The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 6, 1860.

been hoaxed. It had been reported, too, that all
or the greater part of the various corps in the
northern and western parts of the metropolis
would take part in the demonstration ; but what-
erer the intentions might have been of those
charged with making the necessary arrangements,
the force that really did appear on the ground
consisted only of four corps—namely, the West
Middlesex and the Hampstead Rifles, mder the
command of Major Compton; the 7th Middlesex
(Islington), under Captains Hebbert and .Dennis ;
and the North Middlesex, commanded by Captain
Ross and Cameron. Lord Ranelagh was not pre-
sent, nor was Lord Radstock ; and a little sham
fight was going on simultaneously between the
Hornsey, the Highgate, and tke Tottenham corps,
which might have been expected to join in the
ceremony, in the grounds of Mr. Bird at Crouch.
end, hard by. At length when the volunteers who
were to contend in the mimic fight marched upon
the ground, great numbers of the people from the
adjacent heights rushed down among them, broke
through their lines, or completely surrounded them.
The whole of the space, in fact, in which the fight
was to take place was occupied by a huge, strag-
gling crowd, who roamed over the uneven ground
among the furze and brushwood, making fun of
the whole matter, and for some time it seemed not
onlythopeless, but fraught with danger, to enter
upon the presc-ribed evolutions under circumstances
so adverse. Eventually, however, so much of order
was deduced from the general chaos as to admit of
the opposing forces arranging themselves for the
fight, and a beginning was made. The plan of the
onset was supposed to be this :—The West Middle-
sex and Hampstead Rifles were the defending force,
and at the outset were engaged in skirmishing in
the valley on the extreme northern side of the
heath with the enemy, -whose skirmishers were to
be driven in. The defenders then appeared in force
in a commanding position on'the brow of a hill
facing the northward, and supported by the road
between the Spaniards and Jack Straw's Castle.
The attacking force, consisting of the 7th Middle-
sex (Islington) and the North Middlesex, marched
on to the ground by a circuitous road leading from
the Spaniards, sheltered by the trees and brush-
wood, and took up their position under a fire from
the skirmishers of the defending force at the bot-
tom of the valley on the northern side, where they
formed into line and were saluted by a volley from
two companies of the West Middlesex on the ridge
of the hill. The attacking force then sent out its
skirmishers, the first company selected for this ser-
vice being the 7th Middlesex; but the fire of the West
Middlesex and Hampstead Rifles was supposed to
compel them to retire, Lind their positions were then
taken up by the Ist company of the North Middle-
sex, which had previously been acting as a covering
force. This company now advanced in skirmishing
order, under cover of the 7th Middlesex. The ob-
ject of the attacking force was to drive the defenders
from their position on the hill, and, as they advanced
with that view, their adversaries observed a move-
ment of the reserve, consisting of two other com-
panies of the North Middlesex, and shifted their
quarters to the north-east side, whence they were
presumed to make a determined defenee, until at
length, being overpowered and short of ammuni-
tion, they beat a retreat by the only loophole left
for escape—namely, the opening into the Hendon-
road, on the north-western side of the heath. To
do the volunteers who took part in the fight justice,
they behaved throughout with good temper, show-
ing no sign of annoyance at the crowds who hung
upon their skirts and hampered all theirmovements.
The people themselves afforded a sight which was
picturesque, numbering as they did in the aggregate
from 50,000 to 60,000, and posted in swarms on
every little bit of rising ground commanding a view
