Star.
London, England, 1830-04-12 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

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TAUNTON—Wzmislmw.
BRUTAL MURDER. •
James Russell, a respectable-looking young man, was Indicted
for the wilful murder of Joan TIMM a young woman, aged 22
years, at Chard, on Nov. 30. The prisoner when placed at the bar
bowed respectfully to the Court ; but when asked by the Clerk of
Arraigns, if he was guilty, or not guilty, he exclaimed Not Guilty
in so loud a voice as to excite astonishment ; and it was necessary
for the officers to caution him to conduct himself with more respect.
He recovered his self-possession, and, when asked if be wished to
challenge any of the jury, replied, in the mildest tone, " thank you,
Sir; I have no challenge to make." Harriett White examined by
Mr. Beare : I live in the parish of Chard, at Touchets. 1 know
Mr. Langdon's field, the Six Acres; there is a path across the field,
leading to Aveshay's-lane ; in that field, on the morning of De-
cember 1,1 found a dead body, the body of Joan Turner ; 1
instantly called a person named Somers, and his wife, who
were in another part of the field.—Jacob Somers : I live at
Touchess ; I remember the day the body was found in Mr.
Langdon's Six Acres; my wife and the last witness were pre-
sent; it was half.past seven; when Harriet White came to
inform my wife she put her arms round her neck, and seemed
sinking. I ran before them and on getting to the top of the hill
saw 11. e body, lying on the back, and was stabbed and cut from one
ear to the other. The head was lying a little to the right, as if
some one had pushed it on that side ; her clothes were drawn up,
and on her left thigh I perceived the mark of a man's bloody hand ;
the body was quite cold and stiff, and seemed as if it had been lying
there the greater part of the night; I did not know the body at first,
but after recognised it to be that of Joan Turner; (lemma worked
at Mr. Rice's factory, and lived at John Rice's, a quarter of a mile
from Chard ; the field is a short distance from the town ; when I
covered the deceased with her clothes, I saw a piece of flesh or
clotted blood near the place where she was murdered, and when I
was putting it under her left shoulder, to prevent it being walked
on I found the top part of a pound kid of bread; I left my wife
and the first witness near the body, and went into the town to give
' the alarm ; when I arrived at the foot of Chard I cried out " there
was murder;" Mr. Richards dnd several persons came to the place
where the ody lay, it was then a quarter to eight; my wife and
Harriet White went into the town, and 1 remained to watch the
body—Witnesses were examined whose testimony went to prove
that spots of blood bad been found on the stain of the prisoner's
house, and other circumstances tending to connect him with the
transaction.—At eight o'clock at night many witnesses remaining to
be examined, the court adjourned.
THORIDAY.—The prisoner was placed at the bar at eight
o'clock. The most remarkable evidence was the following :—V.
Bird worked at Mr. Risk's factory on Dee. 1, in the machine-shop.
W. Bragg was the first who told me of the murder, on my return
from breakfast, at twenty minutes after eight ; I went into the
factory ; Russell was there ; I said to trim, " John. there is a poor
girl found down in the field with her throat cut." He said, " floor
girl, she'll never be no more."—Mr. Cahn : the coroner, ex-
amined. The prisoner was in custody. This is the statement he
made before me, voluntaril7.
The prisoner's examinsuon before the coroner was then read. He
stated that he left the factory on the evening of Nov. 30, at 8
o'clock. He went for some leeks, and returned home soon after
half-past eight, and did not go out after ; Bird was the first ppearssoonn
who told him of the murder, after he returned from Lbt t.—
Wood : I worked in the factory on Dec. 1 ; I heard T. Harp say to
Russell, between 7 and 8 o'clock that morning, " What sort of an
engagement had you last night ?" Prisoner replied "a d--d hot one."
They were nine or ten feet from me.—J. Kendall : I work at Risk's
factory; I saw Russell there on Monday ; he said to me, " I am going
to have s d..-cl b—ly good battle by and by, after I leave work." 1
asked him who with ? He said he was going fighting along with a
—.—.—Robert Mills—After prisoner had been liberated I saw
him near the Guildhall ; I heard some one say to him " They have
accused thee of the murder, arn't they." He answered, " Yes they
have; they shall have a (12-d hard job to get it out of me, and a
d—d sht harder to hang me." Mr. John Gunn Minister of the
Dissenting
Congregation at Chard—l visited the prisoner at his own
request; was in custody; on the Monday after he was com.
mitted,'we were left alone; I told him I was not aware of his object
in sending forme, but if to make a confession I be; he would
not make it to me; I spoke of the awful situation in which be stood,
and of his former life ; he wept, and said, " GOD knows I have sins
enough to answer for without this murder." Mr. J. Edwards said,
in presence of the prisoner, he understood prisoner wanted to inquire
of me concerning the possibility of pardon for murder ; I told the
prisoner there was pardon from GOD upon repentance and humilia-
tion • I continued with the prisoner a quarter of an hour; I ex-
horted him to confess his sins to Gon, and I read some portion of
Scripture to him.
William Guppy : a labourer at Tuchets, knows the prisoner. Saw
rum in maters, Lerza near Tuelieur I kat. Joan Toaum , ho and
I stood together, and she passed by about 10 o'clock in the morn-
ing. He said, •• there's a pretty bitch gone along ;" I said, " Why r
He said, " She had a summons for me the other day, and if ever I
catch her by herself I'll give her a sly pat."—J. Atherley t a lace-
man at Chard, bad some talk with prisoner before he was last taken
into custody. He asked me if I thought a murderer could be saved.
I told him yes, murderers and the worst of characters might be
saved by repentance. He said, if he had not done the murder, he
had no occasion to fear. The day after he came to me and Lid
he had another qyestion to ask me, if I thought it was possi-
ble for Conjuror Baker to bring the murderer to light. I said,
I did not think it possible, though there were wonderfiCthings
done in old times. He paused, and then said, " Well, I've not
committed the murder, and by that means I've no guilt upon my
conscience."

