Star.
London, England, 1830-07-22 00:00:00


Ing from Reading to go to Oakfastens, with the man at the bar ;
it rained very fast at the time. When they got near Mr. Fuller's
farm at Storming, the prisoner took her through a gate, for the
purpose, he said. of taking shelter under a tree ; he wanted her
to go into a barn, but she refused ; the prisoner then pulled
her down under the tree, and from the nature of the abuse, as des-
allied by the child, could leave but little doubt of his having fully
accomplished his diabolicalpurpose. After the prisoner had thus
s her, she left him, soon afterwards met her father and
mother; she did not tell mother of what had taken place for a day
or two afterwards. She was afraid to tell, as the prisoner said if
she did he would kill her. [The child here again fainted, and it
was some time before she could proceed with her evidence.] When
she told her mother she was so very ill that she could not walk--her
father was obliged to carry her to the doctor's.
The Lama! Judge asked the prisoner if he wished to put any
question to the child ?
Prisoner (with the greatest effrontery.)-0 no, my Lord, she has
been too well tutad • the whale matter is nothing but spite—her
father and mother Bald world do my business for me if it was
in their power.
Elisabeth Cunningham stated that she was the mother of the last
witness. When her child complained of being ill, she thought it
most probably arose from her having caught a cold by being wet. It
was on Thursday, the 3d of June, that the tramsedat took place ;
her daughter complained of illness on the Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday • and it was not until the Monday that witness had an
idea of Clic cause. On that day she was so very bad that although
she appeared very much alarmed to tell what was the matter, she
could not linger refrain ; She was not able on that day to get out of
bed. She told witness bow the prisoner had abused her. Witness
washed her, and found her in a very dreadful state; she was much
hart. Witness and her husband then took her, to a doctor, and they
afterwards applied to a magistrate, who issued a warrant foe the
prisooer's apprehension.
Mr. Edward Waite, a surgeon at Oskingham, had examined the
person of the child; she was very much injured. (The witness
here minutely described the condition and appearance of the child
at the time he examined her, which, of course, are unfit for pub-
lication.)
Mr. justice Bosaweturr desired the little girl might be re-
called, but the surgeon said it was impossible, as she was then hi
a very strong fit ; he had administered an emetic, but he thought
it would be a long time before she would be able to understand any
question that might be put to her.
The prisoner protested that he was innocent, and that the whole
charge was one of spite.
Mr. Justice BOSAXQUZT recapitulated the evidence with the
greatest minuteness. He told the Jury, if they entertained any
doubt on so grave and serious a charge as that against the prisoner,
he was entitled to the benefit of that doubt; but if not, justice re-
quired that they should, without fear of consequences, discharge a
painful duty.
The jury consulted for some time in the box, and afterwards
retired. On their return into Court, the foreman pronounced a ver-
dict of Guilty, but said the jury wished to recommend the prisoner
to mercy.
Mr. Justice BODANQUET—On what grounds, gentlemen, is your
recommendation to mercy founded ?
Jury—On the youth of the child.
Mr. Justice BOIIIANQUETI consider that to be an aggravation
of the offence. The learned judge then put on the black cap: at
this moment the most death.like: silence the Court. His
Lordship, in a most impressive manner, besought the prisoner not
for a moment to indulge in any hope of mercy being extended to
him in this world ; but to spend the few remaining days of his life
in supplication to the Throne of Marcy for the forgiveness of his
sins. He had most wickedly violated the laws of society, and
the youth of the country must be p•nil from such outrages.
His Lordship then passed the 1 sentence of the law in the
usual terms—This trial closed the assizes, which have been the
lightest ever remembered by the oldest inhabitant.
WESTERN ClRCUlT..—WarcazerEa, JULY 20.
The Judge', Mr. Baron Vaughan and Mr. Baron &gland, or.
rived here this afternoon, attended by George Penefoy Jr=
Faq. the High Sheriff of the county, and immediately p
to the Castle, where the commission was opad with the usuallhe.
tnalitia. Their Lordships will attend Divine Service at the Ca.
thedral to-morrow, after which they will proceed to business, Mr.
Baron Vaughan presiding at Nal Prins, sad Mr. Baron Rolland
in the Crown Court. The calendsr contains the names of 44 pri.
saws, of whom one man, aged 62, is charged with having corn.
mined a rape on two women, who are said to be sisters. Mt
young men, whose ages vary from 17 to 21 years, ass oh=
with having committed the same outrage upon one fetnahn
is one ease of an unnatural offence, and two men are comadlloi for
a murder. The rest of the prisoners arc in custody for Ammo of
an ordinary description against property and personal senility, and
none of these latter cases exhibit upon the calendar any circumstance
worthy of particular notice.