The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-19 00:00:00

ROLLS' COURT, Mach 18.

The Master of the Rolls was occupied the whole day
with the part-heard case of Ambles v. the Lancaster
Railway Company, the arguments on which were not
concluded.

VIOE-CHANCELLORS' COURTS, March 18.
Nothing of any interest occurred in any of the Vice-
Chancellors' Courts.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Stafford, March 17.
(Before the LORD CHIEF BARON.)
HEYWOOD r. GREEN—BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE—
DAMAGES 1,0001.
Mr. Sergeant Talfourd and Mr. Allen were for the plain-
tiff ; Mr.Whateley, Q.C., and Mr. Whitmore represented
the defendant.
After the pleadings had been opened by Mr. Allen, an in-
timation was given by Mr. Sergeant Talfourd that a com-
promise had been arranged between the parties, and that he
was instructed to accept a verdict for 40s. damages—the cost
to be paid as between attorney and client.
Mr. WHATELISY, Q. C., expressed his willingness to consent
to such a verdict, and to allow that a most unexceptionable
character had been borne by the plaintiff for no less than
sixty years.
Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD stated he felt it impossible for him
to accept a boon of such magnitude, as the plaintiff confessed
only to fifty-four years.
The verdict was then taken by consent for 40s.
(Before Mr. Baron PLAIT.)
CHARGE OF HIGHWAY ROBBERY. William Thompson,
Mirfin, and Thomas Plant were indicted for a highway
robbery.
The prosecutor in this case was Thomas Harrison, a
butcher, residing at Batterton, in this county, who was re-
turning homeward from the market at Leek, with his cart
and horse, late on the night of the Bth of January. He
had about 141. in gold, silver, and "brass" in his possession,
and was accompanied by his dog. As he passed through a
turnpike, he observed three men, without bats, but with
handkerchiefs tied round their faces, who appeared desirous
of escaping his notice. lie made some common-place ob-
servation, but receiving no answer, drove on, till he was
obliged by a hill to slacken his pace, when he again saw
the satne men, and being somewhat alarmed by their ap-
pearance, looked for his axe, which was in the cart, and
prepared for defence. Upon reaching the top of the hill, he
stopped to breathe his horse, when he found the reins sud-
denly seized by a man, and looking behind him saw two
others, one of whom cried out, " Surrender, sir 1 " and
added, " Your money, or you're a dead man in a moment."
The prosecutor seeing no pistol in the extended hand of his
opponent, thought he would have a struggle for his pro-
perty, and jumping up, stoutly rephed, " I shan't surren-
der." The two men then threw large stones, which struck
him upon various parts of his body. One of these cut
through his hat, and inflicted a severe wound upon his head,
on feeling which, he sprang from the cart, and, rushing to
the first speaker, whom he positively stated to be Mirfin,
struck at him with his axe. He missed his aim, however,
and the shaft of the weapon being unfortunately greasy and
ill-constructed for the hand, it flew from his grasp, and one of
the assailants gained possession of it, following up his advan-
tage by striking several blows at the prosecutor, one of which
caused a deep gash upon the cheek bone, and felled him to
the ground. Finding himself incapable of further resistance,
he begged for mercy, and offered to give up his money, all of
which, with the exception of 10%d., was taken from him, and
his watch also, which, however, one of the men returned.
One of them, stated by the prosecutor to hare been Plant,
said " D— him, cut his head off with the axe, as he would
have cut off your's," and struck him on the side with the
back of it. They then left him, and he made the best of his
way to the house of a man named Timothy Underhill, at
Oucott, bleeding profusely. Here he told his story, and de-
clared his conviction that two of the men who attacked him
were Mirfin and Plant, both of whom he had known for a
considerable time.

Underhill being called, confirmed this statement of the
prosecutor with relation to the mentioning these names, as
did Joseph Allen, an old shoemaker, who was present. This
last witness, however, in answer to some questions put by
the Learned Judge, begged to be allowed to make "a candid
statement," when he informed the Court that, having lost his
consort, and his children being scattered over the world, he
felt very unhappy in his mind, and would honestly confess
that, on the night in question, he had been sacrificing to the
spirit of John Barleycorn, and that Morpheus, in whose arms
he had been reposing, was only frightened away by the ar-
rival of the prosecutor.
A policeman, who was on duty at Leek on the Bth, proved
the departure of the prosecutor from that town, and said that
he was then sober. He also took the prisoners into custody.
This was the close of the case for the prosecution.
For the defence, it was contended that this was a case of
mistaken identity, and a host of witnesses were called to prove
that the prisoners were at home, and in bed, at the time the
robbery was committed. It appeared that three other men,
of the names of Candy and Johnson, had been taken into
custody on the present charge, and that the bill against them
had been ignored by the grand jury. They had not, how-
ever, been discharged, and by order of the Learned Judge
were now placed by the side of the accused in the dock, when
a considerable resemblance was observed in their features.
Under these circumstances his Lordship directed an acquittal,
observing, on discharging the prisoners, that they left the
dock without the least stain upon their characters.

