The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1879-01-31 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

TWENTY YEARS' PENAL SERVITUDE  FOR MANSLAUGHTER AT HULL.  Charles Artop, alias Bailey (20), labourer, was indicted, on Monday, at the Yorkshire Assizes, held at York, before Mr. Justice ;a-ea, for the wiltul 'murder of Mrs. Sarah Hannah France, at Hull, , on the 27th of October. Mr. Wheelhouse, Q.C., M.P., and Mr. Edge prosecuted. On being arraigned at the bar, the prisoner firmly pleaded not guilty.—His Lordship: Have you any counsel to defend you ?—Prisoner: No. my lord.—His Lordship: I have appointed a gentleman to defend you; are you willing that that gentleman shall do his best for you ?—Prisoner: Yes, my lord.— His Lordship: Then Mr. hleysey-Thomption will defend you. The deceased woman, Sarah Hannah France, was wife of Joseph France, a seafaring man, who occupied a cottage looking into a yard, in Windlass Buildings. Osborne street, Hull. The prisoner and a man named "Tommy' lodged with France. On the 22nd of October, Mr. France, who had been at sea was expected home by his wife. At seven o'clock in the evening a neighbour named Mary Elizabeth Morrell, went to the house and found Mrs. France and her lodgers peacefully taking tea together, and after some cenversation as to assistiog Mrs. France with some washing, Mrs. Morrell left. She, however, returned at half-1 est nine, and then found the prisoner and the deceased alone. The latter said "I should like you (Mrs. Morrell) to go with me to see if our Joe (her husband) has come up." She refused, but the request being lepeated she agreed to &coon-wally her. Mrs. France thereupon began to get ready to go out, when the prisoner, who bad gone outside the door, called to her, "No, you won't go: neither of you will go out of this house without! go with you." Mrs. France, however, pursued her preparation, and when she bad got her hat on went out into the yard in advance of Mrs. Morrell. There the prisoner pulled the hat of the deceased off, and threw it into the house, and then taking her by the shoulders also threw her in, and for a minute held the door. Whilst tidying her hair, the prisoner again called into the doorway to deceased, "You are not going —you promised I should go with you; if I don't go you shan't go;" to which the deceased replied, "I shan't allow , you to go with me." The prisoner thereat , appeared annoyed, and the deceased coming on to . the kitchen door step, the prisoner pushed by her , into the kitchen, end rushing to the fire-place , possess d himself of the tongs. Returning with 1 , these into the yard he deliberately struck the deceased a violent blow on the head and knocked her ; down. Mrs. Morrell cried "Police," and "Murder," and the prisoner promised her as much if she interfered. He then lifted up the head of the deceased, and dashed it to the ground, after which, still bolding the tongs by the feet, he delibel ately stiuck the deceased si number of blows on the head. Then throwing ids ruurderoue weapon from him he rushed from the scene, but in was appreheted. The deceased was found weltering in bkod, and she died five days after. In defence it was not denied that death was the result of the violence of the prisoner, but it was alleged that it aas inflicted in the beat of passion as a result of great provocation, and that, there. fore, the case might be reduced to one of manslaughter.  Some weeks ago, says the Time', the British Iron Trade Association memorialised the Belgian Minister of Finances or the repeal of the duty of 21d. per cwt, now levied on all English pig-iron entering Belgium. The Belgian Government have now addressed her Ma.