The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-24 00:00:00

A SCENE AT SESSIONS.

At the Cambridgeshire sessions, which terninat!cl
,n Saturday last, before the Hon. E iot Thomas
l'orke, M.P., chairman, and a full bench of magic •
:rates, the following Curious scene occurred after the
trial of one Henry Barlow, on a charge of stealing
hen, the property of a magistrate, the Rev. E. Law,
of Orwell.

The Lets of the case were, that one of the proi,ecu-
tor's servants having heard a noise made by a hen
rearing: partridges in a pit, went to ascertain the cause,
and saw a man (Barlow) lying in it. He quietly shut
down the glass, and went and fetched a ftlla vv-servant.
On their return they dragged Barlow (who either was,
,r assumed to bo, asleep), out, and then fund the
body of the hen in one place, and the head, which
had been pulled, and not wrung off, in another.
The prisoner's counsel (Mr. Naylor) submi,ted
that the felonious taking was not proved, and on this
being overruled, he argued that it could only be eon-
Aidered a case of trespass, for the purpose of sleeping
in a warm place. If the man had intended to steal,
he would have taken the hen out of the coop. This
was more the freak of a drunken man, to prevent the
hen, by her cackling, betraying his resting-place.
The prisoner night be punished, but not as a felon.
The Chairman having summed up, the foreman of
the jury delivered as the verdict, " Guilty of a tres-
pass on Mr. La'v'e premises with a felonious intent,
and of pulling the head off the fowl."
The Chairman—lt is necessary for you to consider
whether the pri=oner is guilty of the stealing, taking,
end carrying away this fowl.
Foreman (after consulting)—Not guilty of stealing.
The Clerk of the Peace inquired, in the usual
form, if that was the unanimous verdict, and there
was no dissent.
The Chairman—l am informed that there is one
gentleman on the jury who will not find a verdict of
guilty under any circumstances. Mr. Carter, you
may leave the hoc ; such a person ought not to take
D oath.

Mr. Carter then left the jury-box, exclaiming,
" Why, I was the only one who was of a contrary
opinion to the verdict."
Mr. Metcalfe (for the prosecution)—There is some
mistake. Let that juryman come back.
Mr. Naylor—l protest against it. The juryman
has left the box. If he ought not to have been there
he ought not to return. The jury have returned a
verdict, and been asked if they were unanimous.
The Chairman then recited the pints of the case
again, . _

Foreman—We find the prisoner guilty of a tres-
pass in pulling off the head of the fowl.
Mr. Naylor—That is again a verdict of not guilty.
The Chairman—You must say whether the pri-
soner is guilty. Did he take the fowl from the
ground? I cannot allow the ends of justice to be
perverted.
Foreman—lf you say that is sufficient, we say that
he is guilty.
Chairman—You must not put your verdict on me.
Mr. Naylor—l again protest against these proceed-
ings ; this is not justice.
Foreman (being asked by the Chairman, with
vehemence)—Guilty.
This verdict was then recorded.

Mr. Naylor—l apply for a case on the practice.
Will the court grant it ? Chairman—Certainly not.
The prisoner was sentenced by the chairman to
ten years' transportation (a previous conviction
having been proved). Ilis sister immediately set off
on Lot for London with the ostensible design of
soliciting the judges for a pardon.