The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-26 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

The first session of the present Mayoralty was com-
menced yesterday ate he Old Bailey.
Precisely at ten oclock, the Right Hon. the Lord
Mayor, attended by his chaplain, Michael Gibbs, A.M.,
vicar of Christ Church ; Aldermen H. Hughes, Kelly,
Hooper, Marshall, Sheriff Sidney, and Under-Sheriffs
Martin and Atihurst entered, and the Court was opened
in the usual form. .

The names of the grand jury were then called ova,
and they being sworn,
'The REconnsu then proceeded to deliver his charge.
He said that the charges in the present calendar, although
not numerous—it containing only 118 names—at the
same time, comprehended several charges of the most
serious and important character. Many of them Were
charges of violence to the person. No less than ten for
cutting and wounding with intent to do some grievous
bodily harm ; seventeen of larceny from the person, ac-
companied, more or less, with violence ; two of man-
slaughter, and one of murder. All these cases were of a
serious character, but the facts connected with them were
in general clear and sufficiently distinct, and not involving
any quest'on of law on which it would be necessary for
him to address them. Their attention would be princi-
pally directed to the question of fact, what credibility
should be given to the witnesses, and how far the con-
flicting evidence should be believed. With regard to the
charge of murder, he did not think it convenient, nor
would it answer any useful purpose to advert to it, or
examine its details. They would give it their due and
cautious attention. With regard to one of the charges
of manslaughter, which was involved in considerable ob-
scurity—a charge against a husband, a pro'essional man
—it behoved them to sift the evidence well, and before
they returned a verdict of manslaughter, to feel assured
that there were really good grounds for their so doing.
There were two other charges to which it might be ex-
pected that he should allude—he meant those which re-
lated to offences of a foul and unnatural character ; but
he was sure they would spare the Court any reference
to such infamous cases, as the great pro-
bability was, that the facts themselves would
be amply sufficient to guide their opinions. The
remaining caws in the calendar did not require any par-
ticular notice, but it was with regret he stated that there
was one case of manslaughter, to which he could not
properly refer, as the depositions were transmitted
just before the sitting of the Court that morn-
ing. The proper officer to have sent them in
might have done so several days before, but
he, with a culpable procrastination, had deterred the
transmission of them till the last hour allowed by law.
Hid they been delayed a little longer, the Court would
have felt it its duty to impose a fine upon the offending
party. The Learned Recorder then adverted to the
general duties of the grand jury, and concluded thus—
With these remarks he would leave the gentlemen of the
grand jury to the discharge of their duties, but he would
add, that if anything should arise, in the course of their
proceedings, to call for the assistance of the Court, it
would be readily granted them. They might always re-
fer to the officer appointed-to assist, and with these few
words hu would dismiss them.

The grand jury then retired.
OLD COURT.

The morning was principally occupied in disposing of
caves of petty larceny, which were of the most unin-
teresting ch*racter.
Thomas Robinson, a sailor, aged 17, was indicted fur
haring, on the 30th of October, attempted to steal from
the cabin of the schooner Mary Ann, lying in the River,
a watch and chain, the property of William Gordon
Brown, a Custom-house officer, who was asleep there.
The offence was clearly proved.
The RECORDER said there could bo no reason to doubt
that the prisoner was there for the purpose of com-
mitting the felony. He was: a stranger on board the
vessel, and had boarded in the middle of the night. He
had no account to give why he was there, excepting that
he wanted a night's lodging.
The jury found him Guilty, and
The REcortomt, after informing him that the offence
was punishable with fifteen years transportation, and if
transported at all, the least term was ten years; but there
wasa power,of mitigation, and in consideration of the
prisoner's youth, the sentence was, that he be imprisoned
and kept to hard labour for one year.
Isaac Iliygs, aged 28, a paper-stainer, was charged
with having assaulted Robert Collins, a City policeman,
in St. Paul's Churchyard on the night of the 21st of
October.

Mr. WILKINs appeared for the defence, and said that
by his advice the prisoner threw himself on the mercy
of the Court.

The RECORDER said that it might be as well to hear
the evidence.

The policeman having been heard,
The RECORDER, in addressing the jury, said that this
assault could scarcely be of that character contemplated
by the statute, as of "intent to do some greviuus bo-
dily harm ;" but it was left to their discretion to say
whether the assault was such, or whether it was an un-
premeditated blow, induced by some premature exertion
of power on the part of the constable.
The jury found him guilty of a common assault, and
he was, after a severe admonition from the Bench, sent
to the house of Correction, to be kept to hard la-
bour for six calendar months,