Star.
London, England, 1829-09-01 00:00:00

ItaD -Tad Uri

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
-
BRIDGEWATER, Ave. 49.
CaowN Sios.--Befort Mr. Sinwrir. _ _

The Jury found the prisoner Guilty.
Sentence of death was then recorded against the pri-
soner; but it is supposed his punishment will be com-
muted into transportation for life.
CORK ASSIZES, Aug. 28.

John Charles Baynton was indicted for wilfully set-
ting fire to two ricks of hay, the property of Mr. James
Emerson, of Bath Easton, in this county.
Mr. GUNN Iwo conducted the prosecution, and Mr.
En t. r. appeared for the prisoner.
The case, as it appeared in evidence, was uninterest-
in but we learnt the following particulars from persons
acquainted with the parties concerned :
The prosecutor is a respectable mealman, and was in-
(limed to prefer this charge against the prisoner solely
from motives of public duty. The prisoner is a young
man of about twenty-six years of age, of most respect-
able connections; has received an excellent education,
and began life with every prospect of good fortune. His
extravagance, however, dissipated a considerable sum
(said to be about four thousand pounds), of which he
became possessed soon after coming of age ; and for a
short time afterwards he quitted London, and resided in
furnished lodgings in the parish of Box, in this county.
While there, he became acquainted with a young
woman, whose charms seem to have made a deep. im-
pression on his heart ; so that when he returned to
London he suffered so severely from the effects of
absence from her, that, to the injury of his future
prospects, and against the wishes of his friends,
he again quitted the metropolis, and paid another visit to
the place in which the object of his affections resided.
His attentions were received by the lady herself in a
manner that seemed to promise him every happiness, but
her friends were opposed to the union, and, at the strict
command of her father, she wrote him a letter rejecting
his further acquaintance. The terms of this letter, though
affectionately kind,were too positive to admit of any doubt
as to the writer's intention, and the unhappy young man,
on the instant of receiving it, conceived the idea of self-
destruction. He wrote an answer communicating the agi-
tation of his mind to the lady, and adding that he had aban-
doned that thought, since its execution would have en-
dangered both body and soul ; but that he would commit an
act which should make his life a forfeif to the laws ef his
country, and which would free him from existence,while it
left him at liberty to make his peace with Gon. With
this feeling strong upon his mind, he went almost in-
stantly and purchased a phosphorus box, and then pro-
ceeding to the hay-ricks in question set them on fire ;
while the flames were yet unextinguished he sought out a
constable, confessed the offence he had committed, . and
surrendered himself into custody ; he was taken before a
magistrate, when he made a similar declaration of guilt.
Qa being asked,, if he had any malice against the owner
of the hay-ricks ? he answered in the negative, declaring
that he had not even the slightest idea of his name ; and
on being questioned as to the cause which had induced
him to inflict such a loss upon the prosecutor ? he
answered that he was tired of life, and that he had com-
mitted this offence in order to get rid of its burden. The
prisoner was committed, and the prosecutor bound over
in the usual manner. The case against the prisoner was
made out by his own confessions, slightly corroborated
by the concurrence of such other circumstances as had
fallen within the observation of other persons. The de-
fence set up was, that the young man occasionally la-
boured under attacks of mental aberration.

Mr. SELIV TN, who presided in consequence of the
il'ness of Mr. Justice By RROUG it, told the Jury, that if
they believed that there was evidence of the fact that the
prisoner had committed the crime now laid to his charge,
they must find him guilty, notwithstanding any pity
which they might feel for him on account of the circums•
stances which had brought him into that situation. The
mere question of guilt or innocence was all that they had
to decide; the circumstances of alleviation being properly

the subject of consideration for those whose duty it was
to declare the amount of his punishment.

S LAN DER•••••BYNG AND WIFE V. CALLAGIIAN, M.P.
This action, which has excited so much interest, went
off without a trial. When the Jury were sworn,
Mr. Sergeant GooLD, the leading Counsel for the
defendant, Gerard Callaghan, Esq. rose and said—Be-
fore this case is entered upon, I .think it my duty to say
that it is a case which ought not to be tried. I know
the kindness and candour of my friend, the Solicitor-
General, and I am sure that neither he nor any other
person can conceive that Mr. Gerard Callaghan was the
author of the slander for which this ,action was brought.
I think, for the sake of the public time, and in consi-
deration of the feelings of all parties concerned, that the
particulars of this case ought not to go before the public.
After a few words from the SOLICITOR-GLNERAL
and Mr. Justice TORRENS,

Mr. Sergeant GOOLD proceeded—My Lord, it has
been charged against Mr. Callaghan, in placards about
the streets, in the public prints, and in every shape that
the libel could gain publicity, that he was the author of
these reports, and all he is anxious for is to clear himself
from that dreadful imputation.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he was ready to meet
his Learned Friend in the same spirit, and he was glad
that the proposition was made before any of the pleatfiags
had been opened. He wished, however, to know what
the defendant was prepared to do ?
After some further observations between the Counsel
oc both sides,
Mr. Sergeant GooLn said, that from mere credulity
his client was unfortunately made the dupe of declarations
against the character of Lady Agnes Byng, which he now
believed to be utterly false. There was, he said, no man
in the community now more entirely convinced of the
atrocity, the wickedness, and the utter falsehood of the
publications reflecting on the character of that amiable
lady than Mr. Callaghan was; and he instructed his
Counsel now to make that public declaration. And if
it could be conveyed in any stronger or more appropriate
language, he was ready to make it, or to do any thing
else that might be thought satisfactory to the feelings of
that interesting and respectable young lady, and of the
gentleman who was her husband.
The Souc lava GENERA L Was perfectly satisfied with
this candid and honourable avowal on the part of the de-
fendant.
Mr. Callaghan, who was in Court, expressed, in the
strongest terms, his regret forhaving unintentionally given
a moment's pain to Lady Agnes Byng or her husband, by
appearing to credit a report so scandalously false. Mr.
Callaghan disclaimed altogether having ever been in-
fluenced by political feelings towards any of the parties
concerned. •
Tile Learned Ju ix; E., after expressing his pleasure at
the Amicable and.. honourable manner in which the action
terminated, discharged the Jurv.
PHENtiMENON.—Two higglers were the other day
disputing'ovar their liquor, when, mach both, surprise of an honest
old gentleman who happened to overhear it, one of them offered to
by a score leas /!! that his assettion was true.

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