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

COURT OF CHANCERY, Dec. 14.

The Lord Chancellor sat in Lincoln's Inn Hall to-day,
;and heard appeal motions, pone of which were of the
slightest interest except to the parties concerned. It is
generally understood that his Lordship will rise on
Saturday next, the 21st, for the Christmas recess, but
will sit on Moiday the 22d, for the purpose of hearing
the conclusion of the arguments of Mr. Cobbett in the
case of Oldfield v. Cobbett.

VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT, Dec. 14.
(Before the VICE-CHANCELLOR of ENGLAND.)
The Vice-Chancellor of England sat in his private
room at Lincoln's Inn to-day, in consequence of the
inclemency of the weather. His Honour heard causes,
none of which possessed the slightest points of interest.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER, Dec. 14.

pefOre the LORD CRIEF 134atoN-and Common Juries.

HARMS V. WILLIAMS.

This was an action to recover damages for an assault.
The plaintiff was a coal-porter in the employment of Mr.
Wright of Ratcliffe, and the defendant a publican, carry-
ing on business at the Queen's Head, York• square, Com-
mercial-road. The latter had been drinking at another
public-house on the 7th of April last, in company with
some other men, and on leaving it, he proceeded with
his friends to that kept by the defendant. Having left
the house without settling the score, they were followed
by the defendant, who seized the plaintiff by the collar,
and gave him a kick, in consequence of which he fell to
the ground and broke his leg. The defendant was sub-
sequently removed to the London Hospital. A dresser
in that establishment was called to prove the nature and
extent of the injuries received.—Damages, 151.

FRAZER V. ROBERTS.

This was an action by the public officer of the Mon-
mouthshire and Glamorganshire Bank to recover the
amount of 2311.- and interest, due upon a bill. A bill at
three months was drawn on the 16th of February, 1844,
by the defendant, and accepted for the Lanmore Iron
Company, per procuration of Loftus, and indorsed by
him to the plaintiff's bank.
The bill had been admitted in Court by a Judge's
order on the 4th of December last. Thepresentation of it
was proved by the notary's clerk.
The plea set up by the defendant was that the bill
was held without consideration.

The LORD CHIEF BARON said the plaintiff, having given
value for this bill, had a right to sue all the parties upon
it ; and it was no defence that the defendant was only an
accommodation drawer.

Verdict for the plaintiff—Damages 237 L 165., and costs.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Stafford, Dee. 12.
CROWN COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice COLTMAN.)
His Lordship has been occupied all day in the investi-
gation of cases of a disgusting character, 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
ton years, at Kiugswinford.
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 cast 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. Juotice PArrEsox.)
John Booth, aged 22, was charged with burglariously
breaking into the house of Wm. Marsden, at Crick, in
this county, and stealing.
On the night of the 18th 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 hi►
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, committed in
the house of an old man at Shirland, in which robbery,
as in the former case, two other men were with him.

The wife of the prosecutor, who is 84, recognised
Booth as having entered the bedroom of herself aad hus-
band with a bludgeon in his hand. No violence, how-
ever, was committed.

This robbery was committed the same night. lie was
round 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 Gunurv.)
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 for 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—Guilty.
His LORDSHIP, after a solemn admonition to the pri-
soner on the enormity of the offence he had contem-
plated, sentenced him to be imprisoned for two years.
George Jordan and George Wylie stood indicted for
having, at Bootle-cum-Linacre, burglariously broken and
entered the dwelling-house 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 Tonge, on the 19th of
October, assaulted Thomas Holden, put him in bodily
fear, and stolen from his person the sum of three s )ve •
reigns.
Both
years.thconicted, and sentenced to be transported for
fifteen

York, Dec. 12.
Owing to the great number of prisoners for trial at
hese assizes, it was found impossible that Mr. Justice
Coleridge could got through the business in time for
opeuing the Commission at Durham. Air. 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