The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 26, 1844.

was kept, was locked. At a little after ten o'clock
it was found that the room had been forcibly entered,
and the box, containing the cash and some silver
spoons, &c., stolen away. The persons who had com-
mitted the depredation must have gained access from the
back part of the house. To connect the prisoners with
the burglary, it was shown that the two men, about a
fortnight previously, had been sitting in an upper room
in the house, from which room they could obtain a view
of Mrs. Taylor's bedroom. On the Saturday night be-
fore the robbery, the male prisoners were seen in
Chapel-street, opposite to Mrs. Taylor's house, from
which situation they could see the bedroom window.
The prisoner Locke lodged in Spear-street, which is
about a mile and a quarter distant from Mrs. Taylor's
house, and there had several times been seen with him
at his lodgings a short man, not in custody, who must
have been one of the parties who committed the bur-
glary. On the Sunday evening in question, Locke and
and the little man spoken of, left the house at which
Locke lodged, in company together, and went to a public-
house kept by a person named Wilson, where the little
man changed his dress ; subsequently Locke and this
man; in company with the other two prisoners, were to-
gether at the College Inn, near to the old church. The
next pbsce in which they were seen was in Sidney-street,
near to Mrs. Taylor's premises. The prisoner Jennings
was keeping watch at one corner of the street, and the
little man before alluded to at the other, and the
prisoner Locke was passing about before the house,
and after doing so for some time, he turned the
corner into Scholefield-street, and was lost sight of for
about a quarter of an hour, when he was seen to come
apparently from the house, carrying something under his
arm, and on going up to the other men some one said it's
all right, and the parties separated. In a pit standing in
the road taken by the man who was seen to carry some-
thing under his arm, was found the stolen cash box, and
on the road taken by the man who has escaped the vigi-
lance of the police, were found other portions of the
stolen property, and also a dark lantern. To connect the
female with the transaction, it was shown that at the
time the prisoner Locke was walking before Mrs. Tay-
lor's house, she had gone, in company with Jennings,
into Mrs. Taylor's vaults, probably with the view of as-
certaining in what situation the inmates of the house
were stationed. Jennings, after this, went to his lodg-
ings, where he left a message that if a man, answering
the description of the little man spoken of, called, he was
to meet him at the College Inn ; and at a quarter after
ten o'clock this man and the male prisoners were toge-
ther at this public-house, where a transaction took place
which was important to the inquiry into the guilt of the
prisoners. The landlady and her daughter were sitting
in the kitchen opposite to the room in whieh the par-
ties were, and they heard a sound as of gold money
being counted. In consequence of this, on hearing of
the robbery, a communication was made to the police,
and instructions were given what was to be done if the
parties came again. About ten o'clock the following
morning the two male prisoners did come again, and the
police were sent for, who took them into custody. Locke
had on an entire new suit of clothes, and in his pockets
were found seven sovereigns, and in the pockets of Jen-
nings were found four sovereigns. When told the charge
upon which they were apprehended, they stated that they
were at their lodgings at the hour the offence was com-
mitted, which was ascertained not to be the fact.
These accusations having been proved in evidence,
Mr. WILKINS addressed the jury on behalf of the pri-
soners. This, he said, was a case which would require
on their part a very great deal of care, watchfulness, and
jealousy over themselves. He knew of nothing more
easy than by an exercise of ingenuity to excite suspicion
against others ; and if they lent a ready ear to the party
making an accusation, and allowed that party to make an
impression on their minds, there was afterwards a secret
satisfaction, of which, perhaps, they might be uncon-
scious at the time, in making every circumstance fit the
accusation and justify the impression on their minds. All
cases of circumstantial evidence were calculated to ex-
cite suspicion ; and the circumstances in this case, as
stated by the Learned Counsel for the prosecution, were
put together with great skill and ingenuity ; and it fre-
quently happened that a Learned Counsel so situated,
unless he was something more than human, allowed his
judgment to be warped. It would be their duty to find a
verdict in accordance with the evidence ; and he felt as-
sured they would take great care to ascertain whether
the evidence which had been adduced was sufficient to
justify them in pronouncing a verdict of guilty against
the prisoners, of one of the highest offences 'mown to
the law of the land. He contended that the case against
the prisoners, as stated by the prosecution, was not suffi-
cient to justify them in coming to a conclusion of guilty,
and that all the facts deposed to were perfectly compati-
ble with the innocence of the parties
.ace used ; in fact,
against the female prisoner there was no case whatever.
The Learned Counsel concluded an eloquent and inge-
nious defence by a passionate appeal as to the conse-
quences if a verdict of guilty was returned against the
prisoners.
The Learned JUDGE, with great perspicuity, summed
up the case to the jury, who, after a deliberation of a few
minutes, returned a verdict of Guilty against the whole
of the prisoners.
A previous conviction was proved against Jennings.
Sentence deferred.

