The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-07 00:00:00

N°.17,925.] LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING S

PUBLICATIONS.

13, Great inrlborough-street.
MR. COLBURN'S NEW BOOKS.
NOW READY.

MEMOIRS of a HUNGARIAN LADY. By THERE AE
ITI,SZKY. With an Historical Introduction by FRANCIS
11.7LSZKY. 2 vols., 21s. bound.

11.
Vol. H. of EVELYN'S DIARY and CORRESPONDENCE. New
Ilevlzed and Cheaper Edition. 10.;: W. bound.

•
The Rev. R. MIL3IAN'S LIFE of TASSI. 2 role. 21e. bound,

IV.
LIVES of the PRINCESSES of ENGLAND. By Mrs. EVERETT
GREEN. 2 vols. 21s. bound.

Sir JAMES ALEXANDER'S A.CADIS ; or, Seven Tears'
Explorations in British America. 2 vols. 21s. bound.
Yr.

BURKE'S LANDED GENTIti" for MO, corrected to the Present
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bound.

PEPTS' DIARY and CORRESPONDENCE. New, Cheaper, and
Revised Edition. b vols. I Os. 6d. each, 'mini.

VIII

REVELATIONS of the LIFE of PRINCE TALLEYRAND. By
31. COLMACHE, Private Secretary to the Prince. Second and
Cheaper Edition. 1 vol. 10s. 6d bound.

The OLD JUDGE ; or, Life inn Colony. By the Author of " Sam
Wick." Cheaper Edition. 1 yol. 10s. 6(1. bound.

X.
ADVENTURES of a GREEK L U)Y, the Adopted Daughter of
the late Queen Caroline. 2 vols. 21s. bound.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Diarlborough• street.

NOTICE.
AIR. AINSWORTH'S "WINDSOR
CASTLE." A New Edition (being the FOURTH RE-
PRINT of this Romance) is NOW READY, and may be had of
all Booksellers, and at all Railway Stations. Price Is. hoards, or
Is. 61. cloth.
Also, by the same Author, ROOK WOOD, CRICIITON, and THE
MISER'S DAUGHTER, price Is. each.
London : Chapman and Hall, 186, Straid.

On Thursday neat will be published,
1/U FF' S GUIDE TO TUE TURF,
FOR 1851.

SPRING EDITION.
CONTENTS:-

The Nominations for 1859, completed up to the sth of March, and
the Derby, Oaks, St. Leger, and Great Yorkshire for 1851.—A
C Alendar of the Races in 1649, up to the close, of the year.—A.
List of the Trainers and Jockles.—Derby, St. Leger, and Chester Cup
Lots.—Lass s of Races.—Lengths of Courses.—Winners of Derby,
Oaks, and St. Leger, &e., &c.
Loudon: R. Ackcrmann, Eclipse Sporting Gallery, 191, Regent-
street.

-.111.a.6 ROYAL POLYTECHNIC
INSTITUTION, REGENT-STREET.

Sir Henry R. Bishop's Lectures on Music, with Vocal Illustrations,
on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Evenings at Eight, and oa Tues-
day, Thursday, and Saturday, at Three o'clock.—lllustrations oa
Astronomy, by Dr. Bachhoffner, on Wednesday and Friday, at One
o'clock during Lent.—Dr. Bachhoffner's Lecture on the Philosophy
of Scientific Recreation, Mornings and Evenings.—A Lecture by J.
H. Pepper, Esq., on the Chemical Relation of the Metals —Dissolving
Views of London in the Sixteenth Century, and as it now is, with a
Descriptive Lecture.—Also, a Series of Views of Rome.—Experi-
memts with the Diver and Diving-bell, &c., Sec.
Admission,ll.--Sohools, Half-price.

