The Press. — 1855-08-18 (London, England)

THE CAUSE OF BOYLE Y. CARDINAL WISENAN came on for trial again, for the third time, at Croydon, on the Home Circuit, on Monday last. The circumstances connected with this case must be familial to our readers. The plaintiff is a Roman Catholic priest, and brought an action to recover damages from Cardinal Wiseman for having published a libel upon him in a French newspaper. The cause was originally tried at Guildford, before the Lord Chief Baron, and upon that occasion the plaintiff was nonsuited, he being at the time unable to prove the publication of the libel without calling the cardinal as a witness, and the Chief Baron ruled that he could not be examined. Upon this ruling, which the court above held to be wrong, a new trial was granted, which was tried by Mr. Baron Platt at the spring assizes this year at Kingston, and the jury upon this occasion returned a verdict for the plaintiff with 1,0001• damages. In consequence, however, of the judge having refused to admit in evidence a certain letter tendered on behalf of the defendant, this verdict was set aside, and a third trial ordered to be had, and the cause was set down for trial at these assizes. Soon after the case was called on upon this third occasion there was a short consultation between the counsel on both sides, and, to the apparent astonishment of the persons by whom the court was crowded, it was announced that the record in the action had been withdrawn, the parties having agreed upon terms. It transpired afterwards that the terms were, that the defendant is to pay 1001. towards the abortive trial at Guildford and the whole of the taxed costs of the trial at Kingston and the present action, and it was arranged between the counsel that no apology or retractation should be demanded or given. Thus has ended these proceedings. The costs to be paid, it is said, would amount to nearly 1,2001.  A SPECIAL SESSION was held at the, instance of Mr. Foster Owen, the high constable of Westminster, at the Sessions-house, for the purpose of hearing the cases of persons whose property had been damaged in the late Hyde-park disturbances, and who claimed compensation from the hundred. The magistrates present were Mr. Augustin Robinson (chairman), Mr. J. W. Thrupp, and Mr. Wm. Evans; and notices of claim had been received from many persons.  Mr. Curling's case was the first called, his claim being for ldt 75., the value of a plate•glass window which had been destroyed by the mob. The CHAIRMAN said they had only broken the windows, and ff they had been well thrashed it would have served them right, but there was no felony. The decision of the bench must be to refuse to make the order for compensation, and if Mr. Curling was dissatisfied he could appeal ; but he (the Chairman) thought it would not be worth his while, for the law was dead against him. Similar decisions were given in some of the other oases, and the business of the session terminated. Ix pursuance of the sentence of a court martial held at Kamiesch, Mr. James Wilkinson Elliott, a surgeon, late of the Royal Albert, has been com• mitted to the Devon County Gaol for two years, "for neglect of duty and unfeeling conduct." He was lauded at Plymouth last week, and thence conveyed to the gaol at Exeter to undergo his sentence. A RESPITE during her Majesty's pleasure has been received by the governor of Ruthin Gaol for Margaret Davies, convicted at the assizes last week of the wilful murder of her illegitimate child, by drowning it in a canal at Llangollen. THE SENTENCE OF DEATH passed upon Joseph Richards at the last Brecon Assizes, for murder, will be commuted to transportation for life. Evidence which, if it had been adduced at the trial, would probably have led to a verdict of manslaughter only, has, it is stated, been submitted to the consideration of Sir George Grey ; and, after conferring with Lord Campbell, before whom the case was tried, the Home Secretary is of opinion that the ends of justice will be sufficiently answered without the infliction of the extreme penalty of the law.