The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-07 00:00:00

of very great importance in connexion with the
proposed new market in Smithfield, anti they re-
commended that the court should continue their
powers to carryout the proposed plan,
Mr. Deptit, BOWER moved the adoption of the
report, which was then agreed to.
Mr. Deputy HARRISON' brought forward a re-
commendation of the Coal, Corn, and Finance Com-
mittee that the salary of Mr. Russell, the clerk
' and collector of the coal duties, should be raised
from £650 to £6BO perannum, and that b' Ahould
be required to lerease the salary of his clerk' from
£BO to £l5O per annum.
This questien was before the court on a former
occasion, when it was negatived, and it now gave
rise to very considerable discussion. The grounds
for the increase of salary were the large increase
that had taken place in the duties of the office, owing
to the conveyance of coals to the metropolis by rail-
way, and the large amount of money passing through
Mr. Russell's hands. An amendment, to the effect
that the first portion of the recommendation for
an increase of salary to Mr. Russell should be
omitted, but that the portion relating to the in-
crease of the salary of the clerk be agreed to, was
carried by a majority of 7, the numbers being,
for the amendment 61, against it 54. Another
amendment was then proposed, that Mr. Russell
should receive a salary of £BOO a-year and
pay his clerk £l5O a-year salary out 'of that sum,
which would increase his actual salary about
£BO a-year and upon a division this amendment
was declared to be carried.

THE CITY FINANCES.
A report of the Coal, Corn, and Finance Com-
mittee upon the state of the City finances was
then read. The report eongratulated the Court
on the condition of the finances generally, and
stated that at the end of the City financial year,
on the 10th of January next, there would, ac-
cording to the information at present afforded to
the committee by the Chamberlain, with regard
to the probable receipts and expenditure, be a
balance in hand of £21,000 after the payment of
all demands upon the corporation, and it was
believed that this balance would be increased
from other items that had not yet been brought
into account, to £26,000; a very gratifying re-
sult, when it was recollected that for a great
many years there had been a deficiency.
The report was then agreed to and ordered to be
printed.
FEES AT THE CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
Mr. Deputy FRY brought up a report from the
Officers' and Clerks' Committee, to whom the sub-
ject of the payment by the public for admission
to the galleries of the Central Criminal Court
had been referred, in which they stated that they
found that the sum received during a period of
six years amounted to £930, and the expenses
to £246. The balance was divided every year
between the Lord Mayor, the Sheriffs, and the
sword bearer ; and Mr. oard, the housekeeper,
also received a per centage. The committee ex-
pressed their opinion that the practice of receiv-
ing money for admission to a court of justice was
most objectionable in every respect, and contrary,
to every principle of justice, and they recom-
mended that it should at once be discontinued.
They also recommended that tickets of admission
to the galleries should be issued by the sheriffs,
to the extent they thought proper, and that any
vacant seat should be occupied by the public. The
report also stated that the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs
readily gave up any claim they had in the matter,
and recommended that if any small expense should
be incurred in carrying out the new system, it
should be defrayed by this court out of the City's
funds.
Mr. Deputy FRY moved the adoption of the
report.
Mr. Alderman ROSE said that when he filled the
office of sheriff he saw a great deal of the working
of the system, and he was ashamed to see the pro-
ceedings of the Central Criminal Court made a
public exhibition for money. There used to be a
sort of sliding scale of payment for admission,
according to the interest created by the trial; and
when Palmer's case was going on, he heard that
very large sums were given for admission to the
galleries of the court.
An amendment was subsequently moved, "That
the report be agreed to, with the exception of that
portion of it empowering the sheriffs to issue tickets
of admission," which was put and negatived, and
the original motion was then agreed to.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—LmcoLN, DEC. 6.

Mr. Baron Bramwell attended Divine service in
the Cathedral this morning, and at 11 o'clock pro-
ceeded to the Castle, where he took his seat, and,
having charged the grand jury, commenced trying
prisoners.
Abraham Hoyles, a labourer, was charged with
having cut, stabbed, and wounded Thomas Gilliatt,
with intent to do Home gripvouo bodily harm.

