The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-24 00:00:00

TIT E SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY ETENING, MARCH_ 24, 1857.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCP.

gave it him. He went away, and shortly afterwards re.
turned. He said be would bring tLe young man for us
to see, but when he came back he said the young man
would not come, and he bad brought the old one. An
old man came with him and went into the room with
him. The prisoner on the
.56h of January appeared
to be taken ill. He came from home, and said
the witchcraft was en himself, and he bad had two
very bad nights, and that it was Cotton who was doing
it, and that if be did not go to Longton he
should die. He seemed to be shivering, as I was.
He wanted 3/. 10e. to go to Longton. He said
that was to have the witchcraft taken off. When
he came back he said he was obliged to get the super-
intendent of police to break his (Cotton's) door open,
and that he (the prisoner) had been very ill at Longton,
and obliged to have the doctor. He said it was thraush
having had a contest with Cotton. He said he bad seen
Cotton, and that the police went in with him, and that
Cotton was very stubborn. On the fifth attack (on the
Bth of February) I sent for the prisoner. When he came
be said my mother had been to a man at Derby, that I
must be two or three days, and he would try to beat
hills without going to see him. Ile said my mother had
been to Derby to see a man named Wilson to set the
witchcraft on. On the 10th he saidhe must go to Derby,
and I went with him as far as Burton. My wife went
with him, and said she would go, as she was determined
to see if ho (prisoner) was correct. I gave my wife ss.
Oa his return he said he had had a contest with Wilson,
but he had been very stubborn, and he would finish him
in three days. (Laughter.) On the Bth of February
the prisoner brought my breakfast into my room. He
left the house shortly afterwards. I was taken very it
after he had left with shooting pains in my chest and
pains in my head. I was obliged to have it bathed with
vinegar and water. On the 10th be came again, and on
the 11th be brought my breakfast again. I felt the
same symptoms as before. I sent for a surgeon, Mr.
Higgins. I was very ill. My wife then fetched the
prisoner, and when he came I asked him what was the
reason I had been so ill, and had so many attacks. He
said it was through Wilson dying, and I should be better
new. I afterwards ordered the prisoner not to come on
my premises—that was on the 17th of February. There
had been a complaint by the servants. I was better be-
fore the doctor came.
Cross-examined by Mr. Skinner—ln four hours I was
well. Ido not know whether Mr. Higgins is here, and
that is as true as the rest I have said.
Scotl tnd objected to the question in that form.
Mr. Justice Willes said that was a common form.
(Laughter.)

