Star. — 1830-08-11 (London, England)

TEXTEADEN.) John Charles Humphries was indicted for breaking into the house of James Marsh, at Hastings, on the 20th March last, and stealing a gold watch and other articles. Mr. Marsh deposed to being disturbed on the night in question, and that on awaking he found the light out, which he usually burnt in his room. He immediately got out of bed, and groping about, came in contact with a person in a stooping posture. A struggle ensued, in which, however, the prosecutor was at last successful in pining a secure hold of the person, who upon this offered to give himself up. Mr. Marsh then went out by the door, fastening the intruder in. He procured the assistance of a man named Freeman, and both came up stairs again, and secured the prisoner. They then took hint into the kitchen below, and placed him for a while on a chair. On his rising, the articles mentioned in the indictment were found on the chair. The witness swore positively there was nothing on it before. The proper steps were subsequently taken, and the prisoner was committed for trial. Freeman corroborated this testimony, swearing also there was nothing on the chair when the prisoner was seated on it. The prisoner, on being called on for his defence, gave in a long written address, in which he stilted, that he was occasionally subject to violent paroxysms of insanity, during the continuance of which he was utterly ignorant of what he was doing. How he found his way into the prosecutor's he did not know, but could account for it only in this way. On the night mentioned he met in Hastings a person named Jackson. with whom some years since he had a quarrel. On this meeting a reconcilement took place, and in consequence of the brandy which they drank, an attack of his unfortunate malady came on him, and he became quite unconscious of what was going forward. He then supposed that he was inveigled into the transaction by Jackson, as a piece of revenge, and left to extricate himself as he might. Me stated further that he had been engaged for a considerable time as a writer to the press, and had been an editor of various periodicals, amongst others of the Literary Chronicle, and that he was not a likely person to be guilty of so disgraceful an offence. Evidence was offered in support of the prisoner's statement. The Governor of the Gaol added, that he had experienced a very violent attack of brain fever while in prison, and that for four days be was completely insensible. • The jury considered for some time, and then returned a verdict of Guilty. The prisoner is a respectable-looking young man ; he bears the appearance of being liable to the attacks mentioned in his address. Robert Fulmer and James Raker pleaded guilty to the charge of obstructing the officers of the customs in the execution of their duty, by assisting to land goods liable to duty. Sentence of death was recorded.  SHREWSBURY, MONDAY, Au G. 9. There is very little business here. Of 13 causes which were enwed for trial at nisi prises, the majority were disposed of to-day. They were all unimportant. The calendar contains the names of 37 pri. swum, but there are only 24 cases for trial, the principal of which is a charge against a young woman of having administered poison to o persons of the names of Sarah Smith and James Thomas, with went to murder them.  tlr. Justice Peat disposed of five or six cases in the Crown' Court, one of which was that of a young man, named Thomas Vaughan, for highway robbery. The prosecutor, J. Robinson, was passing along the turnpike-road between Shiffnal and Wolverhampton, about nine o'clock on the Ist of July last, when he was attacked by three men, one of whom was the prisoner. They knocked him down, and while two of them knelt on him, the other (the prisoner) rifled his pocket, and took from hint 7s. 9d. in silver and copper. They afterwards made off in the direction towards Rimburton ; and the prisoner was apprehended a day or two afterwards, and had on at the time the hat and shoes which he had takes from the prosecutor, who was much injured by the violence of the prisoner and his companions. The Jury found the prisoner guilty, and judgment of death was recorded against him, with an intimation, however, by the learned Judge that his life would be spared.