of the mimic contest. At its conclusion they wended
their way back to town in one vast continuous
column along the main street of Hampstead, down
the Hampstead-road and Haverstock-hill, until,
reaching the Mether Red Cap, they branched off in
various directions.
At the same time the 13th Middlesex, or Hornsey
Rifle Volunteers, assembled in the grounds of Mr.
Wm. Bird, of Crouch-hall, near Crouch-end, to re-
ceive a compliment at the hands of the ladies of
Hornsey. The corps consists of from 80 to 100 fine
young men belonging to some of the best families in
the vicinity, and is under the command of Captain
Warner and Lieutenant Bird. Mr. Bird had invited
his neighbours and friends to witness the presenta-
tion of a handsome silver bugle to the corps, and
they attended in considerable force. The Hornsey
corps, commanded by Captain Warner, and the High-
gate and Tottenham Rifles, the former under the
command of Captain Wilkinson, and the latter
under that of Capt. Goss, were drawn up in front of
a marquee so as to form three sides of a square, to
receive the present, the Highgate and Tottenham
corps constituting a guard of honour. Mrs. Bird,
at the head of a brilliant assemblage of ladies, then
advanced into the square, and, addressing Captain
Warner and the members of the corps, said,—" On
theliart of the ladies of Hornsey and its neighbour-
hood, who have witnessed with great pleasure the
formation of your corps, I have the honour to pre-
sent to the 13th Middlesex Rifle Volunteers this
subscription silver bugle, as a souvenir of the in-
terest they take in its welfare and efficiency. Hav-
ing the happiness to live in a brave and free coun-
try, we hope that -its notes may ever be sounded in
peace and harmony, and never be required to sti-
mulate our. Volunteers to resist aggression." A
member of the corps, to whom _Captain Warner
.handed the instrument, stepped otit of the ranks
and sounded a blast upon it, awakening the adja-
cent echoes with its music. Captain Warner then
made a suitable response, and, after the ceremony
had terminated, the corps were put through the
manual and platoon exercises by Captain Wilkin-
son, a gentleman who from the very first has taken
a most active and creditable part in the Volunteer
movement. They afterwards engaged in a sham
fight upon a, small scale, in Which they executed
severest evolutions, particularly the formation of
squares to resist cavalry, in a creditable manner.
On Saturday Ekaernoon the members of the 7th
Surrey Rillcs assembled at the Sessions-house, New-
-tauseway. At 5 o'clock the word of cone-
ingto,e,
:nand to fall in was given, and the corps, headed by
their small but select band, under the direction of
Mr. Buckingham, marched to the
station of the Crystal Condon-bridge
Pa alabe Railway. At the
station they Were met by the 10th Surrey
(Bermondsey) Rifles, under the command of
Captain Shillpe. A special train being provided,
the Vo,' unteers soon arrived at Streatham sta-
ton, whence they Marched to the common, a dis-
tance of taVo miles. On arriving at the common
they Were met by the 4th Surrey Rifles, Captain
Ewan commandant, and a troop of the Surrey
Mounted Rifles. Everything being in readiness,
the Volunteers, to the number of 800, were minutely
inspected by Colonel Lysens, Deputy-Adjutant-
General, and during the course ef the review the
Volunteers formed ititq open column, into close
column of corneeneies, reformed in line, marched
past to 51
(P'er and quick time, prepared to receive
cap Eery, &c. It is needless to say that the Vo-
lunteers went through the various military evolutions
in a very masterly manner. The inspection having
lasted about tee() hoirs, the men were formed into
hollow square and addressed in flattering terms by
Colonel Lysens, and then dismissed. The extreme
fineness of the weather attracted crowds of specta-
tors, the scene being enlivened by the presence of
considerable numbers of ladies and gentlemen
on horseback, who appeared to take a lively interest
in the proceedings.

