The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-12 00:00:00

CHARGE OF RAPE,

A labouring man named James Harrison, was in-
dicted for committing a rape upon the person of Mary
Soutberan, a married worm% and the mother of six
children.
Mr. Ribton appeared for the prosecution, and Mr.
Sleigh defended the prisoner.
om the evidence it appeared that the prosecutrix was
present on the Sunday, the 21st of February, she was
present amongst other persons at a house in Little Port-
land-street, on the occasion of a christening. She arrived
at the house about one o'clock and remained there till
late at night. Shortly after sine o'clock she was taken
unwe'l and retired into the adjoining room (the pri-
soner's) where there was a bed aad laid down.
At ten o'cl •ck she was awakened by the prisoner.
entering she room. He locked the door and undressed
himself, then got into bad, and in spite of all resistance
and cries he accomplished his purpose. There were
other persons in the next room.
She immedistely left the house and went in search of
a policeman ' • and on finding one she informed him
that she had been violently assaulted, and wished
him to take him into cus'ody. On the polioeman enter •
lug the house in Little Portland-street, the prosecutrix
entered a room, and pointed out the prisoner as the man
who had assaulted her. The policeman told the prisoner
that he must go to the station-house on a charge of
committing an assault upon the woman. He refused,
and said he was not to blame, and tiat he would not
go. A violent struggle took place, and after a great
deal of trouble he was taken into custody.
In cross examination by Mr. Sltigh, the prosecu-
trix said she was awoke by the nan getting into
bed. She had taken a little gin, but was not intexi-
cated. She took the spirits as a remedy for spasms...

Mr. H. Raymond, surgeon to the Iliry!ebOne police
force, stated that on the Monday folowing the day of
the assault the prosecutrix was brouglt to him by order
of Mr. Broughton, the magistrate, and, in accordance
with directions, he made an examinabon of her person,
being previously told she was a mawied woman. He
found no marks of violence whatever on her person, but
he thought that the offence with whim the prisoner was
charged might have been committed without leaving
marks of violence.

In anstvet;-questions from Mr. Sleigh the witness
said that even if the rebistance bad hem offered such as
the prosecutrix described still the donee might have
been committed without leaving marks of violence.

Mr. Sleighad—d7essed the jury for the prisoner and
contended that as the evidence of the posecutrix was
not corroborated it ought to be received with
great caution, and that if the woman had riade the resist-
ance that she said she bad it war exceedingly unlikely
that it should not have been heard by the other parties
who were in the adjoining room.
Mr. Baron Martin, in summing up the evidence, said
the offence with which the prisoner stood charged with
was one of the most heinous offences known to the law,
and therefore they should be perfectly eatisfed with the
evidence before they found the prix ner guilty. There was
a discrepancy in the evi ;once of the prosecitrix which
they could not have failed to have oSierved. In her
examination in chief she said at ten o'clock cn the even-
ing in question she was awoke by the prisoner entering
the room and looking the door, end in her cross-exami-
nation she said she was awoke by finding the prisoner in
bed with her. It would be for them (tie jury) to recon-
cile these two statements.
The jury, after a brief consultation, returned a ver-
dict of not guil.y.

NEW COURT.
(B-fore Mr. Bhrou Mara!) )
F.,RGERY.

guiltyulta
n t
ene 8 m
Alfred Gi.amote, a barristeeeVerk, was indicted for
forgery.
The prisoner pleaded guilty.
an offence which was pri-
sonercorn-
tntnet inddensible. The
Mr. Baron Martin, in passing sentence, said the
positron which be bad held was a itself a guarantee
that he was possesicd of considerable intelligence.
Having formerly fulfilled the office of clerk to
Mr. Barnard, a barrister, he had
ita dna underd pleadedei re
, after leaving the situa-
tion, called upon that gentleman's bankers and obtained
a blank cheque book, and from December to March he
bad drawn not less than five bills of exchange, and
forged the prosecutor's signature thereto. The offence
was one of such an aggravated description that he should
fail in his duty did he not pass a severe sentence, and be
should, therefore, sentence bin to 10 yews' penal servi-
tude,
_. FORGERY.

Mr. Heart Davis.
John Child was indicted for forging a bll of exchange
for
guilty, and he war sentenced to
four years' penal servitude.
withBcn Sarah An% Gingen, his
. a soldier, was indicted
for wilfully intermarrying andi alias
D el
T2h7el. ,
prisonerw with intent
pleadedte ntto defraud
BIGAIIY,
first wife being then and still alive.
The prosecutrix , a fashioeabl y-dressed yung woman,
said that she married the prisoner two Yews ago, be-
P
lievisg he was a single man. He —e was an artillerymen.
Since that time she bad mainly supported lenielf with
the profits arising from her busineeo, that if a dress
maker.
Both marriages having been proved,
The jury found the prisoner guilty, and hewag sen-
tenced to two years' imprisonment.

It is gated the North Europe Steam Compaq have
now sold sufficient ships to enable them to pay off all
the creditors of the company. The chief portion ,f such
property as may remain will, therefore, when
be returned to the shareholders.
MURDER DURING A DRUNKEN FRACAS.--Pitr ick
Ryan, a talk'', living in Hydra-strett, Liverpool, 8 iu
custody on the charge of murdering a female naned
Fennel, who lodged with him. Oa Wednesday nght
last, during a drucken quarrel, Ryan struck the wotian
so violently on the head with a board that she has Biwa
died.