The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-09-01 00:00:00

Sept. 1, 1816.

SOUTH LANCASHIRE ASSIZES

CROWN COURT,

-TUESDAY

William Clapham, aged 27, was charged with the wilful
murder of Abraham Tweedale, at Salford, in the month of
August, 1845. Tne prisoner was previously brought up
twice—once before Mr. Baron Parke, and the second time
at the last assizes—when the jury oir each occasion con-
sidered him in an unfit state of mind to take his trial; he
bas since been in a lunatic asylum. It appears that Clap-
barn was an inmate of the N,-,w Bailey, Salford, and Abra-
barn Tweedale was a fellow prisoner. On the morning of
the 2] of August, the prisoner struck Tweedale on the
bead with a bar of iron, being a portion of an iron bed-
stead on which they slept.—His lordship brit fly summed
up, and the jury, after a few minutes' consultation, re-
tared a verdict of not guilty, on the ground of insanity.
The prisoner will consequently be imprisoned during her
Itijesty's pl-asnre.
William .I.l` At thur was charged with having stolen a
sum of money from William Ilennegan, a passenger on
board of the Commodore steam-ship, on Friday, the 14th
August. The particulars of this case were recently be-
fore the public. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and
bis Lordship sentenced him to eight calendar months'
imprisonment and hard labour. _

Benjamin Barrett was charged with the manslaughter
of Robert Seddon, at Kesrsley, on the 2J of April. The
prisoner was an engineer at a colliery, had ab ented him-
self from his employment, and by so doing an accumula.
tion of foul air had taken place, by which Robert Seddon
lost his life. Evidence was produced to the effect that
the duty of the prisoner was to keep the engine-pump go-
ing in order to reduce the water in the pit. If the water
were allowed to accumulate, the prevention of the circu-
lation of the atmospheric air was certain, and an explo-
sion of fire-damp the natural consequence.—This being
the purport of the evidence for the prosecution, his Lord
ship stated that his brother Cresswell agreed with him,
that the mere act of omission was not sufficient to sustain
a charge of manslaughter ; still there was no doubt but
the prisoner was guilty of the most culpable negligence.—
The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. The prisoner
was afterwards arraigned on another indictment for caus-
ing the death of Thomas Holton, which being similar to
the previous one, the prisoner was acquitted.
Ricluvd Wignall. aged 27, was indicted for.the wilful
murder of his wife, Kitty Wignall, at Liverpool, on Mon-
day. the 15th of June last.

---;
Ihe case excited con•iderahle interest, and the court
was crowded to excess. Mr. Wilkins, assisted by Mr.
Blair, appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Atkinson
defended the prisoner.
'The facts of the case were exceedingly brief, and exactly
similar to those adduced at the coroner's inquest. T.
pcisouer was a joiner, residing in Gore-street, Torteth-
park. A short time after six o'clock on the evening
of Monday; the 15th June, the prisoner went to his resi-
dence, when some words ensued between him and his
Wife, which were continued until a later hour. when the
prisoner was observed to strike his wife with his fists
about the face, and then with a wooden stool,
from the effect of a blow from which she fell on the bed.
He then again struck her with his fists, and subsequently
be kicked her most violently, from the effects of wt.ich
sbe died in about ten minutes.

The testimony of the surron was at first somewhat
undecided. he cninu'ely described the several contusions
exhibited on the bidy, and, on a post mortem examina-
tion, found a gitantity of coagulated blood upon the twain,
which extended partially down the spine. Stich appearance
night, however, he said, (in cross examination,) be pro-
eueed by s.rong mental excitement. When pressed by
the Learned Judge, he stated that it was his opinion that
death bad been caused.by external violence.

Mr. ATKINSON addre;sed the jury for the prisoner in a
most powerful and eff-ctive manner, signing the absence
of all malice or fore' hought on the pact of the prisoner,

The JUDGE summed up, caling the attention of the
jury to the most important pk ints of the evidence, and
lucidly expl ining and defining the law relative to murder
and manslaughter.
The Jury then retired, and after a short absence re-
turned a verdict of guilty of manslaughter, the foreman
stating that it was the unanimous wish of the Jury that he
should state to his lordship that they considered it the
most aggravated case that had ever been brought under
their notice.

The Judge passed sentence in a solemn and affecting man-
ner, and alluding to the brutal and reckless conduct of the
prisoner said that drunkenness, that fatal and overwhelm-
ing sin that had been pleaded as an excuse, aggravated
the case. By his brtrality he had deprived his
mother of a son, and his two children of both their pa-
rents, for the sentence of the court was, that he be. trans-
ported for the term of his natural life.

The prisoner, who had been previously calm, was re-
moved considerably affected.
Joseph Smith, aged 40, and Joseph Wild, were charged
with having burglarinusly broken into the house of Mr.
Henry Seddon, at Plumpton, near Bury, and stealing
•beveral articles therefrom, on the 2d of March. Verdict
of guilty against both the oisnners.
~quire Giv 'sy, aged 43, Charles Entwistle, 22, and
Joseph Wad (convicted in the previous case), were
charged with committing a burglary in the house of Ed-
ward Hopkiwon, at Tottingharn-lower-end, on the morn-
ing of the 28th January last.—After consulting for a few
minutes, the jury expressed a wish to retire, and at ten
o'clock teturned a verdict of not guilty against all the
prisoners.

Jane Staton, aged 31, was charged with burglary in the
dwelling-house of Jo,rph Tailor, in Matict)etter, and
stealing several articles therefrom, on the 27th of June
last. Guilty ; nine months' hard labour.

William Whithiker was charged with having feloniously
married Mary Device, his former wife being still alive.
The case failed for want of proof of the second marriage,
add the prisoner was accordingly disehareed.
James Burns, aged 29, was charged with having feloni-
ously killed Abraham iiikington, at Manchester, on the
28;.h May.—His Lordship said this was one of those un-
for; unate occurrences in which the prisoner might not have
intended to deprive his fellow-creature of life, but the
c ise could not be reduced below manslaughter.—Guilty ;
but stri.nglv recommended to mercy. He was sentenced
to two days' solitary confinement.

NISI PRIUS COURT.—TOESDAY.
HOBSON AND OTHERS V. GARNER.
This was a special jury cause, in which Messrs. }lnb-
orn-I, Jackson, Hallam, and Pilling, the assignees of T. C.
W. Pearce and J. G. Homan, were the plaintiffs, and
James G. Garner was the defendant, to recover a large
amount of money for the creditors of Pearce and Homan,
bankrupts. The defendant pleated a set cif, and a va-
riety of other pleas, which were denied by the plaintiffs.
Witnesses were examined on the part of the plaintiffs,
and the giving of their evidence occupied the court until
half-past two o'clock.

The JUDGE in summing up, left it to the jury to say
whether the shares were really taken to the general ac-
count by an honest agreement between the parties at a
time when Mr. Garner, although he might know of the
embarrassments of the firm, did not know of any act of
bankruptcy.

- -
The jury retired, and after an absence from court of An
hour and a•half, found a verdict for the plaintiffs for
12,273. they being of opinion that the defendant knew of
an act of bankruptcy having been committed on Pearce's
part at the time the transactions took place. Speedy ex-
ecution was granted. The next special jury cause in the
first list, " Hobson and of hers v. Bird," was withdrawn.