Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-11
FORE IGN.
MURDER OF THE ITALIAN BOY.

LONDON, Dec J.
At an early hour yesterday morning, the
courts of the Old Bailey were almost in a state
of siege Every approach to it was crowd
cd as to render the efecting an entrance by
those who had business a matter of considera-
bic difficulty, at half past o'clock. The gal
eries it was stated by the officers of the court,
had been taken night by the members of
the nobility, and guinea for seat was said TO
have been repeatedly refused Mr.. &. Philips
was expected to have conducted the defence;
but having cases in other courts, he declined,
in consequence Of this trial being likely to oc-
cupy the court till 10 o'clock at night. Upwards
of 80 witnesses were subpGned for the prose-
cution and % for the defence.
At nine O'Clock, Mr.. Scargeant Aravin took
his scat on the bench, and the prisoners were
arraigned; they were called up in the follow
ing o.der John Bishop; he was dressed in
smock irock, and presented nearly the same
appearance as an agricultural labourcr, except
that his countenancc, if we may so express it.
was more unged with metropolitan cunning
Thomas Wiioms was dressed in fnstain jack
ct, with brown handkerchief; simple ing
man. under the middle size, and of extremely
inotensve appearances; he seemed to be
little affected any of the spectators. James
May Is more Athletic, Of w:ry make, and firm.
determined countcnancs; dressed in fustian
Jacket, with yellow handkerchief, and appear
ed, during the arraignmcnt, with a compressed
| lip and a stern countenance.
! The appearance of the prisoners showed no
emotion which. could indicate that they were
| charged with more heinoVs offence than The
| pick-pockes and hSuse-breakers around them.
The court was by this time nearly filled by fash-
lonaby dressed persons particularly females,
and the approaches to the barrsters' places
presented, from continuance Of wigged heads,
the appearance of a bed of caulifowers. The
Duke of Sussex, and great number of the
nobility took their seats on the bench. The
counsel engaged f,r the prosecution, were
Messrs. Adophus, Clarkson, and Bodkn. Those
for the prisoners, were Messrs. Curwood and
Barry.
The indictment charged the prisoners with
the murder, on the 4th Nov. last, of Carlo Fer
rer, in Bethna green, by striking and beating
him, and INJECTING divers wounds and Commissions,
of which wounds and Commissions he died
They were also indicted for another murder Of
male p"rs,n, whose name was unknown The
Clerk of tic arraigns then asked. John Bishop,
are you guilty or not guilty." Bishop answered.
without any emotion, ''Not Guilty. as also did
| the others.
The evidence is given at length The re-
suit as follow.:1
| At eight o'clock, the jury retired to consider
| their verdict, and the prisoners were removed
t ON the bar, and taken out of Court The
interval between that and the return of the ju-
| ry was period of intense anxiety to every one
IN Court; and as is usual on such occasions,
there were various conf ectures hazarded as to
WHAT WOuIu Oe Ine VeT0lCJ as 10 all the prisoners
! That n verdict of "Guilty' would be returned
against two of the prisoners--na mely, Bishop
and Williams,-none who heard the evidence
ana the summing up of the Learned Judge,
could entertain any rational doubt; but the same
confident opinion by no means existed with res
pect to the fate of the prisoner May. The gen.
erel opinion, as far as could Judge from
what was passing around us, wns-that the
circumstantial proof not being in his case
so strong as 1t was in that of his fellow pri-
soners, the Jury would acquit him. but still there
were many who thought the proof of partici-
patton IN the nnurder clear and perfect to all
the parties These conjectures and speculations
were put an end to by the return ofthe Jury at
half past eight o'clock.
The most Geath-like silence now PREVAILED
through the court, interrupted only by slight
buzz on the re.introductlon of the prisoners.
Every eye was now fixed upon thstB; but though
their appearance and manner had undergone
a considerable change from what they exhibited
at being first placed at the bar and during the
greater part of the trial, they did not seem con-
sclous of the additional interest which their
presence at this moment excited. They scarce
ly raised their eyes they entered, beyond
glance or two at the jury box.
Bishop advanced to the bar, with heavy
step, and with rather slight bend of the bo-
dy; his arms hung closely down, and it seem
ed kind of relief 10 him when he took his
place, to rest his hand on the board before
III.
was that Of man who had been for some time
labourlng under the most intense mental ago
ny, which had brought on a kind of lethargic
stupor His eye was SUNK and CLASSY; his nose
drawn and pnched; the jaw fallen, and, of course
the mouth open; but occasionally the mouth
closed, the lips became compressed. and the
shoulders and chest raised, as if he was strug-
cling to repress some violent emo,i on.-Afier
a few efforts OF this kind, he became apparent
~ calm, frequently glanced his eye towards the
bench and the jury box; but this was done
without once raising his head. His face had
that pallid blush appearance which so often ac-
companies and betekens great mental suffer-
ing
Williams came forward with short quick
step, and his whole manner was, we should saw.
the reverse of that of his companion in guilt
His face had undergone very little change but
in his eye and bis manner there was feversh
anxiety which we did not observe during the
trial. When he came in front and laid his
hand on the bar, the rapid movement of his en-
gers on the board-the frequent shifting of the
hand, sometimes letting it hang for instant
by his side, then replacing it on the board and
then resting his side against the front of The
dock, showed the perturbed state Of his feelings.
once or twice he gave glance round the
bench and the bar, but after that he seldom
took his eye from the jury-box.
May came forward with firm step than eli
Their oil his fellow prisoners but his look that of
man who thought that all chance of life was lost
lie seemed Responding; but there appeared that in
his dependency which gave him an air of-we could
not call 1T daring, or oven confde1ce,-we should
rather say physical power of endurance, which i'm
parted to his whole manner moro firm bearing than
that OF tho other prisoners. He was very pale, but
his eye had not relaxed from that irmness which
was observable in his glance throughout the whole
OF the trial.