The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-05-19 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT,-FRIDAy, MAT 15.

WOOLWICH MURDER.—Patrick Carroll, aged 32, a corporal
of marines, was indicted for the wilful murder of ElizaLeth
Browning, on the 27th of April last, at Woolwich. He was at-
tired in a shabby suit of black, and appeared much dejected,
holding his head downward throughout the trial On being
called on to plead, he replied, " NOE guilty," in a low and
tremulous tone. The facts of this barbarous murder have so
recently appeared before the public, as to render repetition un-
necessary. Mr. Henry Parkins, surgeon in the marines, in his
examination said, he considered the prisoner was not in a con-
scious State when he committed the act. Mr. Justice Parke re-
minded the witness that he was answerable to God and man for
what he stated, and then asked him if all excitement was insan-
ity? to which Mr. Parkins replied•in the negative. The prisoner
made no defence, and the foreman of the jury, in returning the
verdict, stated, that he was requested by his brother Jurymen to
express their strong opinion of the impropriety of soldiers wear ing
their side arms in the street.—The prisoner was then called up
for judgment, and the learned Recorder proceeded to pass on
him the awful sentence of the law, which he did in a most feel.
ing and impressive address. The prisoner was ordered to be
conveyed to Maidstone gaol, his offence having been committed
in the county of Kent, and to be there executed on Monday,
(yesterday) morning; his body to be interred within the pre-
cincts of the gaol. The prisoner, during this address, ap-
peared considerably affected ; but at the conclusion left the bar
with a quick firm step. The learned Judge directed that the She-
riffs of London and Middlesex should assist the Sheriffs of Kent
in conveying the prisoner to gaol. The court was crowded to
excess during the trial; at the conclusion of which the prisoner
was conveyed to Maidstone in a post-chaise, accompanied by
the Under-Sheriff, &c. His mind seemed to have been made
up to his fate.

SATURDAY.

