The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-01 00:00:00

ASSIZI INTELLIGES

SOUTH WALES CIRCUIT. —SWANSEA, Fu. 27.
OF DEATH.
Mancli Tulpilanta and Hanagadei Halins, .two
Greek sailors, were indicted for the wilful murder
of attanasio Mitropania, at Swansea, on the 16th
inst. Mr. Giffard and Mr. Brown prosecuted ;
and Mr. T. Allen and Mr. Mills defended the
prisoners.
Mr. Giffard opened the case in a temperate
speech. The prisoners were sailors on board the
Penelope, in Swansea harbour, and the deceased
was cook of the same vessel. The cook had re-
ceived some money from his captain on the Sun-
day before the murder, and amongst it were two
Turkish sovereigns. On the night of the murder
the deceased left his vessel and went into the town.
Soon afterwards the two prisoners also left, and
they would be traced in company of the deceased
np to within a short time of the actual murder.
At about half-past eight two persons watching a
boat heard a scuffling and a sound of foreign lan-
guage on the side of the canal, and immediately
'afterwards a plunge in the water. They went up
and found something floating in the water, which
turned out to be the body of the deceased. It was
got out of the water and was steaming. He was
dead and had been stabbed in the body and through
the lungs in several plaoes. Tho skull was also
fractured. The two prisoners were seen together
again about nine o'clock, and one of them was seen
to wash a handkerchief.
A great deal of evidence was given to trace the
prisoners in company with the deceased on the
evening of the murder.
Baron Bramwell reviewed the evidence carefully
and occupied an hour in summing up.
The jury, after retiring half an hour, returned
into court with a verdict of guilty.
His lordship then passed the awful sentence of
death in the usual form, and the prisoners were
removed.
THIS ROUTH WALltfil RAILWAY COLLISION.
Charles White, late station master at Stormy sta-
tion, on the South Wales Railway, was charged on
the coroner's inquisition with the manslaughter of
Sarah Ann Harmer, near Pyle, on Oct. 14 last.
Mr. Bowen and Mr. Hughes were counsel for the
prosecution ; and Mr. Giffard for the accused.
It will be remembered that on Oct. 14 two pas-
senger trains running on the South Wales Railway
met at full speed on the same line of rails between
Pyle and Port Talbot stations, causing the death
of three persons and the maiming of 60 others. The
deceased was one of the killed, and was travelling
with her aunt in a third class carriage which was
'plashed. The cause of the collision was the sending
a down train on the up line of rails by the prisoner,
who declared that in consequence of a goods train
having broken down between Pyle and Port Tal-
bot he had been telegraphed to from Port Talbot
station to send the train on the wrong lino of rails
on the understanding that all up trains would be
stopped in the meantime. The obstruction of the
goods train, however, having been removed, the
up trains were sent on and niet the down trains on
the same line.
It should be mentioned that at a second inquest
a verdict of manslaughter had been returned
against Evans, the clerk, and Burney, the porter,
at the Port Talbot station, but the grand jury
ignored the bill against them.
Mr. Langdon, inspector of the railway police,
proved that the printed rules had been placed iu
the hands of White. One of them related to the
trains on the wrong line of rails requiring that a
telegraph message shall be sent and an answer re-
ceived (or a written message whore no telegraph is
available) before any traiu is so met on the wrong
line of rails.
John Gunnell, the driver of the down train,
proved that he was stopped at Pyle, in consequence
of the breaking down of the goods train in front,
and White came down from Stormy and gave him a
written order to return back to Stormy, where
there was a crossing, and proceed on his journey on
the up-line of rails. He did so, and proceeded until
they met an up-train, and the collision took place.
Daniel Buckle corroborated the fact of White's
authority given to proceed on the wrong line ,of
rails. Witness went on before the train, and seeing
the up train coming put down a detonator, but too
late. The collision was unavoidable.
Edgar Evans, the clerk at Port Talbot, was then
examined. He had been left in charge of the sta-
tion during the absence of the station-master, Mr.
Turner, who had gone to look after the broken
down goods train, and had left directions for him
to telegraph to Stormy to stop all trains until they
heard again. Witness telegraphed accordingly,
but could not make them hear for nearly an hour,
and then they got the answer, " Train left."
Cross-examined—Mr. Turner started the up-
train from Port Talbot, as he came into the station
with the broken down train, and before he had
arrived actually at the booking office to communi-
cate with witness. Never received any message frOm
Stormy, asking, "Can passenger train come on t"
There was a lady in the train (Miss Llewellyn) who
raid Mr. Turner ought to be there but she did ;totsay they did nob understand the telegraph. There
was no discussion between him and Burney as to
any answer to be seat to Stormy. Nothing was
said about, " Here's a fine mess."
Mr. Turner was examined, but did not add much
to the above.
John Day, policeman at Stormy station, was di-
rected by Mr. White to telegraph to Port Talbot,
but could not get them to understand him. Mr.
White then came and tried the instrument, after
which he got on the down train and proceeded with
it on the up line. Mr. White was trying to tele-
graph to Port Talbot, " Can down train come on
up line '1"
William Chapman, clerk in the locomotive de-
partment at Stormy, met Mr. White as he was
going to Pyle to fetch the train back to send on the
up hue. Witness advised him not to send it until
he had heard from head-quarters (Port Talbot) but
he answered, " I shall telegraph and it will be all
right." He did not say, " I have telegraphed,"
but " I shall telegraph."
The deposition of the prisoner taken before the
coroner, was then put in. He positively swore
that he telegraphed to Port Talbot, " Can down-
train go to Port Talbot on up-line I" and received
the reply, " Send down-train on up-line." When
he was about to start with the train he tried
to telegraph, " Down-train now leaving on up-
line," but could not make them understand. Ile
then got on the engine and proceeded with the
train.