the prisoner. We could not get the cheese to corns, and
the dairymaid was an well. Sammons said the prisoner
weuld cure it. The prisoner told us to turn the dairy-
maid away. We did that the same night, bat the
cheese continued bad. On the 28th April I was very
unwell. I had a great deal of shaking and pains, and so
had the child too. The prisoner had been there on the
27th April. We beard knocks that night, but could
not tell where. Another night, on the 28th, we bear]
the cows all lament, and the herees prancing, the dog
howling, and a many strange not es. There was some-
thing about 3 o'clock that was louder than the dog. The
men were called up. I asked the men to drive it away.
I beard it no more. In the morning I told the prisoner.
He looked sleepy. He said be knew we shculd have an
awful night, but he dursn't tell AS for fear of putting us
in bad spirits. One night be took a knife and plate, and
a -ked me and my husband to go into a room with him
and he would show U 3 all our enemies ; but we were too
11l to go. He would not let Mrs. Copestake go with him.
When he came out of the room there was a blueness
over him. When he went in-he said it would be either
death or gloryte him, and when be came out he said he had
succeeded. He said it was his (prosecutor's) mother who
had done it on us, and the brother on the stock. In bed
one night (the Thursday night) after I was asleep I was
snatched up in bed as straight as I am now, and I was
shaken all to death. The prisoner was in our room
sleeping there. We had no spare room. lie said he
would stay with us a few days till we were better. I
asked the prisoner what he was doing, and he lit the
candle. •He got out of bed and lit the candle. I was
very iii. -The prisoner came to the bed and brought my
Bible. He said it had been with old Bull, of Yeaverley,
aad that was why I was shaken so. (Sensation.) When
I asked what he was doing he said nothing was the mat-
ter; I must go to sleep again. When the prisoner came
to me I asked him to give me a little sip of brandy. I
was better after that. He said his brother wanted the
Bible to take to old Bull, and that was why I was shaken
so. I had several attacks, all shaking.' I saw my husband
pay the prisoner on the 27th, and also a week after. The
witness confirmed the evidence of her husband about their
going to the Froghall station, to see Arnold and another
.man ; and also about their going to Burton to see the man
Piimmer to free them ; and as to the prisoner's story
about taking the police to break open Cotton's door at
Lenten. She then gave an account of her going with the
prisoner to Derby to see a man named Wilson. The
prisoner left her at an inn, and returned in half an hour,
and then accompanied her into the town, and painted
out the house where the man lived. In a week the wit-
ness went to Derby again, to the house next door but
one, and asked who lived in the house pointed out, but
she was told that no person, named Wilson lived there.
But she did not apply at the house itself.
Crose-examined by Mr. Skinner—My child was seven
months old when it died. It was nursed by me. It
died of convulsions two days after the prismur brought
me the Bible. Dr. Higgins attended the child. He is
not here. The baby was a very stout baby till I knew
the prisoner. My mother-in-law was not pleased at our
marriage. I believe she wished that we might rot in
bed, and that
.nobody might come to help us. She said
wetehould never do any good, and all the cheeses would
tumble to pieces. Before we sent to Tunnieliff we could
not make the cheese come. I engaged a dairymaid kern
my mother. There was one cheese very bad before the
prisoner came. The prisoner took four cheeses away.
I don't know that four cheeses were bad. The dairy-
maid came before we sent to Tunnicliff. The dairymaid
was ill and the calves had got "the boost" before the
prisoner Caine.' We thought they were bewitched. The
prisorer told me if I did not send the dairymaid away
that night she would be a wanderer. I sent her to my
mother's that night, before 6. She had been in a wild,
queer way. My shakings lasted for two hours. There
were like cats fighting in the room. I can't tell what
shook me, whether it was a spirit or not. No man
could shake me as I was shaken. (Laughter.) I went
better after the prisoner lighted the candle. A little
spirits (brandy) soothed me, and I went better. The
yells were like unto a dog, but louder. The _yell
wept away when my man (the carman) bid it
go. He is not here to-day. We believed
that we were bewitched from April, 1856, till
February 11, 1857. I never take spirits, except when I
have spasms. I did not see the fiery dog come into the
house, but I saw the blaze. I saw our dog, and then a
dog after it on fire. (Laughter.) I saw the blaze, but
not the dog. Our dog then sat down on his hind legs,
with his tongue out, and his paws hanging down.
(Laughter.) It seemed dying. The girl, Ann Richard-
son, who saw the fire dog, is here. She said if I did not
send the prisoner away, she would go. The prisoner
was then dismissed, the day after I had been to Derby.
On the 11th of February I wished my husband to make
his will, but be wished me to tell the man to make haste,
or be would not see him alive. We sent for Mr. Cope
on the 11th, because we were so terrified. I cannot tell
what was said, I was so terrified at seeing my husband
so ill, and the noises together. My husband has brandy
sometimes ; he is so troubled with the wind. (Laughter.)
I take it for the spasms, and ho for the wind. (Laugh-
ter.) Brandy al ways relieves us. (Laughter.) I asked
Mr. Cope for a sup of brandy, because we had none in
the house. That night there was an awful shake at the
door, and we said the Lord's Prayer. We went over to
Mr. Cope's. I showed my tongue to Mr. Cope to see
how parched up it was. He gave me one glass of neat
gin. _I declined the water. TLe prisoner made this song
and gave me 2s. towards having it printed. It cost 4s.
