The Sun. — 1844-01-01 (London, England)

WINTER ASSIZES.  NORTHERN CIRCUIT, Liverpool, Dec. 29. Nicholas Clark, late of Manchester, labourer, was arraigned upon an indictment charging him with the wilful murder of Catherine Rippingham, otherwise Catherine Clark, by striking and beating her with his hands, and kicking her with his feet. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr. Joseph Pollock conducted the prosecution. In answer to a question from his Lordship, the prisoner said he was a poor man, and could not afford to employ counsel, whereupon his Lordship said that Mr. James had kindly offered to undertake his defence. Mr. PoLLocK, in stating the case, said the -principal question for the jury would be, whether there was such reasonable and immediate provocation as would reduce the amount of the offence. After stating the circum stances of the case, and mentioning the fact, that for three years the deceased had lived with the prisoner, and was by some supposed to be his wife, the Learned Counsel called witnesses. The particulars of this case have been so recently given in our columns, in reference to the coroner's inquest, that it may suffice now to state that on the 12th ult. the prisoner and the deceased being in the house of a Mrs. Colvin, he called her out, and immediately afterwards she ran back into the house followed by the prisoner, who struck,her on the head with his hand, and kicked her on the neck and breast and left side. On receiving the kicks on her side, the deceased exclaimed she was killed. She was put to bed up stairs, and died that day week. The surgeon who was called in three days after the injury had been inflicted, was deceived by being told that the deceased had a cold, and was only informed that she had been hurt the night before she died. On the pest mortem examination, the surgeon found injuries to the spleen and liver ; either of which would cause death, and must have been produced by a violent blow, or kick, or external pressure. Mr. JAMES, fer the prisoner, contended there was no evidence of malice, to constitute the offence murder. His Lordship recapitulated the evidence, and the jury, after retiring for ten minutes, found the prisoner guilty of manslaughter. The prisoner was then sentenced to be transported for lire. The following priaoners were called up to receive their sentences :—Roger Horrocks, James Howarth, and Mary Ann Hulse, convicted of blurglary, were severally sentenced to be transported for ten years. Charles Booth, Charles Jones, Thomas Hale, James Bailey, mid Henry Mann, who had all pleaded guilty to the charge of burglary, were sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment, and bard labour. John Walker, convicted for highway robbery, to be imprisoned for twelve months to hard labour. William Slack, convicted of burglary, to be imprisoned for twelve months to hard labour. James Francis Bentley and George Allinson, who had both pleaded guilty to forgery, were sentenced to be transported for ten years. James Moss Smith, who had pleaded guilty to two indictments, one charging him with embezzlement, and the other with obtaining money by false pretences, was sentenced, for the first offence, to be imprisoned for ten calendar months, and kept to hard labour ; and for the false pretence, to be imprisoned for three months. James Newbold, convicted upon his own confession, of stealing in a dwelling-house, was sentenced to be imprisoned for eight calendar months, and kept to hard  labour. Owen Rooney, convicted of feloniously stabbing George Seymout, with intent to do him some grievous bodily harm, was sentenced to be transported for fifteen  years. John Sullivan, who had pleaded guilty to having fraudulently incited and procured another person to be guilty of the crime of forgery, was sentenced to be im• prisoued for two sears, and kept to hard labour.  (Before Mr. Justice