HARKER'S YORK HOTEL,
ST. HELEN'S-SQUARE, YORK.
C. HARKER (late 6f the White Horse) begs to inform his friends
and the public that he has entered upon the above old-established
Hotel, for many years known as the York Tavern.
The interior of the Hotel has recently been thoroughly repaired,
decorated, and refurnished, and Is now replete with every conve-
nience and comfort.
The Establishment affords ample accommodation for Families and
for Professional and Commercial Gentlemen, and will be conducted
in every respect in the first style.
P. ii. having taken the adjoining house, lately occupied by the
Misses Hall, Intends setting the same apart entirely for the use of
Commercial Gentlemen as Stock Rooms.
Geod Stabling and Lock-up Coach-bosses.
'York, March 1, 1850.

TIIIRTr-FIRST EDITION.

Illustrated by 26 Anatomical Coloured Engravises on Steel.
32i PHYSICAL DISQUALICATIONS, GENERATIVE INCA.PA •
CITY, AND IMPEDIMENTS TO MARRIAGE.
'few 'Edition, enlarged to 196 pages. Just published, price 2s. 6d., or
by post, direct from the Establishment, 38. 6d. In postage stamps,
Tl 4 RSILENT FRIEND, a Medical Work on
the ingrmities and decay of the generative system, from ex-
essive indulgence, infection, and the inordinate use of mercury,
alth remarks on Marriage, and the, moans of obviating certain d'a-
inalilleationa. Illustrated by 26 Coloured Engravings. By R. and
6. PERRY and CO., Consulting Surgeons, 12, Berners-street, Ox-
ord-street, London. Published by the Authors : sold by Strange,
11, Paternoster-row; Hannay, 63, and Sanger, 150, Oxford-street;
3truie,l3, Titaberneostreet, Haymarket; and Gordon, 146, Leaden-
call-street.
PART I. treats of the anatomy and physiology of the re-productive
irgans, and is illustrated by Six Coloured Engravings.
PART 11. treats of the consequences resulting from excessive indal-
pnce, and their lamentable effects on the system, producing mental
rid bodily weakness, nervous excitement, and generative neapacity.
llauverated by Three Explanatory Engravings.
Para 111. treats of the diseases resulting Ironi infection, either in
;no-primary or secondary form, and contains explicit directions for
their treatment. This section is illustrated by Seventeen Coloured
lingravings.
PART IV. contains a Remcdy for ,the Prevention of Dieease
by a simple application, by which the danger of infection e ob-
viated. This Important part of the Work should no eserae the
•ader's notice.
PART V. is devoted to the consideration of marriage, and its
duties. Tho causes of unproductive union are also considered, and
the whole subject critically and philosophically inqaired into.
TanOortnilt. BALM OF STAIACIIM is exclusicsly employgd in treat-
lag nervous and sexual debility, impotence, £c., 11e. and 335. per
b stile. The Concentrated Detersive Fisence, an anti-syphilitic
remedy, for pnrifying the blood ir cases of infection, secondary symp-
toms, eruptions, and the abuse of tre:cury, I Is. and 338. per bottle.
Perry's Purifying Specific F.:15, 2e. 9d., 45. 6d., and 1 Is. par box, a
certain remedy for gonorrhoea, elect, stricture, and chronic inflamma-
lon of the bladder. ,onsnitation fee, if by letter, Si. A minute
detail of the case is fermis ad : age, habits, and position in society.
Si Packets, with advice, to be had at the Establishment only, by
watch the foe, to saved. Messrs. Perry, Surgeons, are in We,
dance daily at 19, Berners-street, Oxford-street, London, from Ele-
ven till Two, and Eve to Eight ; on Sundays from Eleven to One.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.
OXFORD, MARCR 6.
Die XXo. Mensis Martii in Schott). Metaphysices
bahenda est Publics Examinatio Scholarium in Sacra
Thoulogia.
EIAMINATORES IN SACRA THEOLOGIA.—Edv, Haw-
kins, E.S.S.P. ; Car. A. Ogilvie, P.T.P.R. ; Edv. H.
Hansell, S.T.B.
Tertio ad minimum die ante inchoandam Examine..
tionem, die sci. XVIo. Martii, ad Professorem Exe-
geseos S. Scripturm nomina sue Scholares in S. Thee-
logia curabunt deferri, quicunque se examinados eatene
velint, et simul Tettimonia, per Statutum sovum de
Disciplina Theologies requisite., exhiberi.
CAMBRIDGE, MARCH 6.
At a Congregation holden this day the following de-
grees were conferred :
D.D., BY ROYAL MANDATE.—J. A. Joremie, Trinity
Col legP, Professor of Divinity.
HONORARY M.A.—Thomas Charles Bruce, Jesus
College, fourth son of the late Earl of Elgin.
M.A.—J. S. Boucher, St. John's College ; E. C.
Wiltshere, St. John's College ; G. S. Simcocks, Trinity
13. A.—E. G. Kirkpatrick, Trinity College ; W. J.
Richardson, Corpus Christi College.
At the same Congregation the following Grace passed
the Senate :
To authorise the Vice-Chancellor to submit to the
Master in Chancery the name of 1)r. Cartwell in the
place of that of the late Dr. French for insertion in a new
deed of trust for Mr. Hobson's estates.
Previous examination.—The P 4 electors of the several
Colleges have been requested to present the medical
certificates of those junior Sophs who may be prevented
by illness from attending the previous examinations on
Monday the 11th of ►March, to the Vice-Chancellor and
Proctors, at Christ's College Lodge, on Friday, March
8, at ten o'clock.
TRINITY COLLEGE.—The Rev. Thomas Remington,
M.A., has been elected by this society to a Senior
Fdlowshio, vacant by the resignation of the Rev. J. A.
Jeremie, D.D., Regius Professor of Divinity.