Mr. G. 11. Daw, of 57, Threadneedle-street, re-
cently presented a rifle, value 35 guineas, to be
contested for by those members of the Victoria
Rifle Corps who had provided themselves with
rifles of his construction. The superintendence
of the arrangements had been intrusted to Captain
Hans Busk, and, after several preliminary trials at
ranges of 200, 300, and 400 yards, in order to
select the five best shots at those distances, tho
final competition took place on Thursday over a
range of 750 yards, which Captain Meek, of the
Sussex Volunteer Rifles, had kindly set out upon
his land, near Balcombe. The five candidates, Mr.
Barnard, Mr. I3raithwaite, Mr. Dickins, Mr. Bade-
ley, and Mr. Leversoia, arrived on the ground
shortly after twelve o'clock, and after a few pre-
liminary trial shots, the match commenced. The

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bull's-eye, two feet in diameter, was marked
upon the centre of a range of eight regulation
targets erected side by side. Each man fired ten
rounds, and the prize was awarded to Mr.
Herbert Barnard, of Portland-place. The shooting
was admirable,

There was a general meeting of the 38th Middle.
sex (the Artists') Volunteer Rifles, at their head-
quarters, Burlington.house, on Thursday last. The
corps mustered strongly, many new members hav-
ing joined during the last few weeks. Previously
to dismissing the companies Captain H. WV. Phillips
announced his intention of giving a silver challenge
medal, to be contended for annually, and worn by
the best shot; and a very handsome silver-gilt cup
was exhibited, the gift of Lieut. Lewis, which will
be shot for at the close of the present year. Two
other prizes are, promised.
The Essex' corps were reviewed on Saturday
afternoon in Hylands• park, near Chelmsford, by
Major-General Wood, commandant of the camp at
Colchester. The Essex and Uxbridge Yeomanry
Cavalry and Artillery also took part in the review,
as did the Victoria Rifles, the Hon. Artillery Com-
pany, the London Brigade, the Tower Hamlets,
Truman and Hanbury's, and one or two other metro-
politan corps. The various Essex corps were about
400 strong, and altogether about 3,000 Volunteers
of various classes were collected on the occasion.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—AuG. 4.
CROWN COURT.
Mr. Justice Williams took his seat at 9 o'clock
this morning, and Francis Price was placed at the
bar charged with the wilful murder of Sarah Platt,
at Birmingham, on the 18th of April.
Mr. Spooner conducted the prosecution, and Mr.
O'Brien appeared for the prisoner.
The facts of the case were substantially these :
The prisoner was a shoemaker, and had been work-
ing at his trade in Birmingham some four or five
months. He had very soon after his arrival become
acquainted with the deceased, whom he courted,
and who, until within a short period before her
death, had been attached to him. Some differences
arose between them previously to the 16th of April,
partly from there having been reports which came
to the ears of the prisoner, respecting a woman
with whom the deceased associated, and whose ac-
quaintance the prisoner was anxious she should
discontinue. At seven in the morning of the 16th
he went to the Swan-with-two-Necks, in Birming-
ham, where the deceased had been living as servant
some ;months, and in the presence of her fellow-
servant, Ellen Cain, endeavoured to persuade her to
make up her difference with him. This she refused
to do. He asked her what harm he had done ; she
said, no more than the tales that went about. He
said if she would make it up it should be so no
more. They shook Lands at his request, and he
endeavoured to draw her towards him, and in so
doing pulled off her thimble, which he offered
again, but she refused to receive it, and he left it on
a ledge in the bar. She and Cain withdrew into the
sitting-room, bidding the prisoner " good morning,"
and he went away bidding " good morning" to
her. The differences between them were not, how-
ever, quite settled, and on the 18th of April Henry
Evans, a poliee-constable of Birmingham, who had
known the prisoner three or four months, met him
in Alceston-street, and while walking with him
the 'prisoner said he wished he could see Sarah,
meaning the deceased, and that he would give any-
body ss. who would fetch her. They were then
near to the house of Agnes Hone, an old woman,
living in a court in a part of Birmingham called
Derrited, and the policeman seeing her suggested
that she would go on his errand for as.; the police-
man then went away, and the prisoner instructed
Agnes Hone to go to the Swan-with-two-Necks
and tell the deceased that her sister wanted
to see her. He then, by Hone's permission, went
into her house. She delivered the message to
the deceased, who followed her back to where the
prisoner was. Upon opening the door and seeing
him she exclaimed, " Oh, it's you, is it ?" and went
in, while the woman Hone, having shut the door,
took up a bucket and went towards a brewhouse in
the yard. She had scarcely got as far as to a bake-
house, which was only some., two yards from her
door, midway between it and the brewhouse, where
a man named Powell was making break, before she
heard the cry of a little dog which she had left in
the house, and which sounded as if it were in pain
or terror. She ran and opened the door, and there
