The Sun.
London, England, 1827-03-05 00:00:00

SPRING ASSIZES.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—DURHAM, MARCH 3.
(Before Mr. Justice BATLEY.)
BIGAMY. —John Palmer, a shoemaker, was indicted for hav-
ing intermarried with Catherine Havelock, at Monkwearmouth,
in this County, his former wife, Margaret Palmer, being then
alive.
The prisoner had been married in 1 824 to a Margaret Wilson,
at Stockton, but had left her, and three or ~our months since (not
having lived with his first wife for above two years) married
Catherine Havelock, under the assumed name of John Lyster,
the bride also assuming the name of Catherine Brown, at Monk-
wearmouth. The ceremony was performed upon them under the
assumed names, and discovery through the medium of the first wife
soon following, the prisoner was committed.
Catherine Havelock, the second wife, in her cross-examination
by Mr. ARCHBOLD, admitted that she knew the prisoner was
married, and that his wife was alive ; she had told a woman so
in the Justice-room, Stockton, thinking it would serve him; she
did not prosecute, neither did she wish to prosecute.
Mr. Justice BATLEY to the woman—Were you sworn at Stock-
ton ? _ _

Witness sworn—Aye, my Lord, I believe so.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY—Young woman, don't speak so lightly.
Did they give you the Testament Book, and were you sworn upon
the Gospels as you have been to-day ?
Witness hesitating—Why I was sworn on the book as I have
been to-day, but Ino ken (don't know) what was in the book,
my Lord ; I will not tell a lie aboot it.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY.-Was it before you were sworn at Stock-
top that you said you knew the prisoner had a wife alive ?
Witness.—l cannot say, my Lord.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY.-Describe to us why you assumed a
wrong name to be married in ?
Witness.—As we were going to the church he said he had the
banns put up in his and my mother's maiden names, but it wad
make no difference.
The prisoner made no defence.
Mr. ARCHBOLD took three objections to the indictment, which
upon the result of the evidence, he contended were fatal.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY was of opinion the objections were
invalid.
Mr. ARCHBOLD-If my Lord, you are of opinion the objec-
tions will not stand, I will rather throw this case upon your Lord-
ship's humanity, and before its going to the Jury, prove that this
unfortunate man detected his first wife in the act of adultery, ran
from his home and never again would see, speak, or live with her:
The points I raised my Lord, under the impression, and indeed
with the hope, that they would prove good.
Mr. Justice BATLEY-I am of opinion that they cannot stand,
however I will save them for you.
Mr. ARCHBOLD.-Thank your Lordship ; possibly their being
raised may be as great a misfortune to this poor man, by procras-
tinating his confinement, as that if he had at once thrown him-
self upon your Lordship's mercy.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY smiled;. I will save your objections, Sir.
Two witnesses were then examined, who proved that the pri-
soner had quitted his wife in consequence of detecting her in adul-
tery.
The Learned JUDGE then summed up, and the Jury found him
Guilty. Judgment was ordered as a matter of course to be
respited until the next assizes.

John Lowrinson, a mariner, surrendered upon his Bail, and
was capitally indicted for having with a certain sharp instrument,
wilfully, and of his malice aforethought, cut and stabbed one
John Henderson, at South Shields, on the let of November last,
with intent to maim, disable, disfiger.2, or injure him.
The Jury retired from Court, and in half an hour returned with
a verdict of— Guilty.
The prisoner, who had surrendered to take his trial, under an
evident impression that he would have been acquitted, now dis.
played a marked contrast to the manner in which he had de-
meaned himself throughout the trial, during which he could
scarcely suppress his mirth, and smiled when Henderson was
examined. But on hearing the verdict he changed colour, and
hislips quivered out a bitter imprecation.
Mr. Justice BAY LEY then placed the black coif upon his desk,
when—
Henderson stepped up, with the tears trickling down his cheeks,
and said, " my Lord, I wish to save hiin—my Lord I recommend
him to mercy in the name of God."
Mr. Justice-BAyLzy.—Why do you recommend him to mercy?
Henderson—My Lord, I have no reason ; but I wish to save
his life, and I hope you will spare him.
The Learned Judge then addressed the prisoner, and observed,
he could not promise to spare his life, and ordered him to be
brought up for judgment on Monday.