- - -
THE BRITANNIA BRIDGE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Srs,—ln your excellent remarks on the successful
experiments made upon the gigantic tubes suspended
across the Menai, you state that " a train of 200
waggons was permitted to repose, with its full weight,
for two hours in the centre of the Carmarthenshire
tube."

Now, Sir, I must protest against such a geogra-
phical error. Carmarthenshire has no claim what-
ever to the tubes you mention, they belong exclu-
sively to the Island of Anglesey and the picturesque
county of Carnarvon.

I am anxious, Sir, that my English neighbours
should have a correct knowledge of the geographical
position of this beituti/u1 and romantic neighbour-
hood, for depend upon it, Sir, they will fail to discover
its beauties or stupendous bridges in Carmarthen-
shiro.—l am, Sir, your:, &c.,
TOBIAS EVANS.

A young Frenchwoman, who came from Boulogne,
and who appeared to be in a very interesting situation,
was safely delivered by two female searchers of the
Customs of no less than four gallons of brandy, which
was stowed in sixtean bladders, and skilfully disposed in
her petticoat, which was suspended to her shoulders by
braces.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

WESTERN ClRCUlT—Winchester, March 6.

CROWN COLlRT.—(l3,fore Mr. JUstice Ter.-
FOUBD.)
Edward Henry Simmonds was indicted for theman-
slaughter of Eliz ibeth Biggs.
There were eight counts in the indictment, which
charged him in different ways with the duty of re-
lieving the poor at Southampton, and with having
unlawfully and feloniously neglected and refused to
administer relief to one Elizabeth Biggs, a pauper, in
urgent need of shelter and food, whereby she died of
cold and starvation. The prisoner having demurred
to the indictment, and the Crown joined issue on the
demurrer,
Mr. S sunders and Mr. Phinn, who appeared for
the prisoner, were heard in snpport of the demurrer,
and Mr. Sewell and Mr. Prideaux, who conducted
the prosecution, in support of the indictment. Ulti-
mately, by arrangement, judgment was given for the
Crown upon all the counts, end the prisoner pleaded
not guilty, with liberty to take up the indictment to
the New Court of Criminal Appeal, if he should be
advised to pursue that course, in preference to bring-
ing a writ of error.
Mr. SEWELL opened the case to the jury. He said
the charge against the prisoner was, that being a
visiting officer of the Southampton Union, under a
local Act regulating the management of the poor
there, he neglected and refused to admit a 'nor wo-
man into the workhouse, and to give her anything to
eat and drink, although she was in a wretched state
from cold and starvation, and had been ordered by
the medical officer of the union to admit her at once.