I never heard it on the dulcimer. The prisoner's daugh-
ter was very bad while she was at our house. I never
saw my husband its a white sheet. She was frightened
at Mrs. Coates's and my husband was there. She had
hysterics that night.
Re examined by Mr. Macnamara,—The prisoner took
away the four cheeses to bury them.
El zabeth. Iltsketb, examined by Mr. Macnamara,
said—l was in the per vice of prosecutor as nurse in 1856.
I remember on one occasion in April the prisoner asked
me for a plate and knife. lie took it into the house. I
saw a blaze and a smoke in the room where he was.
He made wocden crosses and stuck them over the doors.
Cross-examined by Mr. Skinner—When he came out
of the room he appeared as he did before. He worked
regularly on the farm as a servant.
Re-examined by Mr. Scotland—He was a good deal in
the house, and slept there allthe time.
Ann Richardson, examined by Mr. Scotland, said—l
went into the prosecutor's service last New Year's-day.
On the Bth of February my master was taken very ill.
The prisoner took his breakfast to him that morning.
He made the tea and took it with eggs and bacon up
stairs. In about half an hour my master said he felt
very poorly. He complained of his head and stomach.
r was taken ill the same day. The prisoner breakfasted
with me. ' I had coffee: ' In about half an hour I felt
poorly. I had pains in my head and stomach. I felt
Auk. The prisoner went homea I was werse on the
11*, and nay master too. The
,prisouer came on the
10th and said I should be better after that day. They
went to Derby. The next morning the prisoner made
the breakfast and took it up. The same day the' prose-
cuter went out. He returned at 4in the ahernoon, and
was taken very ill in his head and stomach.. The dog
was very bad. The same night•the master was very
and we heard something come into the yard like a car-
riage. Simething came in the passage like the wind.
Toere was our dog and the shape of another dog after it
all on fire. Our dog went'behiud the door in tee yard
with his tongue out. I did not see what became of the
fiery dog. (Laughter.) The prisoner on Sunday night
a-ked me to make him some tea, I refused, because I
thought he had dosed me or bewitched me. (Laughter.)
I complained to my master, and after that the prisoner
left on the 17th of February.
Cross-examined by Ma Skinner—l had some words
with the prisoner. My master and mistress had told me
the prisoner had recommended them to send me away
from my place. He had said he Lad found out some•
thing about me and the cowman, and I gave him a bit
of my mind. My master only took a meat spoonful of
brandy when he was poorly. My master had had some
drink on the 10th—some little. I don't know how a man
looks when he has had some little—l leave that to your
judgment how you look. (Laughter). Both the dogs
came in together. I don't know what became of the
" alive of the dog." I had never seen a " fire dog" be.
fore. I saw it quite plainly. Only me and master's
brother saw it. (Laught`er ) It came in at the door. I.
followed it. It went behind the door that was shut.
I could not think how the dog got through. (Laughter).
I did not smell any brimstone. (Laughter.) Our dog
sat behind the door with his tongue out. It seemed to
me a quarter of a yard long. (Loud laughter.)
John Andersen, examined by Mr. Macnarnara, said,
—I am a police superintendent at Burton. There is a
alio° called Bond-end,
_but not Bond-etreet, at Burton.
There is no person named Plimmer lives there.
E'izabeth Charlesworth, examined by Mr. Scotland,
said—l am a widow and the mother of the prosecutor.
fie married in Dec., 1855. I left him in March, 1856.
I have known the prisoner by eight, and seen him about.
I have never said anything to him about bewitching or
witchcraft. I have never attempted to do any injury. to
my son 'by witchcraft. Ido not know anything of a,
man named Arnold or Bull of Yeaverley, or Wilson or
Plimmer at Burton, nor have I mentioned their namei
to the prisoner,
Cross-examined by Mr. §kinner—l was not dissatis-
fied with my son's marriage. I never said may son woald
never do well, nor that he.would never make any the tee
—it would all tumble in pieces. I did not care about
the marriage. I left because I thought I would gave
place to her. I never threatermid the cheese. I had
bad a few words about taking away the two little boys,
My husband was ill eight months.
By the Judge—l have lived eight years with my eon..
I managed the house for him.
Ellis Crisp, a police inspector at Rugeley, apprehended
the prisoner on the 25th of Feb. In this house he fettled
a root (briony), some leaves, and the printed paper pro-
duced.
Dr. Monkton, of Rugeley, examined by Mr. Sootlartel,
said he had heard the evidence, and he could not farms
any opinion of what had caused the symptoms, lie
had formed an opinion on the evidence given before the)
magistrates. Tho root is the white briony (hrionia
ica). It has irritating properties.
This being the case for the prosecution,
Mr. Skinner said it was laid down thatthe false .pre-
tence must be a false pretence of an existing faot ; but
it was impossible that ,witchcraft could be an existitz
fact, for it was now recognised by the law that witch-
craft could not exist.
Mr. Justice said he was of opinion that the case cam e
within the statute, but that if; on consulting Mr. Ju sae e
Crowder, his lordship should be of a different opinion],
he (Mr. Justice Willes) would reserve the point.
Mr. Skinner then addressed the jury for the defendan t.
He said this case illustrated an old saying, that one fo, )1
made many; and the worst that could 'be said again! t
the prisoner was that he had accepted what the prosect
tor bad said respecting him. It appeared the cheese ha d
for several days been bad, and their man Sammons ha. d
told them that it was bewitched. Bat where was Sarn
tnons I Why was he not called f The proscoutoeft
mother had denied what the preseentor had attributed