NORTHERN CIRCUI7'.—York; March 16.
(Before Mr. Justice WtotiT3lAs.)
William Jackson was indicted for having, on the Gth of
the present month, feloniously assaulted George Wardle, one
of :the rural police, and wounded him with intent to do
grievous bodily harm.
Mr. Wilkins prosecuted, and Mr. Bliss appeared for the
defence.

The facts proved involved also the charge of poaching, for
it appeared from the evidence of the officer, that he had, on
the day named, been asked by William Swan, gamekeeper
to Mr. Thompson, of Sheriff-Hutton, to lend assistance,
and thereupon Wardle went into some land where he was
directed to go, and there saw the prisoner, and another
young man named Webster, in the act of pursuing hares
and trespassing. The prisoner is the son of a farmer who
has about 150 acres of land. The other, Webster, who is
also a very young man, is the son of a person now holding
some land, who is a dog-breaker, and was formerly a game-
keeper. As stated for the prosecution, these two having
crossed a portion of the land occupied by the prisoner's fa-
ther, went on to the other ground, where the prisoner was
seen to shoot a hare and put it in his pocket. Webster had a
single-barrelled gun, and the prisoner a double-barrelled one.
They then went on, and in another field the prisoner took
another hare out of a. snare, and put it into Webster's
pocket. After that both shot at a hare in another field,
which they missed. On this the officer went up to them
and :asked them about the snared hare. Webster said he
might look, but the prisoner said he'd be - if he should,
and struck him in the mouth, cocked his double-barrelled
gun, presented the muzzle, which touched Wardle's cheek,
and said if he did not leave, he (the prisoner) would blow
his brains out. A scuffle then ensued between the prisoner
and Wardle, who both came to the ground, when the pri-
soner called for aid upon Webster, who, raising his gun, told
Wardle if he did not let Jackson go he would knock his
head oft' with it. The officer then pulled the snare with
which the hare had been caught from 'Webster's pocket ; and
the prisoner struck him with the single gun, which he had
taken from Webster. By this blow a wound was made on
the back part of his head, and from the effects of the blow ho
was so stunned as to lie on the ground, for about half an
hour, in a state of insensibility. The officer stated further,
that he again saw the same two men after he had recovered
himself going away with a pony that had been ridden to the
place by a boy of the name of Bean, and the prisoner then
said to him that if he followed them any further he would
give him some pellets.
After a very energetic speech from the prisoner's counsel,
in which it was contended that the officer had exceeded
his duty, and that the story for the prosecution was alto-
gether most unlikely to be true, and quite undeserving of
credit, witnesses were called to show that the real case was
one very different, and that the prisoner had acted but in
self-defence.

Bean, above-mentioned, was the principal witness; but
)Webster was also called ; and in their testimony it was
positively denied that the latter had any gun at all upon
the occasion, and asserted that the blow given to the
officer was inflicted with a stick which he himself had carried
to the spot. The boy said the officer threatened Jackson to
handcuff him, and actually took handcuffs from his pocket
after so threatening. This was denied on the other side. For
the defence it was stated that there had been bat one shot
altogether, and that was at a duck.
Sir John Simpson was called to give the prisoner a cha-
racter, who said he bad known the prisoner's family long,
and that they were most respectable.
Verdict—Guilty of a common assault.—To be imprisoned
for ten days.

WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Dorchester, Mareh 15.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Justice ERLE.)
This was the day fixed for trying the two charges of
murder, the bills for which had been found yesterday. These
cases have excited great interest in the county, more espe-
cially in this neighbourhood, and, as a consequence, the
Court was most densely crowded, every place being filled
directly the Court was opened. Both prisoners were charged
with the murder of their children--the one by cutting the
throat of her new-born infant, and the other by adminis-
tering poison to her child, who was about two months old.
Betsy Christopher, a good-looking country girl, eighteen
years of age, was charged with the murder of her infant
child by cutting its throat.
Mr. C. Saunders conducted the prosecution. The prisoner
was undefended.

