The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-22 00:00:00

poison. The proper remedies for prussic acid are
stimulants. Brandy, whiskey, dashing cold water in the
face, ammonia or hartshorn applied to the nose, arti-
ficial respiration—these remedies ought to be well known
to professional men. Putting the feet in warm water,
and mustard poultices, would be of little use. They
would be loss of time, but would not be inn-

proper. v Bleeding may be occasionally necessary.
Cross-examined by Mr. ERLE—These remedies I have
learned not from experience, but from study. After
the death I consulted with Captain Clarke as to the
inquest. A post mortem examination was not proposed
at that time.
Re-examined by the SOLICITOR-GENERAL—Captain
Clarke was present at the post mortem examination. On
smellinc, the contents of the stomach I made use of the
word "r'hydrocyanic." That is the ehemical word for
prussic acid. Captain Clarke was present. lie saw the
contents of the stomach put into the bottle.
By Mr. Baron GURNEY—A drachm of medicinal
prussic acid would be sufficient to produce death—that
is sixty drops. The dose is from one to two drops.
Less than a drachm might produce death.
Mr. T. I'. Curling examined by Mr. BODKIN—I as-
sisted the last witness in the post mortem examination
of Mrs. Belaney. The heart was healthy. Deceased was
pregnant. The contents of the stomach smelt of prussic
acid. I handed them to Mr. Garratt, who said, in a
low tone of voice, " hydrocyanic." I question whether
Clarke heard it. The contents of the stomach were
placed in a tumbler, covered with a bladder, and carried
to the hospital, and delivered to Dr.Leatherby. They were
examined the following morning, and found to contain
prussic acid. No attempt was made to ascertain tlle
quantity, for while the analysis was going on I received
a communication stating that Mr. Belaney had said she
had taken prussic acid. As small a quantity as twenty
drops of Scheelie's prussic acid has been fatal.
The remedies in cases of poisoning by prussic acid
are cold affusion and ammonia, and artificial respiration.
If you have not ammonia, spirits would be good. The
poison takes effect immediately upon the brain, destroy-
ing sensation. The breathing would be affected subse-
quently. I should say that putting the hands
and feet in warm water would do no good ;
neither would a mustard poultice. I never
met with a case of poisoning by prussic acid. I saw the
prisoner in the adjoining room after the post mortem
examination. lie asked what I considered the cause of
death. I said we had not concluded our inquiries, when
we had done so we should be happy to inform him.
Cross-examined by Mr. CLARKSON—Mustard poultice
is a stimulant, but nothing but the most energetic sti-
mulants will produce effect. I have often prescribed
pussic acid for indigestion Prussic acid produces its
poisonous effects very rapidly. I mean by artificial re-
, spiration the same as that which is used on recovering
drowned persons. I never made any analysis of the
contents of the stomach, and therefore cannot say whe-