August 24.
CROWN SlDE.—(Before the LORD CHIEF BARON).
William Swanston was indicted for the murder of his
wife at Wigan.
Mr. Sergeant Murphy and Mr. Segar conducted the
prosecution. The prisoner was defended by Mr. Wilkins
and Mr. James.

It appeared that on the evening in question the pri-
soner came home from the factory in which he was em-
ployed as an overlooker. He went up stairs, and found
his wife lying intoxicated on the floor. It would ap-
pear that he had given her a kick in the hinder part of
her person, and shortly after he came down stairs and
mentioned to a little girl, his eldest daughter, that her
mother was drunk, and there was no supper ready. Ile
afterwards went again up stairs, and finding his wife still
lying on the floor, apparently in much pain, he carried
her down, put her in a chair, and sent for a doctor. By
the time he arrived, the seat on which she sat and her
clothes were drenched with blood. The medical man
had her again taken up stairs, and on examination found
that the kick the prisoner admitted he had given her had
displaced the bone at the extremity of the spine, rup-
tured the bladder and some blood vessels, of the hemor-
rhag2 from which the unfortunate woman finally died.
She as sinking, indeed, when thedoctor was first called
in. Some brandy was administered to her, which she at
first refused, saying she did not like it. The prisoner
then remarked, " if thou hadat not been so fond of it,
this would not have happened." He expressed, how-
ever, great sorrow at what had occurred. He had al-
ways borne an excellent character, but the unfortu-
nate deceased had latterly been given to habits of intoxi-
cation.

Guilty of manslaughter.—Sentence deferred.
James Burgess was indictment for an attempt to mur-
der his wife.
Mr. Brandt conducted the prosecution ; the prisoner
was defended by Mr. J. Pollock.
The prisoner was a machine-maker, and about two
years ago, being then 18, was married to his present
wire. They had one child. Some family disputes arose
between the wife's family and him, and he finally sold
off his goods with the intention of going to America,
she returning to her friends. The windows of his
father-in-law's houca having been broken, the prisoner was
accused of having done it, and he asked his wife to meet
him at the house of a mutual acquaintance, to try and
make it up. She (lid so, and they being left alone in the
house, he asked her to go into the other room. She re-
fused. He then put out the candle, seized her by the
throat, and strangled her, as she said, until she was
blind, and then with a knife attempted, as she supposed,
to cut her throat. The neighbours hearing an alarm,
broke in the door, and found the prosecutor standing on
the floor leaning against a table, and nearly insensible.
ller throat was much bruised, but no wound had been
inflicted, it haring apparently been the back of the knife
which had been used.

Evidence was given of the prisoner having threatened
on more than one occasion to cut his wife's throat.

Verdict—Guilty of an aggravated assault. To be im-
prisoned two years.

OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Gloucester, Aug. 23.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Sergeant ATCHERLEY.)
John Smith, aged 50, a bill discounter, was charged
with forging and uttering an endorsement to a bill of
exchange' with intent to defraud Thomas Gardener.
Mr. Godson (Queen's Counsel) and Mr. Greavee con-
ducted the prosecution; Mr. Keating, Mr. Cooke, and
Mr. Gray, the defence.
This case was rendered more interesting than similar
investigations usually are from the singular circumstances
disclosed in the progress of the inquiry.
The prosecutor and prisoner had been intimate asso-
ciates for years in the business of bill discounting, but
had recently disagreed. The alleged forgery, an en-
dorsement to a bill of exchange drawn by prosecutor,
took place in March, 1842, when notice of its being dis-
honoured was given to the prosecutor by the attorney for
the prisoner, who commenced proceedings against the
acceptor, and recovered the amount in an undefended
action at the Gloucester Summer Assizes, 1843. In
March last, a bill for forgery was presented to the grand
jury, without any previous inquiry before a magistrate,
when the trial was postponed to these assizes, the pri- .
soner being admitted to bail. Numerous witnesses were
called to state their belief that the endorsement was not
in the prosecutor's handwriting, but, as usual, they all
varied on cross-examination as to the parts of resem-
blance and non-resemblance.
After a very powerful and searching speech from Mr.
KEATUNG,
The Learned JUDGE summed up the evidence, and a
verdict of Acquittal was pronounced.
The trial lasted until half-past ten at night, when the
business of the assizes closed.
At one o'clock Chief Justice Tindal left the town on
his way to London to prepare the judgment in the Writ
of Error upon the Irish State Trials, which is to be de-
livered on the 2d of September. On the 4th of Septem-
ber we understand that that very learned and most ex-
cellent person starts on a continental tour.

TVESTERN ClRCUlT.—Bristol, Aug. 23.
(Before Mr. Justice PA.TTESON and a Special Jury.)
PARFITT V. THOMPSON AND OTHERS.
Mr. Crowder, Mr. Sergeant Mannino. and Mr. Ball
conducted the case for the plaintiff, and Mr. Cockburn
and Mr. Butt that for the defendants.
This action was brought to recover the amount of the
loss on a policy of insurance for 2,0001, which had been
effected on a vessel called the " Hutchigon" by the Forth
Marine Insurance Company, of which the defendants
were members. The ship was built in 1825, and pur-
chased by tho plaintiff in 1838, when she was repaired
at an expense of 1,5001. In 1841 she was chartered by
Laurie, Hamilton, and Co., on a voyage to Sierra Leone,
and then this insurance was effected. On the 10th of
March, 1841, the vessel sailed from Bristol, under the
command of Captain White. In the Bay of Biscay the
weatheriwas very bad, but the vessel arrived in the Mala-
couri river on the 15th of April, where it remained till

the 9th of July, when she sailed for England. When
off the Isle de Los there was very rough weather, but
when off Cape Verd, the windlass, anchor, &c., were
lost, and the vessel became leaky, and with some diffi-
culty reached the Gambia river. An agent of Lloyd's
then surveyed the vessel, and it being found necessary
that very considerable repairs must be done, and which
could not be completed there, it was considered best to
sell the vessel, which fetched 4111. The defendants
contended that th©y were not liable for a total loss, but
only a portion, and they paid 4001. into Court, and
alleged that the question was, whether the vessel had
sustained the damage by the perils of the sea or through
unworthiness.

Mr. Justice PATTESON having summed up.
The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, the
amount of damage to be regulated by Mr. Powell, of
London.

Several common jury cases have been tried, but they
have been chiefly brought under the Interpleader Act,
to determine as to the proprietorship of goods and fur-
niture, and their interest was confined to the locality.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
OLD COURT.

(Before Mr. Baron GURNEY and Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN.

John Donnycliff was indicted for cutting and
wounding Sarah Powell. Mr. Gurwood prose-
cuted, and Mr. Prendergast defended. It appeared
that on the day in question, the 23d of June, she met
the prisoner, and went to a public-•house with him,
where they had some drink. They went afterwards
to other public-houses, and both eventually got tipsy.
They then went to prosecutrix's lodgings, where they
quarrelled, and she aggravated him very much, upon
which he struck her in the face, and then took a knife
from his pocket and stabbed her in the breast. The
prisoner was convicted, and sentenced to be impri-
soned for four months.