The poor woman had been ill for some time, but had
recovered from the disease, though still debilitated
from its effects. On Friday, the 23d of December,
Mr. Cooper, one of the medical officers of the union,

finding her very exhausted and debilitated from the
effects of cold and want of food, wrote an order to
the prisoner, desiring him to admit her at once into
the workhouse, as ,she was utterly destitute, and in
want of immediate food. She went to the poor-
house with the order, having an illegitimate child
with her, abDut two years old. Whilst waiting
in the committee-room, the miserable state of
the poor woman and her child excited
so much sympathy from some women who were
waiting for relief, that one gave up her place by the
fire to her, and another went and begged a piece of
bread for them, and they both allowed her to go
into the board-room first. Sirnmonds was in the
board-room, and these women overheard what passed
between him and Biggs. The poor woman came put
crying, and was put into the tramp house, a cold and
miserable place, without any fire, light, or other com-
forts. Nothing was given her to eat, and although
Mr. Simtnonds afterwards gave her an order for a
bed at a lodging-house in the town, be refused to
relieve her with anything to eat. She went to Mrs.
Beaujohn's, where she passed the night, and next
day tried to get into the workhouse again, but was
refused. Her sister, who had shown her every kind-
ness, got her a lodging for the next night; but was
so poor and destitute herself, that she could do no
more fur her. The next morning she died, and Mr.
Cooper would prove that there could be no doubt that
she died of cold and starvation.
The first witness called was William Bolton Girdle-
ston—l was clerk to the Southampton Board of
Guardians in December. I produce the journal book
of the Board ; it contains the minutes of the pro-
ceedings. There is an entry of the appointment of the
prisoner as visiting officer, at a salary of 701. per an-
num. The appointment was on the Bth of July, 1848.
The medical officer sometimes made orders for relief.
I have heard the guardians give directions to the pri-
Boner on the subject. He formerly had a discretion
on the subject of those orders, but subsequently the
guardians ordered him always to attend to such orders
at ()floe. If it was a case of urgent necessity, he had
the power to admit to the house. He had authority
in all cases of urgent necessity at once to admit to the
house.

By the JUDGE—The prisoner did not reside at the
workhouse. The master of the workhouse would
admit in a case of urgent necessity in the absence
of the relieving officer without an order. The re-

lieving officer Is the proper person to apply to for
an order.

Ann Biggs—l had a sister called Elizabeth. On
the Friday before Christmas•day I went with her to
Mr. Cooper's, the surgeon. She was ill. She had
no where to go I had no means of getting anything
or any lodging. Mr. Cooper gave her a paper, and
directed her to take it to Mr. Simmonds, down at the
workhouse. It was about four o'clock. I left her
with him. This was about a quarter of a mile from
Simmonds's house. My sister could not walk without
assistance. I saw no more of her until the evening.
It was very cold weather. When I saw her she had
her infant in her arms. It was crying.
She went into a shop, and I read a paper she had with
her; on it was written, " One night's lodging, Mrs.
Beaujohn, Blue Anchor-lane." I saw my sister the
next day in Silkshop•yard. She was crying for the
cold and with hunger, and asked what she should du?

I said " I could nut help her, as I had nothing to
help myself." We went to the workhouse. We were
two hours going. It was not quite a quarter of a
mile. We applied for her to be taken in. She was
not taken in. We afterwards went to Mr. Duseau-
troy's, the surgeon. lle was not at home. I tried
to take her to the mayor's, but she could not go so
far. I borrowed twopence, and gave it to her for her
lodging. I took her to Mrs. Davis's lodging-house,
and left her there I saw her the next day. She
was very ill, but knew me. She threw up a large
quantity of blood. My brother went to Mr• Cooper's
and got some medicine. She told me she was dying
soon after. I tried to give her the medicine. She
could not take it. Mr. Cooper came soon after. An
hour after she died. She had nothing to eat on Sa-
turday or Sunday. A day or two :before she com-
plained of hunger and cold. She said hunger brought
her so weak she could scarce move.