ther there were salts or not.
By Mr. Baron GURNEY—As long as she lived and
breathed I should never have despaired of recovering her.
Dr. Letherby, examined by Mr. CRAMBERS—I am as-
sistant chemical lecturer at the London Hospital. I have
made frequent experiments on the effects of prussic acid.
The effect of an overdose is to produce a peculiar giddiness—
lam speaking of lower animals—a dispositionito run round.
The respiration is irregular. There is a scream probably
before the animal drops. There are two or three expi-
ratory efforts producing the scream in convulsions. The
animal foams at the mouth, and, after a longer or shorter
time, dies. I have never seen the effect in a human being.
After the scream volition and sensibility cease. A person
who had taken it, would not, after the scream, be able to
walk or talk. The most usual remedy is to dash cold
water over the person. This is taught constantly in
medical schools. I would also administer ammonia,
spirits, and stimulants. Hot water to the hands and
feet would not be of any service, nor would a mustard
poultice. It would be too long in producing its effect.
So far as I have heard the account of this lady's death,
I am disposed to think that if those remedies had been
applied she might have recovered. If she lived for 20
minutes there would be better hopes of her recovery, and
I should continue the remedies longer. I ana-
lysed the contents of the stomach on the Tues-
day. I discovered on the first analysis the presence
of prussic acid. On the second analysis, on the Thursday
following, I discovered Epsom salts. A different ana-
lysis is necessary to do this. The prussic acid which
had produced death had been taken into the system,
and that which was found in the stomach was over and
above that which was sufficient to cause death. I can
form no opinion as to the quantity. I only analysed it
for the purpose of ascertaining the presence of prussic
acid. The symptoms I have heard described are those
of poisoning by prussic acid. Mr. Donaghue afterwards
furnished me with some prussic acid. It contained rather
more than 2 per cent. of pure acid. If it is spilt in a room
there would be an odour. Half a tea-spoonful produced
an odour which remained in a large room nearly an
hour. If it is poured in a glass, there is a slight odour.
If half an ounce were poured in a glass and left in a
room, it would produce an odour. I have expe-
rimented with the prussic acid for Mr. Donaghue.
I gave a cat 10 or 20 drops of Scheeile's strength,
and restored the cat by cold effusion and ammonia.
I gave a horse a table-spoonful of acid twelve times the
strength, and restored the horse. He was on the ground
in convulsions, and apparently dead, and all the symp-
toms had occurred before I applied the remedies. He
was restored in twenty minutes. I dashed cold, water
ever his head, and put ammonia to his nostrils. Ammonia
is common smelling salt. The mode of producing arti-
ficial respiration should be well known to all medical men.
Cross-examined by Mr. Eats—l isolated the prussic
acid from the contents of the stomach. There was a
drachm and a half of water mixed with prussic acid, but
there are no data to determine the quantity. There was a
strong odour of the acid. Prussic acid is one of the poisons
easiest of detection after draught. Acetate of morphine
is poison. There is no smell from it after death. Prussic
acid is detected by the smell. The scream is the indi
cation of volition and sensation having gone. The
swallowing of prussic acid is not attended with a shock.
There is a taste with it. I have tasted it. I
have had it spilt on me, and applied to my
nostrils, so that it has produced giddiness.
This effect is produced in about thirty seconds ; then
faintness comes on. It would depend upon the quantity
taken whether a person would have time to call out and
say anythirg. If prussic acid were taken immediately
after some other fluid, that would have the effect of
diluting it and snaking its action slower. I am not ac-
quainted with the effect of prussic acid on the human
subject.
Re-examined by the SOLICITOR-G ENER.SL—There is
no acid taste in Scheeile's prussic acid. There is a bitter
taste. There is no hot taste.
At the conclusion of the examination of this witness,
the Court adjourned for a few minutes for refreshments.
On the re-assembling of the Court,
Dr. Anthony Todd Thompson was called, and exa-
mined by the SOLICITOR-GENERAL—I am Professor of
Medical Jurisprudence at the London University. My
attention has been called to the effects of hydrocyanic
wprhoideuhce
Mracid upon the system. Hydrocyanic acid would
symptoms as those under
is described as labouring.
but they would also be produced by any other sedative.
The smell of prussic acid is very peculiar. If any be
spilled in a room the odour remains a considerable time,
such
chu
Belaney
unless there is much movement in the air of the room.
If it were in a tumbler the odour would be strong—if it
were lifted to the top the odour would be perceived.
The effects of taking it are those which have been
so clearly explained by the last witness—giddiness,
faintness, convulsions resembling those of tetanus, or
lock-jaw, and screaming. When the symptoms have
advanced to a scream, the powers of volition are gone.
Atter the scream it would be impossibe for a party to
talk so as to describe what happened. The remedies are
well known in the medical world; they are stimulants of all
kinds, ammonia, effusion of cold water, and artificial re-
spiration, and chlorine applied in the form of vapour.
I have tried experiments on the effects of those reme-
dies on animals. I have tried ammonia, cold effusion,
and artificial respiration. I have known no cases
in which artificial respiration alone has succeeded.
Warm water to the feet and hands areof no use. Mustard
poultice would be too slow in its effects. If a person
lived twenty minutes after taking prussic acid, the pro-
bability would be in favour of recovery, if remedies
were applied. Bleeding has been used in cases of strong
plethoric people, but with no good effect.
Cross-examined by Mr. ERLE—I have seen cases in
the human subject, in which large doses have been
taken so as to produce fainting. It might have been
a quarter of an hour after fainting had occurred that
I was called in. The person recovered in consequence
of the remedies. I have taken it myself in sufficient
quantities to produce uneasiness. A person would
scream from any extraordinary or strong sensation. A
person might immediately on taking the acid feel an un-
comfortable sensation in the mouth and might scream.
The evaporation of the acid is very quick when it is
spilled, but the smell remains for a considerable time.
By Mr. Baron GURNEY—Ammonia is a powerful re-
medy. Chlorine is more powerful, but is not so easy to
be obtained. The first thing I should call for would be
a smelling-bottle, Hartshorn and brandy, and I should
also use the cold effusion.
Thomas Donaghue—l am a surgeon, live
ng in White-
horse-street, Stepney. I knew the prisoner about four
years ago. On the Gth June last he came to my shop.
He wrote upon a slate that he would call again, I not
being at home. He then came again about seven o'clock.
He asked for some prussic acid, salts, senna, acetate of
morphine, chloric:acid, and carbonate of soda. He said
he wanted the prussic acid, as lie was in the habit of
taking it. I got it for him. I got Scheeile's prepara-
tion of prussic acid for him the next day. It was in an
ounce phial. It had a glass stopper. I knew by the
feel of the bottle it was covered. I saw him after his
wife died, and he told me that the neck of the bottle was
broken, and that he poured it into a tumbler, which his
wife took, she having taken salts. He wished me to at-
tend the inquest.
Cross-examined by Mr, CLARKSON—I knew him four
years ago. I knew then he was in the habit of taking
prussic acid. He told me lie would return the bottle. A
morphia is also taken as a sedative for dyspepsia.
Dr. Letherby recalled—The acetate of morphine would
be slow in its effect, and easily known.
George Gall, examined by Mr. CHAMBERS—I was
errand-boy to Mr. Donaghue. I went to Evans's to
buy some prussic acid. I gave it to Mr. Donaghue. I
bought it of Mr. Evans, of Bartholomew. close.
Richard Willis Powell—l am shopman to Mr. Evans.
I recollect selling some prussic acid on the Gth of June.
I sold it for Mr. Donaghue. It was called Scheeile's
preparation.
Thomas Long, examined by the SOLICITOR-GENERAL
—I am gardener of the City of London Tower Hamlet
Cemetery. I saw the prisoner there, about 12 o'clock,
on the Bth of June. There were two gentlemen with
him. He told me he wanted to purchase a piece of
ground to bury. Captain Clarke was with him. He
said he wished the burial should take place on the Tues-
day. I told him he should give four clear days to get a
brick grave done. They said they would have a seven

