The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-15 00:00:00

NORTHERN CIRCUIT-LIVERPOOL, Aug. 14

Mr. Baron Martin took his seat on the bench in
,he Crown Court this morning at 9 o'clock.

WIFE MURDER IN LIVERPOOL.

Thomas Raw•linson, aged 41, carter, was indicted
on the coroner's warrant with the wilful murder of
his wife, on the 15t of June last.

Mr. Preston appeared for the prosecution, and
Mr. Pope defended the prisoner.
In this case the prisoner and his deceased wife
lived in a cellar, in Mason street, Wapping. The
prisoner was a carter, and the deceased was an ha-
bitual drunkard. On the day in question, the de-
ceased and two women (each of whom were called
as witnesses), were drinking in the cellar at 10
o'clock in the morning, Mrs. Rawlinson being at
that time in an almost helpless state of intoxication.
The women left about 11 o'clock, and the deceased
went to bed in a back cellar. About half-past 12
o'clock the prisoner went home to get his dinner;
knocked at the door several times, but received no
answer, and then inquired of one of the women
(Holland) where his wife was. The reply given
was, " She is again drunk in bed." The prisoner
then went again to the door, and his wife opened it
for him. He asked his wife what there was for
dinner, when she made use of some flippant and
foul expression towards him. He said, " It is a very
hard thing for a man to come home after a day's
work and find nothing for him." The deceased then
ran into the back cellar, and the witness saw him
strike her on the forehead with a saucepan, and she
fell. The prisoner, after that, was very anxious
about his wife, and had her washed and put to bed,
but later in the day she was conveyed to the
Southern Hospital, where she died. In the cross-
examination all the witnesses admitted that the
prisoner was a steady, sober, and industrious man.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty of man-
slaughter, with a recommendation to mercy.
His Lordship, in passing sentence upon the pri-
soner, said the jury had found the only verdict
they could under the circumstances. There was no
doubt the deceased came by her death from a blow
with a saucepan, under the moet miserable circum-
stances. It was very wrong to use such a weapon,
and, as he could not look over the offence alto-
gether, he should sentence the prisoner to one
month's imprisonment.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT—A two 14,

OLD COURT.
(Before the Recorder.)

David Wemys Jobson, a well-dressed man with
a large black beard and moustache, surrendered to
take his trial for misdemeanour, in having threat-
ened to publish certain libellous matters reflecting
upon the character of Sir James Fergusson, with a
view to extort money. In other counts of the in-
dictment the defendant was merely charged with
publishing a libel.
The defendant merely pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Giffard and Mr. Poland conducted the pro-
secution ; the defendant conducted his own case.
Mr. John Allen Quintin, a gentleman connected
with the publication called 7 he Leisure _Hour, was
then examined, and he deposed that the defendant
had been in the habit of contributing to it, and he
called for some money and wrote a note to the
secretary, the work being published by the Reli-
gious Tract Society, which was produced and read.
It contained a statement to the effect that the de-
fendant was compelled to ask for money in conse-
quence of his having been robbed by Sir James
Fergusson, and. he alluded to that gentleman in a
most offensive manner. . _

The witness was cross-examined at considerable
length by the defendant, but he did not elicit any-
thing that at all bore upon the case.
Mr. Disraeli was then sworn. He said—l am