The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1878-04-12 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

GLAMORGAN ASSIZE.  The commission for this Assize was opened at Cardiff, on Monday. The two judges are Mr. Justice Mellor and Mr. Justice Lush. Mr. Justice Mellor arrived at Cardiff in the afternoon, and was conducted by the High Sheriff to the judges' lodgings. At four o'clock he proceeded to the Town-hall, where the commission was opened. He then attended Divine service at St. John's Church. The Hiet Sheriff's ordinary was held in the evening, at the Royal hotel, a very numerous 65thpany beinvpresent. The calendar *of prisoners is not a very heavy one, but the cause list is somewhat long, and it is expected that the Maize will extend int...part of next week. The business of the Olamorganshire Spring Assizes commenced on Tuesday morning at the Town-hall, Cardiff; Kr. JnStice  'presithug.  in the criminal court, and Mr. Justice Lu;h on thecivil side.  The grand jury was composed as under :—Mr. R. 0. Jones, foreman; and Messrs. G. T. Clark, llowel Gwyn, T.,Picton Turbervill, 11. F. L. Jenner, J. C. Nichol, E. Stockhill; J. 'W. Nicladll • Came, J. Bishop, T. W. Booker, Alderman Taylor (mayor of Cardiff), 3; T. Jetakin, J. R. Homfray, H. de B. Thomas, C. W. David, C. H. Williams, G. Crofts Williams, .1. S. Gibbon, G. M. Traherne, J. S. Corbett. H. J.. Evans, J. Lewis, and G. Phillips. In-charging the grand jury, Mr. Justice Mellor congratulated the Principality on- 136 fullan attend,. s.nce ef gentlemen ready to serve, a oircumstanee which he regarded as creditable not only to the county of Glamorgan, but. to-the _wholl_Principality of Wales, throughout which he had founct-the same' alacrity and readiness on the part of gentlemen whose occupations would lead them to other pursuits. The cases before them did not present any great enormity of crime he was happy to say, and there was an absence of crimes of violence not always observable in mining districts. His lordship proceeded to ,refer to the features of some of the chief cases. 'With regard to the two persons charged with the manslaughter of an old man by reckless driving at Rumney, if they identified the tvoo persons charged, they would have no difficulty in finding a bill, as the crime of manslaughter consisted of killing a man without premeditated violence. His lordship referred also to a case of perjury, and then alluded to the charge against Mr. Thomas, manager of the Tynewydd Colliery. It was not necessary for him to enter at length into the case. The defendant was tried on a coroner's inquisition at the last assizes, and the jury were discharged being unable to agree. He mentioned this ease which was in the calendar, though it appeared that no bill would be presented to the Hrand Jury. He should, therefore, do no more than allude to it. Witlrregard to the charge against four persons indicted for the wilful murder of an old man named Morgan Evans, at Kenfig- hill, on the 15th of February, he had directed both that a:bill for murder and one for manslaughter should be presented to them, so that if they did not thiak the• assault, was premeditated it would be open to them to return a bill for manslaughter. The judge then dismissed the • grand jury to their duties.