foot grave till they could have a brick one made. He He contended that the prisoner's story as to the manner
went away, and had a handkerchief to his eyes, appa- in which the poison had been taken by the deceased
rently weeping. Captain Clarke said he would hear no was most probable, and that it was borne cut by all the
more of the burial till Monday. circumstances spoken to by the witnesses. What was
John Haynes, examined by Mr. BODKIN—I am in- more probable, then, than that the unfortunate deceased,
spector of the metropolitan police. I went down to after taking the salts, which it was proved she had done,
North Sunderland. I saw Mr. Bell there. I got the should have got up and taken some water in order to
letters handed up by me from him. The two papers I remove the taste of the salts from her mouth,
found in a cupboard in the house of the prisoner. and seeing this glass upon the drawers, that she should
George Gray Bell examined—l live in North Sunder- I have employed it for that purpose? He called upon the
land. I know Mr. Belaney. I was agent of some lime jury to weigh all the facts of the case minutely, and he
works, of which the prisoner was a partner. I became felt satisfied that the result would be that they must
agent in September. Mr. Belaney was living near the acquit the prisoner; and he felt convinced they would
place. Mrs. Belaney was living with him. About July think it impossible for human nature to be guilty of so
he was leaving for London with Mrs. Belaney. I re- monstrous and aggravated a crime as that imputed to his
ceived the letters marked from No. 1 to 6 from him. unfortunate elient, for if the charge were true, he must
They are in his handwriting. The two papers handed be the blackest fiend that ever walked upon the face of
up I believe to be in his handwriting. There is a letter the earth. It was impossible that he should be guilty. He
addressed to Mr. John Denning. I know the copyhold had been acquainted with the deceased in early life.
property which the late Mrs. Skerrett had. She was They had grown up together, were united, and
the mother of Mrs. Belaney. It would now sell for about during their conjugal intimacy lived most happily
3,7001. Mr. Robson was a partner in the lime works. together ; and he would ask what possible motive the
' The share of Mrs. Belaney, including a colliery, was primer could have had for the commission of so heinous
worth about 2,400/. I made an estimate of the property. a crime? His Learned Friend might tell them that he
It was about 6,0001. would exchange his life interest 'for the fee, but what
Cross-examined by Mr. ELLE— I heard Mr. Belaney would that be ? He could sell the property, and that
talking of an excursion in the month of September. Ile was all. Was there the least evidence of any intention
spoke of going to the south. I heard of the excursion on his part to dispose of the property? He would ask
frequently spoken of between September and the Ist of the jury, as husbands and as fathers, whether they could
June. Mr. Belaney was fond of falconry. He said he believe it possible that the prisoner had committed this
wished to see an exhibition of falconry on the Rhine. awful crime under such circumstances? He had a young
He keeps a great number of birds. I never saw anything and lovely wife, in the flower and bloom of life, and
but the greatest kindness subsisting between Mr. about to become a mother ; and the prisoner was charged
and Mrs. Belaney. She seemed apparently perfectly with the murder of that wife, without the slightest
happy. I was put into the agency by Mr. Belaney. Ile motive being assigned for the commission of the act. It
had full control over the lime works, and managed certainly was a most mysterious case, and he begged the
as he pleased. There was a house building on the pro- jury to recollect that they were inquiring into the intention
perty for them, of their fellew-m an, an intention which could only be known
Re-examined—l did not see much of Mr. and Mrs. to God ; and he therefore implored them, if they had
Belaney after their marriage. Mrs. Belaney was twenty- but a single doubt, to give the prisoner the benefit of
two years of age. that doubt, and acquit him.
• Alexander Wilson—l am farm steward in the service of At the conclusion of the address of the Learned Coun-
Robson and Skerrett. I knew Mr. Belaney. I remember sel, the Court adjourned until this morning at ten o'clock.
his marrying Miss Skerrett. It was on the 23d of
February, 1843. She was an only child. Mr. Belaney
practised as a medical man before his marriage. He gave
up practising after his marriage, and took the manage-
ment of the lime works. Mrs. Skerrett died on the Ist