SENTENCES.—Faith Bowerman, aged 17, who was
on Friday convicted of the manslaughter of her new-
born infant, was brought up and sentenced to be im-
prisoned and kept to hard labour for two years.
Sarah Hyland, aged 22, convicted of concealing the
birth of her new-horn male child, was also brought
up and received a like sentence.
John Le Grand, aged 50, described as a merchant,
was indicted for breaking and entering the dwelling-
house of Robert Anwyl, and stealing 180 dozen of
lace caps, capes, collars, &c., value 601., the property
of John Byng Banks.
It appeared that Mr. Banks occupied rooms as a
warehouse in the dwelling of Mr. Anwyl, at 82, in
Lawrence-lane, and that the property in question was
deposited in the rooms used by Mr. Banks. The rob-
bery in question was committed on Christmas eve,
and was first discovered by a man named Jones, in
the employ of Mr. Anwyl, who went to the house to
get his master's rooms ready for him. He found
Mr. Banks's door had been broken open, and imme-
diately fetched the police, who discovered everything
in confusion. On Mr. Banks being informed of the
circumstance he repaired to the premises, and dis-
covered that the goods in question had been ab-
stracted. It was subsequently discovered that a Mr.
Lafitte, a dealer in gloves and French goods, in
Addle-street, was selling goods which resembled
exactly those stolen from Mr. Banks. On inquiry,
it turned out that the prisoner had sold 180 dozen of
caps to Mr. Lafitte, which, on being examined, turned
out to he the caps stolen. That person had given
271. 10s. to Le Grand for the caps. This being the
case, the police received orders to apprehend the pri-
soner, which they did, and on searching his rooms
discovered some collars, which had also been stolen
from the warehouse of Mr. Banks.
The RECORDER said he did not think there was
sufficient evidence to convict the prisoner of having
broken into the warehouse, although there was some-
thing against his character. At any rate it was
doubtful whether he had come honestly by-the goods.
He was only one degree removed from the other per-
sons who had sold the goods.
The jury immediately returned a verdict of Not
Guilty.

NEW COURT.
(Before the COMMON SERGEANT.)

Louisa Saville, aged 17, and Mary Saville, 16, were
canvicted of stealing one shawl, value 95., the pro-
perty of Sophia Green, 26,:11igh-street, Islington.
The prisoner Louisa was sentenced, at her own re-
quest, to transportation for seven years, having no
other means of procuring her livelihood except by
prostitution; but the Common-Sergeant, taking into
consideration the youth of the prisoner, the sentence
was afterwards respited, it being mentioned that an
attempt would be made to get the prisoner into the
douse of Occupation.
The other prisoner was sentenced to two months'
imprisonment.
FELONY.—TViIIiam Day, 32, was indicted for steal-
ing one tablecloth and two napkins, value 31., the
property of Mary Ann M`Gagan, and one scarf and
one gown-piece, value 41., the property of Clara Brown,
in the dwelling-house of James M`Kean, Spurney
street, Leicester-square, on the evening of the 4th
of August.

