The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1842-04-01 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

RAPE CASES. Alexander Hewitt, 45, (could read and write imperfectly,) was indicted fora rape committed on his own daughter, Jane Hewitt, a girl fourteen years of age, at Castleton, in August last. The facts of the case were sworn to by the prosecutrix. After the commission of the crime the prisoner left his home, and it was some time before he could be found. He was apprehended about three weeks afterwards, and said that if he had committed the crime with which he stood charged he had done it when he was drunk. The JUDGE summed up the evidence, and said the offence was one of the most aggravated that had ever been brought before a court. The Jury, after a short consultation, found the prisoner guilty of an assault. Sentence—Two years' imprisonment and hard labour, in the House of Correction. John Cleave, (could read and write well,) was charged with having committed a rape on Mary Ann 1-tuady, at Manchester, on the 17th instant. It appeared that the prosecutrix, on the day in question, I went into a public-house, called the Mosley Arms, in Manchester, with a friend, to get some refreshment, whets the prisoner, who appeared to act in the capacity of waiter, .brought them a pint of beer. Some conversation took place, and the prisoner, hearing that prosecutrix was out of situation, said he knew a person who wanted a servant, and he would do what he could to obtain it for her, and requested her to come down in the evening ; she did so, and prisoner thon took her to a house in Manchester, where he endeavoured to accomplish his purpose. Prosecutrix then went to the house of a friend, and detailed the circumstances of the case, when information was given to the police, and the prisoner apprehended. The jury, after a short consultation, found the prisoner Not Guilty.—The trial lasted nearly five hours. Aaron lesson, 31, (could neither read nor write,) was indicted for a rape on Mary Ann Fitzgerald, at Manchester, on the 29th November last. The prosecutrix, a young girl seventeen years of age, lived as servant with the prisoner, and had occasion to go up stairs to call her master, as soon as any one wanted him in the shop, when, she stated, he threci her down, and committed-the offence for which be stood charged. A warrant was soon after obtained, and the prisoner apprehended at his own house. Mr. WILKINS addressed the jury, contending that the evidence was of a most unsatisfactory character, and they immediately returned a verdict of not guilty. John Edwards was indicted for a rape committed on the person of Mary Thomason, a little girl thirteen years of age, on the 19th of August last, near Warrington. The prisoner was a coachman, and lived near the prosecutrix, and on the day in question he followed her to a plantation in the neighbourhood, where he endeavoured to effect his purpose.—Mr. Wilkins. addressed the jury in very eloquent and argumentative defence, and called several witnesses to speak to the character of the prisoner.—The prisoner was acquitted. The case of Timothy Hetherington, for the murder at Manchester, is fixed for Saturday. The court rose at a quarter past seven.