The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-03 00:00:00

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William George was indicted for a highway robbery,
accompanied with violence. The prisoner has made
two escapes from custody, and his trial excited consider-
able interest.

The prosecutor, Mr. J. R. Grant, is a sclicitor prat.
tising in Bristol, and having a private residence at Brie-
lington, near that city: On the night of the 10th Feb-
ruary he was evalleieg home, and had turned down a
bye-lane leading to his house, when he was attacked by-
two men, who knocked him down, and robbed him of
his watch, chain, 4A. 6cl. in money, and other articles.
Almost immediately after, Mr. Grant's servant came up,
and they pursued and overtook the men near the river
Avon. Mr. Grant knocked down one of the men, and
his servant engaged the other, but was getting the worst
of the encounter, having been stabbed, and being threat-,
ened to be thrown into the river. Mr. Grant then went
to the assistance of his servant, but was himself cut in
the chin, and had two of his teet'd knocked out. Both
men then made their e,cape. The day after the rob-
bery, a cap, which was identified as belong;eg to the'
prisoner, was found near the spot where the first struggle
took place, and some other minor circumstances connect-
ing the prisoner with the case were also proved. Both
the prosecutor and his servant, though they declined,
positively to swear to the prisoner, Expressed their strong
belief that George was one of the men who were engaged
in the robbery. The prisoner defended himself with
much shrewdness, and cross examined the various wit.
nesses with mingled impudence and ingenuity.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and his lordship
passed sentence of 20 year' transportation.

NORTH WALES CIRCUIT,—CHnin, APRIL 2.
(Bef are Mr. Earon Watson.)
THE BIRKENHEAD MURDER.

Thomas Smith, 21, labourer, was charged with mur-
dering Wm. Vaughan, police-officer, at Birkenhead, oa
the 23c1 of December, 1856.
About half-past one in the morning the prisoner and a
man named Breen knocked at a public-house in Birken-
head, and wanted to get borne beer. The landlady refused
to let them haYe any, whereupon the prisoner kicked in
a panel of the door. The landlady sent for a policeman,
and the deceased, Vaughan, came up and said, " You
had better go home, you have had drink enough "
They went a little way, when Vaughan was joined by
another policeman named Whitehead. They asked the
prisoner and his companion their cameo, but they refused
to give them. Whitehead then said " Then let's take
them to Bridewell," and laid held of Breen while de-
ceased laid hold of the prisoner. The prisoner appeared
to offer some resistance, and on Vaughan's attempting
to force him, he drew a knife and stabbed him several
times in the breast. Vaughan cried. out, " I am
stabbed," and felt. He was taken to the station-house,
where be died in less than half au hour. The prisoner
ran'off, but was knocked down and apprehended by a
third policeman. The prisoner stated before the magi-
strates that the deceased struck him on the back and
shoulders and twisted his hand in his neckcloth, and that
be had no other way of defending himself and no inten-
tion of killing the policeman.
His lordship, in summing up, said that there was no
doubt that the death of Vaughan bad been caused by
the prisoner. Now, was the prisoner guilty of murder
or manslaughter. If the deceased was armed with law-
ul when he was arresting the prisoner then the
crime was murder. The authority with which he was
armed empowered him to arrest all " disorderly per-
sona" and " disturbers of the peace." In his lordship's
view all breach of the peace had ceased when the de-
ceased came up to the public house.
After deliberating about a quarter of an hour, the
jury found the prisoner Guilty of manslaughter.
His lordship said he would sentence hint the following
morning.

The verdict was received with some slight cheers in
court, which were quickly subdued. The prisoner, who
had been weeping throughout the time of his trial, ap-
peared greatly relieved by the verdict.