saw the deceased young woman lying across on the
floor bleeding, and evidently dead, as her arm fell
powerless as tho door moved. The witness cried
out " Murder! For God's sake don't murder her."
The prisoner pushed open the door, ran by her, and
rushed out of the yard. Hone gave the alarm,
which was instantly caught by John Powell, who
stepped across the yard and looked into the house,
when he saw the deceased 'lying bleeding on the
floor, he pursued the prisoner and overtook him
after running about 200 yards. He turned and
faced Powell, saying " What do you follow me
for P" Witness replied, " I suppose you know as
well as I do." The prisoner again started, and had
run 100 yards further when he again turned and
faced the witness, saying, " What do you follow
me for ? I've done nothing." Powell in return
asked, " Why do you run away, then ? you may as
well give yourself up, for you're bound to be taken."
He again started off and ran some 50 yards into
Bradford-street, and when the witness got round a
corner he saw the prisoner facing him. Calling to
one Francis Stokes to assist him, the two collared
the prisoner, who said, " I've only gave her a
smack on the nose." Powell said " I hope it's no
worse, but I'm afraid it is ; you must come and go
back with me and see." The prisoner refused to
go back, and desired to be taken to the station,
whither he was accordingly led. While on his way
thither he said, " Well, she should not listen to tales,
and then it would not have happened ;" and then he
added, " I'm as bad as her, I've listened to tales.
Well, what's done can't be undone ; I loved her as
I loved my life." Hobbes, an inspector of police,
who' was at the' police-station when 'Powell and
Stokes brought the prisoner in custody, inquired of
Powell what the matter was, Powell said that he
could not tell what it was, but that a' woman was
lying down covered with blood. A surgeon was
sent to the place, and in the meanwhile the prisoner
Ras ordered into custody. Mr. Jordan, the sur-
geon, returned, and reported the woman's death in
the prisoner's presence. Hobbes thereupon asked
the prisoner whether he was aware that the young
woman was dead. He said, "Is she dead ? It is
Mrs. and Mrs. —, and them women, that
are the cause of it. I shall not tell you a lie about
it. I loved her as I loved m 7 life. I know my
fate; days are numbered,' There was blood
upon his right hand. Sohn Parnell, a police-con-
stable, who had on the same morning seen and had
been talking with the prisoner, so lost his self-pos•
session upon receiving him into custody so shortly
afterwards upon a charge of murder, that he asked
him if it was true that he had committed this mur-
der that had been talked of. He said, " I have, I've
cut her throat." Parnell said, "Oh dear, if it's a
penknife, or a paltry knife, perhaps she won't die."
He said, " No, it's a large oemaker's knife ; I only
edged it yesterday morning." He desired to know
I when the sergeant came back whether she was dead,
and, being informed that she was, exclaimed, " The
Lord have mercy on her, and I should say have
mercy on me too; but I'm told that the :Lord will
not have mercy on a murderer. God help thoff'
that have caused me to do it ; I blame nobody for it
but Mrs. T. I loved her as I loved my life. I should
not care if I was hung to-morrow," Mr. Ross
Jordan, surgeon, found the deceased lying on
her back upon the ground, recently dead, and beside
her ht,,au a great quantity of blood. Across her
throat from left to rightwas a large wound dividing
the large veins, the trachea, and half severing the
carotid artery; it was a wound which would cense
immediate death, and by her neck lay a shoemaker's
knife, Which, encrusted With rust, was produced in
court. Jehn Burt Davis, coroner, at the incruest
held on the body of Sarah Pratt sit the prisoner's
own request, after hiving given him the usual
solemn caution, admin:stered the oath to him as a
witness. He then said that he wished to retract
what he had said of lirs. J— and Mrs.
and he proceeded to amribe the origin of his act to
another woman; spolv., of the circumstances of his
quarrel with the deceased ; of her returning him the
portrait of himself which she had received in ex-
change for her's ; of tie manner in which he had
been sneered at by persons whom he named for pre-
senting some Banbury cakes and a pairfof boots to
the deceased, and also respecting the return of his
portrait ; of tales that Lad interfered with her affec-
tion for him ; and of an intimation made to him by
Evans, the policeman, that he should persuade the
deceased, whom he sail he had offered to marry
whenever she was willing, to leave the house where
she was in service. When he met her in Hones
house on the 18th he had asked her, he said, to take
back his portrait, and to make it up with him.
This she had refused. He offered her whatever he
had, and said it was hers. She answered that she
knew that, but it was not that she cared about—
"it was the tales." He concluded that statement
by desiring that 355. remaining of the money that
had been taken from him might be given to the
deceased's mother, though it was, he said, a poor
recompense. Portraits of himself and-the deceased
were found in his possession, and of these, as he
subsequently stated, photograh copies had been
made for sale, and largely sold in Birmingham.
Mr. O'Brien, in the commencement of his address

