The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-26 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

WESTERN CIRCUIT —DORCHESTER JULY 23.
(Before Mr. Baron Channel'.)
James Seal eras indicted for the wilful murder of
Sarah Aim Guppy. _ _

We gaye tic; case for the prosecution in this
trial on Saturday. After our despatch left Dor-
cheste-,
Mr. Ole addressei the jury on th*e•part of the
prisoner. ' _

Mr. Baron Channel then summed up the case.
The inquiry was one of the most important that
could ba-submitted,to the decision of a human tri-
bunal. It was a case of the utmost importance to
the prisoner at the bar, and it was impoAsible to
conceal from themselves. that if they felt-it their
.?uty to convict the prisoner consequences the most
fa-al meet be the result ; but while it- was of im-
poi tante to the priso;ier, it was of equal imnOrtance
to the public that it a murder was committed an
inquiry sleould take place, to ascertain who was the
perpetrate: of that offence in order that he might
be brougq to condign punts .ment.
lige- jury r, tired at
_tr n minutes to seven, and reL
turnedit.to:dourt at ten minutes after seven., at-,d
gave a verdict of guilty.
Hie Lordship then sentenced the prisoner to be
hanged.

OXFORD CIROGIT.-STAFFORD, JULY 24.
CIVIL COURT.

(Bef.re Mr. J intim Byle4 and a Special jury.)