of July after the marriage. On the 31st of May this
year I heard Mr. Belaney:say he was going to the Con-
tinent. I had some business to transact with him. He
said to me he wanted a witness to the wills which were
made ; that it was a thing which was generally done
when people went from home. The papers were pro-
duced. Mrs. Belaney was present. He read one of
them over, and he said the other was to the same effect.
I put my name to the papers. They had been signed
before by Mr. and Mrs. Belaney, but they went over
them again with a dry pen. The next day they left for
London.
Cross-examined by Mr. ERLE —I have been employed
thirty years, but have been farm-steward only since
March last. Mrs. Skerrett was an old woman when she
died. Mrs. Belaney appeared to me to be happy in her
marriage. Mr. Belem?y had the management of the pro •
perty. I heard Mrs. Belaney say that she was anxious
to see London. His character was that of a kind man
as far as I knew.
Ralph Moore—l am a shoemaker, residing at North
Sunderland. I witnessed the wills. I knew Mr. Be-
laney for several years.
John Dinning—l am a farmer residing at Elford, near
North Sunderland. I knew the prisoner for about three
years prior to June. I was from home in June. I re-
turned on the 10th, and found a letter from Mr. Belaney
before me. A letter posted in London on Saturday would
reach me about five o'clock in the afternoon. I got this
letter about ten in the forenoon. I destroyed that letter.
It was dated from the Euston Hotel, the 6th of June, to
the best of my belief. The contents of that letter were,
to the best of my belief, that I would be sorry to hear
that his wife was taken unwell ; that she was attended
by two physicians. He was about to remove her to pri-
vate lodgings, and he would not be able to take her to
the Rhine. He also said that he was afraid that was
going to happen which had happened before. I under-
stood this to mean a miscarriage.
Cross-examined—Mr. and Mrs. Belaney appeared to
me to be living on happy terms. Mr. Belaney was fond of
falconry. I heard of the tour spoken of some time before.
Mrs. Belaney was anxious for, and she seemed desirous
of, going to London, and to go to Arlington, where Mr.
Belaney's brother resided. He bore the character of a
man of kindness and humanity.
Thomas Robert Younghusband—l am a farmer re-
siding at Elwick. I know the last witness. I have seen
the prisoner before. On the 11th of June Mr. Dinning
showed me a letter from Mr. Belaney. It was dated the
Euston Hotel. The witness described the contents of
the letter to the same effect as the last witness. I was
not then aware of the death of Mrs. Belaney. I heard
of her death on the Thursday or Friday after. The con-
tents of the letter occurred to me more strongly when I
heard of the death.
Mr. Richard Straker—l am the postmaster of North
Sunderland. At the time in which this transaction
took place, a letter put into the post-office in London,
would reach North Sunderland at eleven o'clock
in the forenoon of Saturday. Mr. Dinning's letters
were taken to him by a servant. The letter directed to
Mr. Dinning from Mr. Belaney was in the post-office
on Saturday the Bth, to the best of my belief. It must
have been posted on the 6th in London, to arrive in
North Sunderland on the Bth.
Cross-examined—Mr. and Mrs. Belaney appeared to
live happily together. He had the character of being a
kind man as far as I knew.
Mr. Dinning was recalled, and said that he had
been from home from Thursday, the 6th.
William Blott, a clerk in the General Post-office—
This letter, No. 2, bears the morning mark of the 10th
of June. It must have been, therefore, posted either be-
fore half-past five on the evening of the 9th, or before
eight on the morning of the 10th. The 9th being Sun-
day, it must have been posted after half-past five on Sa-
turday evening. This letter, No. 3, must have been
posted before eight o'clock on the morning of the
10th, or before half-past five in the evening. It bears
the evening post mark.
Mr. George Scott—l am registrar of births and
deaths in North Sunderland. Registered the death of
Mrs. Skerrett, in January, 1843. I called on Mr. Belaney
for the particulars. He had called on me to register.
When I asked him the cause of death, he stammered,
and said, " Well, you may say, bilious fever."
The entry was put in, and read.
Mr. Dinning recalled, and examined by Mr. E RLE—
I visited Belaney's house during the illness of Mrs.
Skerrett. I believe Mr. Hunt, a medical man, attended
her, but I am not sure.
Mr. R. Ferguson, clerk to the manor of Bramburgh,
was called, and proved that Mr. and Mrs. Belaney
called upon him, and she handed over the interest in the
