The Sun.
London, England, 1827-03-09 00:00:00

DISCOVERY OF INNOCENCE.

The case of Hannah Russell, who, together with Daniel Leany,
was convicted at the Lewes Summer Assizes, for the supposed
murder of her husband, must be familiar to most of our readers.
It will be remembered that Leany was executed on the Thursday
after the trial, protesting his innocence to the very last ; and it
would now appear that he was really guiltless. The woman was
respited on a point of law. The evidence against the prisoners
was merely circumstantial, yet it was deemed conclusive by the
Court and Jury, although some individuals who were present at
the trial were of a different opinion. The medical evidence was
deemed very strong in proof, that the man was poisoned by ar-
senic ; and the witness was Complimented by the Court for the
decisive manner in which he gave his evidence. An eminent
surgeon of Lewes, well known in the literary world, Mr. Mantell,
who happened to be in Court, did not, however, consider the ap-
pearances of the body of the deceased, as described by the wit-
ness, or the tests employed, as conclusive, and while the
examination of the surgeon was going on, he handed a
note to the prisoner's Counsel, suggesting the propriety of other
questions; but, unfortunately, this suggestion was not at-
tended to, and Mr. Mantell being called out of Court, and
hearing afterwards, from the highest authority, that the prisoners
were convicted upon the clearest evidence, considered that any
interference in their favour would be improper and unavailing.
Finding that the poor woman was respited, (Leany having been
executed), and that the more he reflected upon the case, the more
improbable did it appear that Benjamin Russell's death was the
effect of poison, Mr. Mantell communicated his doubts to the
High Sheriff, and they were immediately laid before Mr. Baron
Graham, who, paid great attentionlo the communication, and en-
couraged Mr. Mantell to investigate the case in the fullest manner
possible, with the valuable aid of Mr. Ellis (the solicitor who con-
ducted the woman's defence), and who generously tendered his ad-
vice and assistance gratuitously. Mr. Mantell was, at length,
enabled to obtain such a mass of evidence, that the Learned
Judge expressed his conviction that there were grave and seri-
ous doubts whether Benjamin Russell came to his death by
arsenic or any other poison, and directed Mr. Mantell to obtain
this additional evidence in the form of affidavits, and transmit it
with a memorial to the Secretary of State. The result was, the
free pardon and discharge of the poor woman. It may he inte-
resting to our readers to know on what grounds the innocence of
Hannah Russell has been established ; but we can merely state,
that in the affidavits alluded to, it was alleged that the appearances
on dissection were equivocal, and more likely to have been the
effect of disease than of poison ; that the tests employed were un-
satisfactory, and that metallic arsenic ought to have been reproduced
by a process therein described; that the time in which the death of
Benjamin Russell took place was too short to be the effect of arsenic.
that the deceased had been for months previously to his death, sub-
ject to an affection of the heart, which was likely to have pro-
duced sudden death after any violent exertion, and yet might
have left no appearance of disease in the heart after death. The
conduct of Hannah Russell while in confinement in Horsham gaol
has been most exemplary, and we trust this fact, together with his
Majesty's free pardon, will have due weight with her former neigh-
bours, and lead them to view her past sufferings with regret, and
receive her among them in the spirit of Christian charity and be-
nevolence.— Times.

NIFETINGS OF CREDITORS.

LONDON DI ARY..—SATURDAY, MARCH 10.—(At the Court of Commis-

sioners, B.asinghall.stree't.)

Bannister, T., Norwood-green, brewer

COUNTRY DIARY.—MONDAY, MARCH 12.
Board, J., St. Michael's—London inn, Taunton
Collins, R., Chew Magna—White Lion, Bristol
Ferryman, J., Cheltenham—Royal Hotel, Cheltenham lO
Hepner, W. and 1., Armley—Court-house, Leeds
min, J., Roehead—Court of Requests, Huddersfield
Robertson, T., Oxford—King's Arms, Oxford lO
Sharp and Co., Newcastle-upon-Tyne—Half Moon, Newcastle ll
Stroud, G., Gloucester—George, Gloucester l2
Wakeford and Co., Andover—Star and Garter, Andover 4

MARCH 13
Baggott, R., Ledbury—Feathers, Ledbury ll
Beatson, A., Hudderstield—Mr. Allison, Huddersfield ll
Beaumont, W., Stedshill—Mr. Allison, Huddersfield ll
Bunting, J., Liverpool—Commercial inn, Sheffield l2
Calbreath, G., Houghton—George, Newcastle ll
Cash, J., Liverpool—Star and Garter, Liverpool ... H
Goodrich, C., Ltton—Old Sand hill inn, York • 11
Hacker, S., Canterbury—Guildhall, Canterbury ll
Hallewell, W., Sheffield—Angel, Sheffield l2
Higgs and Co., Bristol—Bush, Bristol
Hodgkinson, It, Cucknev—Red Lion, Worksop ll
Holgate, W., Stainton Cotes—Golden Lion, 'Settle, Yorkshire
Irish, M., Lewes--Star, Lewes 44 0,41•• ........ ..... 11
Ledgard, E., Brighouse—Swan, Huddersfield
~ . 11
Pattinson and Co., Leeds—George, Kingste
_Pe
mat n-Hull . ............... /1
Musgrave and Cc., Wincanton—White HOW, Wincanton ......... ... I r
Robertson, T. Oxford,-;King,a Arms, Oxford ...................... ,„,... 10
Halifax—Swan, Huddersfield ~,........... 12
Sharp arid Ca, Leeds—Court-house, Leeds
Sehorfield, J., Sontbowram,
„, .. ...... ............. 11
Skinner, R., Tiverton—Angel, Leeds
Smith and Co., Hanley—Swan, Hanley ...., .................................. 12
Strickland, A., New Malton—Etridge'a hotel, Lendall
Thomas, W., Ledbury—Feathers, Ledbury
Walker, IL, Prestomr-Mcssrs. Blanchard and Co., Preston

INSOLVENTS APPLYIN(
Petitions to be heard at Portug
M!►RCH 13,

G TO BE DISCHARGED,
al-street, Lincoln's-Inu-Fields,
A.l` NINE.
Lee, C. Leeds
Lucas, W., Castle-street
Matthews, J., City-road
May, E., Wighorough
Mills, 1., Tipton Green
Page, J., Birmingham
Pearson, T., Spitalfields
Price, D., Westminster
Scott, 8., Walworth
Wallis, ~ Marylebone

Butti, A., Clerkenwell
Chalener, R., Hoxton
Church, C., Spitalfields
Collins, T., Hoxton
Cowling, W., Huddersfield
Greenaway, G., Greenwich
Gunn, S. J Loughborough
un.,
Hadland, J., Flower, Notts
Jackson, J., Barnsley
Jackson, J., Pudsey

COUNTRY.—At the Court-house, at Norwich, March 12, at Ten.
Richardson, T., Attleburgh, farmer
At Lynn, March 14, at Ten.
Taylor, R., Lynn Curson, R., Lynn
At Southampton, March 14, at Ten.
Baron, .J., Southampton I Richmond, R., St, Mary