OXFORD CIRCUIT, STAFFORD, Mar= 20.
EICTRAORDINARY CASE.
CnThribrAL COURT.--(Before Mr. Justice Willes.)
James Tunnicliff, the keeper of a beershop, called the
Royal Oak, at Thorney-lane, near Nevsborough, in this
county, was charged with obtaining divers sums of money,
amounting in all to about 301., from Thos. Charlesworth,
ey false pretences—viz., by falsely pretending that the
prosecutor (Thos. Charlesworth), his wife, child, cattle,
horses, goods, and chattels were bewitched ; that his
(Thos. Charlesworth's) mother had procured several per-
sons named (Bull and Cotton) to be put upon the spell
and charm of witchcraft ; and that be (the prisoner) had
the power to remove and free them from it. The indict-
ment, of course, negatived the various false pretences.
The case has excited the greatest interest in this coun-
try, not only from the condition of the prosecutor, who
is a substantial farmer, but also from the length of time
the prisoner succeeded in keeping up hie absurd delu-
sion, and the substantial profit he derived from it. The
court was densely crowded throughout the trial, the au-
dience including a considerable number of " witches."
Mr. Scotland and Mr. Macnamara appeared for the
prosecution ; Mr. Skinner and Mr. Davis (instructed by
Mr. George Palmer, of•Rugeley) defended the prisoner.
Mr. Scotland, in opening the case, stated that it was
one of a most extraordinary character, and probably the
jury would learn for the first time that there were still
living in this country those who believed in witchcraft,
and that there were cunning and designing persons who
were ready to take advantage of such credulity to turn
it to their own profit. The learned counsel then proceeded
to state the facts of the case as they were proved in evi-
dence, It appeared that the prosecutor's milk and cheese
were spoiled, and the dairymaid was ill, and, the prose-
cutor not being able to account for it, he was led by his
servant to believe that the cheese, &c., was bewitched,
and to send for the prisoner to get rid of the bewitch-
ment. The prisoner came, and at once told the prosecu-
tor that he (the prosecutor), his wife, horses, cattle, cheese,
and cheese-kettle—(laughter)—were bewitched, and ob-
tained 71, from him to cure them of the witchery. The
prisoner succeeded in getting into the prosecutor's em-
ploy, and by working on his delusions he obtained
various sums of money, amounting to nearly 301. Tho
prosecutor and his wife and servants luffered at
various times from illness of a peculiar nature, which
there was reason to believe was brought on by drugs ad-
ministered by the prisoner. .The prisoner told the prose-
cutor that his mother had got three persons, named Bull,
Cotten, and Wilson, to put the spell upon him and
everything in the house. Ultimately the prosecutor's
child died.
Mr. Skinner here said he hoped. the learned counsel
was not going to open a charge of murder, as that would
prejudice the interests of the prisoner.
Mr. Justice Willes said he understood the learned
counsel introduced the matter in order to negative the
defence which Mr. Skinner might probably set up, that
the prisoner had the power which he pretended to possess.
Mr. Scotland said he should prove that the prisoner
had in his house certain roots and herbs, usual with per-
sons who pretended to witchcraft, though he did not
suggest that the prisoner had made use of them. The
learned counsel then proceeded to contend that it was
absurd to suppose that there was such a thing as witch.
craft, and said he should show that the prisoner must
have known that what he attributed to witchcraft was
the result of merely physical and natural causes. The
learned counsel was about to contend that it was no de.
fence to say that ordinary prud-nce might have protected
the prosecutor from imposition.
Mr. Justice \Vides said all the old cases were overruled.
It was sufficient now if there be any false representa
tion, which was sufficient to take anybody in, be he foo
or be he wise.
The following witnesses were then called
Time. Charles worth, the prosecutor, a very respect
able-looking young man, was examined by Mr. Macna-
mare. He said—l am a farmer, and live at Bromley
Hurst, in this county. I was married at the end of 1855.
My mother at that time was living with me, and left in
the following February. She said she would take my
two little brothers away from me, and I said she should
not. There were some words between us, and she
left. In April we could not get the cheese to turn,
and the dairymaid (Catherine Charlesworth) was
very ill. I could not account for the cheese not
turning. At that time a man named T. Sammons was at
work on my farm. In consequence of a conversation
with him I went to the prisoner's house, on Saturday the
20th of April. He lived at Thorney-lane, about four
miles from my house. He kept a beerhouse. I had known
him 7or 8 years. My wife accompanied me. I saw the
prisoner, and told him we could not got the cheese to
curd, and the dairymaid was ill, and that Mrs. Wellatte
and Sammons said it was bewitched—(laughter)—and
that Sammons told me he was in the habit of stopping
such things as witchcraft. He said he would come over
in the morning, and he should be able to tell me what
was the matter, and who had done it. He said he must
tell his wife he was coming to look at seine calves, •r
she would not let him come for that purpose—the stop-
ping the witchcraft. The next morning he canto into my
house and saw me. When he came in he said all my
cows tied up by the neck were bewitched. They gave
the milk. He said two horses and myself were bewitched,
my wife, the dairymaid, and the cheese-kettle. (Laugh-
ter.) He had not seen the cows nor the cheese-kettle.
He said he could stop it by my paying 3s. 6d. for each of
the cattle, 54. for mystic ss. for the dairymaid, and 54.
for the cheese-kettle. (Laughter.) There were 27 cows
tied by the neck. He wanted all the names of the cows
put down. He said he could free my wife by taking one
hit out of her dress. He said my mother had had a broad
hand on me, and had only put her finger on her. He
said it was my mother who had done it. I gave him all
the names of the cows, and paid him the money, amount-
ing altogether to about Of. cc 71. He asked me to write
a letter to a roan named Conway, in London, for a spell-
book; to set the cattle free. I wrote the letter, and he
took it away. Ile said he must see the horses be-
fore he went. I went with him, and he laid his
hands on them. He then left. He said the dairy
maid must go away. The next day the dairymaid
was no bettor, and the cheese was no better.
(Laughter.) I went neil day and told him so. He
said he would corns over the next morning and sea to it.
I had two cups of ale. On my way borne I was took
very ill. I had shooting pains in my chest, and my
head was very bad. .When I got home I was taken
.with shaking and shivering. The prisoner came the
next day, and saw me in bed, between 8 and 12. He
said I must get up and have a little brandy. He said
he had been round by Utnezeter, or he would have been
sooner. He said he did not think I should have been so
bad, but I should soon be better. Isle did not say why I
had been so bad. He said the reason was because he bad
lead a contest with old Bull of Yeaverley, and he had beat
him. He said my mother had done it, and she had set
Bull on. The prisoner then remained several days at
my house. I got but very little better. I continued
poorly. My mother had been to my house on the pre-
vious Sunday. I mentioned that to the prisoner. He
said she had put a curse on everything, and he must have
more money to free all the young cattle. He charged
me 3s. 6d. a-piece for all the sheep, stirks, and calves,
and ss. for the goods and chattels. (Laughter.) I paid
for 50 sheep, 12 stirks, 11 calves, and 12 pigs. I
paid 3s. 6d. for the pigs. He charged me ss. for my
baby. (Laughter.) I paid about 151, on this occasion.

