The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1882-03-18 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

THE TIMES, SATURDAY, MA.PICII 1.11, 1882. THE LAMSON TRIAL. THE PRISONER SENTENCED TO DEATH. Mr. Justice Hewkine resumed the trial of George Henry Lawson at the Central (Anneal Court on Monday, when the last brittle)) of the ease for the prosecution—the proof of the prisoner's pecuniary embarrasaments—.was laidibere the Court. Mr. Montagu Williams, in his address for the defence, placed before the jury two propositions, alternative in character. One was that Percy Malcolm John 'did not die by reason of the administration of asonitnie ; the other, that if he dicloo die, there is ate conclusive proof that the poison was given to 'him by the prisoner. The learned counsel had not concluded his speech when, at a quarter to four, the Court adjourned consequinit upon the indisposition of ajuryman. On Tuesday the trial of George Henry Lamson, charged with the murder of his brother-in-law at Wimbledon, was resumed at the Central Criminat Court, before Mr. Justice Hawkins, who took his seat at 20 minutes pant 10 o'clock.—Mr. Mon, ague Williams, in continuing his speech for the defence, dwelt strongly on the fact chit no purchase of powders containing aconitia had been traced to the prisoner, and appealed eloquently to the jury to consider the whole conduct of the prisoner, his returning to England when repottnwere tire elated, and his manifest openness in all theenspicious trans. actions, and not to found their verdict on any speculative theories or visionary ideas, but to be satisfied by real hard cogent evidence before they found a verdict antagonistic to the prisoner. In summing up Mr. Justice Hawkins said the Jury would have to say whether the deceased died from the effects of the poison, and if so, whether the prisoner was the person who administered it? If they were not absolutely satisfied .of this, the prisoner was not only entitled to the benefit of the doubt, but could claim it at their hands, because it was the law of this country that no one could be convicted unlees his crime was proved. The case for the Crown was that the poison was administered by the prisoner, and they also said that the prisoner had a. motive, that motive 'Aseing' to acquire the possession of money. The Learned Judge then carefully analysed the evidence in detail, drawing the attention of the jury to the important portions of it. The Jury retired at 6 o'clock, and after 25 minutes deliberation found the prisoner guilty, and the judge pronounced sentence of death in the usual form.  ea.eape  Weir  itl,  J,Froia.Beli's Weekl,ll Afeasenger.)With the exception of an occasional frosty morning. not auieuUy severe, at any rato in the vicinity of thin it.es" 4.. -to do any injury, the 'eathereoutinues woeglly fine and open, end s do not tenottnber a morgatourable opportunity dr seed sowing, potato nting, and all other iescriptions el ground-work., ' In warm, sheltered positions the wall-fruit ..trees are opening their flowers freely, and this necessarily causes much anxiety, as a severe frost at any time within the nexeseven or eight weeks, would probably fatal, unless the prottetivoilaterial employea a very superior quality. The early pears rapidly following the example of the wall strees, and as we have no means of protecting the standard trees, all we can do is to hope for the best; while at the same time we are not disposed to halloo until we are irately out of the wood. T/IE