Samuel Mitchell, a very respectable-looking man, 39 years
of age, and described as a messenger in the Treasury-office, was
indicted for stealing 20 seams of paper, 20 reams of writing-
paper, 100 books, 20 lbs. of sealing-wax, 500 pens, and an ink-
stand from the Treasury Chambers, the property of the King.
Mr. Adolphus stated the case for the prosecution..
John Carter, police inspector, was then called 'as a witness;
but, a consultation having taken-place between Mr.C. Phillips,
counsel for the prisoner, and Mr. Adolphus, and a communica-
tion having been made to the prisoner, he withdrew his plea of
not guilty, and pleaded guilty.
Mr. Charles Phillips then very strongly recommended him to
mercy on the ground of the excellent character he had previ-
ously enjoyed. He had already, by the offence of which he was
guilty, lost a situation of £l5O a )ear in a government office,
which would have kept himself, his wife, and family comfortable
for life.
Mr. Adolphus said the government could have no vindictive
feeling towards him; •and, considering the punishment he had
already suffered in the loss of his situation, and the excellent
character he had hitherto sustained, he also strongly recom-
mended him to the merciful consideration of the court.
The Common Sergeant.—Aw 1 to understand that the go-
vertiment recommend the prisoner to mercy ? . .
Mr. Adolphus. —Oh, no, my lord. They leave your lordship
to deal with this case as you would with airy other.
The Common Sergeant.-1 can have no wish to deal in any
other than a lenient way with the •prisoner; but I must recollect
that I have a duty to perform to the public.
Mr. Charles Phillips then proceeded to examine witnesses as
to the character of the prisoner. Mr. Wm. Holmes, of No. 10,
Grafton-street, a gentleman well known in the political world,
and who had for many years been Treasurer of the Ordnance,
stated that the prisoner had been eleven years in his service ;
that he had received the stro'tigest recommendation with him;
that during the eleven years he hail been in his service he had
conducted himself in the most exemplary manner; and that be
parted with him with the greatest reluctance.. Ile procured for
him the situation in the Treasury.
• Mr. George Arbuthnot, of the Treasury, the private secretary
of Mr. Stanley, spoke of the'prisoner to the same effect. •
Mr. Charles Phillips then said :—My lord, I have a long list
of most respectable witnesses to speak to the character of the
prisoner, but 1 presume it is unnecessary to occupy the time of
the court by calli-g them. •
The Common Sergeant.—lt is quite unnecessary. From the
respectability of the situation he so long held, as well as from
the conversation I have had with several gentlemen who know
him, I am as much satisfied as to his previous good character as
if you were to call a hundred witnesses; 'but I have, neverthe-
less, a duty to perform to the public; for that purpose I sit here
on this case, as in every other, and I do not see how I can pass
any other sentence than one of transportation. If the govern-
ment had recommended him to mercy, I should have no diffi-
culty as to how to deal with the case.
Mr. Phillips.—My lord, it would be out of the question to
suppose that government could recommend the prisoner to
mercy. That would be a recommendation from the govern-
ment to the government.
'The Common Sergeant.—My doubt is whether the court can
deal with this case in a different way from that in which it would
deal with any other.
Mr. Phillips.—My lord, this is the priioner's first offence, and
your lordship has always made the observation and acted on it,
that that ought to mitigate the sentence.
The Common Sergeant.—That is in cases where -servants
have robbed their masters.
Mr. Charles Phillips.—This, my lord, is a less aggravated
case • here no person has been robbed, it is only the public.
The Common Sergeant.—Well, I have still my doubts whether
the court can act differently in this from what it would in any
other-case; but I shall speak to the judges on the subject.
The prisoner seemed remarkably unconcerned, smiling and
nodding to every pet son he knew in the court.
Christopher Charles Foster, aged 35, was indicted for forging,
on the 17th of December last, a bill of exchange for £BB4 with
intent to defraud James Henry Trye. There were several
counts in the indictment, varying the form of the charge. And
Jonas King Murphy.was indicted for aiding and assisting Fos-
ter to escape, well knowing that he had been guilty of forgery.
The prosecutor stated that he carried on the business of an
exchange brokerand merchant, and lutdlarge bill transaetiens
with the prisoner, Foster. The bills were endorsed B Chester-
man. One for £790 with such an indorsement, was returned in
February, and the prisoner was sent for and told of the fact.
Foster asked to take the bill and would bring the money, and
said that Chesterman was a man of large property, and worth
£30,000. That lie was a wine and spirit merchant in Lincoln's
Inn-fields, and resided at. Brixton. Ns'arious other bills he took
from the prisoner, and one endorsed " B Chesterman," for
£880; he paid for it £B5B by a cheque on his banker, which he
gave to a person who represented himself as a clerk of Chester-
man. After that, the prisoner presented other bills endorsed
" Chesterman," but he refused them, and told the prisoner that
no such person as' the acceptor was living at Sligo. In February,
when the £790 bill was returned, the prisoner took the bill away,
and in an hour and half brought the money for it. The bill for
£BBO became due the 14th March. On that day witness re-
ceived a note by post to this effect :—" for £BBO
is a forgery, due to-morrow in Dublin. Foster is going to see
him." Still, he had no suspicion. On the following Monday
they would know the fate of the bill, and he requested Foster to
call upon him and see about it. They never saw him again till
he was in custody in April. The bill was returned protested
on the Wednesday. Had often seen Foster write, and he fully
believed the whole of the endorsments on the .bill to be his
handwriting.
LOWER CANADA. Benj. Chesterman said he resided at the Hope in Blackruoor-
-4 conversation took place between Mr. Roebuck and the street; vas a builder; knew Foster and Murphy slightly; they
Chancellor of the Exchequer which for some time was not were both in the habit of coming to his house; the indinsment
heard in the gallery. Subsequently Mr. Roebuck gave an on the bill in question was not in his handwriting; he would not
account of an interview which took place between him, Mr. undertake to swear that he had not authorized some person to
Rice, when Secretary of State at the Colonial-office, and two 1 use his name; he had a bad memory. In answer to the court
deputies from Canada. Mr. Roebuck represented Mr. Rice as he stated that he found a document-in his handwriti " Lent
condemning the policy of his predecessors, and asking a fair my name to Foster for eight hu
,"-and there it stopped;
trial for himself, and proceeded to reflect upon the right hon. I had no recollection of it till then.
gentleman'sof the other Judges,.
gentleman's personal and public character in no very measured Mr. Justice Parke, with the concurrence
terms. He concluded by asking whether the right honourable directed the prisoners to be acqnikted.
gentleman had ordered Lord Aylmer to pay £31,000 out of the The prisoners were ordered hi bedkained.
military chest in the care of the Receiver-General, or whether On Murphy's application to the Court the £lO he had, and
this sum was paid out of the colonial fund ? the £4l) which Foster possessed before they were committed,
Mr. RICE was not sorry that he had not interfered with the were restored to them. ,e
hon. gentleman in the course he had thought proper to pursue. • . .
William Bone was capitally indicted for breaking andenter-
It was a question affecting his, personal honour as well as his
ing Shorediteh Church, and stealing twelve maces, value £20.,
conduct as a public man, and therefore he was naturally anxious
to give it a direct and immediate reply. He however protested 'and other property.
against the great inconvenience of having Several witnesses were examined, who gave arh rte account questions of impor- I
Lance, personal and public, thus brought forward without notice. of the breaking into the church; and a policeman stated that
It was an irregularity which if adopted generally must prevent the prisoner came to him and inquired what reward was offered
for the persons who had robbed the church ? He was told £2O,
justice being done to any subject, and altogether impede the
public business. The question the hon. member had intro-
• when he declared himself to be the thief, adding that he should
be transported for life, and that was what he wanted, as he
duced was one of those Which on grounds personal and publit
ought not to be lightly disposed of at a casual discussion; ands knew,he should do something that would hang him. Prisoner
then described the property stolen, and said the maces fetched
him " ' . • '
if without personal and public inconvenience he could have
remained silent, he should' have* been well entitled to decline •.
rand :wa
.isce., st_fonnel
answering the question until the documents which the hon. The prisOner said nothing in defo
guilty.
gentleman had moved for were on the table of the house. The