The prisoner, when called to make his defence, raid—" The
charge, my lord, I am now lying under. and which affects In, life,
I know nothing of, therefore there is nothing lying on my con-
science for it ; and I hope, by the help of Ow, and his mercies, I
shall be restored." The Learned Judge at four o'clock summed up,
and concluded at half-past six.
The Jury turned round to consider their verdict, and in a short
time returned a verdict of Guilty.—The prisoner was asked what
be had to say why judgment to die should not be passed upon him ?
He addressed the Court, and said, " My Lord, what I have to say
Is this, I em wholly innocent, I know nothing more of it than a
socking child, and the Almighty will find it out, and the world ,
will know that lam innocent." Mr. Justice Gaselee passed sen.'
fence, ordering the prisoner to be executed on Saturday, and his
body dissects& The prisoner fell on his knees, and said in a firm
and loud voice, " lam happy to say, my Lord, that you have
passed sentence of death upon an innocent man." He was then
removed. Throughout the trial Russell retained his self-possession,
frequently instructing his solicitor, or directing the governor of the
gaol to write notes for him. He chiefly sat, except when any witness
spoke to some strong fact. lie paid the most anxious attention to
the summing up, and once interrupted the Judge, and begged that
his wife might be called and examined by the Jury, to prove his in-
nocence. When the verdict was given he did not move a muscle.

REVOLTING DEPRAVlTY.—Yeaterday a child only
about fourteen years old, and small for her age, appeared before the
magistrates at College-street Police-office, to charge an unfortunate
associate in crime with having taken two shillings from her on the
previous night. When questioned u to her connection with the
prisoner, she detailed the following circumstances :—Her father had
been a painter, and was dead two years ; her mother and a younger
sister were living, and were supported by her prostitution ! She
bad been employed selling fruit in the Four Courts, and was se-
duced some time ago by a young lawyer, and since that had pursued
the unhappy course thus opened for her. She denied that her ma-
ther or any female acquaintance had instigated her to these habits,'
but that she pursued them of her own accord, and divided the pro-
fits of her melancholy pursuit with her parent and her associate !
We forbear to give the name of her seducer, who is a young gentle.
man of respectable family in character, but we deplore that any
man of his rank and society should be so connected with such de-
pravity.—Dublin Morning Regiater of Saturday.
The following rather awkward circumstance, to the
family of one of our fellow townsmen, occurred on Wednesday last.
On that day one of his Majesty's lieges, named Chules Shirley, took
it into his head to " cry down," as it is usually expressed, Mary,
his wife—or, in other terms. sent round the criers, warning the
public against giving her credit. It so happened that Cherriman,
the crier in going his mounds, converted the name into Shelley, and
on reaching West-street, cried his notice in front of the Carpenters'
Arms, Arms, kept by Charles Shelley, whose wife is also named Mary,
and the consternation of the good people, on bearing their names
thus publicly exposed, may be easily conceived. An explanation
took place, and the honest crier proceeded on his way to execute his
task de nom—B.4Mo* Herald.

FREEDOM OF ELECTION.-011 Sunday last, at Car-
rick. Mr. Rivers, a gentleman of the highest reApectability, was at.
tacked in the mast savage manner whilst attending morning service
in the chapel, by a portion of the crowd, who did not please to ho-
nour the vote be gave at the last decd.:lt for this county with their
approbation. No sooner was.lllr. Rivers recognised, says our car.
respondent, writing from the spot, than he was vet upon in the most
violent manner, and it was with the utmost difficulty he vas enabled
to retreat to the sacristy. From hence he proceeded to the house of
the Rev. Doctor Canally, which is near the chapel, but while he
was rapping at the door, the mob discovered him, sad again at-
tacked him. They tore his clothes, called hint the most opprobri-
ous names, and conducted themselves so furiously, that but for the
assistance of Mr. Edmond Lake, a and me. A. Ryan,
it is probable he might not have escaped with his life !—so much
for the peaceable act-well-conducted town, whieh looks with honor
upon the appointment of a stipmdary magistrate, and is much too
peaceable and orderly to require any police at all.— Wainfirrd