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

TUESDAY.

CROWN COURT.—SaWL CfilOnas, 39, described as a
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 mwiths, 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
other 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—Witne3s 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.

NORFOLK ClRCUlT.—lpswich, July 29.
SENTENCES ON THE PRISONERS FOR ARSON.
About four o'clock Mr. Justice Williams took his seat
in the Crown Court beside Mr. Baron Alderson.
The concluding business of the assize, namely, that
of sentencing those prisoners who had been convicted of
arson. &e., was then commenced.

The prisoners being placed at the bar, Mr. Baron
ALDERSON said, they were called up to receive the pu-
nishment their particular offences required to be awarded
for their several crimes. His Learned Brother and him-
self had together examined their casea, and weighed
well what punishment ought to be awarded in their
several instances ; and he was called upon to pass sen-
tence upon those convicted in his Court. and his Learned
..Isrother upon those tried in his--for they were anxious