Cross-examination continued—Sammons is not here.
lam 28. lam the owner of the farm, about 40 acres,
My mother seemed to be offended at my marriage. She
did not say that was why she left me. She went to live
with my grandmother. She said I should not make any
cheese, and it would all tumble to pieces. She came
and said I should never do any good, and the cheese
should all tumble to pieces. (Laughter.) I don't know
whether she said she hoped I might lie in bed and rot,
and nobody would come to help me. My wife or servants
told me she said so. When my mother said that the
cheese fell to pieces I recollect four of them fed to pieces.
I did not know what to think of it. I almost think I
went to Tunnicliff the day my mother left. My mother
left on the 10th of iNfareh, 185 d. On that day her mes-
sage was brought to me. She returned and said the
cheeses shoul I fail to pieces. Tie dairymaid was taken
ill a few days before I went to the prisoner. He told me
I must dismiss the dairymaid ; she must go off the place,
or she would die, and I dismissed her accordingly. lie
did not say I must dismiss her because she could not
make cheese. When I went to the prisoner I told him
I thought there was something wrong i that Mrs. Wil-
latts said I was bewitched. I did believe I was bewitched,
or I should not have gone to the prisoner. Mrs. Willatts
is a neighbour. She is as wise as her neighbours, for
what I know. (Laughter.) Mr. Charleswortb, of Hike,
end, my wife's father, had sent for a Mr. Harrison. He
is a wizard. They are not like blackberries. (Laughter.)
I am not a wizard myself. (Laughter.) I have said I wee
afraid my father was in the same way as I was. lam
right now, sir. (Laughter.) lam not bewitched now.
I have not been bewitched. I have been dosed. I know
Talbot. I saw him, and he said he woold have cured the
witchcraft for me if he bad been sent for, and he would
bave kicked Tunnicliff off the place soon. I thought my
father was bewitched, because he was in a poor low way.
I don't remember that he died of delirium tremens. He
died eight or nine years ago. He used to get drunk
sometimes. Sometimes I take something to drink. I
get a little fresh sometimes, but not drunk. On the 10th
Feb. I did not get drunk and lose my bat on the way
home. Once I lost my hat. The wind blew it off.
Sometimes I keep a bottle by my bedside. It contains
brandy, or perhaps a little gin. Sometimes we have a
little brandy and sometimes a little gin. My " missus "
takes a little. (Laughter.) We take it if we are un-
well, sometimes two or three times in the night. I had
upset my trap, but I was not drunk. The horse was
frightened. I did not tell Mr. Hall, the prisoner's land-
lord, that the prisoner bad had neither money, cheese,
nor bacon from me, hut was working regularly on the
farm. Mr. Hall was going to give the prieoner notice,
because he had heard these tales of witchcraft. This
paper is in my handwriting. I wrote to contradict the
reports in the Uttoxeter newspaper. The prisoner asked
me to write it, and raid they would transport him if I
did not. I said I would build a house for the prisoner.
The prisoner said he had 1001. he should like to lay out.
I don's recollect saying to Mr. E. Bannister that I never
gave him money, cheese, or bacon. I have so, because
the prisoner said if I said anythingabout money he would
be transported for seven years. I should not have gone
against the prisoner if I had not found him out. When
the prisoner left on the 17th of Feb. I reckoned with
the house,been
he
Royalr withk.
my 1
brandy in my pocket. I had been very ill, and Mr.
Higgins recommended me t have a little brandy. 1
never said to Edward Bannister I would sell my wife for
a shilling. I have never been downright drunk in Ban-
arn'igdhatppthearmedy
house. The new dairy air id, Ann Richardson, told me
Ban-
nister's presence. Mr. Copeh
tehhaaremedehotuooseee
be a hail of fire
athllaotrmi
flyred.og
shhaedsgaoidneotherreouagpp
behind him. Some one said the house was all lighted
by the fire. I was very ill. Mr. Cope came over to me
on the 11th of February. I don't recollect felling him 1
was bewitched again. I don't remember his saying
"Oh, nonsense !" He said the dog had had something
given to her, and she would die. I did not say that the
dog had had rabbits' entrails and had had too much. I
did net say we had drunk all the brandy. My wife
asked if he had any. I did not pour out what there was
and drink it myself. Ido not recollect my wife saying to
Cope that the house would have faden down just now if
we had not said the Lord's Prayer, for there had been a
noise like an earthquake. I don't undertake to say it
was not said. I have two dogs. I was sober. We
were not all drunk. I had only a little drop of ale, and
Mr. Cope asked us to have some gin. My wife sent for
a lawyer to make my will. That was the night I said
my father was is the same way as myself. Mr. Harvey
was by. Mr. Cope gave us some gin, and I and my
wife took it neat. I had not told Cope six weeks before
I wont to the prisoner that I had been bewitched and
that I attributed it to my mother. I swear I was not
drunk for several days before the 11th. I had a sup on
the 10th—some brandy et Burton—with the prisoner.
I did not throw my boot at the servant that night. Mr.
Cope has not advised us to eat more and drink less, and
we should be better. Nor did farmer Brown. Brown
said I was a fool for going to Tunnicliff, and ought to
kick him off the place, for he was doing the witchcraft.
He did not say it was delirium tremens, and it 'would
kill me if I continued drinking. I told Mr. Pott that
when I was going to Tunnicliff'e I saw a wanderer on the
road, and my garters came untied, and that I was be-
witched. (Laughter.) I don't know how they became
untied. (Laughter.) I lost one calf before I went to
Tunnicliff. Tunnicliff drenched two that were ill and
cured them the first day he came to work. I don't be-
lieve in the witching now, not since my wife went to
Derby, and found there was no man named Wilson.
That was the 10th Feb. I did not tell farmer Pott a
fortnight ago that I had got a lamb bewitched.
Pott said the lamb was bewitched, 'and he had
himself been bewitched several times. The prisoner
has a daughter. She is subject to fits. I had not put on
a white sheet and gone after her to the pump to frighten
her. (The witness hesitated.) I may have done it to one
of the servants sometimes. I have not done it to the girl
in bed. I have heard her complain. I believe she had
two or three fits at our house. She was subject to them
before she came. One night my wife was shaken very
badly with shivers, the same as I was. The prisoner
worked with me as a labourer. He went home when
he liked. He (Tunnicliff) gave roe this printed paper,
and said he composed it. (It was some doggrel verses
about witchcraft.)

