The Sun. — 1859-06-21 (London, England)

SURREY SESSIONS.—June 90.  The June adjourned Sessions for the county of Surrey commenced this morning, at the Sessions House, Newington-causeway, before J. E. Johnson, Esq., chairman, T. Tilson, Esq., deputy-chairman, and a bench of magistrates. The calendar contained the names of 47 prisoners-38 for felony and 9 for misdemeanor. The grand jury having been sworn, the Chairman addressed them as to the nature of their duties, and observed that there were two cases in the calendar that required a few remarks from him. The first was No. 13, Jane Bailey, a young woman 19 years of age, who is charged with attempting to kill and murder herself at Esher. It was a very serious offence, and a high misdemeanor, therefore they had better find the bill, and thereby send the case into this court for thorough investigation. The next case he wished to allude to was No. 33 on the calendar, John Dixon, 50, for unlawfully assaulting Harriet Russell, a child under 10 years of age, with intent to carnally know her. Now if anything should come before them to show that she was a consenting party it could not be taken in the prisoner's favour, as the law very properly enacts that any child under 10 years of age cannot be taken as a consenting party in such an offence. It is a misdemeanor, and if they considered that a prima facie case was niade out they must find a bill and send that case also into court for investigation by the petty jury. He perceived by the calendar that there were no less than five cases of housebreaking and attempts, which he was sorry to say had increased lately in the metropolitan districts. The bills would be presented to them in due course, and he should advise them before they ignored any to send into court for the original depositions taken before the magistrate. He then dismissed them to their room.  Robert Taylor, 40, a very respectable-looking man, described in the calendar as a farm-bailiff, surrendered and pleaded guilty to embezzling various sums of money, amounting to upwards of £lOO, the property of his employer, Mr. Edmund Cowell Malkeon, an extensive farmer, of Godstone. Mr. Robinson, who was retained for the prosecution, said he was instructed to recommend the prisoner to mercy on several grounds—his previous good character, and the belief that the prisoner could not withstand the temptation, he being an illiterate man. The prosecutor believed that prisoner was first led into the commission of the crime by the loose manner in which he kept his accounts. Mr. Lilley, who appeared for the prisoner, thanked the prosecutor for his kindness, and urged a lenient sentence, inasmuch as he had borne a good ckaracter heretofore. He had been 13 years bailiff to a late rev. gentleinan in Suffolk, at whose decease he was thrown out of employment for a long time. He at last-got into the service of the prosecutor, who left the sole management of the farm and stock in his charge, and being unfortunately rather illiterate, he trusted to his wife to keep the accounts. Unfortunately he was led into error, and was now heartily sorry for it. The Chairman told the prisoner that had it not been for the recommendation of the prosecutor, the punishment must have been very severe ; but, as his character had been previously without blemish, the Court thought that they might exercise a little leniency towards him. He must be sentenced to four months' hard labour.