The Sun. — 1845-08-01 (London, England)

WARREN—IS a gunsmith in Durham. Recollects prisoner coming; on a Tuesday in June, about a pair of pistols. He came into the shop about six o'clock in the evening. He said on that evening that be had had notice to be out that night—that he had had notice of some smugglers, and that they were not good characters to meet with. He asked witness to load them for him, which was accordingly done, And the prisoner received them so loaded. He was not at all excited, but quite cool. There was a bullet put in each pistol, as well as powder, and they were capped. On cross-examination, Mr. Booth gave the prisoner a very good character in every respect. Several other witnesses having been examined for the prosecution to confirm the evidence already given, I\lr. WILKINS addressed the jury for the prisoner, which he did in a speech of about an hour and a quarter in duration. The jury retired for about half-an-hour, and on their return pronounced a verdict of Not Guilty, finding that the prisoner was not of sound mind at the time he did the act. This verdict was received with applause from a very crowded  Court. The prisoner immediately extended his hand to his counsel, and to other gentlemen of his acquaintance aroursl, ail of whom shook hands with him in congratulation on the termination of the trial, which lasted from nine in the morning till near seven in the evening. Lord Sandys, Commander of the Scotch Greys, in which regiment the prisoner formerly was ; Major Wemyss, chief constable of the county police ; Colonel Stephenson, and Rah.h T. Pemberton, Esq., a magistrate, were all called to speak to the prisoner's character, and testified to his having been of most respectable demeanour, and of a high reputa'ion for humanity and goodness of disposition.  WESTERN CI Rel 7 IT.—Bodarin, July 29. The Commission for holding the assizes for the county of Cornwall was opened here on Saturday evening by Mr. Justice Erle, but Mr. Baron Platt did not arrive till Sunday evening, he having been detained at Exeter by the trial of the pirates. The business, as regards criminals, is rather heavier than usual. There are charges of murder, arson, and sacrilege, and there are twenty prisoners for trial. The cause list for this county is very light, there being only five causes entered, and not one to be tried by a special jury. On Su. day morning, Mr. Justice Erie attended Di•ine service in the church, and on Monday morning the business commenced—Mr. Justice Erle presiding in the Crown Court, and Mr. Baron Platt sitting at Nisi Prins. The cases tried to-day have been of a most trifling description, the only one at all to be noticed is that of John Pascoe, who was indicted for assaulting, cutting, and beating John Cock, with intent to disable him, or to do him some grievous bodily harm. It appeared that on the night of the 12th of July, Pert, Cock, and Edwards, who were gamekeeperr in the service of Lady 11‘ssett, were out on the watch for poachers. About three o'clock in the morning they heard two guns fired; they then separated, and went in two different parties in the direction of the spot whence the reports had proceeded. On their arrival at a place called Dry-grounds, adjoining her ladyship's park, they saw the prisoner and a man named Trefoun with guns. As soon as the poachers saw them they walked towards the keepers pointing their guns at them. On coming up to them, finding the keepers did not give way they began beating them with their guns, and broke one of them upon the breast of one of the men. Trefoun picked up Pascoe's gun, which he had dropped, and fired at the keepers but missed them. Pert then fired his gun at Trefoun's legs, but the shot took effect much higher, arid he was seriously injured. A dead rabbit was found in the prisoner's pocket. For the defence it was urged that the men were out shooting rabbits on the sea shore, and they did not know that the other men were game-keepers. The Learned Judge having summed up, The jury acquitted the prisoner of the felony, bid. found him Guilty of a common assault, and he was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour.  OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Shrewsbury, .July 29.