The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-23 00:00:00

The substance of the wall of the vagina protruded,
and this portion appeared to be lifeless. However,
Dr. Wilson replaced it, and afterwards treated the
lacerated part with chlorate of lime 'and of soda, in
consequence of his perceiving that there was a
sloughy discharge. The deceased lived until the
22d April, and then died of the effects produced by
the wound. Medical ix itnesses for the prosecution
admitted on cross-examination that the instruments
used by the prisoner are sometimes properly em-
pioyed for thepiirpme forwhich it was alleged the
prisoned had used them,'btit they were, of opinion
that if used with ordinary skill and caution such a
laceration could not be made, except it were ona-
sioned by some extraordinary and sudden move-
ment of the patient, although some medical men
take the precaution of using padded instruments,
and lacerations might sometimes occur in spite of
the greatest skill and caution.
On the part of the prosecution it was suggested
that the prisoner had either been deficient of ordi-
nary skill and caution, or had, by intoxication,
rendered himself unfit to discharge his duties.
The evidence of the witnesses for the prosecution
was conflicting upon *the question of the prisoner's
condition as to sobriety on the night of the 11th.
Some of the witnesses spoke of his appearing to be
" fresh" and staggering up the stairs, which were
very narrow, on his return with the instruments.
One of them declared that he was perfectly sober,
and it did not appear that during the whole time
he was with deceased he took any stimulant beyond
a single glass of brandy-and-water, which was give ;
him by one of the women in attendance, by direc-
tion of the deceased's husband. Mr. Thackeray had
it appeared, been attending other cases during the
previous night, and was nOt only a nervous man,
but was much exhausted. The witnesses for the
prosecution concurred in their evidence as to the
kindness and tenderness with which throughout he
had treated the deceased.
Mr. O'Brien having addressed the jury,
His Lordship summed up, and commented on the
facts and law of the case, on its importance both to
the security of the public and to the calm and effec-
tual discharge of their duties by medical men, who
were often called upon to act in cases of great and
sudden emergency.
The jury retired to deliberate, and after an ab-
sence of some hours, returned a verdict of guilty,
with a recommendation to mercy.
The prisoner was sentenced to 12 months' im-
prisonment without hard labour.

111IDDL_ESEX SESSIONS.-July 21.

(Before Mr. Bodkin, Assistant-Judge.) .
James Wiltshire, a guardsman (Coldstream),
surrendered to take his trial on a charge of wilfully
inflicting upon a boy grievous bodily harm.
Mr. Daly was for the prosecution, and Mr. F. H.
Lewis for the defendant.
It appeared that some boys, among them the pro-
secutor, the son of very respectable parents, named
Leverson, were playing a game called " duck," near
Museum-street, on the 4th instant, when the de-
fendant went up, and, according to the evidence of
one of them, struck Leverson under the left ear
and stunned him. After that he picked him up
by the leg and back part of his trousers, swung
him round, and then his arm was broken in two
places. After the assault the defendant ran away,
but was followed and charged. The boys obsti-
nately denied that the term " lobster" was applied
to the defendant by any of them.
Mr. Lewis, for the defence, urged that it was in-
credible that a man who had been five years an
exemplary soldier, and had fought in the Crimea,
could be guilty of doing this injury to the poor boy
wilfully and maliciously. He had been irritated
by some quarrel between Leverson and his young
brother, arid struck him in a moment of
.passion,
but without any intention of doing him injury.
The prisoner's sergeant said the prisoners con-
duct was orderly and excellent. He had been in
the regiment five years,and had never been re-
ported, and served in he Crimea eight or nine
months.
The jury found the defendant guilty on the count
for a common assault.
The defendant, in answer to the learned judge;
said he was very sorry for what had occurred,`and
the injury was quite accidental. He was willing
to do all he could by way of compensation.
The Assistant-Judge asked if the defendant would
be subjected to any military punishment after he
came out of prison
'The sergeant said he would not. When his time
was up they would send to the prison for him.
The Assistant-Judge said, considering all the cir-
cumstances, the sentence would be four months'
hard labour.