The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-14 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Stafibrd, Dec, 12.
CROWN COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice COLTMAN.)
His Lorlhhip has been occupied all day in the investi-
gation of cases of a disgusting charccter, the particulars
of which, of course, are unfit to meet the public eye.
William Ennefer was indicted for a rape upon a little
girl of the name of Emma Townsend, under the age of
ten years, at Kingswinford.
Mr. Cope conducted the prosecution ; the prisoner
was defended by Mr. Woolrych, who, by a very able and
ingenious address, succeeded in procuring his acquittal
upon the graver charge, the jury by their verdict con •
victing him of an assault only, for which he was sen-
tenced to imprisonment, with hard labour, for three
years.
William Powell, aged 40 (a married man), was placed
at the bar charged with a rape upon a little girl of rather
interesting appearance, under the age of ten years.
The trial occupied some hours ; several witnesses were
called for the defence, who swore they would not believe
the mother of the prosecutrix upon her oath, and added
that they considered her a woman of bad character.
The Learned Counsel for the prosecution replied with
much ability upon the case for the defence, but so much
doubt was east upon the testimony of the principal wit-
ness against the prisoner that the jury, influenced by
that, and by a skilful speech from the Learned Advocate
who addressed them on his behalf, ultimately pro-
nounced a verdict of Not Guilty.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—Derby, Dec. 12.
(Before Mr. Justice PArrEsox.)
John Booth, aged 22, was charged with burglarlously
breaking into the house of Wm. Mansion, at Crick, in
this county, and stealing.
On the night of the 15th of November last, Marsden,
who lives in a house by himself, had gone to bed at eleven
o'clock, after having seen his premises properly secured.
Soon after he was awoke by three men entering his
room, one of them having a coulter in his hand. The
men, with threats, demanded his money, and succeeded
in taking from his purse 4s. Having a notion that more
coin was to be had in the house, they asked Marsden to
say where it was, but he denied having any beides what
they had taken. The man with the coulter threatened
to murder him ; but Booth interposed, saying, " No,
don't kill him—don't kill him." They were then retir-
ing, but Booth turned round, and addressing prosecutor,
said, " This house is yours." Crowder said, "It is."
Booth said, " If we don't kill you will you leave it to
me ?" Marsden said, " I will." They then quitted
the premises. Soon after Booth was apprehended,
Marsdent went to the room where he was confined, and
being shown a number of men, he immediately picked
out Booth as one of the three men who committed the
burglary.
The jury pronounced a verdict of Guilty.
He was then tried for a similar offence, eommitted in
the house of an old man at Shirland, in which rubbery,
as in the former case, two other men were with him.

The wife of the prosecutor, who is 84, recognised
Booth as haring entered the bedroom of herself and hus-
band with a bludgeon in his hand. No violence, how-
ever, was committed.
This robbery was committed the same night. He was
found Guilty, and sentenced to be transported for life.
The assizes for this county terminated at a quarter-
past four. The commission will be opened at Notting-
ham on Saturday.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.--Liverpool, Dec. 12.
(Before Mr. Baron GURNEY.)
Michael Pigott, alias Pickett, was indicted for having
feloniously, after a previous conviction, uttered a coun-
terfeit shilling to Ann Jones, at Liverpool, on the 9th
of November last.
Mr. Cobbett and Mr. Whigham conducted the pro-
secution, and Mr. James defended the prisoner.
The evidence under the present charge was, that the
prisoner had passed the bad shilling in payment for a
glass of ale, and on being told it was a counterfeit, ran
away.
Mr. JAMES contended that there was a variance be-
tween the copy record produced, that of a conviction at
the Liverpool Borough Sessions, and the recital of it in
the present indictment, inasmuch as the indictment, fol-
lowing the words of the record in evidence, stated that
the prisoner was tried " at the borough aforesaid, and
within the jurisdiction of this Court," which words,
" this court," must be considered as referring to the
present Court of Assize.
It was argued for the prosecution, that the word
" this" referred to the court before mentioned, " at the
borough aforesaid," and that as it was not necessary to
set out the whole previous record verbatim, the variance,
if any, was not material.
Mr. Baron GURNEY held the objection to be good, and
the prisoner was therefore acquitted.
He stood further charged fur the misdemeanour in ut-
tering, and was thereon found Guilty. He had been
twice before convicted, and was sentenced to be impri-
soned for one year, with hard labour.
Joseph M'Caughie, aged 40, was indicted for having,
in the month of October last, attempted to discharge a
loaded pistol at one William Arkle, with intent to kill
and murder him. There were other counts, laying the
attempt with intent to do grievous bodily harm, &c.
The prosecution was conducted by Mr. Brandt and
Mr. Paget.
It appeared in evidence that Mr. Arkle was a super-
intendent landing-surveyor in the Prince's Dock, and
that the prisoner had been employed as a landing-
waiter there. In consequence of the prisoner being
charged with drunkedness he was turned out of his
employ, and shortly afterwards came to the dock with
the intention apparently of being avenged for the loss of
his employ on Mr. Arkle. After inquiring for Mr.
Arkle, he went towards the place where Mr. Arkle was,
met him, and pointed a pistol at him, but did not dis-
charge it. It seemed doubtful, upon the evidence, whe-
ther the pistol at the time it was pointed by the prisoner
was in a condition to be discharged.
The prisoner, who was not defended by counsel, read
a long written statement, in which he complained of the
hardship of being thus turned off, stating that he was
unable to get a character from the Custom-house, and
that since his discharge his own condition and that of his
wife and children had been one of the greatest wretched.
ness, having no better prospect before them than the
workhouse. He admitted that he had approached Mr.
Arkle with the intention to do him an injury, but when
he beheld him his conscience was smitten with horror at
the idea of such an act, and that he had then imme-
diately taken the cap off the pistol, and thrown it away.
Verdict —G uilty.
His LORDSHIP, after a solemn admonition to the pri-
soner on the enormity of the offence he had contem-
plated, sentenced lihn to be imprisoned for two years.
George Jordan and George Wylie stood indicted for
having , at Bootle-cum-Lim:ere, burglariously broken and
entered the dwelling-;louse of John Percival, called the
Derby Arms, on the 10th of August, and stolen therein
a shawl, coat, and other articles.
Jordan pleaded guilty to the charge. Wylie was ac-
quitted. There was a previous conviction against the
other prisoner.
Sentenced to be transported for twenty years.
Charles Pilling, aged 21, and William Wylde, aged 24,
were charged with having, at Tunge, on the 19th of
October, assaulted Thomas Holden, put him in bodily
fear, and stolen from his person the sum of three gyve-
reigns.
Both convicted, and sentenced to be transported for
fifteen years.

