Star.
London, England, 1816-08-14 00:00:00

STAFFORD ASSIZES, AUGUST S.

• The most remarkable criminal trial a' these Assizes
was that of William Bedssn, for maliciously stabbing
Thnnnts Robrnham, in a fit of jealousy.--Thomas
Robotham deposed that he is a sawyer, employed at
the Marquis of Stafford's. The prisoner. is. a shoe.
maker, and resided 'at Trentham ; vritness was a
lodger at his house. On the 28th of June. hit, the
witness went home' soon after tea at night; prisoner
was in bed, or at least he was up stairs; his wife was
below, standing neat the dresser,, with a ballad in her
hand, which he took from her, and began to sing. Pri-
soner came down stairs violently, and said to his wile
"D—n you tor a whore," or to that effect, and eithei

knocked a candle out of bar hand, or eke she took it
'out of the house —could not tell which—prisoner ran
to the witness*, who was then sitting on his stool, ard
gave him two blows in theaider-witness did not
know at the time that he- was stabbed. Prisoner.
was going to strike him a third time. but .wiupess
prevented him, saying he, would scorn.to strike him.
in his own house; but " i 1 he came .again he must
be like." Prisoner then went out. Witness then
put on his handkerchief . and hat, thinking to go
away, as such usage would net do !" While
standing at the door, he first discovered that he had
been stabbed, by feeling the warm blood. trickling
down his side. At this time he saw prisoner coming
towards the•house agaia, and said, 44 Bedson, you've
stabb'd me." Prisoner went into the house without
,speaking, and fastened the door—Witness called to
bun you've stabb'd me, and I doubt you've killed
me." Prisoner said, he hoped he had.
Cross-examined by Mr. TAUNTON.—He did not
come into the house with prisoner's wile. It was five
or ten minutes after he went into the house before
prisoner came down—during that time witness had
been singing. While be was singing, prisoner's wife
said to him, Thomas, do you think every man has
got, the sweet little girl of 'his heart r' (Those or
similar words were in the ballad.) Witness said he
thought nee. Prisoner might have heard the song,
and those observations. Prisoner's Wife said ‘, Hush I
I think I bear my little Betty." Witness told her he
did not hear any thing of the kind. Prisoner's attack
upon him was all in a moment—did not know what
he was going to do-..he came down in a rage—did
not know whether he was jealous. When he went
home, he did not know whether prisoner was at home
or not. •
Mr. Chadwick, surgeon, of Lane-End, was called
to the prosecutor after lie had been wounded, • and
fOund him in bed at Penson's, a public-house, at
Hem Heath. Witness described the wounds, one cC
which we; a very dangerous one. At first prisoner
told him be could not tell with what instrument he,
had inflicted the wounds, but subsequently he went
up stairs, andbrought criwn a knife, with which he
said he bad inflicted the wounds—the knife was a
little bleody-b-there was no blood on the prisoner.
Wm. Penton proved that he apprehended the pri-
soner; and on a question from the Judge, he deposed
that priioner said he bed done it by a sudden impulse
on hearing the singing. and prosecutor saying to his
wife,'". It you are willing, I am."
The prisoner being called upon for his defence, said,
“ Please you, my Lord, I was in bed. I heard him
ask my wife whether she was willing or not? After-
wards I heard a disturbance, and Itobotharn would
iorce her to it.. I directly came down stairs, and be
seized me by the collar of the shirt, and said gg Thomas
I won't strike thee in thy own house—come out, knii

7--:

. . .
I'll cloithee=—with-that I seised him by the thinii
.and believe he was hi in the icefil.:."
Several witnesses glitko the pt ismer a snots rll .E
character. Some of thews 11441 known him from Lit
childhood, and his. temper and disposition were truly
amiable..
The laitted hoax obiepad, that however pear..
able he might have been. or. otbrr occasions, he Ito
afraid the Jury c.iuld not dischirge their duty other.
Oise than by finding him' guilty of the offence for
which he was tried, and which he appeared to have
committed in a groundless fit of jealoocy.
The Jury found him guilty, but recomMendedltini
to mercy. •
The Junes. 'said, I will take care that ?our retook'.
mendation is made known in the proper quote:.''