Star. — 1827-08-25 (London, England)

HUI ROTP. William lintpson stood charged, on the Coroner's Inquisitiog, with the wilful murder cf Sarah Tani son,  • .'n the parish cf Birmingham, ora the Gill October, Ins. The primmer, a powerful man, 24 years of age, w. s brought into Court in a strait waistcoat, by Eve aver, who were sca►cely able to held him at the bar, so violent were hi. paroxysms of madness. Upon the tesiimoi. y of Mr Birch, the surgeon who attends Warwick gaol, and who described the prisoner as being insane ever since his commitment,—the Jury return d a verdict to that effect; and tle prisoner was ordered to be taken care of until his Majesty's pleasure respecting his fu•ure dispo al shoul I be known.  Thomas Goodwin was indicted for assaulting Jane Lee ors the 28.11 of Juiy last, in the parish of Aston, and forcibly ;aid feloniously taking from her- persoa two sixpence,. The prosecutrix stated th t she was a mirried VIOMA3 At about hilt past seven o'clock on the evening of the above day, as she was geving over a stile, when passing through a farm, the priimier accosted her !Torn the other side, saying, " Ah, now I have you." The prnsecutrix asked rim what he wanted, and he replied, ei 1 must have a kiss." S.re told him he should not, and gave him a smack in the face; upon which he took hold of her, and she told him to have done. He persistud ire wtempting to assault lier until she drew a sixpence from her pocket, and gave it tckwhirn to let her alone. At this time she was in fear for her life, as he was pulling her clothes up, and held an open knife to ' her breast. As he still seemed disposed to persist in his purpose, she gave him' another sixpence to permit her to go away, which she was at length, and after much abuse, allowed to de. She afterwards met a girl, whom she asked it there were any men near who would take up a man that had ill•used her ? Having found the owner of the farm, the latter went back with her, and they discJvered the prisoner lying on his face in the ditch near the stile. He was sleeping, but did not appear drunk. This part of her testimony was cormboratA by that of the farmer. The prisoner plead' d drunkenness, and alleged that he had no recollection of any of the circumstances stated by the prosecistrix. The Learned donna told the Jury, that if the proseeutrix had parted with the money under an apprehension of danger to her life, ar of vi 4 ttion of her pets- n, that was sufficient to constitute a ,wt.Dery on the part of the prisoner. The Jury immedi arty returned a verdict of Guiky. The prisoner was also indicted for assaulting the prosecutrix, with intent to violate her pees in; but he was not tried on this ind ctment.  This prisoner, Thomas Goodwin ; John Hemhaw, convicted of a rape upon Caroline Smith, at Birmingham; Thomas Hudson, convicted of stabbing Thomas Stych ; and James Smith, and Benjamin 8.1.140rth. convicted of stealing 120/ from the person of Jrmes Lloyd, were then placed at the bar to rec,-ive judgment. The Learned Juooa addressed them severally on the heinousness of Owir respective Mimes. He told Henshaw, that were it not for the strhng recommsivation of the Jury, in consequence of some discrepancies in the evidence for the, prosecution, the seatenee of the law would have been suffered to take its cool st in his case, as it would also in the case of Hudson, had he been convicted on the count charging an intent to murder. Goodwin had stopped short cif the completion of an offence, for which, had he perpetrated it. he certainly would h4ve paid the penalty of his life ; and Budwoith and Smith had not been guilty of violence. although they. had committed a serious robbery. Under all the circumstances of these cases, his L•'rdship would recommend to his Majesty that their lives be spared; but they must expect to leave this country (or the test of 'heir  Joseph rPilliamson, and 13 other defendants, pleaded Guilty to an indictment for a riot at tl e la.t election for Coventry, and entered into their own recoguizances to ket•p the peace for two years.