Oakham (Rutland), March 5...
The Times, 1824-03-13T00:00:00

(Before the lon. B3aron; 111Y LOCF..) PatCr. k uDi. an Irishtnan,aged 70,known as a dealer in omnger &c. at the imnarkets and fairs for a considerable (istance round Stamford, at which place he has resided for a few years past, ran arraigned on an indictment. charging him with a rape on the body of Elizabeth Robinson. The prosecutrix (a very creditable-looking woman, seemin,?ly about 60 years of age) stated that the is the widow of a 8sea-faring main, and slept at the Horse and Jockey, in Stamford, on Saturday night, the 28th of Febntary, on her way to visit the relations of her deceased husband, at Newcastle. On Sunday morning she proceeded to Casterton, and happening to reach that place just as tke bells wvere ringing for church, she, being dirty from travelling, went into the Crown public-house by way of avoiding the persons who were going to attend the service. She stopped half an hour, and had half a pint of beer. Soon after she had proceeded on her way fronm Casterton, she heard a great hallooing, and occasional singing in a loud voice, which madc her rather suppose some insane person was on the road; she soon saw that the noise proceeded from the prisoner, who appeared at a gate on the road-side, and coming up to her, asked if she was going to Cols- terworrh: witnesssaw that he wasin liquor and therefore aid that she was not, but should soon stop ar a friend's ihouse ; he then said he had got plerty of money; he offered her 6d. ; and asked if he should open the gate for her. She said, " ly good mnan, keep your 6&l., I do not want it;" upon which he put it into hils pocket, and thcn forcibly took hold of her, and threw her upon a heap of stones, saying that he could do what he wanted there as well as through the gate. The pro- secutrix proceeded to state that she had been the niother of nine children-and that the prisoner fully accomplished 2is bate pur- pose, notwithstanding she made all the resistance shm could, by scratching him in the face till he bled profusely (the prisoner bore very visible signs of this resistance), and by screarwiDg till she had not power to scream any longer. The prisoner subse_ quently said, " Yotu bitch, how you've bled me !" He then asked her, would she go along ? to which she said no, she wotuld return to the village (Casterton); upon which he went ou lils road northward. Prosecutrix, in returning, met a man to whomr she told what had happened, but he took no notice, and went on and joined the prisoner. She next saw a man named Cole, and complained to him; he directed her to Tickencote, and she went there to the constable. The prosecutrix underwent a close cross-examination by Mr. HILDYARD, counsel for the prisoner, but she did not in the small- est degree contradict or weaken her evilence. She said she had takent nothing but tea for breakfaot. The prisoner was quite a stranger to her. ln answer to a question by the Judge, she said the outrage was committed upon the Great North Road, about twelve o'clock at noon on Sunday. John Cole, of Casterton, was going home from Tickencote, when he saw Al rs. Grooby, an inhabitant of the latter village, who told him that there had been a great screaming and crying on the road ; wimess went on hastily, and saw on the road the prisoner Duflr, whom he knew well; his face was bloody,and witness said, "What's the matter, Duffv ?" He answered that his name was not Duff,. and he added, " Dgnt you meddle wvith that wroman, she's my wife:" She was then about one hundred yards off, putting on het cap and bonnet,; when witness first saw her, she was getting op from a heap of stones ; she seeme"l much terrified and hurt; she said she )ad been very ill used, and witnes. directed her to Tickencote. Elizabeth Groobv lives at Tiekencote (which is about 100 yards off the great road), and was alarrned by very great and repeated screaming. She sent the last witness to see what was the matter, and afterwards saw the prosecutrix, who seemed quite distressed and fatigued, and said she had been ill-used by an Irishman; her clothes were dirty behind. \i'itness went to the road, and saw the prisouer. illatthew Plowright, of Starnford, corroboratel the statement. Al r. Wrilliamii Orridge, gaoler of Oakham, apprehended the pri. soner at Newark, liaNing been sent in pursuit of him by the Aagis- trates, lie was selling oranges in the streets there. Thc prisoner, being called on for his defence, said merely, " I am as innocent as the child unborn; shc slipped down on the stones, and I offered to pick her up." Being asked whether he had anv witnesses to his character, he looked about the Court, and with his strong Irish pronunciation said to the Judge, " Exainine any person you please." Being told that he must name some persons, he called Thompson, publiczn, of Stamfbrd, and other persons named Fernelli and Kelly. The two latter appeased, but merely said they knew little of the&prisoner-no harm of himn-he appeared to get Isis living by seling orangeY. The JUDGE, in summing UP7 said if the jury should find the charges established against the pnsoner, their verdict woJld put hi. life in immediatejeopardy ; it was incumbent, therefore, that they should be satisfied the case was clearly made out; but being bo satisfied, they should not fail to discharge their daty to *ociety by prououncing tbe prisoner guilty. his lordship then adverted to the speedy discloture which the prnsecttrlx had made of the violence done her, and to the circumstances of srong corroboration which her acconnt hma~ received. If the jury should think the pritoner was in. toxicated with liquor at the time of the crime, they should bear in mind that drunkenness was no excuse, provded the aet was done. The Jury retired for a few minutes, and returned with a verdict of Guilty, but recomnended the prisoner to mercy. The JUDGE.-" On what grounds ?P Jurvnsatn.-` His being in a state of intoxication at the time." JtDGE.-" I am afraid it would be most dangerous to consider intoxication as an excuse." Alr. Barox HULLOCs then proceeded to peas sentence of death on the orisoner, who fel on his knees at the bar in a stEtt of wild distraction. H4is Lordship observed, that he had been fotitd uilty of a tnoit atrocious offence, and was sorry to say that C was not awaro of any CiTcum6tance to induce hins to turn aside for a moment the-sentence of the law. There was nothiny in the case which warrsnted a judge in giving to the prisoner any hope of mercy in this life; the crime when satifactorily made out, was in this country always punished with death. He therefore ex- horted the wretched xnan to lose no time in turning to God in sin. cere and fervent prayer, for the purpose of obtaining, in religioui hores, and views beyond the grave, those consolations which earth- ly juitice could not permit tw b exteu,d t tu him here. (The lear_- ed Judge was himself most des'Ply affected1 and continued to be for some time quite overcome with h1is feelings.) The above was the only ir.dietul{nt which weut before the Graid. Jury at these assizes. O-KHAII (RUTIAND) IMARCH 5.