copyhold for the use of herself and children.
Sarah Williams recalled, and examined by Mr. ERLE
—Some articles were brought for Mrs. Belaney to the
house. Those were a bonnet and some other articles.
The wills were then put in, and read. They were
dated the 17th of May. One conveyed all the pro-
perty of James Cockburn Belaney to his wife, Rachel
Belaney, and the other conveyed the property f Rachel
Belaney to her husband.
The letters of the prisoner were put in and read.
The case for the proeecution having closed,
Mr. ERLE asked the Court for time to proceed with
the defence till to-morrow, as he felt that lie would be
better able to do justice to the case if he was allowed
time till to-morrow.
The COURT thought that it was too early an hour to
break up.
Mr. ERLE rose to address the jury on behalf of the
prisoner. He commenced by entreating them to dismiss
from their minds all they had.heard upon the subject of the
charge against the prisoner out of door, and not to allow
any rumours or.reports that might have come to their
knowledge on the subject to prejudice the inquiry. He
then proceeded to state that there would be no difficulty
as to the cause of death, which was clearly occasioned
by prussic acid, and the only question for the jury was,
whether the prisoner had wilfully administered that
poison to his wife, and with the intent to murder her ;
and this was the point which the jury had to decide. He
then proceeded to remark that the evidence showed the
prisoner to be a man of respectability ; he had contracted
what appeared to be a happy marriage ; there was no
imputation of any rival affection ; and yet, without any
apparent motive whatever, the jury were called on to say
that he had committed the most enormous crime that
could possibly be committed by any human being. He
begged the jury to remember that it was impossible
there could be any pecuniary motive for this act,
for it was proved that from the moment of his
marriage the whole of the property had been placed in his
uncontrolled possession. The copyhold property was
handed over to him, and be might have done what he
pleased with it ; therefore there could not have been any
pecuniary motive to induce him to commit the murder.
The will that had been been referred to gave the pri-
soner no more power over the property than he possessed
before, fur by his marriage the property became his, and
if his wife had died first the whole would have devolved
upon him. He begged them to recollect that if the
prisoner had died his property would have been divided
amongst relations, and it was, therefore, a most natural
and honourable course for him to endeavour to secure to
her, in such-an event, the property which he had himself
derived from her. As to the will of the deceased, it was
mere waste paper, and was invalid in every respect ; and
' if it had been a valid instrument it would not at all have
benefited the prisoner. With regard to the letters being
dated from the Euston Hotel, when the prisoner and his
wife had left that establishment, it might, he considered,
be very easily accounted for by the fact that the prisoner
and his wife were not anxious to have it known that they
were living in a small apartment, but desired to have it
thought that they were in a stylish place, like the
Euston Hotel. It should be recollected, also, that the
place where the prisoner did take up his abode was of
all others the only part of London where he had any
friends, and he would ask them if it was likely that he
would have chosen such a spot for the commission of a
cool and deliberate murder? The Learned Counsel then
proceeded to remark upon the other factS of the case,
and lie said it certainly appeared that the prisoner's
statement that two medical men were in attendance
upon his wife was not true, but the prisoner's explana-
tion was, that if the illness of Mrs. Belaney had con-
tinued, it was his intention to have called in medical
assistance. As to the possession of the poisonous arti-
cles, he should be in a position most satisfactorily to
account for this circumstance from the fact that
the prisoner had for several years laboured under
dyspepsia, and the only means of relief were
the administration of strong acids, and the medical
gentlemen who had prescribed for the prisoner was in
attendance to prove this fact. He then remarked upon
the affection which it was proved existed between the
prosecutor and his wife, and the kind manner in which
he had ministered to her comfort, and asked the jury
whether they could reconcile such conduct with the
belief that the prisoner all along intended to carry out a
deliberate plan of murdering his unoffending victim?

