The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-12 00:00:00

BANKRUPTCY.-(THIS DAY.)

RE JOHN ALEXANDER HERON.
This day was appointed for the choice of assignees under the
fiat against that bankrupt, who carried on business as a horse-
de'der and livery-stable-keeper in Bow. The amount of lia-
bilities appearing in his schedule was about 2,5001., and the
available assets were stated under 3001.
Several creditors having tendered proofs, which were ad-
mitted, without eliciting any points of general interest, the
choice of assignees was proceeded with, when Messrs. Wood
and Jamieson, the two principal creditors, were appointed.

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY.)
OLD COURT.
THE MURDER AT HIGHBURY.
Thomas Cooper was placed at the bar this morning at the
opening of the Court, to plead to an indictment charging him
with the wilful murder of Timothy Daley, on the sth of May,
at Highbury.
The prisoner appeared in a very weak and debilitated state,
and was accommodated with a chair, while the indictment was
being read. When placed in the dock he looked carelessly
round the Court for a few minutes. He appeared to pay no
attention whatever to the indictment as it was being read, but,
as he did at the police-office, placed his arms across the bar,
resting his head upon them.
The Clerk of Arraigns having read over the indictment,
said, " How say you, Thomas Cooper, are you guilty or not
guilty ?"
The prisoner did not seem to comprehend the question, and
turned to the gaoler, who repeated it to him.
The prisoner then replied, in a low tone of voice, so low as
scarcely to be audible, " Not guilty."
The prisoner was then charged, upon the Coroner's inquisi-
tion, with the same offence.
Clerk of Arraigns—How say you, Thomas Cooper, are you
guilty, or not guilty ? Prisoner (slightly lifting his head, and
in the same low tone as before)—Not Guilty, Sir.
The prisoner was then, placed at the side of the dock, while
other prisoners were put forward to plead to their several in-
dictments. During this time the prisoner leaned back in his
chair, and closed his eyes.
At ten o'clock precisely, Mr. Baron Alderson took his seat
on the bench, and the prisoner was again put forward.
Mr. HORRY, the prisoner's Counsel, immediately rose and
addressed his Lordship as follows :—May it please your Lord-
ship, I have an application to make to your Lordship, relative
to the prisoner at the bar. The offence of which he is charged
was committed on Thursday last, and the prisoner was only com-
mitted for trial on the evening of Monday. I then pointed out to
the Magistrate who committed him, that great difficulty would
arise to the prisoner in consequence of being unable to ob-
tain a copy of the depositions, but Mr. Greenwood seemed
to be of opinion that it was his bounden duty. under the
circumstances, to commit the prisoner. On Tuesday morning
I made an application for a copy of the depositions, and I
only received them yesterday. I think, therefore, that I have
stated sufficient facts to give your Lordship reason to think
that it would be only consonant with justice that the trial
should net even take place this session. The mother of the
prisoner was only able to obtain legal advice on Monday last.
Mr. Baron ALDERSON-4 thought you attended the police-
office on Monday.
Mr. HORRY—I mean besides myself, my Lord. There is
every reason to believe there has net been time enough to
inquire into certain circumstances relative to this transaction
which are highly important to the prisoner's defence. In
fact, it is impossible that his defence can be gone into with
justice, nor will a few days suffice to do it.
Mr. Baron ALDERSON—The transaction took place close to
London. I see no grounds why the trial should not take
place this Session.
Mr. HORRY—It is utterly impossible to prepare the pri-
soner's defence in a few days. A trial has, within the last few
days been postponed, the circumstances of which took place an-
terior to this transaction.
Mr. Baron ALDERSON—I will tell you what I will do. The
Court will be full to-morrow, and you can make an application
in full Court then. You have said quite enough to induce me
not to take the case to-day.
The prisoner, who appeared to have been wholly uncon-
scious of what was going on during the application, was then
removed from the dock.
SHOOTING WITH INTENT TO MURDER.—Robert Wilson,
aged 24, a sailor, was indicted for feloniously shooting at Pa-
trick Cavannah with a pistol, with intent to murder him.
Mr. C. PHILLIPS defended the prisoner.
Elizabeth Kelly deposed that she lived as servant with Mrs.
Wilson, the mother of the prisoner, who resided at Eltham, in
Kent. Mrs. Wilson was married to Mr. Cavanah, the prose-
cutor, but she went by the name of Wilson. The prisoner
had some words with Mr. Cavannah. On the Ist of April, the
prisoner came to the door about ten o'clock at night. Mr.
Cavanah went to the door, and the prisoner asked him to let
him in. The prosecutor said he should not come in. The
prisoner then went away, and returned in about five minutes,
when he threw some stones at the door. He again asked to be
let in, and the prosecutor fetched a poker. The prosecutor
said, " You shall not come in to-night. Robert ; you may burst
the door open." Immediately after this, witness heard the re-
port of a pistol, and on proceeding to the door, she observed her
master's cheek bleeding. He was stooping at the time, and
his head was near to the keyhole of the door.
Cross•examined—lt was immediately on hearing her master
say, " You may burst open the door," that she heard the report
of a pistol. The prisoner could not see the prosecutor at the
time.
Mr. Bosset, a surgeon, of Woolwich, stated that he was
called in to attend the prosecutor on the night in question. He
extracted a pistol ball from his cheek. The ball had passed
along the cheek, and caused a wound of about an inch and a
half in length.
Cross-examined.--The prosecutor was drunk at the time,
but he was in some degree sobered by the accident.
Thomas Clarke deposed to his having sold the prisoner a pair
of pistols on the night in question.
William Henley stated that he was in a public-house with
the prisoner on the night in q testion, at about a quarter to ten
o'clock. The prisoner was drunk at the time. He had
two pistols with him, and he said he was going to
shoot sparrows. He said that there was a man at
home who had taken possession of his (prisoner's) house
while he was in Syria, and he said he would have his
revenge, and blow his brains out. He then left the room, but
returned in about. a quarter of an hour. He wanted the publi-
can to go home with him, but he refused. He then asked
witness, and he consented. He went with him to the door,
and there he left hint.
Police officer R 57 stated, that he took the prisoner into
custody. He found two pistols upon him. They were un-
loaded. The prisoner said, " I have done it, but it would not
have happened, only I was drunk." Witness saw the door of
Mrs. Wilson's house. There was a hole in it about four feet
from the ground.
Mr. C. Phieeres addressed the Jury for the prisoner, and
The LEARNED JUDGE summed up the evidence, and said,
the question the Jury had to consider was, as to the intent of
the prisoner, viz., whether he intended to hurt the prosecutor.
The Jury, after a short consultation, found the prisoner Not
Guilty.
Thomas Grew, aged 17, clerk, was indicted for stealing
three post letters, containing one chain, one pin, one seal, and
two pencil cases, the property of the Postmaster-General.
The prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge, and he was sen-
tenced to fiiteen years transportation.
RAPE.— Wm. Holland, aged 22, clog-maker, was indicted
for a rape on Rebecca Powell.
Mr. PAYNE defended the prisoner.
The prosecutrix deposed that she resided in the Hackney-
road, and was a married woman. On the sth May she was
going home through Christian-street, Hackney-road, at about
twelve o'clock at night, when she was forcibly seized and
dragged into a house by the prisoner and another man. The
room into which she was carried was a dark room. The pri-
soner threw her down and committed the offence of which he
stood charged. She cried out "Don't ill-use me," and the
prisoner answered " You b— b—, if you don't be quiet I will
murder you." A policeman then came into the house, and the
prisoner was given into custody. The other man escaped.
The policeman corroborated this evidence, and stated that
the prisoner used great violence when he 'vas taken into custody.
Aar. Per NE addressed the Jury for the defence, and called
several witnesses, who stated that they lived in the house, and
were there on the night in question. They did not hear any
noise except a slight scuffle, which they thought was occasioned
by a man and his wife quarrelling. One witness stated that he
beard the prosecutrix say, " Hush, hush ! don't hurt my
bonnet."
The LEARNED Junes having summed up the evidence, the
Judge returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
NE W COURT.
No case of interest came before the Court this morning.

