The Sun. — 1828-07-24 (London, England)

SUMMER ASSIZES.  WORCESTER, Jinx 22. John Checsc, aged 33, was indicted for assaulting and ravishing Ann Ridley, on the . evening of the 14th of May last. Ann Ridley, a plain-looking girl, with an impediment in her speech, was 16 years of age ; lived at Stourbridge, in this county, and worked at a carpetfactory at Kidderminster.. On the evening of the 14th of May, she was returning, about half-past seven o'clock in the evening, from Kidderminster, and was within a mile of Stourbridge when she met the prisoner driving a flock of sheep. He asked her what hour it was, and she told him. He then pulled out a shilling and offered it to her, if she would go into a field with him. As soon as he made that,offer, she ran off towards her home up the hill ; but when she had got about a quarter of a mile, she fell over a heap of stones, and the prisoner coming up, immediately seized her and dragged her across the turnpike-road, down a lane ;. and after carrying her some distance, threw her down and accomplished his purpose. When he suffered her to rise, she walked down the lane before him, and saw two men and a woman driving some carts. She told them what had occurred, and pointed out the prisoner as the man who had ill-used her • but after seizing the prisoner and talking to him, they let him go again. On the next morning, at four o'clock, she went and informed the constable of what had happened, in order that the prisoner might be  taken up. MisS Harriette Perry was walking near the lane described by the prosecutrix, with a child, on the evening of the 14th of May, and recollected seeing the prosecutrix running away from a man dressed in a smockfrock ; she saw her fall on a heap of stones, and the man in the smockfrock took her up round the waist, and carried her down the lane. He was carrying her down the lane when the witness met a man of the name of Tudor, who, seeing the witness was much frightened, accompanied her to her own house, which was at a short distance off. When the prosecutrix fell on the stones the witness heard her scream " Murder." While looking after the prosecutrix down the lane, she saw her walk a few steps; but the man with the smockfrock was holding a stick over her head. John Tudor, and Mary Tudor, his mother, confirmed, in several material points, the testimony already given. Mr. Justice GAsELEE having summed up, The Jury brought in a verdict of Guilty, but recommended the prisoner to mercy. The Foreman being unable to explain to the Learned Judge the reasons which induced such a recommendation, the Jury again retired, and after some consultation sent a written communication to his Lordship, recommending the prisoner to mercy, because they believed the prisoner was not aware of the pnnishment that awaited the commission of such a crime. _ _  Mr. Justice GASELEE then proceeded to address the prisoner on the enormity of the crime of which he had been convicted, and concluded by pronouncing sentence of death on him. The prisoner seemed perfectly heedless of the fate that awaits him. John Pound, aged 51, was indicted for assaulting Ann Downes, a child under tke age of nine years, with intent to commit a rape. The circumstances of the case are of a nature too gross for detail. The Jury found the prisoner Guilty. Mr. Justice GASELEE sentenced the prisoner to be confined in the House of Correction for eighteen months, mid kept to hard labour.