to the jury, referred to the statement which the pri-
soner had made before the coroner, expressing the
painful regret which all must feel that a young man
who had shown such proper feeling as the prisoner
had in many instances manifested should stand
charged with the crime of murder. Insane desire
of plunder or of revenge had often urged men
on to the crime charged against the prisoner, but
its origin was rarely to be traced to deep and fond
affection. It was difficult for the mind to separate
the ingredient of malice which was necessary to
constitute the crime of murder from towards
the subject of it. The prisoner had resorted to
Evans, a policeman, for his counsel and assistance
in order to prevent contamination to the young
woman through associates of doubtful character.
Such a person was the last he would have sought,
and that even on the morning of the deceased's
death, if he was conscious of harbouring any crimi-
nal intention against her. His sole purpose must
have been that of reconciliation, and the statements
he had made against himself when he was in no
mood to extenuate his offence must be cautiously
received, as those of one whose mind was not
in a state to give an accurate account of what
had occurred. If the jury saw reason to believe
that a quarrel had occurred, with such provocation
that in his then state of mind he was not capable
of controlling his own acts, it would be for them to
say whether the crime was murder or manslaughter
only.

The learned Judge, in addressing the jury, re-
marked that it was difficult to say upon which the
more painful duty was imposed in this case,—upon
himself, with whom it rested to lay down the law
by which they were to be guided, and to show how
the evidence was to be applied to it ; or with
them, who were to say, as judges of the facts
proved, whether the prisoner was guilty or not.
The address of the learned counsel for the pri-
soner had proceeded on a misconception of the law,
which he was bound to tell them did not require
proof that the prisoner was actuated by a deli-
berate ill-will and preconceived purpose of murder.
If in the conversation with her his passion had be-
come ungovernable and he had thereupon killed
her, he was undoubtedly guilty of murder although
the thought of it had never before then crossed his
mind.

His Lordship then recapitulated the evidence,
and told the jury that no provocation by mere
words, nor even a blow struck by her, if such had
been proved, would have sufficed to reduce the
crime of taking the life of the deceased to man-
slaughter.

The jury, without more than a few minutes'
pause, returned a verdict of guilty.
Being asked as to what he had to say why judg-
ment should not be passed the prisoner said, " I
have nothing to state why that sentence should not
be passed, but I have a kind of statement to make
which is a brief outline of my life, which, as this is
the last time that I shall have an opportunity, I
should wish to make now."
His Lordship intimated that he might proceed and
The prisoner then narrated, in good language and
with great composure, the story of his life; how,
born at Stafford, of parents both of whom were
dead, the son of a minister of the Gospel, he had
been apprenticed to a master from whom he ran
away, and afterwards became a prize-walker, in
which capacity he had visited almost all the large
towns in EL ; how the friends who stuck to
him while he did well for himself fell off and left
him:his only relative when he game to Birming-
ham being a brother, whom he had not seen for six
years, and who was now dead. On first coming to
Birmingham he went to the station to inquire when
the train for London started, and went into the tap-
room of a publichouse, that was near, to wait. An
harmonic meeting was being held, and there he
first saw the girl of whose murder he had been
convicted. He could not, he said, describe the
feeling. He fell in love with her when he first
saw her; but he did not readily mix with com-
pany or make acquaintance, and people made mis-
, chief and sneered at him. He worked at his trade
and all had gone on well as regarded his attach-
' ment to the deceased until the difference which has
been already mentioned. He had always, he said,
respected Evans, but his denial that he had sug-
gested to him that an attempt was being made, by
one whose name was mentioned, to overcome or
seduce the deceased, led him now to doubt his
friendship. He then read a letter from Mrs. Jack-
son, denying that Evans had had an interview with
the deceased, whimu he said Evans hadrepresented
to have taken place. In conclusion, he begged one
favour of his lordship, which was that his clothes
might be given to the mother of the deceased.
His Lordship then put on the black cap, and
silence having been proclaimed in due form sen-
tenced the prisoner to death, adding that the facts
proved left no doubt that there would be any re•
mission of his sentence.

The prisoner, who was perfectly composed,
though looking sorrowful throughout, walked from
the dock calmly and steadily.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—CaRmsLE, Aug. 2.