The fellow-servant of the prisoner was first called. She
stated that she and the prisoner had lived with a Mrs.
Collins, at Parketone, near Poole. The prisoner had been
in the service of Mrs. Collins about a fortnight. She slept
with witness, who did notremark anything particular in her
person to lead her to the supposition that the prisoner was
in the family-way. About half-past five on the 11th of
February, witness awoke and found the prisoner standing by
the side of the bed. She inquired what was the matter with
her, and prisoner replied " Nothing." It was quite dark at
the time, and consequently witness could not see anything.
Shortly after the prisoner got into bed, and witness went to
sleep till about six o'clock. She then awoke, and both she
and the prisoner got up and dressed themselves. They then
went :down stairs, the prisoner into the kitchen, and the
witness into the nursery to attend to the children, she being
the nursery maid. Nothing more took place till about eight
o'clock, when the prisoner came up to witness and com-
plained that she felt very ill, and in a great deal
of pain. Nothing remarkable was said, and no suspicion
was awakened in witness's mind, who advised the prisoner
to go to bed. The prisoner said she would, and
went. About nine o'clock witness went up to the prisoner
and inquired how she felt, and was told that she was
worse. She was on the bed. About ten o'clock the witness
again went up to see the prisoner, and again inquired how
she felt. Witness then observed blood on the floor,
and inquiring what was the matter, was told nothing She
stood some little time, and then went down stairs. Shortly
after the prisoner followed her into the kitchen. She had
changed the gown which she had put on when they got up
at six o'clock. Her arms were folded, and within them she
carried something covered over with her apron. She went
out in the garden towards the privy, which was situated
near the kitchen door. She remained a very short time,
and then returned, but without her apron. Witness now
observed that prisoner's hands were bloody, and she asked
witness to get some warm water to wash her hands, which
she did. Witness did not hear at any time the cry of a child.
After the prisoner returned from the privy she said she was
better. About half an hour afterwards she again complained
that she felt worse, and must go to bed, which witness de-
sired her to do. She afterwards made her some tea, and
took up to her.
Mr. West, a surgeon, proved that be was sent for. He

A V 14
n. 14 r
went to the privy, from which he saw the cons -,vr \ -14+0.
was also present, take the body of a new born i i
examining it he found that the head had been near]
from the body, and was only hanging by some of the .7176'
The throat had been cut so as to divide the trachqstaniaghtlig
carotid arteries, the oesophagus, and the spinal marrow: I'W
went to the prisoner, whom he found on the bed, and inquired
of her if she had had a child. She at first denied that such
was the case, but after wards admitted it. She was asked
whether she had cut the throat of the child before or after its
death. She said it was afterwards. She was then asked with
what she had done it, and she produced a knife, which another
witness stated she had always carried about her. On exa-
mining this knife its blade was found to be covered with
blood. The surgeon would not undertake to say whether the
throat of the child had been cut before or after death. In
his judgment the child had been born alive, but the wounds
inflicted might have been inflicted after death.
Evidence was also given that in an outhouse adjoining the
privy the prisoner's gown, which she had first put on in the
morning, and the apron which she had carried through the
kitchen, were found bundled up together, and saturated with
blood.

Mr. Justice EuLE, having summed up the case in a very
able manner, the jury, after some consultation, acquitted the
prisoner of the murder, and found her guilty of concealing
the birth.

The Learned JUDGE, after an impressive address, sentenced
her to two years' imprisonment.
Mary Ann Warr was then placed in the dock. She was
indicted for the murder of her child, by administering to her
a quantity of poison, called white arsenic. •
Mr. Stock conducted the prosecution. The prisoner was
defended by Mr. Edwards.
After hearing the evidence of Mrs. Oastler, with whom the
prisoner lodged, and the surgeon who examined the body of
the child, the jury almost immediately returned a verdict of
Not Guilty.
The whole of the business for this county has b. en got
through. To effect this, Mr. Justice Erle has again sat the
whole of the day trying prisoners in the Nisi Prius Court.
Mr. Crowder has also been engaged in trying cases in the
grand jury room. Tle Learned Commissioner did not finish
his labour till after twelve o'clock at night.

BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOR
JOURNEYMEN TAILORS.