(This evidence was objected to, but after a long discus-
sion was admitted.) Shortly after this the prisoner
came into my house as a servant. That was a few
days after. He remained till the 7th of February in
this year. During that time I bad five attacks of ill-
ness ; the symptoms were generally the same as at the
first. When I was attacked the second time the
prisoner said my mother bad been to a man at
Longton, named Cotton, and she had set Cotten to
do it. Ile said he must go and see Cotton, which
I suppose he did. He afterwards told me he and

his
wife had been to see him, and it cost him 1/.
I did not pay him that. He said Cotton had charged
him 11. to show books against him. Ho said he (pri-
soner) had beaten him. On the third attack I conversed
with the prisoner about it, and he said my mother had
done it, and she bad been to a man at Badley Hedge_
and there were two working against me and my wife and
baby,. that they were putting witchcraft upon me. I
and my wife went with him to see the man. We went
to Freghall station. The prisoner said we must wait at
the station while ho went to see Arnold. Be went to
Badley Hedge, and then came back and said that Arnold
lived at Kingsley. Before he left us at the station Is
said my wife must not fear if she felt anything. He
asked me for 103. to get admitted at Arnold's house, to
show books with him. I gave it to him. He stayed
away bout half-an-hour. He then said there had bees
two at work, and that was why my wife was so bad.
He said le could beat the other man without going to
him. My wife was taken very ill, and likewise the baby.
The symptoms were the same as I had had. She was

Re-examined by Mr. Scotland—While prisoner was
with me I had two pigs ill, and seven cows slipped their
calves.

taken with shivering and shaking. He said that thero
were two working on us at that time, and that was the

