The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-13 00:00:00

TRIAL OF &POLLEN FOR THE MURDER

OF MR. LITTLE.

ACQUITTAL OF SPOLLEIV.
DUBLIN, TUESDAY EVENING.
, Chief Justice Monahan summed up this morning elabo-
'rately and impartially. He referred to the extent and na-
ture of the wounds and the weapons with which the mur-
der was probably committed. He dwelt strongly on the
circumstance that access to the building might be bad by
others besides the prisoner ; although, doubtless, Spollen
had much greater facility than any other person, from the
nature of his employment. The learned judge regretted
that the servant, Catherine Campbell, was not produced,
and observed that no evidence was given to connect the
hammer found in the canal with Spollen. The facts con-
nected with the razors, his lordship said, were important ;
but the identification of the sun-bonnet was the principal
feature in the case. The statement of the prisoner to In-
spector Ryan, that he returned home at half-past 5 o'clock
on the evening of the murder was disproved by the chil-
dren's evidence, which deserved the most serious attention
of the jury. His lordship then road over the deposition
and evidence of Joseph Spollen, commenting upon the dis-
crepancies between it and that of his sister. Throughout
the judge's charge, the prisoner maintained his usual calm
and collected be:.rine:.
The charge of the learned judge occupied more than four
hours and a-half in delivery, and theconcluding portion of
it was delivered in a most solemn and impressive manner.
The raz-rs, hammer, and calico rag having been handed
to the jury, they retired' to consider their verdict at 20
minutes to three o'clock. The prisoner was then removed.
Having remained in consultation for an hour and a half,
the door of the jury-room was opened, and the prisoner was
then placed at the bar. He was paler than when he had
been removed, held the rail in front of the clock with a
Inervous grasp, and watched the jury with intense and evi-
dent anxiety. '

THE VARDICT.
At ten minutes past four o'clock the jury came into the
box, and the foreman halded down the issue paper.
Mr. Alley, the Clerk of the Crown, baying called over
the names of the jurors sail—Gentlemen of the jury do
you agree to your verdict?
Foreman—• Yes.

Clerk of the Crown—You say James Spollen is not
guilty. (Some applause in the gallery, which was imme-
diately suppressed.)
The prisoner on the entrance of the jury, had stood up
from his seat in the dock and leaned forward on the bar,
manifestly endeevouriug to maintain his self-possession.
immediately on hearing the finding he sunk into the arms
of the gaolers in a half fainting condition. His necktie
was loosened by those about him, and his face and bead
were bathed with water. While in this state ho audibly
uttered the words "My children." In the meantime,
The Foreman of the Jury said—My lords, we hope that
from the long attendance we have bad in this case that
we shall be exempt from attending on trials for some time
Chief Justice Monahan—This is the last case, gentle-
men. The business of the commission has concluded.
The Foreman—Oh, but on future occasions. We would
wish to be exempt for a year or so.
Chief Justice—Oh, I have no power to do so.
The prisoner having now recovered came forward to the
bar, and in a somewhat broken manner addressed the
Court as follows :—" Well, my lords and gentlemen, I
find that lam not exactly deceived. My conviction was
fixed that I stood before 12 of my countrymen—men of
age, experience, and that had happy firesides, and confi-
dence in their family circles. I thought that they would
impartially take my case into consideration, and they have
done so. It is not for me to commence to praise myself,
but I have been brought here in a wrongful way—wrong-
fully by—l will not condemn the woman. I always liked
the man and I loved the woman ; hut it is a dreadful thing
to be in the hands of a female tigress. I should have re-
turned thanks to the two gentlemen, the honourable gen-
tlemen, pillars of the law on the bench. I may be too
sensitive when I say the servants of the Crown have black-
ened my character too much in their addresses to the jury.
I have, however, thanks be to God, escaped (raising his
hands), thanks and praises be to God 1 Amen. (Here the
prisoner sat down on the chair in the dock, but immedi-
ately rose and began speaking again.) My character, I
am afraid, must remain triflingly impaired—my children,
the only ones I love, I have to provide for. (The prisoner
here again was overcome by his feelings.) If I bad means
to retire to some—

Chief Justice Monaghan—ls there any other charge
against the prisoner?

Governor Of the Gaol—No, my lord.
Spollen proceeding—lf I can find means of retiring to
an asylum in some of these colonies where I can continue
for the remainder of my life to support existence, and to—
Chief Justice Lefroy—Do the Crown intend to proceed
with any other charge against the prisoner ?
Mr. O'Donohoe—l am not instructed that the Crown
intend to proceed with any other charge against the pri-
soner.

Spolien proceeded to say—To the gentlemennf the press
I return my sincere and hearty thanks for the manner in
which they remained silent during my incarceration. As
for shaking hands it would be foolish in me to do so. The
public witnessed the untiring energy and scrutiny with
which, as the gentleman himself said, he had grown old in
the service, your hon. friend Mr. Curran, my counsel, and
the untiring energy he displayed. But he is not so old in
the service that he does not retain a large fund of that
which will go to support many and many a poor client be-
neath his able hands. May he live many a day with a
similar case as mine to defend !

(Sounds of cheering outside the court-house became
audible as soon as the news of the verdict had passed oat•.)
Mr. Curran—lt would be well if the prisoner were not
discharged immediately. There are great crowds outside.
Mr. Sidney—Your Lordship will please to order his dis-
charge.
Chief-Justice Monahan—Ho is now formally discharged
by the jury and the Court.
Mr. Sidney--Tho jailor will kindly assist him in retiring
privately.
The Court was then adjourned.