Cross-examined—She had been in Southampton
about a year. S!-ae did a little needlework, and walked
the streets. She had passed by the name of Harris,
and also the child. I have seen a man named Harris.
Ile was the father of the child.

By the JUDGE—The child was two years old. It
could not walk. She was in the family way. Harris
was in Southampton at that time. She had asked him
for relief. 111 would not give her anything—not one
farthing.
George Biggs—l went with my sister to Mr.
Cooper's on the Friday before Christmas-day. This
witness corroborated the evidence of his sister.

Cross-examined—My sister generally went by the
name of Harris, and so did the child. I lodged with
her at Murray's. She had been very bad for three
months ; worse for a tbrtnight before this. The doctor
attended her. I used to go to the poorhouse for her,
and ask for relief for Elizabeth Harris and her child.
I used to get a shilling and a loaf. I went in before
the guardians. In the week I used to get sixpenny-
worth of groceries and a loaf. This was for three
months. She got worse all this time. I had gone to
the poorhouse on the Monday before the Friday, or
the Monday before that, when I only got sixpence
and a loaf, instead of a shilling. Mr. Cooper said at
the board that she was getting better. It was either
that, or that it was blowed about that my other sister
had 30s. a week coming in. But I only got sixpence.
lam sixteen. Mrs. Beaujohn gave her some tea and
bread and butter on the Thursday before the Friday.
She drank the tea, but could not eat the bread and
butter.
Re-examined—Neither of my sisters had 30.. a
week. We had no means of helping her. Mr.
Cooper was kind to her.
By the JUDGE—She paid threepence a night for a
lodging. I shared her loaf when she pleased to give
me any.
Louisa Biles—l live in Blue A.nchor-yard, and
knew the deceased. On the 21st of December, the
Fiiday before Christmas-day, I went to the work-
house for relief. Elizabeth Biggs came there be-
tween five and six in the evening. She had her
child, and appeared very ill and very cold. I gave
her, my place in the waiting-room. The baby was
crying, and I asked what was the matter ; she said
the child was crying for bread—it had only had one
piece all day. I went to the kitchen and asked the
cook for a piece of bread fur the child. The cook
brought a piece and gave it to the deceased and the
baby; they both eat it directly. I also went for a
little milk and water for the child ; it drank it.
We afterwards went
.to the board-room. I after-
wards saw a paper in Biggs' hand; it was
blotted; I read it, and gave it to her again. Simmonds
was in the board -room at that time, and Mr. Irg•
gins was there. When Biggs went in she had the
paper in her hand. I heard Simmonds speak to her ;
he said, "What have you got here ?" She made
some reply which I did not hear; she spoke so low.
He then asked her " where she had been lodging.'
She said, "at Murray's, but that they had turned her
out of doors, and she had no where to go." He asked
her " where her husband was." She said "she had
not got one." He asked her " how she came by that
she had in her arms ?" She did not answer. He said
" you will get nothing here but the tramp-house to-
night, and to-morrow you will take yourself off."
I have seen the tramp-house ; there is no fire there
—no beds, nothing but straw. I observed she was far
advanced in pregnancy. When she came out of the
room, he was crying.