CROWN CO4.IRT.
(Before Mr. Baron Martin.)
THE EMBLETON MURDER.

George Cass, farm labourer, was placed in the
dock and arraigned upon the charge of the wilful
murder of Ann Sewell, at Embleton, on the 26th of
March last. He pleaded "Nth Guilty."
Mr. Campbell Foster and Mr. Davison appeared
for the prosecution ; and Mr. Price for the
prisoner.

Mr. Foster, in opening the case, said the deceased
Ann Sewell lived as servant with Thomas Fearon
from Martinmas last. The prisoner was also farm
servant with Mr. Fearon. Mr. Fearon is a yeo-
man, and farms his own estate, living at a village
called Beckhouse. This village is a small hamlet,
containing some four or five houses, and is about
three mites from the town of Cockermouth. Mr.
Fearon is a bachelor, and resides with his mother.
On the morning in question they had both gone to
Cockermouth market. At half-past 1 o'clock the
prisoner and the deceased were seen together in the
kitchen. At half-past 3 the doors of the house were
found closed. At half-past 5 Mrs. Fearon returned,
and was unable to obtain an entrance into the house ;
she called for assistance, and a woman named Earle
opened the kitchen 'window and went in. She
found the body of AnnSewell lying on the kitchen
floor, dead. It was lying on the left side; the
wound commenced at the spine, had cut through
the bones of the neck, and divided the spinal mar-
row. Death from such a Wound must have been
instantaneous, and it was impossible the deceased
could have inflicted it on herself. Suspicion fell on
the prisoner, and some days after he was arrested.
He had threatened to cut the girl's throat some time
before. From a statement made by him after his
arrest, and from the evidence, the jury would decide
as to the guilt of the prisoner.
The various facts stated by the learned counsel
were then proved in detail.
The jury retired, and after half an hour's absence
returned a verdict of Guilty, the foreman saying
they wished to recommend the prisoner to mercy.
His lordship, in passing sentence, said every one
who had heasd the evidence must be satisfied of the
justice of the verdict. He would transmit the re-
commendation of the jury to the proper quarter,
but exhorted the prisoner not to found on it; any
hope that the sentence of the law would be altered.
His lordship then passed sentence of death in the
usual form,

The prisoner, who had preserved the same stolid
appearance throughout the trial, was at once re-
moved.

HOME CIRCUIT.—OUILDFORD, Aug 4.
THE HIGH SHERIFF AND THE JUDGE.
It was stated on Saturday in the report from this
circuit that Mr. Justiou Blackburn had find the
high sheriff, Mr. Evelyn, SOO for contempt of
court in persisting to address the magistrates who
had been summoned to serve on the grand jury
for attending so numerously. The high sheriff re--
tired from the mitt immediately afterwards and
proceeded to his lodgings, where a great many of
the magistrates of the county went to him, and a
consultation took place as to the best means of
settling the unpleasant affair. After a good
deal of discussion, it was arranged that a
statemetA Of the facts should be sub-
mitted to tlw, Lord Chief ' Justice, and that
he should be repented id interfere. A state-
ment was accordingly drawn tip Arid signed by a ,
number of magistrates, and Lord thief Justice
Cockburn at once consented to interfere, and after
a consultation he expressed an opinion that the
only satisfactory manner in which the affair could
be arranged was by Mr. Evelyn giving an apology
for having set the authority of Mr. Justice Black-
burn at defiance. Mr, Evelyn at once consented,
and an apology was drawn up, which was shown
to Lord Chief Justice Cockburn, and which in his
opinion was satisfactory, and an intimation of what
had taken place having been given to Mr. Justice
Blackburn, late in the afternoon and just before the
courts rose, the high sheriff, accompanied by a
number of his brother magistrates, proceeded to the
Crown Court, where Mr. Justice Blackburn was
sitting. The high sheriff then read the apology
that had been agreed upon, and which was to the
effect, that he utterly disclaimed all intention to
give offence to the learned judge, and that he had
been led away by the feeling of the moment to ex-
press his thanks to the magistrates, many of whom
he knew had come a considerable distance and at
great personal inconvenience to perform the duty
of grand jurors, for having attended so numerously,
and he expressed his sincere regret at having done
so.

Mr. J-ustico Blackburn replied very shortly that
he could readily believe that the high sheriff had