The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-16 00:00:00

NORFOLK ClRCUlT.—Bedford, July 14.

The commission for this county was opened this afternoon
by the Learned Judges of Assize, who also afterwards attended
Divine serviee in St. Paul's Church. _

It is rumoured that this had well nigh proved a " maiden
assize," as far as the " criminal prisoners" are concerned ' • as it
is, report has it that late on Saturday night a watchful con-
stable laid hold of an offender. He, however, is not of import-
ance sufficient to give employment to the " calendar .mangers
whose voices are silent, and disturb not the quietude of this
town with their accustomed clamour.

The cause list contains one special and two common jury
causes, but its exact entry cannot at present be ascertained.

MIDLAND ClRCUlT.—Northampton, July 10.
The commission for Northampton, the first place of busi-
ness on this circuit, was opened at half-past six yesterday
evening by Sir Frederick Pollock, and this morning, at an early
hour, the Learned Chief Baron proceeded to the church of All
Saints, where Divine service was performed. At eleven
o'clock the two Courts were opened, Mr. Justice Maule taking
his seat on the Nisi Prius side, and the Lord Chief Baron pre-
siding in the Criminal Court. On both sides the business is
light. The calendar has the names of twelve prisoners, several
of them being for rape, and two for cutting with intent, &c.
There are eigt causes only, and we believe they are altogether
of a trivial nature.
Geo-ge Martin Keatley, aged twenty-one, Tames Cunning-
ham, aged thirty-nine, and John Geldar, aged sixteen, were
charged with assaulting and robbing, near Stamford, one Wil-
liam Wright Waterfield.
Mr. Hildyard prosecuted.
Mr. M ,rtulay conducted the defence.
The pro. ecutor is a butcher at Stamford, and on the Ist of
June was coming by Burley Park from Kettering. At the
distance of a mile and three-quarters from Stamford there is
a drift way leading to the great north road. The prosecutor
saw three men there. He continued his way, passing the
men, who followed him. About twenty minutes past ten he
saw a man he knew named Richardson, and bade him " Good
night." A short distance further on, having looked behind
him, he saw a mats, with whom he walked conversing. Sud-
denly he passed in front, and stood before him with a stick.
This was Keatley. The other men then ran up to the pro-
secutor, who was knocked down by Keatley. Saw Cunning-
ham by a side view. He was then dragged to the side of the
roar! and robbed of 4s. 6d. in money, and a variety of small
articles. Prosecutor called out. One man seized hold of his
throat, but said if he would hold his noise they would not hurt
him. Having robbed him they went away, and prosecutor
went on to Stamford. The prosecutor returned to where he
had first seen the prisoners, and found Keatley and Cunning-
ham asleep, to whom he swore positively.
Thomas Sanders, a police-officer at Stamford, accompanied
prosecutor to the gipsy camp, and apprehended the prisoners.
A woman present said there had been a robbery, and she sup-
posed that was what they were wanted for. Cunningham said
" hush." The prisoners were travelling with china orna-
ments. In the camp, in a bag, were found 145/. 10s., 841. 10s.
being in gold.
There were other witnesses, but the only evidence as to
identity was that of the prosecutor.
Two persons gave Cunningham a good character, and re-
presented his business to be of that description as to make it
not unlikely he would have a large sum of money by him.
The Learned Judge having summed up, the jury retired.
Ultimately they acquitted the whole of the prisoners.

WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Winchester, July 14.
John Derwody was indicted for having maliciously cut and
wounded John Beacham, at Fareham, with intent to murder
him or to do him some grievous bodily harm.
Mr. Edwards was counsel for the pro3ecution, and Mr. Mis-
sing defended the prisoner.
It appeared that the prisoner was servant to an officer, and
had several times been at the Railway Tavern at Fareham,
where the prosecutor was hostler. On the 24th March the
prisoner went to the stables with some horses, and some words
took place between the two parties relative to the hostler's fees,
which the prisoner had not paid. The prosecutor threatened
to inform the prisoner's master that he did not pay him, when
the prisoner took up a prong and struck at Beacham's head,
but missed him. He then stabbed at him with the prong, but
Beacham defended himself and avoided injury. They parted ;
in about twenty minutes afterwards they met again, and the
prisoner asked Beacham if he would give it him then. Beacham
said he would if he would stay. The prisoner struck at
Beacham with a horsewhip, but did not touch him. Beacham
then knocked the prisoner down, he got up again,
and they " mug ;led" a bit. They both fell down, and
then the prisoner with akuile cut the prosecutor in the neck
and over the eye. They get up again, and the prisoner went
away. The prosecutor afterwards fainted away, from the loss
of blood, at the Railway Tavern. Search was subsequently
made on the spot where the affray had taken place, and the
blade of a knife was found covered with blood and hair. The
prisoner was taken into custody, and the handle of a knife was
found upon him which corresponded with the blade found on
the ground. A surgeon was called in to see Beacham ; he
was then covered with blood, and fainting. There was an the
wound on the face seven inches in length to the bone.
There was also a wound of considerable depth in the throat.
The wounds must have been inflicted by .a sharp instrument.
Mr. MISSING addressed the jury in mitigation of punishment,
for'he admitted that the facts were beyond dispute.
Mr. Baron PLATT having summed up, the jury returned a
verdict of Guilty with intent to do grievous bodily barrn.

The Learned JUDGE then addressed the prisoner. The
jury, in their cornpa,sion, had found a verdict on the second
count of the indictment, thinking, perhaps, there was some
doubt about his intent to murder this unfortunate person.
It was fit he should tell him that if the verdict had been
pronounced on the first count, he should have left him for
execution, and he would have expiated his offence on the
gallows. As it was the jury had saved him from that, but it
behoved the Court in a case of this kind, which belonged so
little to the feelings of Englishmen—the use of the knife—it
behoved the Court to vindicate the justice of the country.
He was invited to fight this man, but instead of acting as he
ought in a manly way, he took from his pocket a knife, and
held it in concealment, with a view of inflicting a wound in a
cowardly manner—certain it was, he meant to do him some
grievous bodiy harm. His conduct was most savage and
atrociou,, unworthy of a man. The Court saw nothing in the
case that could palliate it, and therefore sentenced the prisoner
to 15 years' transportation.
Robert Spencer and Henry Bedford, two boys aged 16
and 17, were indicted for the manslaughter of Jacob Li,;ht on
the 20th of May.

Mr. Missing conducted the case for the prosecution.
This was a very distressing case, so much so that the Learned
Judge was in tears during the whole of the trial. The facts
are simple and easily told. On the day in question, a donkey
was grazing on Netby- common, with its fore legs tied together
by a cord. The deceased, who was a little boy, untied the
cord and got on the donkey. He rode towards the prisoners.
When he got up to them they took the cord from the boy, tied
him round the body, and then tied the other end of the cord
round the donkey's neck, and started the donkey. The bey
being frightened, got off the donkey, which immediately went
off at full speed, dragging the boy after it, and kicking him
in a frightful manner. The two prisoners then ran after the
donkey, endeavouring to stop it, which at last they succeeded
in doing, but the boy died in a few minutes from the injuries
he had received. The prisoners ran for assistance, and were
exceedi❑gly distressed.
The jury found the prisoners Guilty, and they were sen-
tenced to be imprisoned for a fortnight, but without hard
labour.