Mrs. Leak—l live at Southampton, and knew de-
I ceased. On the Friday before Christmas-day I was
at the poor-house. I saw Mrs. Biles there. I saw
deceased Corns with her child. This witness then
proceeded to corroborate the statements of the witness

Biles.
Mr. Pike—l am one of the relieving officers of the
Southampton Board of Guardians, and was in D.!-
ember last. I was at the poor-house on the morn-
ing of the 21st of December. I was on the out-door
business. My attention was called to a woman,
said to be ill, in the tramp-house. I took a lantern
and candle and went there. It is an enclosed build-
ing, with no fire or light. There is a ventilator in
the roof, straw on the ground, and rags for covering.
The persons put there have bread for their supper
when they are locked up. This was generally about
nine. When I got to the tramp-house= I saw a
woman and child. I now know it was Elizabeth
Biggs. Sititmonds was in the porter's lodge close by.
I asked the woman if she was ill; she said she was
colkand shivering. I asked'her to take her child and
come to the porter's lodge, and I would send her to a
bed. She said she did not want to be moved, she
should be better soon. I recommended her to have
a bed. Simmonds wrote her an order for Beau-
john's. I don't remember her asking for relief. I
told Simmonds it would be best for him to relieve
her with bread. His answer was, " That she was
one of those impostors which very much abound."
She was not relieved—she went away.
Cruse-examined—The hours for casual' relief are
from two to four, but doctors' orders cenne in at all
hours. 1 have discretion as to giving relief. We
have a great many impostors. If I know-them to be
so, I refuse relief. I did not discern that Biggs
looked ill. We have many such cases—of persons
reporting themselves ill—in the tramp-house. She
walked away with her child. .:The tramp-house is
used by all parsons who ask for a night's lodging.
Suppose a person who bad always been relieved in
one same came with an order in another name, should
you relieve P—We have no discretion as to doctors'
orders. If I had reason to think it bad been impro-
perly obtained, I should use my own discretiob.
Simmonds was always considered to be a humane
man to the poor.
By the JUDGE—I had no reason to think she was
very ill. I have known persons to bring two or
three orders from electors on the same day. Then
we should refuse them.
Mr. Girdleston recalled—Sapposing a doctor's order
to have been brought on the 21st of December, it
would have been Simmonds duty to receive it end to
file it. I searched the file soon after Bigg's death, and
found no miler of Mr. Cooper's, either in the 'name of
Biggs or Harris.
,Mrs. Spencer, servant to Mrs. Beaujohn—ln De-
cember last I remember Elizabeth Biggs coming on
the Friday before Christmas-day, with her child. She
had an order for a bed. I went upstairs with them.
She walked up as if very tired. I said, " You peem
very tired." She said, Yes, marm, I am." She
had nothing to eat that night, or the child ; she had a
drop of tea to drink. The next morning she went
away. She had no food before she went.
Cross -examined—She said she had come from Win-
chester that day.
Francis Cooper—l am a surgeon, and one of the
medical offieers to the board of guardians of South-
ampton. I know Elizabeth Biggs. I remember
seeing ber in December last. I had at-
tended her for influenza. She had recovered frain
influenza, but the effects had remained in weak-
ness. I knew of no organic disease in her cal-
culated to produce death. I saw her on the. 22d ;
she seemed in a very exhausted state. She said
she was so bad she did not know what to do. She
said she had had very little to eat for four days. She
had no organic disease. I felt her pulse, and exa •
mined her. I gave a paper to her sister, as she was
too weak to hold it. I told her sister to take her down
to the poor-house, and give a verbal message.from me
that she should be taken into the poor-house imme-
diately, as it was a case of urgent necessity. The
appearances of her case were such as would have
made her state apparent, but a person might have
been deceived by candle-light as to her state. I wrote
an order in this form—" Mr. Simmonds or Mr.
Davison,—Please admit the bearer, Elizabeth Biggs,
into the house immediately, as she is in want of food,
and totally destitute." The order was blotted. She
should have been put to bed ; have had hot bottles to
her feet ; brandy and water, beef tea, and such fluid
food, continued until the circulation was restored.
At the yoorlhouse means are provided to supply such
things. If the course I suggest had been adopted;' I
believe her life would have been preserved. I was
not on duty at the house at the time. The surgeons
at the workhouse take it in turn to do duty in the
house. I saw her again on Sunday, between three
and four. I had sent her some medicine before.
When I saw her she was dying. She died just after
I left her. I had never had the misfortune to see
such a case before, nor had I any experience theoreti-
cally with such cases. I made a post mortem exa-
mination. I found the stomach inflated with
offensive gas, and walls extremely thin, with
about four ounces of dark or grumous
blood, and a few small grains of bread. In some
parts of the stomach the lining membrane, or mucous
membrane, was infiltered, and the coronary artery
ruptured—the child in its right position. Exter-
nally, I observed the skin covered with purplish-
coloured spots, and a secretion like dirt, which had
been poured forth by the vessels. Since that time I
have paid particular attention to cases of starvation.
In my judgment the appearances I observed were
attributable to a long deprivation of food. I think
the long-continued aktinence from food, and cold,
produced congestion, which ruptured the vessels, and
produced death by the loss of blood vomited from the
system.
Cross-examined—l had attended her three or four
months before I saw her on the 21st of December.
She had passed by the name of Harris. It was on
my advice she received relief. She was known to
the officers of the uniou as Elizabeth Harris. She
lived at a tramp-house, and had no ostensible mode
of getting her living. Her relief was diminished on
the 17th from ls. to 6d. It was in consequence of
an anonymous note, well written, stating that she was
in the receipt of 30s. a week. I was consulted, and
I said, perhaps you had better give her only half
the money, and let the relieving-officer inquire into
the case.

