very high character in the town, but bad
fallen into the hands of same bill brokers, whose usurious
rates of interest had caused his ruin.

Ile was fouad guilty, and the sentence was postponed.,

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

Meeting This Day.

ENCLOSURE OF HAMPSTEAD HEATH.
A special meeting of this body was held this morning
at the Council Charnbter, Guildhall, Mr. J. Towaitcs in •
the chair, to receive deputations from the vestries •of
Ilampitead, Mar.ylehone, and St. Pancras, " On the sub-
ject of the adoption of measures for ecuring Hampstead.,
Heath for the recreation of the public," in consequengs
of the bill now before Parliament, to give Sir T. Wilson,
Bart., power to enclose and build on this Heath.
The following gentlemen formed the deputation from •
Hampstead—Mr. Le Breton, Mr. Gurney Hoare, Mr.
Cockerel], Mr. Beckett, Mr. Freshfield, and Mr. Toiler,
vestry clerk ; from alatylebene, Mr. Freeth, Dr..
Gornley, Mr; Griffiths Houghton, Mr. Lewis, Mr.
Williams, Mr. Wingfield, Mr. Greenwell, vestry clerk,
and Sease,Mr. surveyor ; from St. Pancras, Messrs.
Farren and mith, churchwardens ; Major-General
Pemberton, Mr Jarvey, Mr. Brettinghani, Mr. Clarke;
Mr. Orr, Mr. Charles, Mr. Heighley, Mr. Wedgwood,
and Mr. G. W. F. Cook, vestry clerk.
The memorial from Hampstead urged upon the board
the necessity of their speedily interfering in this
matter, and adopting measures for the purchase of the
around in question. The cost of the 310 acres was esti-
mated at 100,0001., and the memorial suggested that the
approaches to the heath should be improved. It also.
enforced the necessity of an application to Parliament
by this board, in accordance with the clause in the Me-
tropolitan Board of W,rhs Act. Applications had beer.
made to Governmet.t on this question ; and on the last
occasion the deputation was told to wait and lay their •
case before this board, which was then in contemplation
of being formed.
The deputation from St. Pancras concurred in the •
recommendations mentioned in the Hampstead memo-
rial, and added that the expense should be defrayed by
a general rate on the inhabitants of the metropolis.
The deputation front Marylebone also concurred in
the prayer of the Hampstead memorial, and approved
of the suggestion of the deputation of Marylebone with:
regard to providing the money necessary to secure
Hampstead Heath for the public.
The deputation then retired.
The CHAialtAfe announced the resignation of Mr.
Hunt, one of the representatives of St. George's, nano•
vet, square.
The Board then proceeded to the discharge of the
other business connected with the meeting, which was'
principally of ayontine_character, and presented no, fee..,
Lure of general intere,t.
The meeting then separated. .

A letter lately received from Fiorence by Rossini an-
nounces the death of Doehler, the pianist, of censure!)-
, time. The deceased, who was 0n1y.40 years of age, wag
married to a Russian lady.
WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS TO PRODUCE THE BODY or
A CHILD SUPPOSED TO BE DETAINED IN A NUNNERY.--
On Tuesday last Mr. Cook Evans, instructed by Mr.
Clarke, of Bedford-row, applied to Mr. JusticeCrompton,
i at chambers, for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of
Mary King, the mother of Mary Ann King, who it was
. supposed was detained in the Norwood Nunnery. The
affidavit of the mother (who is a Roman Catholic) stated
that when her husband died in 1850 she consented to,
place her child, then ten years of age, in the nunnery at
Norwood for two years ; that she had been in the habit
, of seeing her child from time to time, but when the two
years had expired there was an intimation of her being
sent abroad, to which the mother strongly objected, and
the child also said she had no wish to go away from ber
mother. A request was then made to allow the child to
remain six monthslonger, to which the mother consented.
The child after that saw her mother always in the pre
sence of a nun ; and at length, when the mother began
to express her determination to take her child home,
she was only allowed to see her child throUgh a lattice
work or grating. And at length the mother was refused
permission to see her daughter at all. The latter end of
last year the mother met one of the priests, and sits;
asked him concerning ber daughter, and the priest in-
formed her that her daughter had been sent to France
some months since. The mother, in great distress of
mind, applied to a magistrate„ but he said he could not
assist her. The mother was then recommended to apply
to her attorney, Mr. Clarke, who went with her to the
convent and detnandel her da_ughter. The nuns replied
that she Ras not there, but had been sent to France 12
months previously, and in reply to questions the loos
said they neither knew where she was, how she went,
who took her, or to whose care she was confided, nor
did they keep any register of the particulars of sendiog
away girls from the nunnery. Mr. C. Evans urea 414
if this habeas corpus was nbt effectual the law of this
c euntry was a complete blank to the mother, sad to
any parent under similar circumstances. His lordship
'granted the writ, which ho made returnable at 114
ic" *.00.115 oil Atouday mat ' ,