The Sun. — 1849-12-15 (London, England)

WIGHTMAN.) CHARGE OF MURDER.  Bernard Sheridan, aged 28, was indicted for hav• ing, at Manchester, on the 25th of November last, wilfully murdered John Hayes. Mr. Joseph Pollock and Mr. Ovens conducted the prosecution. Mr. James, at the request of the Learned Judge, defended the prisoner. It appeared that the prisoner, who is a bricklayer, lived with his wife in a cellar in Turner. street, Manche,,ter, over which is a beer-house, in which the prisoner and a man named Tootal were drinking between one and two o'clock on Sunday; the 25th of November. Shortly after he left the beer-house the pr sonar was seen heating his wife at the top of the steps which led down to the cellar, upon which an old man named Grindley went out of the beer. house, and, addressing the prisoner, said it was a shame to use a' woman in that manner. Upon which the prisoner exclaimed, "Do you say so ?' and then rushed down into its cellar, and having procured a chisel, returned, sayi , " Who dare face me now ?" Those who were insi c the beer-house, hearing the noise of the wom n screaming, were attracted to the window, and seeing the prisoner approach the old man Grindley with the chisel in his hand, the deceased went out to protect him, and then the prisoner thrust at him with the chisel in the breast. Teotal a,ked the deceased to go the infirmary, but he replied that he was not much hurt, and walked a little way, when he fell doWn, and was carried by Tootal to theinfirmary,_where jdied almost immediately. It was found; oe examilititton; that the chisel wound extended completely through the wall of the chest, between the cartilages of the sixth and seventh ribs, into the right cavity of the heart. The surgeon, on being shown a chisel, which was found in the prisoner's cellar, shortly after the act was committed, was of opinion that it did not produce the wound which caused the death. Mr. JAMES addressed the jury fur the prisoner, contending that the charge against him only amounted to manslaughter. His LORDSHIP having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of Manslaughter. Sentence of transportation for life. Thomas Bedford was indicted for a misdemeanour at common law' in forging at the foot of a petition to her Majesty's Commissioners of Customs a recommendation of the prayer of the petition, with intent to defraud the said Commissioners. Mr. Blair conducted the case for the prosecution. The prisoner was defended by Mr. Atkinson, Mr. ATKINSON, at the close of the case, objected that the evidence disclosed no legal offence. The penalties did not go to the Commissioners for their own use, but to the Crown, and they would not be defrauded in case the penalty were improperly remitted. His LORDSHIP ruled that it was not necessary, to support the indictment, that the Commissioners should have any personal interest in the penalty. Forgery at common law was the making malo aoimo of any written instrument for the purpose of fraud and deceit; and if by this act of the prisoner it was sought to induce the Commissioners to discharge Macfarlane, without payment of the penalty, contrary to their, duty, it would be a forgery. Verdict, Guilty—to be imprisoned three calender months. John Middleton, Hugh Jones, Thomas Welsh, and Joseph Ellis were charged with the manslaugter o Richard Lilley, at Stratford, on the sth day of Sep. tember last.