The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-31 00:00:00

TUESDAY.

CROWN COURT.—Sarah Thomas, 39, described as it
widow, and whose appearance betokened the deepest
mental and bodily misery, was indicted for a misde-
meanour, in having unlawfully attempted to strangle
herself.

Mr. JOHNSON appeared for the prosecution, and ex-
plained the law bearing upon the charge against the
prisoner, stating that every attempt to commit a felony
amounted to a misdemeanour ; and inasmuch as if the
prisoner had actually destroyed herself, if the jury be-
lieved she was at the time in a sane state of mind, it
would have amounted to felony, and she was amenable
to the present charge.
Fanny Goldsmith deposed that her husband kept a
public-house at Warbleton, in this county. The prisoner
resided in the same parish, and she had known her for
several months, and, during the last six or seven weeks,
she had been in an almost destitute condition, and wit-
ness observed that she appeared in a very low and de-
sponding state, and frequently expressed her fear to wit-
ness that she should be compelled to go into the union
workhouse. The prisoner was a widow. She had eight
children dependent upon her, the youngest being only
three years old. The prisoner had received relief from
the parish, but, about thirteen weeks before this occur-
rence took place, it had been stopped, and she had no
oth'ir means of maintaining herself than by her own
labour, and she was in a very distressed condition. On
the day mentioned in the indictment, in consequence of
some information she received, witness went to the de-
fendant's house, and saw her sitting on a chair, ap-
parently in a fainting state. She recovered a
little, and said to witness —" I hope your
mind will never suffer as mine does." Wit-
ness went away, and returned in a short time, and then
found the prisoner insensible. Water was flowing from
her mouth, and she was black in the face ; her limbs ap-
peared to be stiffening„ and her throat was swollen. Her
cap-string was tied very tight round her neck, and the
prisoner's daughter cut it, upon which she appeared to
revive a little. Witness spoke to her, and reasoned with
her upon the awfulness of self-destruction, and she re-
plied, "If your mind was the same as mine, you would
do as I did ;" and she added that starvation bad caused
her to attempt to destroy herself.
By the COURT—Witne3i was aware that the defen-
dant was in a very destitute state. She had known the
prisoner to have fits of absence of mind, but had only
observed that this was the case latterly.
Moses Bourne said he had known the defendant some
time, and had been employed to watch her. He had
frequently seen her act like a crazy woman.
The defendant, on being called upon for her defence,
said she was very much troubled in her head, and did
not at times know what she was about.

A sister of the defendant was examined, and she con-
firmed the statement of her sister, and added that she
was always considered to be affected in her head.
Mr. Baron PARKE then addressed the jury, and ob-
served that it appeared clear from the evidence, the de-
fendant had made an attempt upon her life, and the only
question appeared to be, whether at the time she did so
she was in such a state of mind as to render her account-
able for her actions. It was clear that she was in a state
of great distress, and if the jury believed that from that
or any other cause her mind was affected, and that she
was not responsible for her acts, it would be their duty
to acquit her on that ground.
The jury, after deliberating for a short time, expressed
a desire to know why the parish had discontinued giving
relief to the defendant.

Mr. Baron PARKE said this formed no part of the case,
and they had no right to inquire into it.
The jury then returned a verdict of Not Guilty, on
the ground of insanity, and the defendant was ordered
to be taken care of during her Majesty's pleasure.

OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Worcester, July 27.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Chief Justice TINDAL.)
Robert Boulton, 17 and Richard Stanley, 17, were
indicted for breaking open the dwelling-house of Henry
Day, at Feckenharc, on the 9th of March, and stealing
a razor.

Mr. Huddleston prosecuted, and Messrs. Cooke and
Barrett defended the prisoners. •
The facts of the case possessed no feature of interest.
The defence sot up was that the prosecutor had mis-
taken the prisoners for the men who had committed the
offence.

After a long trial, the jury returned a verdict of Guilty
against both prisoners.
A previous conviction was proved against Boulton, who
was sentenced to ten years' transportation, and Stanley
to twelve months' imprisonment.
Stephen Dovey, 30, who was acquitted yesterday of
the burglary at the late Major Williams's, was now in-
dicted for breaking and entering the dwelling-house of
Mary Lovett, at St. John's, on the 14th of March, and
stealing nineteen sovereigns, four silver tablespoons,
seven teaspoons, a watch, and various other articles, the
property of the said Mary Lovett and of one Lucy Lock.
Mr. Keating and Mr. Yardley prosecuted ; and Mr.
Huddleston defended the prisoner.
The following are the facts:—Mrs. Lovett is a widow
lady, residing by herself, with a female seivant named
Lucy Lock, and on the day in question went out to a
friend's, leaving directions to her servant to fetch
her home. About half-past six, the girl locked up
the house, and proceeded for her mistress. On
their return, at eight o'clock, they found the back
door open, the house in confusion, and the•
articles named in the indictment stolen. On looking
into the adjoining garden, footsteps from there to the
road were discovered, which were afterwards found to
correspond with the prisoner's shoes. The prisoner had
been observed walking up and down before the house
when the servant went out, and it seemed that a girl
named Mary Jones, who was sent with the invitation
from her mistress to the prosecutrix, was an acquaint-
ance of the prisoner's wife, and after carrying the invi-
tation to. Mrs. Lovett, called at his house, when in the
course of conversation the prisoner learnt that the old
lady and her servant would be absent for some hours on
the succeeding evening. He was very inquisitive as to
whether Mrs. Lovett lived alone, what sort of a house
she kept, if she had plenty to live on, and similar in-
quiries. On the 16th, two days after the robbery, the
prisoner's house was searched by the police, and a bag of
copper coin to the amount of 35., 2s. 9d. of it being in
penny pieces, found. Although none of the coin could
be identified, a bag containing exactly that amount in
the same description of coin was stolen from the chest of
drawers at Mrs. Lovett's house. A screw-driver was
also found in his house which corresponded with the
marks made upon the drawers and chests, which had
been forced open. The prisoner was asked for his shoes,
and gave them up, saying, " They will not fit any
marks." The police-officers observed him whispering to
his wife, and hang an apron up, which induced them to
inspect it, and on removing the apron they found a key,
which, being taken to Mrs. Lovett's, was found to lock
and unlock the back door, by which the entry had been
effected.

The prisoner was found Guilty, and sentenced to ten
years' transportation.

NORTHERN C RCU IT.—Durham, July 26.
CROWN COURT.
Robert Ridley and John Ridley were indicted for setting
fire to a large quantity of gorse, in the parish of Stan-
hope, in this county.
Mr. INGHAM, who appeared for the prosecution, stated
that in the parish of Stanhope were large commons
covered with gorse, which was both useful and valuable
to the lord of the manor, who is the Bishop of Durham.
The prisoners turn their cattle on the common, as do
many others ; and in many cases the gorse has been set
fire to and destroyed by the commoners, with a view to
improve the herbage. This practice had gone on to so
great an extent that it became necessary to put a stop to
it ; and he believed that when it should be known that
it was unlawful, the offence would not be repeated.
The prisoners were, therefore, allowed to go, on en-
tering into recognizances to appear and receive judg-
ment when called upon.
William Kinsop and Gorge Twaddle were indicted for