SWINFEN V SWINFEN (SECOND DAY).
The plaintiff, Patience Swinfen, examined by
Mr. Kennedy, said,—l was married to Henry
Switifeu in 1831. After our marriage I went
b aid and travelled in various countries. After
tteveral years' I.:aid-nee en the continent I returned
to &gland, and resided in diffeteat parts of Eng-
land, Sc and Wales. After being some time
in Eagland there was a correspondence between
my husband and his parents. We received an
invitation to go to S wiufen, but did not go bemuse
there were no apartmen s furnished. I recollect
meeting Mr. and Mrs. Swinfen at Birmingham, at
the Hen ant Chickens Inn. There was a recall-
ciliation. The invitation ta go to Swinfen was re-
newed. In 1846 I was called upon at Weymouth
by Mrs. Rowley. In 1818 I went to Swinfen aed
was received most kindly by the old man. He said,
" I wish your mourning to be very ban isome."
He deferre I all the arrangements for the funeral
until our arrival. There was not any room at
Swinfeu which I cou'd occupy. We resided at the
George Hotel, at Lichfield, and went to Swinfen in
the morning. He said he would increase my bus-
blames income to 5001. a•year. He ordered a bed-
room to be famished. Mr. Swinfen paid f,r the
furniture. He macTe teifliag preents, and after-
wards a ha :dsome diamond bt ooch and It's minialat :e.
Soon after he showed me this letter from Captain
Hackett, a gentleman whom I had met abroad.
He said he valued it like gold, and gave it me to
read. [The letter was read in Vie opening, and
spoke of the plaintiff in the highest terms, and
attributed her husband's rafotmation to her good
influence, and was evidently written with a view to
procure a reconciliation.] During my stay Mr.
Swinfen's health improved He had a nervous af-
fection in the arm, which prevented his carving. I
c trved, but he was always at the head of the table.
Finding him better we left, and went to Wales,
France, and Germany. During the time, from
1848 to 1851, my husband corresponded with bis
father, and had several letters from him. This is
a draught of a letter written by my husband to his
father, October 4, 1850. Shortly before my father
wrote a letter to my husband, placing some money
at his disposal, to which that was an answer. We
returned to Swinfeu in 1851. He said he was
tired of living atone, and would no longer do so.
He said he had been much imposed upon. He
a-ked his Ban to look after his affairs. le said Lis
eaervaats robbed him, He said, "Henry, you wit/
want two pairs of eyes, to s-e behind as well as be-
fore." We occupied the same room as before.
My husband began to manage the farm. He dis-
charged Mrs. Martin, her husband, her brother-in-
law, and her sou. They were dismissed with the
consent of my father-in-law. He walked with
great difficulty. He was generally cheerful. His
c)mplexion was clear and bright. My husband
always consulted his father on all maters of busi-
ness. I was frequently present when he has read .
le ters to him, and the answers which he had pie- '
pared. He would sometimes disapprove, and the
letters were written over again. Notice to quit
was given in Mtchaelmas, 1851, to Standley and
Gibson, because they wished the rents lowered.
The testator had the farms revalued. They refused
to pay an increased rent. The tenants now pay
the increased rent. My father-in-law's heath im-
proved after our return in 1851, in consequence of
care being taken off his mind, and because be was
more comfortable. In November, 1853, I went
to him on the stairs. He was a little frightened,
but not the leal land.. He never complained of it
in the least. His knees had got very weak, and
it was thought better that he sh',uld nat leave his
room. He used to get up at 11, and go to bed at
3or 4, and latterly earlier. He generally ate a
hearty dinner, and drank three or tour glasses of
wine. He went to bet immediately after dinner.
El was sometimes rather irritable. He occa-
sionally received visitors in his bedroom. I
and my husband saw him several times a
day in - his bedroom. Ile has often talked
about the property, and that he found nothing
but some sour beer which he paid for. He said
"That it was in consequence of Mr. Francis Swirl-
fen's extravagance that the property was left in such
a sate, and that the sisters would have been all
left unprovided for if they had not been well mar-
ried." He said, he should take care that the pro-
perty should not go to that branch of the family to
make ducks and drale,-8. •‘ fierily, [stood
in tho p ; the f anily was going down." He said,
he had received a letter from Mrs. Francis Swinfen
asking if she should build a mansion at Lapley. He
laughed and said, "They had nothing to do with
Swinfen, nor he with Lapley." He has frequently
said Mrs. Fraacis once took Castellacci to Swinfen
and introduced him as a count. He called birn
Don Diego. At Christmas, 1853, a present of fi,_ll
,
was sent from Mts. Francis Swinfen, and hesaid, z
" She has done it, we may as well enjoy it ; and
' e
he said bis son was to write and thank her.
said, it She wrote so often she ought to keehptear
naah
clerk." He said, " She wrote to say her daughter
was aatbigout a
was going to be married, and raid so
one."diamond I ringhave foraeh
asked
her h thatim
tohe invite sent
members
Icoe /r.e too.f
thebuy
family, and, after a time, he allowed
thmem
Charlesnvite
vere
to
Lady Clifton. I wished to
invite
S •
all. He
declinert to receive the others. Swiuf-n
foecncamsioenrc:ltlhyicnalfleetdiv.
times ebsabdenftesleeianveiateadrietsheln winin
June, 1834. Lady Clifton did not o nue because
she was taken ill. I have corresponded with Mrs.
Edmund Pe-I(another sister). I showed the testa-
tar the answers. [One was lame read from Mrs.
Pe-I.] In 1852 I remember a will being made. My
father-in-law know of my husband's intention to
leave me his property. He said to my son he had
a will at Mr. Morpbell's, and he must get it and
destroy-it. On the death of my husband I was
left a!oue with my father-in-law. Mrs. Rowley
came, and I asked her to write to the family,
and ti invite Mr and Mrs. Charles Swiuf n.
Before they came I consulted' Mr. Simpson, and
told him I wanted to know my position, how far I
could give orders in the house. I was afraid of
doing any thing which might be disapproved by
.he family. He looked at my husband's will. He
said my position was altered. For several days
I did not go into my father-in-law's room. I
dreaded the shock. I went the day b fore the
funeral. He took me in Lis arms, anti said, " Mrs.
Swi fen, don't cry, don't cry ; take care of
.v'at'' Aft r that day I continued to visit him
daily. He used to say, "Poor Henry." I said,
" Where is h. gone to 9.' and he said, " To Heaven,
I hope." He paid " Poor Henry" on several secca-
eions. He also said, " You won't leave me, Mrs.
Swinfen 1" I said, "Not if yeti wish me to stay."
Mr. Simpson said something about getting some-
b ;dy to manage. That was after the funeral. I
made no opposition ; I said nothing. After the
death of his son I did not observe any failure of his
mental faculties. I went to see him as usual. He
talked rather less, I think. On one occasion, when
he was sitting by the window, be said to me,
" Mrs. Swinfen, I mean to leave you this pro-
perty," pointing to the cattle grazing. I said, "It
L is very kind of you, but if you do, it will give me
a great deal of trouble," That was perhaps a Trfek.