Hereford, Wednesday, Marc...
The Times, 1824-03-27T00:00:00

UAJt1.UNA1, USUKT'.-f Before Jr. Baron GAILtOW.) Joltn Hari and William Williams were indicted for burglariously F-reaking and entering the house of John Penny, iu the niglht of the 30th of December last, and stealing therein a watch and other ar- ticles, his property. AIlr. POWELL op.ned the case for the prosecution. In the course zf his address, he statet that John Penny, the poor man whose hlouse was broken, was taken ill while in pursuit of the robbers, and died after a day's illness. Being thus deprived of his evidence, he should be obliged to call the widow, who was deaf and dumb, but whose evidence would be interpreted in a very satisfactory manner by one of her daughters. Elizabeth Pennv, a venerable old troman, and Silvia Penny, her daughter, a eirl of very prepossessing appearance, were then calleQ into the box. They were dressed in very decent mourn- ing, and would have been taken as of much higher station than they were, the deceased having been only a day-labourer. The girl having been svwrrn to interpret between the Court and her mother, was directed to put to her some preliminary ques- tions, in order to ascertain that slie had a dtue sense of the obli- gation of an oath. On the question whither the soul went after death, the girl interpreted her mother's answer-" To the place of eternity ;" and on the question, wlhat reward awaited the good, she answered * They go to happineLs." The examination in ehief then procceded,and the scene became extremely interesting. Thecommuni- cation by gestures between the old w oman and the girl was the most expresuivepantomime wreever saw; the answers were given distinctly and with a rapidity which surprised the Court; and were deliverej by the daughter writh atouchin simplicityof manner which bor. dered on the pathetic. In this manlier the widow communicated that she left the house fast on the 30th D)ecember,at night, that at two or three in the morning her husband was disturbet, and went down stairs; thet in the morning, at five o'clock, she rose, struck a light, and found marks, which proved tbat the house had been entered hy the chimney. She then missed it watclh which had stood on the mantel-piece, a red cloak, a shawl, and an umbrella; and saw a lad- der placed against the chimney, vithi the marks of soot. The pri- soner Hart, with another man, who was not the prisoner, ehad swept the ch,mney about three weeks before. Bleing particularly interro- gated, at the request of Hart, as to his identity, she gave remark- ahlv clear answers. ltlizabeth Penny, ansother daughter of the deceased, of a similar decent appearance, described the situation of the premises, and the articles which were stolen. It was then proved thiat Hart sold the watch, umbrella, and gloak, to a Jew pawnbroker at Abergaveniy; that when he and TVilliams were taken, eazh was found with a part of the shawl round his neck; and that Williams voluntarily acknow- ledged to the constable a participation in the offencc. Mrs. Penny, being recalled, identified the articles as the property lost. Hlart being called on for his detence, in a long story, allcged that he received the articles front Williams, who prevailed on him to offer them for sale. Williams said nothing. Thejury found both prisoners guilty. Mr. t4aror GAxnOW informed the prisoners, that as they had used no personal violence, he would recommend them to mercy, but it mu,t be on the terms of transportation for their natural lives. The learned Judge then called to Silvia Penny, and thanked her for the very intelligent and modett manner in whiclh she had interpreted the evidence of her mother. the old woman and the girl curtsied, and retired together. HEREFORD, WEDNESDAY, MIARCHI 24.