The anniversary festival of the Benevolent Institu-
tion for Aged and Infirm Journeymen Tailors tot k
place, last Evening, at the Freemasons' Tavern. Mr.
Alderman and Sheriff Sidney in the chair.
At six o'clock upwards of 250 gentlemen sat down to
dinner in the Freemasons' Hall. On the right of the
Chairman sat Mr. Stultz, the President, and founder of,
and a most liberal benefactor to, the Institution. On
his entering the room he was much applauded. The
cloth having been removed, and the usual loyal and pa-
triotic toasts having been given, and cordially re-
sponded to,
The CHAIRMAN rose to propose the toast of the
evening, which was prosperity to the Benevolent Insti-
tution for the Relief of the Aged and Infirm Journey-
men Tailors.—(Cheers.) He felt unable to give ex-
pression to the feelings under which he laboured in
rising to propose the toast, and he could only regret
that the task of proposing it had not fallen into abler
hands. He had been very kindly solicited to preside over
the anniversary festival of the Institution that evening,
and he attributed the honour conferred upon him to the
fact that he had been chosen to fill the important situa-
tion of Sheriff of the City of London. So kind, however,
had been the reception that he had met with, that he
felt quite at home among them.— (Cheers.) He felt as
if he were among his own family.—(Renewed cheers.)
He went heart and hand with them in the benevolent
object, the success of which they were met to promote—
(Cheers)—and one of the greatest delights he ex-
perienced from the office he had the honour to hold was
this—that it brought him into contact with the members
of benevolent Associations like the present.—(Cheers.)
The metropolis might be proud of the number of its
institutions for the relief of the decayed merchants and
tradesmen, and artisans, and among them this institu-
tion was entitled to take a high rank. It owed its rise
to the exertions of one or two benevolent gentlemen,
more especially to his Hon. Friend on his right (Mr.
Stultz), who in this work of benevolence stood almost
alone in this great metropolis.—(lmmense cheering.) It
must be delightful to him to see his benevolent exer-
tions thus responded to—(Cheers)—and he might well
feel proud in having been the founder of such an Insti-
-1 tution.—'Cheers.) If an augury of the future could be
drawn from the past, then he should say, that a long
course of prosperity was open to this institution.
Formerly there had been no class of men so
improvident as the journeymen tailors. But a great
change bad recently taken place, which might be
mainly attributable to this Institution, which en-
couraged provident habits in the men, and enabled
them, by a very small pecuniary subscription, to secure
to themselves a provision in old age, or in sickness.— .
(Cheers.) He rejoiced to say, that the Society was
in a prosperous state. They had between 11,000/ and
12,000/. in the funds—(Cheers)—and they had last
year received between 4,0001. and 5,000/. They had
lately completed a beautiful and extensive range of
almhouses ; but, extensive as they were, those houses
were already crowded with inmates, and there was a
great call for some extension 'of them. With that
liberality which always characterised him, Mr. Stultz
had offered the ground whereon to erect more houses,
whenever they should be in a position to avail them-
selves of his offer. (Loud cheers.) That Institution
offered to every man connected with the trade the cer-
' tainty of being saved from the parish, if he became a
contributor to the Institution, and the contribution re-
quired was so small, that it was absolutely without a
parallel in the history of similar institutions.—.(Cheers.)
Now, his first duty as chairman was, to ask them to
support this Institution by every means in their
power.—(Cheers.) Let it not be said that his occu-
psncy of the chair had been of disadvantage to the
Institution. He called upon them to support him
by contributing liberally to the funds of the Institution.—
(Cheers.) Let them not consider the weakness of the
advocate, but the strength of the cause.—(Renewed
cheering.) An Institution like. this, for the support of
the aged and infirm, appealed to the sympathy of every
human being. He hoped that it might increase in
strength and power every year—that it might run a long
course of prosperity, and reach a good old age.—(Loud
cheers.) The worthy Chairman concluded by 'pro-
; posing the toast, which was drunk with three times three,
and followed by Balfe's beautiful ballad, " We may be
happy yet," which was exquisitely Bung by Mr. G.
Genge, and honoured with an encore.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the Health of Mr.
Stultz, the President, who had contributed in founding
and supporting this Institution, no less a sum than
14,5001.—(Vehement cheering.) In fact, the Institution
had been most liberally supported. One of the Vice-
Presidents, Mr. Hounsler, had contributed 1,0041. to its
support.—(Loud cheers.)
The health of Mr. Stultz having been drunk enthusi-
astically, with all the honours, that gentleman, who was
received with immense cheering, briefly acknowledged
the compliment.
The health of the Chairman was then drank and ac-
knowledged.
Various other toasts were given in the course of the
evening, and the party broke up about eleven o'clock.
Nearly 6001. was subscribed to the charity in the room.
The musical arrangements, which were under the di-
rection of Mr. G. F. Taylor, reflect the highest credit on
that gentleman. Besides the ballad so exquisitely sung
by Mr. Genge, to which we have already alluded, we
cannot close this notice without warmly praising the
spirited manncr in which the buffo-duet from the Elisir
d'Amore was given by Messrs. Smith and Rennie. It
was much superior to the ordinary run of after-dinner
singing.

AL RESPONSIBILITY
I
ON the MO AL RESPONSIBILITY
ATTACHING TO DOCTORS FOR HOLDING OUT
TO THE WORLD THAT POISONS, SUCH AS
PRUSSIC ACID, ARSENIC, &c., &c., ARE MEDI-
CINES WHEN ADVISED OR ADMINISTERED
BY THEM.

HUM WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE THIS DAY.
bfermiik; •. 32 minutes alter 10 Evening .. 10 minutes after 11.