NEW COURT.

Henry Wheeler, aged 21, bracemaker, Arthur Richman,
aged 18, and George Richniun, aged 10, also brace-
makers, were indicted for stealing twenty-four brace
lengths of silk India rubber web, of the value of 285.,
the property of Benjamin Wigg Ilickling.
They were also charged upon several indictments with
stealing a quantity of tools, the property of the same
prosecutor.
Mr. Payne appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Bal-
lantine and Mr. Prendergast appeared for the prisoners.
The prisoners were engaged in the service of the pro-
secutor as bracemakers. The articles named in the
indictments were part of the stock of the prosecutor,
and the prisoners were discovered disposing of similar
articles. In the course of the evidence, however, it
appeared that part of the property was found in the pro
secutor's premises after the present charge bad been in-
stituted, Under these circumstances,

The COMMON SERGEANT stopped the case, and directed
an acquittal to be entered in favour of the prisoners.
They were again indicted for stealing some tools.
These tools belonged to the prosecutor, and the prisoners
were discovered, after the tools had been missed to have
pawned them.
The jury also acquitted the prisoners in this case.
Ther«. was another indictment against the prisoners,'but
Mr. PAYNE said he would not again dare the glorious
uncertainty of the law.
The prisoners were accordingly acquitted on that also.
Mr. PAYNE said he would not proceed further.
John Wheeler was again put forward on another in-
dictment.

