The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-26 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

SOUTH LANCASHIRE.—LIVERPOOL, Aug. 25.
(Before Mr. Justice Willes.)

THE BOLTON POISONING CSSE.-SENTENCE ON THE

PRISONER.

Mr. Justice Willes took his seat upon the bench at
9.30 a.m.

Betsy llf'Mullen, who, on Saturday last, was con-
victed of the manslaughter of her husband at Bolton by
the administering to him of antimormy, was placel at
the bar to receive the sentence of the court. She dil
not evince any emotion.
His lordship, in addressing the prisoner, said that her
conduct in administering any drug to her husband with-
out his knowledge or consent was utterly inconsistent
with her duty as a wife. In consequence of the prac-
tice which appeared to prevail in Bolton, he felt it neces-
sary to make an example in this case, and the sentence
of the court was, therefore, that she be transported for
the term of her natural lite.
The prisoner was then removed.
_ _

The criminal business of the assizes having terminated
on Saturday, both judges were engaged to-day in trying
civil causes.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-Aug. 25.

MANSION-HOUSE.—George Morley, a young man,
messenger to Mr. A. H. Moses, clothier, of No. 87,
Tower-bill, was charged with having stolen a gold watch
and chain from the desk of his employer.
It appeared that the prosecutor had placed the watch
and chain in a desk in his counting-house to which the
prisoner had access. Oa Friday last he missed them,
and was about to make inquiry concerning them, when
a policeman called upo❑ him and told hini that the pri-
soner had offered them in pledge at a pawnbroker's, a❑d
not being able satisfactorily to account for the posses-
sion had been taken into custody.
A pawnbroker's assistant, whose evidence was re-
quired to complete the case, was not in attendance ; the
prosecutor, therefore, asked that the matter might be
summarily disposed of.
Alderman Wire—l cannot do that. Servants who rob
their masters whilst in their confidential employment de-
serve to be puni-hed more severely than the law allows
us to deal with them here.
The prifoner was remanded.

GUILDHALL. —On Saturday Catherine Harris, Ann
Wells, and Margaret Mahony, were placed at the bar on
remand before Sir Peter Laurie, charged with pas, ing•
counterfeit coin. The case was heard in the eaey part of
the week, and remanded for the attendance of Mr. Powell,
the so:icitor to the Mint.

The prisoner Harris went into the shop of Mr. Pullen,
a dairyman, of 106, London-wall, and bought two egg=,
for which she gave a bal shilling, and received 10J.
change. The other two prisoners waited for her under an
archway nearly opposite, and as soon as she made her ap-
pearance one of them said to the other, " 011, here she
cc mes, it'sall right; she's parsed it." They all three j pined
company, and went to a ginshop, where they spent the
191 change in less than five minutes. It happened that a
carman was taking shelter from the rain under the arch-
way with IVells and Mahony, and overheard the remailss
made. He communicated with his mistress, and by her
desire followed them. Ho met them coming out of a
public-house at the corner of Fore-street, and gave them
into custody. On searching them the officer found no
one), but the eggs that Harris had bought were found
upon Wells.
Mahony was recognised at this tour;, as having been
previously in custody twice fur passing base coin.
Sir P. Laurie asked if they were in a position to go on
with the case, and if the solicitor to the Mint were pr -
sent ?

Uriah True, 79, said he had communicated with him,
a,:d laid the evidence before him, and he was of opinion
that the evidence was not sufficiently clear to insure a
conviction.

The prisoners were then discharged.

BOW-STREET.--A private in the Collstrearn
Guards, named Jaws Opp?' it, apparently about 50 years
of age and having upon Lis breast a Crimean medal and
four easps, besides three goo I-conduct stripes upon the
sleeve of his uniform, was brought before Mr. HAll,
charged with having attempted to commit suicide o❑
Sunday morning, by jumping from a steam-boat into the
river Thames.

It appeared from the evidence that while Inspector
Thomas, of theThnmes police, was on duty at the station
galley near the Adelphi pier, et about half-past nine in
the morning, he saw the defendant go on board the half-
penny steam-boat Endeavour, run across the deck, throw
off his leather belt, and jump into the river. The in-
spect ,r immediately called his men to the oars, and pro-
cee-fed to the spot, where they caught defendant's body
with the boat-hook and suce..2eded in getting him into
the boat. The defendant remained breathless for seine
little time, and then called to the crew to let him drown,
exclaiming earnestly " O'a ! let me drown, pray let me
drown I did not know you were so near me." He then
made several attempts to throw hirnelf in again, strug-
gling very bard with the men, until the inspector threat-
ened to handcuff him if he did not remain quiet. On
being asked what motive he could have for destroying his
life., he replied, "My wife, my dear wife, whom I loved
so truly, has left me." He was then taken to B mw-street.
The colour.serjaant of the regiment informed the ma-
gistrate that de!endant, who had been on duty through-
out the late campaign, was a most efficient soldier, and
bt re an excellent character. He had sent home a great
deal of money to hie wife during his absence in the
Crimea—more, perhaps, than any other man in the bat-
talion; and when on reaching home again, he handed
her every penny of his savings, she suddenly absconded
from him, having, it was believed, formed an adulterous
connexion with another man during her husband's ab-
sence.

The defendant, who seemed painfully affected, said he
Wa3 fully sensible of the wrong he had committed, in a
moment of bitter aw;uish, and acisured his worship that
if he would overlook the cffence this time it should
never be repeated. Hu had lived happily with hie wife
for 14 years, and her sudden desertion, without any con-
ceivable cause, was so great a•shock to him that it as
almost more than he could bear.
Mr. Hall—Are there any children ?

Defendant—None now living, your worship.
Mr. Hall—That is a fortunate thing for you. You ap-
pear to be a most re.ipectable man as well as a brave sol-
dier, and you may depend upon it that she is wholly un-
worthy of you. You, as a soldier, ought pot to waste a
single tear upon a woman who has proved herself so
ungrateful—so utterly worthless.
Inspector Thomas said that the wife's mother and
sister were in mutt, but they knew nothing of her.
The mother, a decent-looking woman, here came up to
the witness box, weeping bitterly. She said the defendant
had been a very good husband to her daughter, and she
was wholly at a loss to account for her unfeeling conduct
towards him. She had never known them to quarrel.
They lived together, on the contrary, mostaffectionately.
Mr. Hall inquired if there was any one to look to him
until his mind became calmer and more settled.

Defendant—Take my word, your worship, I will not
attempt it again. I had better go to the barracks-- that
will be the place for me. I had leave, 103 a married
man, to live out of barracks, but now I must go back.
Let me go with the serjeant.
Eventually the defendant was given up to the ser-
jeant, who undertook to look alter him for the present.

JOINT STOCK COWPANIES IN CHAN-

CERY.

MIDLAND -UNION AND LURTON•ON-TEENT RAILWAY.
affairs of this company one of the railway schemes
of 1847) have just been brought to a close, compromises
having been entered into with the promoters for the
payment of a fixed sum in discharge of outstanding lia-
bilities. _ _

LOND )N AND MERCANTILE LIFE ASSURANCE COM-
rANY.—Mr. Harding, the official manager, appointed by
the Court of Chancery to inquire into the affairs of this
company, reports to the court that the amount of capi-
tal, for which the deed was subscribed for and shares al-
lotted, was 60,6701., but that the total amount paid up
was only 2,8311., being ss. per share on 11,325 shares,
leaving therefore a balance of 4,7521. due in respect of
deposits upon 19,010 shares, and 53,086/, as the amount
of capital till uncalled for.