The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-17 00:00:00

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—WARwicK, DEC. 15.

(Before Mr. Justice Wightman.)
Emma Bennett, who pleaded guilty, and John
Harford who pleaded not guilty, were charged with
having robbed Edwin James Taylor of his watch,
and having at the same time used personal violence
to him.

Mr. Sargeaunt conducted the prosecution.
The robbery was proved to have been committed
by the hand of the female prisoner in a public
street, her male companion standing at a little dis-
tance and interfering with blows when the prose-
cutor endeavoured. to pursue her. A crowd
gathering round the escape of both was prevented.
Verdict, guilty. Both prisoners were sentenced
to four years' penal servitude.

Wm. Richard Timms stood charged with having,
at the borough of Birmingham, feloniously cut and
wounded Mary Ann Owen, with intent to murder
her.

Mr. Spooner prosecuted, and Mr. O'Brien, at the
request of the Court, defended the prisoxer.
The prisoner paid his addresses to the prosecu-
trix, with whom two young women lodged and
worked. On the 4th Of October, about half-past
six in the morning, the two female lodgers returned
from a party at which they had spent the previous
night, and found the prisoner at Mrs. Owen's
house, lying upon a sofa in the lower room, .c,-liere
it appeared he had been sleeping, while • Mrs.
Owen occupied the room above. All met to-
gether at breakfast, of which the prisoner, though
invited by Mrs. OWen' refused to partake. He sent
for a qUartern of din, of which he desired Mrs Owen
to drink, but she refused. After breakfast Mrs. O wen
went up stairs, and was followed by the prisoner,
who asked her what she meant to do. She replied,
" I mean to do what I told you. I won't go with
you since you're so tipsy." Prosecutrix then went
down stairs and was followed by him down and up
stairs again, when he closed the door, desired her
to sit down amain, asked her whether she meant
what she haesaid, and, on her answering " Yes,"
put his arm round her neck and drew a razor across
her throat, inflicting a wound some 4 inches in
length and an inch and a half deep in the deepest
part, but in such a direction as closely to approach
the principal blood vessel, but not divide it. The
prosecutrix uttered a cry of " Murder," upon hear-
ing which Jane Hummins, one of the female
lodgers, ran up stairs, and upon entering the room
found the prisoner leaning over Mrs;Owen with a
razor in his hand, in the act of cutting her throat.
Mrs. Owen was lying on her back, while the pri-
soner's knee was on her chest and his left hand on
her forehead. Hummins struggled with him, and
having succeeded in wresting ibe razor. from, his
grasp ran
_down stairs and
gave an alarm. She
then returned
up stairs and saw the prisoner kneel-
ing and leaningagainst the wall by the side of Mrs.
Owen who still lay upon the floor. She again
went down to bring sonic one in and was -followed
by the prisoner, who declared that he would kill
any ene who came near him. He again returned
to the room and Hummins follow..ing him saw hiM
with a knife in his hand. She went down once
more, and called " Murder," and on returning found
that Mrs. Owen hal the knife in her hand. The
prosecutrix then became insensible, and a police
man arrived, who took the prisoner into custody.
Prisoner declared to him that he intended to mur-
der her, adding, " I will murder her when I am at
liberty, rather than any one else shali have her ! "
The razor had been borrowed of a neighbour by the
prisoner about two days previously.
• Mr. O'Brien addresseu the jury, contending that
the act was not one of deliberate intent to 'murder,
but the result of a sudden fit of jealousy.
The learned Judge observed on the ability with
which the prisoner's counsel had addressed the
jury, and having commented on the e7idence,, left
the case to the jury, who returned a verdict of
guilty of the full offence.
Sentence of death was recorded, subjecting the
' prisoner to per al servitude for life, or such term as
her Majesty may please to determine. .
A number of burglaries ana other cases of little
• public interest were diSposed of in the course of
the day. '