The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-21 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE:

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—YoRK MAR 19.
CROWN COURT.— (Before Mr. Justice Crompton,)
George Bell, 40, was indicted for attempting, on the 14th
of Apy74-185S, to administer to one Thomas Bell two
drachms of prussic acid, with intent to kill and murder
him.

Mr. Pickering briefly steed the.leading facts of the case.
The, prosecutor was a farmer, residing at a village called
indall, a few miles from l3riilington, in the East Riding.
The prisoner was h;s brother, and up to May, 1855, had
resided at a farm called Finley-hill, about a mile from
Grindall. The case against him was that in April, 1856,
he had put some prus4ic acid into a bottle of sherry, and
sent it by railway to Grindall for his brother to take. For-
tunately, however, his suspicions were aroused, and in con-
sequence of the peculiar smell of the liquid when poured
out into a tumble,,-he-merely tasted a little, and then spat
it out. It would be asked, what motive could the prisoner
have to attempt such a crime as the one charged against
him ? Thomas Bell, the prosecutor, was in possession of
some landed property under his father's will ; be was mar-
ried, and if he died without issue that property would go
to the prisoner for his life.

The jury returned with a verdict of Guilty, mom-
mendit?g the prisoner to mercy.

The learned judge sentenced - the prisoner to be trans
ported for the term of his natural life.

HOME CIRCUIT.-KINGSTON, MARCH 20.

Mr. Justice Crass Well did not get through the criminal
business at Lewes until Thursday afternoon, and at the
conclusion of the assizes the young woman Eleanor Jane
Sfa:pur, who was convicted of robbing her mistress, Lady
Vincred, was brought up for judgment- and sentenced to 15
months' hard labour. The commission for the county of
Surrey was 'opened on Thursday in this town by Mr. Baron
Channel], and to-day business was proceeded with in both
courts, Mr. Justice Cresswell presiding on the Civil Side
an) Mr. Baron Channell in the Crown-Court.-
There are 22 prisoners for trial, and there are two charges
of murder and several other serious cases to be disposed of.
On the Civil Side 49 causes are entered, 15 of which are to
be tried by special juries. This is a much smaller number
than usual at these assizes, which is probably owing to a
great many attorneys being engaged in connexion with the
general election, and having consequently not entered their
causes for trial.

The special jurors, it appears, are only summoned to ap-
pear on Wednesday next, but the nature of the business
appears to be such that it is doubtful whether there will be
sufficient common jury cases to occupy the Court until that
day, and their attendance has therefore been required on
Tuesday instead of Wednesday. Those gentlemen who do
not receive such notice will probably, notwithstanding,
feel it their duty to attend on the earlier day, as their pre-
sence might materially expedite the business of the assizes.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—DERBY, MARCH 19.
Civil, SIDE.
(Before Lord Campbell and a Common Jury.)
CURRIE V. TURNER.

This was an action for breach of premise of marriage, to
which the defendant bad pleaded that be made the promise
when he was in such a state of drunkenness as not to know
whit be was about.

Mr. Brewer and Mr. Beasley conducted the plaintiff's
case, and Mr. Macaulay, Q. C., and Mr. Field the defend-
ant's.

The defendant is the son of an attorney in Yorkahire,and
is in partnership with a Mr. Mason as a millowner at May-
field in this county, anti the plaintiff's father was, from
Nov., 18-,6, to the month of Feb. last, the manager of Ma-
son and Turner's mill, in which the plaintiff herself was
employed as .a winder, and also her two brothers. It ap-
peared that the defendant, who was about 23 years old,
soon after the family of the Corries came to Mayfield, be-
gan to pay great attention to the plaintiff, and, having
frequently visited at the father's house, expressly asked
and obtained his consent to their marriage on the 29th of
December, whereupon the defendant said he should see
about the settlement immediately, and he did accordingly
in a few days go to a solicitor named Welsh, and
gave instructions for the preparation of the settlement.
The wedding-day was fixed for the sth of February, and
on the 4th the defendant went for the license '• but, the
vicar not being at home, he could not get it that day, and
it became necessary to put it off to the 7th of February.
Bnt before that day came the defendant's father came over
and broke off the match.

The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff.—Damages,
2501.

WITHAM AND WIFE V. WRIGHT AND OTHERS.
This wai an action against the Butterley Iron Company
foian injury sustained by the female plaintiff owing to
the neglect of the defendants proparly to fence off a rail-
way cutting belonging to them at Crich.
The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff.--Damages,
2001.

THE ASHOVER BURGLARY.
Thomas Wootton pleaded guilty to the commission of
the burglary at the home of the Rev. Mr. Nodder at
Ashover on the 201,11 of February, the particulars of which
have so recently app-ared in our columns.
His previous conviction having been proved,
The leained Judge sentenced him to be transported for
25 years.

WESTERN CIRCUIT. —ExEmu, MAncrr 18.
John Brown arid Thomas Hocking were indicted for a
burglary in the dwelliughouse of John \William Joy, at
Kingskerswell, on the 29th of November.
The jury acquitted Brown, and convicted Hocking, and
he was sentenced to be kept to penal servitude for six
years.

- Bray was then put to the bar to be sentenced, he having
pleadod guilty to another burglary and another offence, he
having been before convicted of felony. He was a ticket-
of-leave man. He was now sentenced to siz years' penal
servitude.