The Sun. — 1844-11-26 (London, England)

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.  The first session of the present Mayoralty was commenced yesterday ate he Old Bailey. Precisely at ten oclock, the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, attended by his chaplain, Michael Gibbs, A.M., vicar of Christ Church ; Aldermen H. Hughes, Kelly, Hooper, Marshall, Sheriff Sidney, and Under-Sheriffs Martin and Atihurst entered, and the Court was opened in the usual form. .  The names of the grand jury were then called ova, and they being sworn, 'The REconnsu then proceeded to deliver his charge. He said that the charges in the present calendar, although not numerous—it containing only 118 names—at the same time, comprehended several charges of the most serious and important character. Many of them Were charges of violence to the person. No less than ten for cutting and wounding with intent to do some grievous bodily harm ; seventeen of larceny from the person, accompanied, more or less, with violence ; two of manslaughter, and one of murder. All these cases were of a serious character, but the facts connected with them were in general clear and sufficiently distinct, and not involving any quest'on of law on which it would be necessary for him to address them. Their attention would be principally directed to the question of fact, what credibility should be given to the witnesses, and how far the conflicting evidence should be believed. With regard to the charge of murder, he did not think it convenient, nor would it answer any useful purpose to advert to it, or examine its details. They would give it their due and cautious attention. With regard to one of the charges of manslaughter, which was involved in considerable obscurity—a charge against a husband, a pro'essional man —it behoved them to sift the evidence well, and before they returned a verdict of manslaughter, to feel assured that there were really good grounds for their so doing. There were two other charges to which it might be expected that he should allude—he meant those which related to offences of a foul and unnatural character ; but he was sure they would spare the Court any reference to such infamous cases, as the great probability was, that the facts themselves would be amply sufficient to guide their opinions. The remaining caws in the calendar did not require any particular notice, but it was with regret he stated that there was one case of manslaughter, to which he could not properly refer, as the depositions were transmitted just before the sitting of the Court that morning. The proper officer to have sent them in might have done so several days before, but he, with a culpable procrastination, had deterred the transmission of them till the last hour allowed by law. Hid they been delayed a little longer, the Court would have felt it its duty to impose a fine upon the offending party. The Learned Recorder then adverted to the general duties of the grand jury, and concluded thus— With these remarks he would leave the gentlemen of the grand jury to the discharge of their duties, but he would add, that if anything should arise, in the course of their proceedings, to call for the assistance of the Court, it would be readily granted them. They might always refer to the officer appointed-to assist, and with these few words hu would dismiss them.  The grand jury then retired.