Mr. PRENDERGAST inquired what was meant by the
prisoner being put forward?
Mr. PAYNE said he had not been instructed, and there-
fore be could not consent to an acquittal.
Mr. PRENDERGAST—Why, what is the Meaning of
these tricks being played with the Court ?
Mr. PAYNE—What do you mean, Sir, by that ?
Mr. PRENDERGAST—Why, you said at first you would
not go on, and then you say you will not consent to an
acquittal. This I call playing tricks with the Court.

•
The CosDioN SERGEANT here directed the witnesses
to be called, but, as they (lid not answer, the prisoner was
discharged, and the Learned Counsel quietly sat down.
A respectable-looking man, named Henry Sage, 34.
described as a surgeon, was indicted for stealini, a
cheque for 301., the property of a lady named Sydney
Maddocks.

Mr. Doane appeared for the prosecution, and Mr.
Ballantine defended the prisoner.
The prosecutrix was accommodated with a seat on the
bench. She stated that she was a widow, residing at
Kensington. Mr. Robarts, the banker, was her brother,
and she kept an account at his establishment. On the
day in question she was in Regent-street, in her brother's
carriage. She called at a shop, and left her reticule,
containing the cheque in question, in the carriage. On
her return to her carriage, she discovered that the
cheque was gone. She immediately gave information
both to the bank and to the police.
The prosecutrix's coachman and footman were put
into the box, but they knew nothing of the robbery.
Mr. Harrington, one of the cashiers in Messrs. Ro-
barts, Curtis, and Co.'s banking establishment, stated
that, on the day after the robbery, the prisoner presented
the cheque in question for payment, and upon his doing
so he was requested to walk into an inner room. He
stated that the cheque was his own.
J. Roberts, Esq., was then examined from the bench,
and he stated that he questioned the prisoner when he
presented the cheque, and ultimately gave him into
custody.
Mr. Goodman, the chief clerk at the Mansion-house,
produced a statement which was made at that office by
the prisoner. It was, that he had seen two foreigners in
the street disputing about the cheque, and he pointed out
the banking-house to them, and they asked him to get
the cheque cashed for them.
This was the case for the prosecution, and
Mr. BALLANTINE having addressed the jury for the
prisoner, called two witnesses.
The first stared that on the day in question he saw the
prisoner in Lombard-street. He was talking to two
persons, apparently foreigners. One of these gave the
prisoner a paper, and they all walked up the street
together.
The witness was cross -examined by Mr. DOANE, and
said that he had known the prisoner about ten years.
He used to keep a chemist's shop in St. George's-in-the-
East. He had attended witness.

This witness was fully corroborated by another person,
who was out of Court during the examination of the first
witness. He corroborated the witness to the letter.