POLICE INTELUGENCE.

BOW-STREET•-(THIS DAY.)
The whole of the night charges were comprised in five cases
of "drunk and incapable.;" and as the offenders were all too
incapable to make any resistance kto the officers in the execu-
tion of their duty, they were discharged. A little drink is a
dangerous thing; a great deal, it appears, is very Larmless.

MARLBOROUGH STREET.
(THIS DAY.)
Thomas Staples, a boy of about 12 years of age, was charged
with picking the pocket of a gentleman named Lowndes, re-
siding at No. 7, St. Michael's-alley, Cornhill, of a silk purse,
containing 7s. 6d. in silver, and a hunch of keys.
Sir C. F. Williams, Baronet, one of the Commissioners
of the Court of Bankruptcy, took a seat on the Bench with
the presiding Magistrate, Mr. Hardwick.
Mr. Lowndes was unable to be in attendance, being obliged
to leave town on urgent business at an early hour this morning.
It appeared that about six o'clock last evening Mr. Lowndes,
while standing looking into a print-seller's shop-window in the
Haymarket, felt a tug at his coat-pocket, and instantly turn-
ing round found the prisoner close behind him, who seemed
greatly confused, and instantly said, " I didn't do it, Sir—it is
those two boys," pointing to lads a short distance off, who
wwalking quickly away, and he added, " I'll go and stop
them,er° Sir, and started off towards them ; and as he was running
Sir C. F. 'Williams, who was passing by, saw him drop
the purse containing the silver; he, however, overtook the
others, and was seen to pass something (supposed to be the
bunch of keys) to one of them, and they then separated, and ran
off in different directions, but Mr. Lowndes pursued the prisoner
and secured him; the others got clear off.
Mr. HARDWICK inquired if the prisoner was known.
Inspector Plume,
was a notorious and very expert thief. He
of the E staled, that the prisoner,
although so young,
had been in custody several times, charged with picking pockets,
and came out of gaol only three weeks ago, having served out
his sentence on a conviction for felony.
The prisoner was remanded until Thursday next, when Mr.
Lowndes will be in town.