The Sun. — 1858-12-17 (London, England)

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—WARWICK, DEC. 15. (Before Mr. Justice Wightman.) Emma Bennett, who pleaded guilty, and John Harford who pleaded not guilty, were charged with having robbed. Edwin James Taylor of his watch, and having at the same time used personal violetce to him. Mr. Sargeaunt conducted the prosecution. The robbery was proved to have been committed by the hand of the female prisoner in a public street, her male companion standing at a little distance and interfering with blows when the prosecutor endeavoured to pursue her. A crowd gathering round the escape of both was prevented. Verdict, guilty. Both prisoners were sentenced to four years' penal servitude. Win. Richard Timms stood charged with having, at the borough of Birmingham, feloniously cut and. wounded Mary Arm Owen, with intent to murder her.  Mr. Spooner prosecuted, and Mr. O'Brien, at the request of the Court, defended the prisoner. The prisoner paid his addresses to tl e prosecutrix, with whom two young women lodged and worked. On the 4th Of . October, about half-past six in the morning, the two female ledgers returned from a party at which they had spent the previous night, and found the prisoner at Mrs. Owen's house, lying upon a sofa in the lower room, where it appeared he had been sleeping, while Mrs. Owen occupied the room above. All met together at breakfast, of which the prisoner, though invited by Mrs. Owen, refused to partake. He sent for a quartern of gin, of which he desired Mrs Owen to drink, but she refused. After breakfast Mrs. Owen went up stairs, and was followed by the prisoner, who asked her what she meant to do. She replied, " I mean to do what I told you. I won't go with you since you're so tipsy." Prosecutrix then went down stairs and was followed by him down and up stairs again, when he closed the door, desired her to sit down again, asked her whether she meant what she had said, and, on her answering " Yes," put his arm round her neck and drew a razor across her throat, inflicting a wound some 4 inches in length and an inch and a half deep in the deepest part, but in such a direction as closely to approach the principal blood vessel, but not divide it. The prosecutrix uttered a cry of " Murder," upon hearing which Jane Hummins, one of the female lodgers, ran up stairs, and upon watering the room found the prisoner leaning over Mrs. Owen with a razor in his hand, in the act of cutting her throat. Mrs. Owen was lying on her back, while the prisoner's knee was on her chest and his left hand on her forehead. Hummins struggled with him, and having succeeded in wresting the razor from his grasp ran down stairs and gave an alarm. She then returned up stairs and saw the prisoner kneeling and leaning against the wall by the side of Mrs. Owen, who still lay upon the floor. She again went down to bring some one in and was followed by the prisoner, who declared that he would kill any one who came near him. Ile again returned to the room and Hummins following him saw him mwithore aaknndiefaelliend ' aSnhaeon went returning d o 7 f oounnc de that Mrs. Owen had the knife in her hand. The prosecutrix then became insensible, and a policeman arrived, who took the prisoner into custody: Prisoner declared to him that he intended to murder her, adding, " I will murder her when I am at liberty, rather than any one else shall have her ! " The razor had been borrowed of a neighbour by the prisoner about two days previously. Mr. O'Brien addressed the jury, contending that the act was not one of deliberate intent to murder, but the result of a sudden fit of jealousy. The learned Judge observed on the ability with which the prisoner's counsel had addressed the jury, and having commented on the evidence, left the case to the jury, who returned a verdict of guilty of the full offence. Sentence of death was recorded, subjecting the prisoner to peedl servitude for life, or such term as her Majesty may please to determine. A number of burglaries and other cases of little public interest were disposed of in the course of the day.