The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-05 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

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HOME CIROUIT. —HERTFORD, MARCH 4.
CROWN SIDE.
(Before Mr. Justice Williams.)

Joseph Taylor surrendered to take his trial for
the manslaughter of Joseph Pales.
Mr. Rodwell and Mr. Bushby prosecuted ' • Mr.
Sergeant Parry was specially retained for the de-
fence.

It appeared that the prigoner was a very respec-
table young man, the son of a farmer at Hatfitld,
and the deceased was a labouring man who
had been engaged with several others to carry
out some harvesting operations last summf-r. The
transaction in question took place on the 27th
July, and it appe ,red that on this day the de-
ceased and the other labourers had been drink-
ing to some Extent, and a general fight took
place between them, in which the deceased was
actively engaged. The prisoner interposed, and, ac-
cording to the evidence for the prosecution, he
knocked the deceased down, and it was alleged that
the injuries he received in consequence of this vio-
lence caused his death. It appeared, however, that
he had been fighting with several other men during
the evening, and that he had fallen or been knocked
down, and complained immediately afterwards of
having been injured by a stone against which he
had fallen.

Sergeant Pat ry made an able speech for the de-
fence, and the jury, without any hesitation, re-
turned a verdict of not guilty.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.--AYLESBURY, March 4.
(Before Sir A. Cockburn.)
James Chandler, 33, labourer, and Peter Hearn,
22, labourer, were indicted for wounding John
Batson, at Ellesborough, with intent to resit their
lawful apprehensiOn.
The prosecutor was an under-keeper in the em-
ploy of Lady F. Russell, of Chequer's Court, Elles-
borough, and the alleged offence was committed so
long back as Dec. 0. It appeared that about one
o'clock that morning Batson was watching in one
of her ladyship's preserves, in company with the
head keeper, when they heard shots fired. They
immediately went in the direction from whence
they came, when they saw four men. A desperate
struggle ensued, and Ba,son was dreadfully injured
at out the head with the butt. end of a gun by one of
the patty, when they ran away. Some time after-
wards two men, named George Dixon and George
Hearn (brother of the prisoner Hearn), were appre-
hended, and connuit,ed for trial at the last spring
assizes for thm offence, when they were acquitted.
The prisoners Chandler and Peter Hearn were dis-
inctly sworn to by Batson and his fellow-keeper
as being two of the men who were present.
The defence was that this was a case of mistaki-n
identity.
The Chief Justice left it to the jury to say whe-
ther they were satisfied with the evidence of the
keepers.

The jury, without hesitation, Lund th© prisoners
guilty, and they were sentenced to 8 mouths' im-
iSolinien emh.

ATTEMPTED m-ur RDER OF A POLICEMAN.

Samuel Quick, 55, labourer, was charged with
wounding Geo. White, ore of the Bucks constabu-
lary, with intent to kill him.

Geo. White, the prosecutor, was eallei, when
Mr. Cust said he hoped nothing would be said
which would tend to excite him, as ever since the
assault ho had been subject to epileptic fits. He
deposed that early on the morning of Nov. 29, he
was on duty at the parish of Linslade, when he
saw prisoner stealing some posts and rails. Pri-
soner was taking them towards home, when pi ose-
cutor followed him and spoke to him, when he
threw the wood down and ran away. Prosecutor
followed the prisoner and took him into custody,
but went to his cottage with him. The children
begged him to allow their father to remain at home
for the night. Prosecutor knew him, and left him
at home, but took the stnlen wood away, saying he
should communicate with his master. When he
reached half across the first meadow he heard
some one breathing close behind. He look,d back,
and saw the prisoner with one hand behind him,
coming towards him. He ran back some distance,
to endeavour to gain time to draw his truncheon,
when he fell on one knee in a bunch of nettles, and
prisoner struck him with a bill-hook on the stomach,
shoulder, arm, and head, He said, " You -,
I'il murder you." Prosecutor tried to get away,
and ran towards the railway station, which was
near, pris,,ner following him ; he turned round and
saw the prisoner had stopped running. Prisoner
chased him about 200 yards. Witness went to the
Linslade Railway station and fell insensible into
the porter's arms. (The bill-hook and hat were
produced and caused great sensation.)

Mr. Wagstaff, surgeon, of
.Leighton, who was
called in to attend White, found him pale and faint
from loss of blood. The cut was a clean one, about
four inches in length, and nearly penetrated the
skull ; had it been a little deoper it would have
been fatal. The wound was inflicted by such an
instrument as the bill-hook, There were dangerous
symptoms once. If it had not bQen for the hat,
which was gibbed with cane, the wound would
have been fa'al.

The jury could not agree as to their verdict, and
were locked up. They had not returnel into court
when our parcel was despatched.