Mr. Flowers was counsel for the prosecution ; Mr.
Stephen defended the prisoner.
It appeared from the opening statement of the
counsel for the prosecution that the prosecutor, the
prisoner, and others were at the Railway Inn at
Little Steeping about 9 in the evening of Oct. 26,
when a dispute between them resulted in a challenge
by the prisoner and a fight, in which the prisoner
had the worst. He sat down, and was seen feeling
in his pockets as if to find something, and then
again challenged the prosecutor, upon whose
approach with doubled fists he backed into a dark
passage, where, after a struggle, both fell to the
ground. The prosecutor returned into the room,
unconscious of having been stabbed or cut, until
one of the bystanders noticed blood coming from
beneath his coat. He then found that he had been
cut in several places slightly, but in two more
severely ; and through one of the wounds a portion
of one lung protruded_ The prisoner, who came
into the room after the prosecutor, said he had cut
his finger, and was seen with a knife in his hand.
He was then very much knocked about by those in
the room, and while lying on the floor was kicked
by the prosecutor.
Mr. Stephen addressed the jury with a view to
reduce the verdict to one of unlawful wounding.
His Lordship having left to the jury the question
as to whether the prisoner had the intent charged,
The jury, after a short consideration, found a
verdict of unlawful wounding.
He was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment,
with hard labour.

Edward Roberts, charged with feloniously setting
fire to a stack of tole-seeds, the property of Jabez
Bailey, at North Kvme, pleaded guilty.
Mr. Flowers informed the court that he was in-
structed by the friends of the prisoner to defend
him, but that he insisted upon pleading guilty.
The learned counsel, however, thought it right that
the Court should hear the evidence of a surgeon
who had attended the prisoner, and that also of the
prisoner's brother; both witnesses, he was
instructed, had before the commission of the offence
noticed that the prisoner was in a desponding state
of mind, so much so that the surgeon had recom-
mended that he should be sent to an asylum.
His Lordship inquired whether the evidence was
adduced with a view to show thitt the prisoner did
not understand the nature of the offence to which
he was pleading, and was not competent to plead ?
Mr. Flowers answered that hewas not instructed
that the• evidence would go to that extent, but he
thought it right that the Court should hear it.
The learned Judge expressed his willingness to
do so, but desired to go by steps. The plea of
guilty would stand, since the prisoner understood
the nature of the charge to which he was pleading,
and he would now hear the evidence.
George Ritchie, surgeon, being sworn,
deposed
that he had known the prisoner several years, and
had attended him previously to the commission 9f
the offence. He had then complained of pain in
his head and the witness considered him as not of
sound mind, observing that his manner was
melan-
choly and fretful. He therefore advised his friends
to send him to a lunatic asylum.
The prisoner's brother confirmed the surgeon's
evidence.
ie h
The learned Judge, before tornroiueneitfyseeuntkenneiv
sentence,
spoke to the following effect :
when you did the act to h
guilty that you were doing wrong and disobeying
the law. That you are of unsound mind lpl
believe,ea
but that is no reason why you should not be
punished. I address the explanation of the reasons
why I pass upon you the sentence which I am about
to pronounce, not se much to your understand-
ing as to those around who hear me, and to
those whose duty it is to notice them. The law
makes unsoundness of mini no excuse for
except it were such that you did not
time know the nature of what you
aorenthcees,
were doing, and that it was wrong and un-
lawful. No doubt it is very unfortunate that per-
sons of unsound mind should become by that
affliction less under the influence of moral restraints
and of the restraints of law ; but it, would be sad
indeed for the public if, when those restraints are
weakened, the protection of the law were to be
withdrawn by the extension of impunity of offences.
I am not sure it is not more necessary to punish
a mad man than a sane one, so far as the protec-
tion of the public is concerned. I feel bound to
sentence you to the same punishment as if you
were sane. Had you pleaded "Not Guilty," and
been acquitted on the ground of insanity, you
would have been subject to confinement during her
Majesty's
pleasure, which, unless her Majesty's
Ministers thought fit to shorten it, would be for
life. The sentence lam about to pass, of penal
servitude for life, is one which it is also in tke
power of her Majesty's Ministers to remit or shorten