York, Dee. 12.
Owing to the great number of prisoners for trial at
these assizes, it was found impossible that Mr. Justice
Coleridge could get through the business in time for
opening the Commission at Durham. Mr. Justice Cress-
well accordingly arrived at York last night to assist in
the trial of prisoners. Two courts have, therefore. been
open during the day. The only cases of public interest
which have come before their Lordships are here sub-
joined:—

(Before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE.)
Benjamin Collinson (out on bail) was charged with
having, on the 2tith of July last, at Dewsbury, burgla-
riously broken into the dwelling-house of George Earn-
shaw, and stolen therefrom four pairs of blankets, 20
shihings in silver, and one shilling in copper.—The
prisoner was Acquitted.
Mr. WILKINS said it was only due to his client to
state that ninety-two persons had subscribed their six-
pences and shillings towards the prisoner's defence, and
he held a testimonial from the vicar of the parish, giving
the prisoner a most excellent character.
Peter Higgins was charged with having stolen from
the counting-house of Charles Exley, a pocket-book and
about 1731. in notes; and Ann thyyins was charged with
having, on the 31st of July, at Wakefield, received one
301, sixteen 51, notes, and one 101. note, the property of
the said Charles Exley, well knowing them to have been
stolen.

The jury, after a short retirement, returned a verdict
of Guil►y against both the prisoners.
Peter Higgins was sentenced to transportation for 20
years. A former conviction was proved against Ann
Higgins, who was sentenced to transportation for 14
yeays. _ _

- WM. Thompson, alias Luke Thompson, alias Blueskin,
was charged with having, on the 22d of January, 1843,
feloniously shot at Thomas Carr, of Hall Moor, near
York, with intent to murder-, disable, or to do him some
grievous bodily harm. %-
Mr. WILKINS opened the case to the jury. He ob-
served that this case was indeed an extraordinary one,
and ono which he thought was calculated to teach all
persons woo might be acquainted with its history a very
important lesson. He was sure it would not be a lesson
lost upon them in the discharge of their duty on that and
all other occasions, and he felt it was a lesson which
every man would do well to lay to heart before he came
into a witness-box to speak against a fellow-creature.
Already a man named Mason had been tried for this
identical offei:ce--convicted and sentenced to transpor-
tation. If he (Mr. Wilkins) was well instructed, he
thought the jury would be fully convinced that that
poor fellow (Mason)
had been suffering for the crimes
of others, as it would be shown to them from the mouth
of the prisoner himself; that he with others committed
that offence—that Mason was tot present—and that in
fact Mason was not known to the parties who committed
the robbery. Ile (Mr. Wilkins) believed some hasty but
well-intended observations had been made in a portion of
the public press in this city on the conduct of the policeman
to whom the information was given in this matter ; but
he thought the gentleman who wrote ..hat article, and
all who might hear the history of this case, would be of
opinion, if they looked into his transaction, that the offi-
cer had conducted himself with becoming caution, dis-
cretion, and humanity. When the prisoner first imparted
the intelligence to the policeman, he was in duty bound
immediately to make it known to Mr. Chalk, the super-
intendent. Mr. Chalk very properly requested that cor-
roborative testimony should be obtained whereby to sub-
stantiate the statement, and at the same time secure the
release of Mason. The jury would, he thought, be of
opinion that caution was required, and that a little delay
was necessary to bring this matter to a successful issue. l