The Express. — 1853-08-19 (London, England)

SAILOR.  Satan Campbell was indicted for the wilful murder of Wm. Goodfen, at Liverpool, on the 12th July. Mr. Blair appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Tindal Atkinson undertook the prisoner's defence, at the request of his lordship. The prisoner upon being called upon to plead, said, I cannot plead guilty, my lord, when I don't remember it."  The circumstances of the case were as follows :—On the evening of the 12th July, the deceased, with two ether sailors, and s female, went into the Pall-mall vaults, when they had each a glass of ale. They were perfectly sober. In about twenty minutes after, the prisoner, who had been drinking, came in and said something to Ooodfen who told her that she was not wanted there. She made use of some vituperative expression, upon which Ooodfen gave her a slight back-hand slap on the face. She then sat down. In a abort time the sailors went out of the house, and presently a female shriek was heard, and Goodfen came rushing into the vault, his neck streaming with blood. He was immediately taken to a druggist's shop, and from thence to the Northern Hospital, where he lingered for several days, and then died. The principal witness for the prosecution was a female named Ann M'Orath who lived in Pall-mall-court,who stated that about 11 o'clock on the morning of the 12th July she saw the prisoner, who wee in liquor. The prisoner had a knife in her hand, and swore she would take somebody's life before night. On the same evening witness, with Goodlen and two other sailors, went into Taylor's, the Pall-mall Vault. The prisoner came in and asked Ooodten to treat her. He declined to do so, and then she said, with an oath, I'ay me what you owe me." lie said, "My good woman, I owe you nothing; I don't know you." He gave her • slight tip on the cheek. She sat down, and, putting her hand into her pocket, said, " Is not that sweet ?" three times over. The sailors and witness bade Mr. Taylor good night and went out of the place. The prisoner followed them up the street, and reaching over witness's right shoulder, made an attempt to stab Ooodfen. She was asked to go away. Upon which she came up again, and striking Gloodfen with the knife en the side of the neck, said "Take that." ()oodles staggered against witness, who screamed out " Murder!" The prisoner ran off. Oa cross-examination by Mr. Atkinson, the witness said she lived in a brothel, nest door to the prisoner. William Gray, Police-constable 645, who was called to the spot, proved that he found Ooodfen bleeding in the street. He afterwards took the prisoner into custody. She said if she had stabbed him she had done it with her fingers, and she did not eare:how soon she left Liverpool. Witness afterwards got • knife from a lad named Morris. Wm. Handsome, another constable, proved that he took Ooodfen in • cab to the hospital. Wm. Morris, • lad living in Bonny-place, proved that he found • knife with bloat upon it, on the morning of the 13th July. Ann Edwards, of No. 4 Court, Pall-mall, with whom the prisoner lodged, said that the knife produced belonged to some sailors. She had never seen it in the prisoner's possession. Cross,examined—She had been drinking all the morning, and was in bed at the afternoon.  Mr. W. B. Wall, the house surgeon at the Northern Hospital, said that Goodfen was brought to the Hospital about 11 o'clock, on the night of the 12th July. He had been stabbed in the carotid artery, and was in a state of collapse. He gradually sank, and died on the 16th. Mr. Atkinson addressed the jury on behalf of the prisoner, contending,that, from the facts which had been proved, the prisoner was not guilty of murder, but guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter. His Lordship briefly went over the evidence, explaining the law as applicable to casts of murder and manslaughter. The Jury retired, and after an absence of about twenty minutes, returned a verdict of " Guilty of Manslaughter.' His Lordship, after an impressive address, sentenced the prisoner to twenty years' transportation.