Mr. DOANE—My Lord, under the circumstances, I
cannot think of going on with the case.

The COMMON SERGEANT—I think you are quite right.
The evidence for the defence is so straightforward, that
the prosecutors will see that you have taken the right
course.
The jury then returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
The announcement of the verdict was received with
clapping of hands, which was instantly repressed.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(YESTERDAY.)
GUILDHALL.

A poor half•starved looking man was placed before
Mr. Alderman John Johnson on a charge of having this
morning broken one of the gas-lamps in Fleet-street.
The poor creature, to inquiries from the worthy Al-
derman, said that he was starving, as he could get no
work, and that he broke the glass to get into prison.
Alderman JOHNSON—Have you applied to the union ?
Prisoner—l did last night, and they refused me relief.
Alderman JOHNSON—What is your trade?—A glazier.
Alderman JOHNSON—Have you ever been in prison ?
—I am just out of Tothillfields, where I was sent for
begging. I cannot starve.
The Alderman ordered that he should be taken to the
West London Union.
CLERKENWELL.
Michael Fleming, bricklayer, Tottenham-place, Tot-
tenham-court-road, was placed in the felons' dock,
charged with feloniously cutting and wounding Bridget,
his wife.

The prosecutrix, a sickly, careworn-looking woman,
was brought into Court by two policelconstables ; her
head was bound up, and she seemed labouring under pain
and excessive debility.

The Chief Clerk said he did not think she was inclined
to prosecute.
The poor woman, in a low tone of voice, replied that
she had no revengeful feeling towards her husband,
but she entreated that she might be protected from him
in future.

Mr. BROUGHTON, however, determined upon hearing
the facts of the case.

The prosecutrix then deposed that on the previous
night, about twelve o'clock, the prisoner came home. She
was in bed, and he spoke harshly to her ; after some
time, however, he went to bed, but continued to speak
very unkindly. She remonstrated with him, upon which
he jumped up, and asked where the candle was ? She
refused to tell him, fearing that he might want it to
search for some weapon ; he got a lucifer-match box,
and lighting a lucifer, threw it on the bed clothes. She
besought of him not to be so cruel, but he seized her by
the hair, and dragged her out of the bed on the floor.
She fell from the bed with so much violence that she
became insensible, and recollected nothing more until she
felt herself bleeding from a wound in her throat ; she
was then bleeding very much. After recovering herself
a little, she staggered out, and meeting a policeman, was
conveyed to the hospital.

BaotrcnroN-LHave you any children ? Prose-
cutrix (sobbing►)—No, they are all dead. thank God. I
was the mother of eight children, but they are all gone
from me.

Why do you say thank God ?—Oh, they are beyond
the reach of his cruelty.
The complainant went into further statements of inju-
ries inflicted, but the prisoner met them with a general
negative.—He was committed for trial.
EXTRAORDINARY ROBBERIES.—OrtaVita an he, a
young man of liberal education and highly respectable
family, stated to be the son of a deceased clergyman, was
brought before Mr. Bingham, the sitting Magistrate, for
re-examination upon several charges of robbing different
clergymen whom he visited.
He already stood committed upon two charges. In one
of these cases it appeared that, on the 16th of July, he
visited a gentleman named Leese, at Lloxtoa, and passed
a good part of the day with him. The next day he
called while that gentleman was from home, and being
shown to his bedroom to shave and dress, he broke open
the drawers, from which he stole a gold watch, sev,ml
rings and other jewellery, some linen, &e., and drove
in a cab, carrying with him a valise and velvet shootin!:
coat, telling the servant that he and _Mr. Leese would
probably return together at ten that night. In the other
case be had, on the 23d of February, borrowed a pony
from Mr. Smoothy, a farmer at Bard Crook, in Essex,
promising to return it next morning ; but the prosecu-
tor never saw him again until last weok, when he was
la custody at this Court, and he then acknowledged that