The Sun. — 1857-05-11 (London, England)

OLD COURT.  The May Sessions of the Central Criminal Court opened this morning before the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, Alderman Sir G. Moon, Bart., Alderman Lawrence, Sheriffs Messrs. Mechi ar,d Keats, and the UnderSheriffs.  The Recorder in charging the grand jury said he was sorry to say that the calendar this session presented a large number of cases of the most serious character. He was sorry to find that there was a great increase in the crime of burglary, the calendar containi❑g no less than 19 cases, although so short a time had elapsed since the sitting of the court. There were also also three cases of murder, and two of manslaughter. The first case of murder was that ofaprisonernamed May, who was engaged on board ship, and the deceased, a corporal, had been fc und stabbed. Several persons as well as the prisoner were standing by at the time the prisoner was taken into custody, and he did not deny the charge that had been made against him. The grand jury would have to see whether there was sufficient evidence to put the prisoner on his trial. The second case was that of Trigg, who was charged with having stabbed a man with a sword. The deceased was the landlord of certain Louses in Caledonian road, and the prisoner was one of his tenants. From the evidence that would be placed before them, they would have to say whether there was any doubt as to placing this person on his trial. The third case was that of Eliza Higgins; during the time the prisoner was an inmate of a workhouse she was delivered of a child, which was seen in her possession ; but, on its being missed, she told different tales on being closely questioned, and eventually the body of the child was discovered lying in an area, with an extensive fracture of the skull. They would hear from the medical gentle. man that the cause of death was the fracture of the skull; and if they should be satisfied that there was sufficient evidence, they would return a true bill of wilful murder against him, the petty jury having the power to return a verdict for a minor offence if they thought proper. The next case he had to direct their attention to was the charge against Catharine Colson and John Walsh. The deceased had been in a house of bad repute, he was afterwards found near the house, and, in consequence of being assaulted by the prisoners, he fell into the river. They would have the whole of the witnesses before them, and if they were of opinion that the death of the deceased was caused by one or both of the prisoners charged, they would return a true bill accordingly. There was also a serious charge against a woman named Rebecca Haliday, for sending letters of a horrible description for the purpose of extorting money. The letters would be submitted to them, and if they were satisfied that the object of the prisoner was to extort money they would return a true bill against the prisoner for the felony. Two prisoners, G. Clark and Rosa Bush, were charged with falsely inducing a girl under 21 years of age to leave her lather's house for immoral purposes, and also a person named Erlam was charged with persuading a girl under 14 years of age also to quit her parent's roof ; if the evidence that was laid before them was, in their opinion, sufficient to bring the prisoners within the meaning of the act of Parlia meat then they would return tree bills against them for misdemeanour. With these few observations he dismissed them to their duties. He did not expect any legal difficulty would arise, but if such should be the case the Court would be happy to afford them every assistance.  The grand jury then retired.