By a Juror—The cheeses fell to pieces in a fortnight
after they were made. They cracked as they were on
the floor. Sometimes they did not come well. I never
had a cheese crack before.
Elizabeth Charlesworh, examined by Mr. Seotland,
said she was the wife of the prosecutor. There had been
something the matter With the cheese before we went to

reason my wife was so ill. On the fourth attack the
prisoner said my mother had been to a man at Burton,
named Plimmer, in Bond•street. Ho said he must go
and see Plinmer. He wanted vs. to see Plimmer, I

to her abdut the cheese. That showed the delusions
under which the prosecutor himself was labouring before
he went to the prisoner, and that he had induced the
prisoner to believe what he himself represented to him.
When the prisoner came to the house be advised the
prosecutor to get rid of an incompetent dairymaid, and
he cured the calves. Another dairymaid was engaged,
and at length she was got rid of; and after that there
was no complaint mat of the cheese, and the reason
was that a cornpeteLt servant was employed. The pro-
secutor's child died of convulsions—an ordinary disease,
but the doctor who attended the clod'] was not called.
The reason probably was that he would have been able
to prove that the prosecutor and his wife were sufferirg
from delirium tremens, brought on by drinking habits.
The scene in the bedroom was merely the effect of an
hysterical fit and the spasms, which always came on when
the brandy was wanted. Did the jury believe a word
spoken by the girl Ann Richardson ebo.ut the " fieiy
dog 'I" The only question was whether it was true that
when the prisoner left and went through the account
with the prosecutor he had worked out all the money he
bad received from the prosecutor. The prisoner could
not be called to give his version of the case, so that it
rested entirely on the evidence of the prosecutor. He
would therefore call Mr. Cape to %how the state in
which the prosecutors were on the night when they went
to his house, and he would cad upon them to say that no
credit was to be givejs to their statements. •
Samuel Cope, examined by Mr. Davis, said—l am a
farmer, living within a few yards of the prosecutor's
house. I was called to his house between 8 and 9 o'clock
on the 11th February. The prosecutor and his wife were
there and Miss Richardson. The prosecutor had the
brandy bottle in one hand and the glass in the other.
He asked me if I would have some brandy. Ho was'
drunk. I said I would not have any, and he drank it
himself. He asked me if I bad any brandy, and I said I
had not. He said there was like 20 carriages coming in
the yard. He then said he was so bewitched that he
thought the house would have fallen on them. Mrs.
Charlesworth said it would have fallen down if they had
not said the Lord's Prayer. I saw nothing the matter.
I saw the doefed with rabbits' entrails: The dog was
afterwards in a bad state. The prosecutor and his wife
came to my house. They said they durst not stop.
She wanted to send for a lawyer to make his will.
She said their mother had done it all. She said their
mother's family were all given to witchcraft,' and
were all bad ones. She showed me how her lips
vh re parched. I said she had better give them a little
gin and water. She took a glass of gin neat. The pi:o-
secutor came home shouting at all hours of the night.
He bad been drinking all that week. •
Cross-examined by Mr. Scotlsnd—l have been on
good terms with the prosecutor. He bas bad words with
me. Mrs. Charles worth was drunk when she came. She
poured some gin down her husband's throat.
Thorns Brown, another farmer, said that in May last
he was requested by his mother to talk with the prose-
cutor. He did so, and told him iz was nothing but de-
lirium tremens, brought on by drink, and he would die.
He told me positively that he had paid the prisoner no
money except for wages.
Cross-examined—l have known the prisoner for forty
years as an hone,t man. It was a month or two be-
fore Christmas I spoke to the prosecutor. I saw him in
bed with shiverings. It was like delirium tremens,
which I have seen. . .

Thomas Pott, another farmer, said the prosecutor had
told him he and his wife .and his cattle were all be-
witched. He was drunk at the time. He said a wan-
derer had undone his garters. •
James Wativ, a manservant, lodging at the Royal
Oak, proved that on the 11th of February last he saw
the prisoner go to bed at 8 o'clock, and that he left him
in bed at 5 o'clock the next morning.
Edwin Bannister, a saddler, proved that the prose-
cutor was often drunk, and that on one occasion he said
he would sell his wife for 6,1. (Laughter.) He had seen
the prisoner working on the farm.

Tilis was the caselor the defence.
' Mr. Scotland having replied,
Mr. Justice Wiles very carefully summed up the evi-
dence, and finally left it to the jut'y to say whether the
defendant had made the false representations charged in
the indictment, and whether he had thereby obtained
any money from the prosecutor. There could be no
doubt the prosecutor was a very weak and foolish, and
perhaps drunken person, but he was still protected by
the law. The main question was, whether the jury could
believe the evidence given by the prosecutor and his
wife. If they did, they must find the prisoner guilty ;
if, not, they must acquit him.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty.
Mr. Justice Willes, after conferring with Mr. Justice
Crowder, maid that learned Judge entirely concurred
with him in opinion that the pri oner had been properly
convicted. -He had practised on the folly and weakness
of the prosecutor and his wife, and thereby obtained
from them as much as 221.

