The Sun. — 1839-01-03 (London, England)

CRIMINAL COURT-(THIS DAY.)  OLD COUR7'.  VIOLENT ASSAULT.—George Girling, described in the calendar as a carpenter, was indicted with feloniously striking Elizabeth Carey with a poker, in Greenwich Poor-house, on the 21st of December last, with intent to do her some bodily harm. From the evidence it appeared that both the prosecutrix and the prisoner were inmates of the Greenwich Poor-house. Upon the day in question the prisoner was poking the fire, and upon the prosecutrix asking him what he was doing, he said, " I'll do for you, and you'll not get your Christmas dinner ;" on which he struck the prosecutrix with the poker, which laid her senseless at his feet; and when she recovered the prisoner had left the room. The prosecutrix on reco. vering found that she was very much wounded on the head and arm. She then applied to the master of the workhouse, the subject was investigated, and in consequence of the excited state of the prisoner, the master was induced to think he was not right in his mind ; but upon the Surgeon seeing him, he said there was no ground for any such supposition. The prisoner in his defence said he was aggravated by the prosecutor to commit the offence. Mr. Justice PATTISON summed up, and The Jury found the prisoner Gulty of an assault only. Mr. Justice PATTISON sentenced him to twelve months' imprisonment and hard labour in the House of Correction. Dennis Donnovan was indicted with feloniously and maliciously cutting and wounding his wife, Catherine Donnovan, with intent to murder her. Catherine Donnovan stated that on the 21st of October last she and the prisoner lived together in Poland-street. On the night of that day the prisoner struck her with his fist, and knocked her down, and then ran up stairs, got a chopper, and began chopping at her. She put her arm up to save her head, when he struck her with the chopper and broke her arm in two places. Not satisfied with this he wounded her on th head in six places. They had had no words before this took place.  James Williams—was a surgeon at Bartholomew Hospita and was in attendance there when the prosecutrix was brough t in ; she had received several wounds on the head, and a corn pound fracture on the left arm. The wounds on the head ha all penetrated to the bone. The prosecutrix was still unde this care.  William Penny, an inspector of police, upon hearing cries of murder, proceeded to the premises, in Poland-street. Upon arriving there, he found the prosecutrix lying upon the ground in an insensible state, covered with blood. He sent a m. 40 for a stretcher, and had the prosecutrix taken to St. Bart'nolomew's Hospital. He afterwards searched the house and found a chopper completely covered with blood and hair. When he apprehended the prisoner he was perfectly sober. The prosecutrix upon being recalled, identified the chopper produced, as the same with which the prisoner struck her. William Christall, a prisoner in the new prison, deposed that the prisoner requested him to write a letter to his wife, which he did. The letter, which was read begged the prosecutrix to forgive him for the sake of their children.  Mr. PHILLips addressed the Jury for the prisoner. Mr. Baron GURNEY summed up, and the Jury found the prisoner Guilty to the full extent charged in the indictment. Judgment of death was recorded against the prisoner, and Mr. Baron GURNEY told him flat if it should please her Majesty to remit the severe sentence of the law, it would only he upon the condition that he should spend the remainder of his days in a foreign land, subject to the severest punishment and the hardest labour.