The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-01 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT.---HERTFORD, FEB. 29.
The commission for the county of Herts was
opened in this town on Tuesday, and yesterday
morning both courts 'proceeded to dispose of the
business, Lord Chief Justice Erle presiding on the
Civil side, and Nir. Justice Wightman in the Crown
Court. There are nine causes entered on the Civil
side, four of which are special jury cases. On the
criminal side there are 22 prisoners for trial, but
none of the charges are of a serious character.

- CROWN SIDE.
(Before Mr. Justice Wightmaii.)
Win. Dimniock, 36, and Simeon Richardson, 36,
were indicted for a robbery, with violence, upon
Jonas Valentine..
Mr. Bushby conducted the prosecution.
The prosecutor was a farmer, residing in the
neighbourhood of Essenden, near Hertford, and on
the evening of October 46th he was at a public-
house at that place, called the Salisbury Crest, and
left to return home about a quarter past 8 o'cleek.
When he had got a short distance, a man whom
he believed tube the prisoner Richardson came up
to him and put some question to him, and as he
was about to reply the prisoner knocked him into

a ditch and struck him with a life preserver, and
another man, who was stated to be the other pri-
soner, then came up, and the two rifled his pockets
of the money and other property that was about hi 3
person. It was proved that both the prisoners
were drinking at a beer-shop about the time the
robbery was committed, and that they were seen
following the prosecutor, and there was no reason-
able doubt, upon the evidence, that the prisoners
were the parties by whom the offence was committed.
The prisoner Dimmock, when called upon for his
defence, made a very plausible statement, to the
effect that he was entirely innocent of the crime of
which he was accused, and he esserted that the
robbery was committed by his fellow prisoner ; and
he said he told him at the time that he was afraid
he would get him into trouble, although he was
quite innocent.

The other prisoner Richardson, before he made
his defence, asked the learned jadge to inform him
whether the statement that had been made by his
companion would be taken as evidence against him.
Mr. Justice Wightman said—Certainly not, and
he should tell the jury that it ought not to weigh at
all against him.

Richardson then made a long and elaborate state-
ment to the jury. He commenced by expressing
his regret that he was unable to address a Court
and jury in the manner they should be, by reason
of his want of education, but he said he hoped to be
able to satisfy them that there was no foundation
for the charge that had been made against him. He
said that he was a bricklayer, and having been
thrown out of work by the strike in London, he came
down into Hertfordshire to seek for employment,
and between Hatfield and Essenden he met his fel-
low-prisoner Dimmock, whom he recognised as
having been in confinement with him at Portland.
They got into conversation,and Dimmock told him
that he had been living in the neighbourhood,
and that he had " wormed himself" into the
good opinion of the squire and the parson, and that
he intended to rob them both the first opportunity
that presented itself. He then detailed several
plans he had made to commit different robberies
during the winter, and said that when he had got
all he could he intended to leave the place, and he,
wished him (Richardson) to join in these robberies,
but he refused to do so. They then went to a beer-
shop, and Dimmock told him that there was no one
in the house but an old man and woman and a girl,
and he knew where they kept the money, and he
proposed to secrete himself in an up-stairs room,-
and to come down in the night and let him in; and
he said that they could then join in the robbery.
He declared that ho refused to have any concern in
the matter, and Dimmock afterwards told him that
he had watched an old farmer, whom he believed
to be the prosecutor, and that he should have
robbed him on a previous night if he had not had
some one with him. The prisoner then went on
to say that Dimmock and another man whom he
called his mate were the persons who robbed the
prosecutor, and that he now had the treachery, or
rather, as he said, the " villany " to accuse him of
it, in order that he, who was the really guilty
party, might escape punishment.
The learned judge having summed up, the jury
almost immediately returned a verdict of guilty
against both prisoners, and certificates were put in
by which it appeared that they had been previously
convicted of felony, and sentenced to four years'
penal servitude.

They were sentenced to be kept in penal servi-
tude for ten years.
Lord Chief Justice Erie was engaged the greater
part of the day in trying an action for slander,
which did not possess the least feature of interest
to the public.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE-FEE. 28.

The wheat trade during the week has an•aii; be firm,
but to-day the market ruled very dull, and the is advance
realised last Saturday could scarcely be maintained. The
millers were holding off in anticipation of tho arrival of the
fleet of grain vessels.

LYNN—FEB. 28.
To-day's market was moderately supplied with wheat, in
improved condition, and all descriptions sold readily at
last Tuesday's rates. Barley and beans unchanged.
Old white 44s to 48s I Old red 42. to 45a
New white....... 42. to 47s I New red... 39. to 45s