Mr. Giffarel, for the prisoner, contended that
White had done everything he could do in the
elis-
charge of his duty, that he had been guilty of no
culpable negligence, and if he had been in error it was
an error of judgment. He contended that the ver-
sion given by the Port Talbot officers was an itn-
probable one, and called
Miss Llewellyn, who deposed that she was wait-
ing at Port Talbot station to go by the up train,
which was detained there on account of the goods
trait having obstructed the line. While in the office
ort the passengers' side of the screen she heard the
clerk inside telegraphing, and heard the message
spelt off, " Can passengers come on ?" There was
then a talk about whether the answer should be
" Yes." The clerk did not seem to understand
the telegraph, and she heard them say, " Here's a
fine mess," and " What can they mean I"
Another witness was examined, but he did not
carry the case any further.
Mr. Brown then replied, and
Hie lordship slimmed up, and left it to the jury
to say whether the prisoner had been guilty of cul-
pable negligence—whether he had despatched the
down train on the up-line without taking the neces-
sary precautions to ensure its safety.
The jury found a verdict of guilty, but strongly
recommended the prisoner to mercy.
His lordship, in passing sentence, said he did so
with considerable reluctance, believing that the oc
currence arose from excess of zeal on his part ; but
he had been guilty of most culpable rashness. He
then passed sentence of a month's imprisonment.
The prisoner said he had been convicted by
perjury.

NORTHERN ClRCUlT—Ntivrclms, FEB. 27.
Mr. Baron Martin and Mr. Justice Byles arrived
in this town from Carlisle yesterday afternoon, and
proceeded at once to open the commission ; after
which their Lordships attended Divine service at
the old church. _ _

This morning Mr. Baron Martin sat to try the
town prisoners at the Guildhall, and Mr. Justice
Byles sat at 11 o'clock to try the county prisoners at
the Moot Hall, assisted in the latter part of the day
by Mt. Baron Martin.
The town calendar contained the names of five
prisoners, the charges against them being ordinary
sessions cases.
The county calendar contains the names of 10
prisoners, one of whom is charged with child mur-
der, one with bigamy, the rest were ordinary lar-
cenies usually tried at sessions.
The charge of murder against Isabella Murray
VMS postponed until next assizes by Mr. Justice
Byles, it being stated that the prisoner was too ill
to be put upon her trial. One or two of the charges
of larceny were tried, and the rest pleaded guilty
and were summarily disposed of.
James Jennings was indicted for bigamy at Tyne-
mouth, on the 25th of January last, in having thou
married a woman, his former wife being alive.
Mr. Davison appeared for the prisoner.
On the case being called on no counsel appeared
for the prosecution.
His Lordship inquired if any comae' appeared to
prosecute ?
Mr, DATion Mid that ik DOW nracv
- K-^"1" PPP•Aroi