Higi Lordship then sentenced the prisoner to twelve
months' imprisonment with hard labour.

SUBMARINE TELEG.RAPLIS;

An interesting paper on submarine telegraphs, by
Mr. Brett, was read before the Royal Institution on
Friday evening—the Duke of Northumberland in
the chair.
The author commenced by stating that he should
confine himself to a narrative of the part he Lad
taken in the promotion of submarine te'egraphs,
and of the difficultie3 he had had to encounter in
submerging them, partie.nlarly in the IlleEerra-
nean. A mighty progress in science had led to the
application of the power of electricity to telegraphic
purposes, and the wide ocean had been spanned by
this bond of intercourse. He disclaimed the merit of
being the first to invent the submarine telegraph, but
the idea occurred to him in 1845, when he and his
brother registered a plan for uniting America with
Europe ; and in the same year made a proposition
to the Government to unite our colonies with the
mother country ; but their offer not being accepted,
they turned their atten'ion to the continent, and
received such encouragement from Louis Napoleon
that in 1850 an experimental telegraphic wiro was
submerged between England and France. The
author described the operation of laying it, and
the excitement which attended the first opening of
instantaneous communication between those coun-
tries. The day *after the line was laid it snapped
asunder, but the possibility of communicating by a
submarine telegraph having been established, it was
not long before another and more permanent line
was laid down. In 1853 the Doverand. Os send cable
was submerged, in length about 70 miles. The depths
encountered up to thistime had been, comparectively
speaking, trifling, the deepest part of the British
.Chancelnot exceeding 50 fae hems. The next trial was
in the unknown depths of the Medit :Trap can. Coneeb •
sions were granted to the author in 1854 by the
French and Sardinian Governments to unite those
countries with Africa, and the same year cables
were successfully laid down between Piedmont and
the island of Corsica, and between Corsica and Sar-
din;a—not, however, without many mishaps. He
detailed some of them. The cable lay in the hold
of a largo steamer, and before paying (but was passed
several times round two large iron drums, to check
its progress when necessary. 'For a tine all went
on well, when suddenly the cable commenced run.
nirig out with the utmost impetuosity, carrying
everything before it, and causing the great?statarm
for the safety of the men in the hold, about 20 in
number, engaged in hauling it out. About a couple
of miles• had run out before its flight could be
arrested. When at length brought up by a
sudden stop, it was • found that the insulation of
the line had been impaired, consequently the
injured portion bad to be recovered from the sea,
and cut out, a difficult and laborious operation.
The cause of the accident was the great weight
of the length of cable in suspension when passing
over a'deep hole in the bottom, of the•sea. The
submarine cable for connecting Sardinia with. Africa
in length 150 miles, and weighing 1,200 tons, was
manufactured the same year, but the author found
it impossible to obtain, either in this country or in
France, a steamer of sufficientsize tolay it, all being
engaged in consequence of the war. A large sailing
vessel, towed by steamers, was employed, which
becoming unmanageable, lost her course, and there
was not sufficient cable to reach land. Under these
circumstances it was determined to sever it, when
about 26 miles had been paid out, and save the re-
mainder for another attempt, which was made
shortly afterwards from a steamer, and, with a
longer cable. Every precaution was taken on this
occasion; nevertheless, when about 60 miles bad
beensubmerged, another of those sudden and alarm-
ing runs of the cable occurred, causing, as before,
the utmost anxiety for the safety not only of the
cable, but of the persons on board exposed to
the violent action of the iron coil. Finding that
the insulation of the cable was impaired by the ac-
cident, and that the injured portion could not be
recovered from the sea at this end, to be cut out
as before, it was decided to sever the cable, and re-
turn to Sardinia to recover it from the other end,
which done the vessel steamed along under the ca-
ble until it reached the injured part,-when a fresh
join was made. This operation was successfully
carried out, and considerable progress made, when
the vessel was driven out of is course by currents,
and again there was not enough cable to reach land.
Under these circumstances it was determined to

buoy the end of the cable and telegraph to Eng-
land for more ; but while waiting the return of a
steamer from Algiers, sent to procure a barge or
lighter whereon to secure the cable, rough weather
ca-me on, and a violent plunge of the vessel severel
the cable, thus retarding for a time the completion
of the enterprise, the difficulties of which are
proved by the fact that depths of nearly two miles
were encountered. The author concluded by al-
luding to the progress made in the preparations for
laying the cable between England and America.

It is intended to attach the depots of the 28d Welsh
Fusiliers, 82d Regiment, 90th Light Infantry, and 93d
Highlanders—the head-quarters of which are under
orders to embark- for China—to the Provisional Bat
talion, Chatham, as soon as rum can be provided fo
them at that garrison.