Re-examined—l am sorry to be obliged to state
that in my opinion that death was caused by
cold and starvation producing the effects I have
decribed.
Mrs. L'ak, re-called—The paper I saw in the
deceased's hands when she went into the board-
room had the name of " Biggs" on it. There
was " admit," and it was signed by Dr. Cooper. It
was blotted.
This was the case fir the prosecution • and it
being now half-past nine o'clock the Court adjourned.
The jury were then removed in the custody of the
sheriff to be kept together for the night.
The case was resumed the next morning, when Mr.
C. SAUNDERS addressed the jury for the prisoner, in
an able speech, contending that, on the evidence in
this case, the prisoner could not be made criminally
responsible for the death of the unfortunate woman,
even if they thought that she did Meet her death by
the act of the prisoner, in not admitting ber
to the poor-house. In the first plaCe, it was not
shown by satisfactory testimony that the order of
Mr. Cooper ever came to the hands of the prisoner
so as to cast the duty on him to relieve the deceased.
But if they were satisfied on that point, still,
it was clear, from the conduct of the prisoner,
who was a man of a most excellent character for
humanity, that be acted under a mistake as to her
state, and really believed her to be an impostor. If
this was so, it was clear that be was not guilty of the
crime imputed to him ; a mistake in the discretion he
was bound to exercise in his office would not make
him criminally responsible if be acted bona fide. No
doubt, if her real state had been fully known to him,
he would have at once admitted and relieved her; but
he no doubt had always known her by the name of
Harris, and her bringing an order in the name of
Biggs, if it came to his hands, must have confirmed
him in his impression that she was an impostor, and
it was clear he acted under that impression. He also
contended that it was not clearly made out that the
cause of death was attributable to starvation. It
might well have proceeded from other causes, and all
the medical evidence on the point was mere matter of
speculation.
A number of highly-respectable witnesses spoke to
the excellent character of the prisoner.
Mr. Justice TALFOURD summed up the case. Ic
was one of a most painful and distressing character,
for there could be no doubt whatever that this poor
girl was in a very debilitated and wretched state,
and had died in a state of extreme misery, and with-
out those comforts and solaces to which she had a
right. No doubt she had been pursuing a course of
vice and degradation, but that did not at all affect
her right to relief and consolation. The most abject
and degraded person in the realm, who had brought
his misery entirely upon himself by his own vicious
conduct, had an equal claim to relief, when plunged
in the depths of poverty and distress, with the man of
the highest virtue and morality, who might by no
fault of his own be placed in a simijar situation of
suffering. liming premised.thus much, and