The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-17 00:00:00

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—York, July 15.

CROWN SlDE.—(Before Mr. Justice CRESWELL.)
Richard Cooper, aged 23, was indicted for having, at Bads-
worth, on the 4th day of June last, felonioulsy stolen ten
sheep, the property .f Joseph Jackson.

Mr. Hall and Mr. Overen‘d conducted the prosecution ; the:
prisoner was not defended by counsel.
It appeared from the statement of Mr. Jackson that on
Monday, the 3d of June, he had in a close at Badsworth a
flock of 50 sheep, 48 of which were hog sheep, and two ewes.
On the Monday evening they were all safe, but on the
Wednesday following it was found that ten sheep were
missing. On discovering his loss, Mr. Jackson went over
to Ackworth, the neighbouring township, and inquired of the
prisoner, who was pinder there, whether he had any sheep
in the pinfold. The prisoner said he had not. Mr. Jackson
then inquired if he had had any lately. He replied, Yes.
that he had had some on the Tuesday morning, belonging
to a Mr. Simpson, a farmer, at Ackworth. Mr. Jackson then
went away, but rom some information he received lie was
induced to return to the prisoner's house, aid accuse him of
having sold the sheep in question at Wakefield fair, the day
before. To this the prisoner at first made no reply, but he
afterwards admitted he had sold them at Wakefield for the
sum of 141. Mr. Jackson asked where the money was, and
the prisoner replied, that he had 11/. of it up stairs, and that
if Mr. Jackson would say nothing about it, he would give
him the remainder in a day or two. Mr. Jackson got the
11/., and told the prisoner he could say nothing about future
arrangements without seeing the constable. They went in
consequence to the constable's house, where Mr. Jackson left
the prisoner in custody.
The defence made by the prisoner was, that Mr. Jackson
had told him to take half a score of sheep to the fair, and to
select them as he thought best from the flock in the fields.
He said he had in consequence taken them to Wakefield and
sold them for 141.. but that having got drunk and lost part
of the money he was afraid to go to Mr. Jackson with the
remainder. Mr. Jackson, he said, called on him for the
money, and threatened to charge him with sheepstealing
only when he found that it was not all forthcoming.
Evidence, however, was adduced to show that Mr. Jack-
son had in the prisoner's hearing stated on the Monday that
he was not going to send any sheep to the fair, and that the
sheep which the prisoner was seen on the Tuesday morning
driving along the road towards Wakefield, were then covered
with red ruddle on the rump, so as to conceal as much as pos-
sible the mark " J.," which was the only one upon them
when in Mr. ,Jackson's close.

The prisoner had formerly been in Mr. Jackson's employ-
tnent, but had left it about four months before this occur-
rence.

The prisoner was found Guilty.
A previous conviction for sheepstealing having also been
proved against him, his Lordship passed sentence, stating that
the prisoner's previous history sufficiently showed that he was
utterly incorrigible, and that it was necessary to pass such a
sentence as would be a warning to others. To be transported
for life.

James Bradbury, aged 52, was indicted for setting fire to a
certain heath, at Aldmondbury, in the West Riding, the pro-
perty of George Hinchcliffe.
Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Pashley conducted the prosecution ;
the prisoner was defended by Mr. Bliss.
It appeared from the evidence for the prosecution, that on
the night of Saturday, the 26th of May, two persons were
on the watch in the neighbourhood of a moor, called Good-
bent Moor, which had, during the spring, been several times
on fire. In the course of these several conflagrations great
quantities of the game had been destroyed. About twelve
o'clock on the night in question, they saw part of the moor,
at some distance, burst into a blaze, and they ran off in that
direction. They had approached within about one hundred
yards of the place where the moor was then burning, when
they saw a spark moving aboikt much nearer them, and they
had come within a very few yards of it when it suddenly
burst into a blaze, and by the light they saw a man, whom
they recognised as the prisonerat the bar, rising from a stoop-
ing position over the burning heath. He was dressed in dark
clothes, with a hairy cap. A scuffle ensued, but the prisoner
succeeded in making his escape. Besides this testimony,
evidence was adduced of the prisoner having repeatedly used
the most violent threats respecting the owners of the moor
and the gentlemen who preserved game in the neighbour-
hood, in which he intimated that Good-bent Moor would be
the scene of a " maunce," as it is called in the hill dialect,
meaning a mischance, before long.
'For the defence, it was sought to establish an alibi, which
having failed, the prisoner was convicted.
Sentence was deferred.

WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Winchester, July 15.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice WIGHTmAx.)
William Cripps, a boy aged 12 years, was indicted for set-
ting fire to the dwelling-house of Thomas Horton, in the pa-
rish of Itehingswell.
Mr. Ball prosecuted. The prisoner was defended by Mr.
Saunders. _ _ __ _ _ _ . __ _

It was proved that on the 18th of June the barn of Mr.
Thomas Horton was on fire, which was consumed, together
with his dwelling-house. The prisoner had been seen near
the place a short time before the fire was discovered, and was
apprehended on suspicion. He directly confessed that it was
he, and told how he had done it, viz., by putting some fire
among the straw in the barn. He further said Sally Mul-
lings (who, it appeared, was a girl of eleven years of age),
told him to do it, and had said, if he would not set it on fire
she would.

Mr. SAUNDERS contended that it was quite clear that the
boy did not 'mow what he was about.
Mr. Justice WlGnonta.:l left it to the jury to say whether
he was doli capax.
The jury returned their verdict that he was not, which was
therefore a verdict of Not Guilty.

MIDLAND ClRCUlT.—Northampten, July 16.
This circuit commenced by the opening of the commission
at Northampton yesterday afternoon, before Mr. Justice
Coltman ; the real business of the circuit beginning this day,
the above Learned Judge presiding at Nisi Prius, and Lord
Denman taking hia seat in the Criminal Court. There are
twelve causes in the list, three being marked as special juries.
The calendar contains the names of twenty-eight prisoners
for trial, but we believe there are two or three others who
have been brought to the county gaol since the calendar was
printed. The principal offences charged are, two cases of
manslaughter, two rapes, and one case of arson.