Witnesses were called, who detailed the facts of the
case, and swore positively to the prisoner's identity.
Mr. Pnacocx addressed the jury for the prisoner. •
Several witnesses were called to prove an alibi.
Each underwent searching cross-examination. The
jury, disbelieving their evidence (though the wit-
nesses swore that the prisoner spent the day in
question in their company) found him Guilty.
He was sentenced to transportation for seven years.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
(SAT UR DAY.)
MANSION-HOUSE.
Laidler, who stated that he had been a
seaman on board the shin John Campbell, of Liver-
pool, a vessel of 600 tons, in the palm oil trade, ap-
pearedof
tmaltinghat vessel,
cs
sbaeelf:)
and declaration Sai rs Johneri e
rs
elative
f P
cirrui
cruelties
mutiny th
which,e luloornp
so
ts
boardaete
had been crowned with murder.
Sir J. Pram, upon looking over the statement con-
tained in the thclaration,- said it was quite impossible
for him to allow such a paper to be declared to be
true before him, with the view to publication, until
he should have made application to the owners of ale
vessel on the subject. He was, he said, aware that
many awful occurrences took place on the coast of
Africa, but parties interested not unfrequently ex-
aggerated, and sometimes wholly misrepresented
matters, and were themselves sometimes chargeable
with mutiny, the very apprehension of being accused
of which induced them to be the first to complain.
The seaman solemnly pledged himself to the truth
of the statement, which was to the following effect :
The ship, John Campbell, left the Liverpool Docks on
the 21st of October last, bound for Old Calabar, on
the African coast, in the palm oil trade. Two weeks
after the ship sailed the skipper (Robert Nelson) died
off Madeira, when the supercargo assumed the com-
mand, in defiance of the senior officer on board, who
should have asserted his right according to the usages
of merchant ships in such cases. About a month
after our skipper died the supercargo reduced our
daily rations to a very serious extent. We had now
gained our destination, working hard under an African
sun unloading the ship, but finding ourselves oppressed
with heat, and languishing for the want of food, we
consulted, went aft, and respectfully complained to the
proper officer, the first mate, that in consequence of
the reduction of our rations we felt weak and unable
to do our work. The officer referred us to the
supercargo. We then addressed ourselves to that
personage, who also reused our request, on
the ground that the ship's provisions were
short, and should be reserved for the home-
ward passage. We knew this to be an evasion of our
just claims, and a falsehood, as the owner, Sir Joseph
Sharp, at the time we signed the ship's articles, said
we should have plerrty to eat and be well used. After
our humble petition was derided and denied, we re-
turned quietly to our duty, whilst the supercargo
sent off to some of the ships in port, and having con-
versed with their skippers and supercargoes, several
of them accompanied him on board the John Campbell.
We now believed our usual allowance of food would
be granted to us, and being satisfied, we gave them
three cheers as they passed over the side, being under
no apprehensions. On this occasion the supercargo
was told that the John Campbell crew did not recog-
nise him as master, but were ready to obey the senior
ship's officer on board. The supercargo did not re-
turn on this day, but remained all night ashore, and
next morning he sent for half the ship's crew, no rea-
son having been assigned for this unusual order.
This mysterious request having excited our sus-
picion, all hands refused to comply until the intent
was known. When the messenger returned, he said we
might look to ourselves, as the war canoes were pre-
paring to come off. Our amazement may be con-
ceived ; and there now ensued a scene of barbarity
and cruelty that could not be exceeded by the most
ignorant savages on the coast, and inhuman and blood-
thirsty as the natives sometimes are, they cannot be
excelled by the butchery and bloody purpose of
the orders issued in this deplorable instance. We saw
about fifty armed war canoes put off, with from 18 to
20 natives in each, chanting their war-songs of blood
and slaughter, with the supercargo at their head.
They soon drew up in a circle round the ship, and
swept her deck with volleys of shot and poisoned ar-
rows. Being astonished at such an extraordinary at-
tack, and shuddering at the idea of instant death, we
stood on the defensive with such weapons as came to
hand, but becoming weak from wounds and loss of
blood, the ship was easily boarded, and nine of us
tied with cords, and thrown, covered with gore, into
the canoes, and taken ashore and paraded through
King Yambo's town, where every species of cruelty
and insult was also inflicted upon us. The natives
having exhausted their cruel energies, we
were stripped, our clothes taken away, and
ourselves put in chains, and suffered to lie
on the damp ground in separate huts, and
fed on water and half a pound of biscuit a dayduring ;
43 days, two of our number having died from this
brutal treatment—the carpenter and Edward John-
son. The crew being now in chains, and the ship