The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-03-30 00:00:00

SOUTH LANCASHIRE SPRING ASSIZES.

FRIDAY.
The Spring Assizes for the Southern Division of this
county commenced this day in the Court House. The
Judges are—Mr. Baron Manic, who presides in the Crown
Court ; and Mr. Baron Rolfe, in the Civil Court. Their
lordships arrived in Liverpool, from Lancaster, about seven
o'clock yesterday evening, and the commission was opened
immediately afterwards.

This morning the learned Judges attended divine service
in St. George's Church, accompanied by Sir Thos. Bernard
Birch, high sheriff of the county.
At twelve o'clock the Crown Court was opened before Mr.
Baron Maule, with the usual formalities. The following
composed the Grand Jury :

John Ireland Blackburne, Esq., M.P., of Hale, foreman
Meyrick Bankes, Esq., of Winstanley Hall.
Richard Barton, Esq., of Spring Wood.
Thomas Bolton, Esq., of Liverpool.
Thomas Brocklehurst Barclay, Esq., of Liverpool.
Thomas Drinkwater, Esq., of Irwell House.
William Earle, Esq., of Spekelands.
Richard Edwards, Esq., of Roby House.
William Gale, Esq., of Lightburne House.
William Rathbone Greg, Esq., of the Dales.
John Pemberton Heywood, Esq., of Norris Green.
James Heywood, Esq., of Acresfield.
William Ford Ilulton, Esq., of Hulton Park.
Michael Hughes, Esq., of Sherdley Hall.
William Nield, Esq., f Mayfield.
R. J. J. Norreys, Esq., of Davyhulme.
Sir Thomas Potter, Icrit., of Buile Hill.

William Rathbone, Esq., of Green Bank, Liverpool
Samuel Taylor,Esq., of Eccleston Hall.
_ _

Humphrey Trafford, Esq., of Trafford Park.
Sir Joshua Walmsley, Knt., of Wavertree Hall.
Robert Henry Welsh, Esq., of Leck House.
Richard Willis, Esq., of Halsnead.
Mr. Nield being a member of the Society of Friends.
The royal proclamation against vice, profaneness, and im-
morality having been read,
The learned Judge proceeded to deliver the charge to the
Grand Jury. He spoke as follows :---_

Gentlemen of the Grand Jury,—lt is with great regret I
observe that the cases to which your attention in the course
of the performance of your important duties will be drawn
upon this occasion, are not only considerable in number, but
that the nature of them, or of a very large proportion of
them, is of a very serious description. There are nearly one
half of the charges which are for offences combined with
personal violence, and a considerable number of them contain
charges of the very deepest kind. I have not been able so
far to acquaint myself with the particulars of the cases which
are likely to be brought before you, as to call for any thing
like detailed observations on my part. It is satisfactory how-
ever, in one respect, to see there is no trace, as far as I
have beep► able to observe, of any of that disordered state of
society, which I have sometimes found in this and in some
neighbouring counties. I trust that the exertions of the
magistracy and the police have been successful in convincing
evil-disposed persons that the law is too strong for them,
and in inducing them to desist. With regard to two or three
of the cases which contain charges of a very serious nature,
I will just take the liberty to remind you that in the event
of a bill being found, avid the trial taking place, if the party
be acquitted, whatever additional evidence may be hereafter
discovered, no new trial can take place. That appears to
be a reason in some very serious cases, why it may be
advisable not to find the bill when a case of very
strong suspicion only arises, unless it is such a case as will
justify the common jury in convicting the prisoner, be-
cause, supposing a case of acquittal, there would be a•failure
of justice in the event of the subsequent discovery of evidence
to which I have adverted. You will take this as a general
observation, and as not arising out of any particular know-
ledge of the individual circumstances of any one case. Such
cases do occasionally occur, and if they do, I think the sug-
gestion will be worthy of notice. The learned Baron then
dismissed the Grand Jury to their labours in the usual form.

The Grand Jury having retired, returned in about half an
hour with a complaint that there were no bills brought be-
fore them. The learned Judge, in consequence, announced
that unless attorneys immediately presented their bills nei-
ther their nor the witnesses' expenses would be allowed.

RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY

Patrick Parcell, 40, marine-store dealer, Bevington-bush,
charged with having received 2001bs. weight of lead and a
copper syringe, the property of Richard Houghton, he know.
ing the same to have been stolen, was sentenced to four
months' imprisonment, and to be kept at hard labour.

ASSAULT AND ROBBERY

William Dougherty, 25, and John Knowles, 21, were
brought up charged with assaulting John Boulter, and steal-
ing from his person two sovereigns and three crowns on the
16th instant, in Johnson-street, Liverpool.
John Boulter, a sailor, deposed that on the day above
named he was in Dale-street, about 12 o'clock, on his road
home, when he met four men and two women, of whom he
inquired the way to London-road. Knowles said he would
show him the way home if he would treat them to some ale.
Boulter said he would. The prisoners then pointed up a
street, and told him that was the way to London-road.
They then wanted him to go into a house and treat them, but
he refused, and said if they would go on a little further he
would give them something. Knowles then came round to
his right side, and endeavoured to put his hand into his poc-
ket, when he said, " Keep off—that won't do." Dougherty
then came behind him, seized both his hands, and forced
him to the ground, when one of the prisoners placed his knee
upon his breast, and the other kept his hand upon his mouth
to prevent him from calling for assistance, and while in this
situation, he was robbed of his money. As soon as he got
up he called for assistance, when a policeman came up and
followed the prisoners, who had run off, and on going a little
way they met Dougherty, in company with a woman, when
he charged him as being one of the persons who bad robbed
him, and the policeman took him into custody. the other
prisoner was seized next morning.
Mr. MURPHY cross-examined the complainant at some
length, for the purpose of shaking his testimony, but to little
effect.

Policeman 53 gave evidence corroborative of Boulter's
statement.

Mr. MURPHY then addressed the jury in defence of
Knowles, and stated that he would be able to prove that he
(Knowles) was not present at the time the robbery was com-
mitted, and that he would bring forward witnesses to show
that the prisoner was in bed at the hour stated. Several
witnesses were then examined, in order to prove an alibi for
Knowles.

Mr. RAMSHAW having addressed the jury, his Lordship
summed up the evidence, and the jury returned a verdict of
Guilty against both prisoners.
His LORDSHIP addressed the prisoners, and mentioned
that if they had used any violence towards the prosecutor
they would certainly have been transported, but as this was
not the case, the sentence of the court was, that they be im-
prisoned for one year and kept at hard labour.