The Sun. — 1828-08-05 (London, England)

AUGUST 1.  This day the Court sat at a little after nine o'clock. As it was knows that a case of murder of an aggravated kind was to come on the first thing to-day, an unusual number rushed into Court upon its being opened. The prisoner, Thomas Prendergast, a feeble, emaciated old man, 70 years of age, was then put to the bar, and the Clerk of the Crown read the indictment, charging him with striking Margaret Lyons on the 4th of last April with a hatchet on the head, wilfully and with malice prepense, of which she died.  Pat Lyons, examined by Counsellor O'DwYER—Is a cobbler, and lives in Doyle's-entry, Nicholas-street. Was accompanied out with a daughter of his on the 4th April. Mary Lyons was his daughter. Knows Ansty Harne. In consequence of what she told him, he returned home about half-past eight o'clock. Found his daughter lying there in a gore of blood, and cut in the skull. Went for the Priest and Dr. Kenny. She was not able to speak then. She did not speak of dying. Lived four months after. He left money behind him to the amount of 101. 7s. Gd. in his box. Box and room locked. Both locks were broken and money gone. Knew prisoner. Saw him that day. Held no hopes or threats to him. William Smith, a prisoner in the City gaol, examined— Knows Prendergast, and knew him in prison. A voluntary conversation occurred between them in the kitchen. Priioner asked him could be (witness) write, and would be write to his son for him. He told him to write to his son that he had money to employ a Counsellor at the Assizes, buried in a field at the Manor, near the waterfall, Si. 108., in one lot in small silver, and half-crtlwns in another, buried, as he said, lest his wife would get at it. Witness said to prisoner, " You must be guilty ?" " Yes," said prisoner to him, " it is the rascally cobbler's money." He said he pushed the girl and left her there. He told witness the bushes were for an excuse, that people would net suspect him ; he also told witness that that he opened the box with a hatchet, and that he struck the girl one I blow with his fist.  The case here closed, after which his Lordship briefly recapitulated the evidence, and dismissed the Jury, who returned in about ten minutes with a verdict of Guilty. The JUDGE then proceeded to pronounce the sentence of the law—that the prisoner should be hanged on Monday, and after his body should be cut down, that it should be dissected and anatomised.  The helpless and wretched old man was obliged to be carried out of the dock.  The three unfortunate men, Marks, Ryan, and Condon, also received sentence of death.  Despatches were received at the Foreign Office, Downing-street, yesterday, from Mr. VAUGHAN, our Minister to the iTt6ted States, also from Sir CH A RLYS BAGOT, our Ambassador to the Netherlands.  Mr. `AIL MOT HORTON left town yesterday for Brighton. The Right Hon. Gentleman was expected to leave Brighton yesterday for Dieppe, and from thence proceed to Switzerland, to join Mrs. NORTON and family. Part of the furniture of the Duke of WELLINGTON'S residence in Piccadilly was begun to be removed yesterday to the house in Downing.street belonging to his Grace as First Lord of the Treasury, which his Grace, it is expected, will occupy during the time that Apsley-house is undergoing repair.  His Royal Highness the Duke of SUSSEX, it is expected, will honour the Marquis of CLEVELAND, and Mr. RUSSELL, the Member for Durham, with a visit, in the month of September. Preparations, in fact, are already making, both at Raby Castle and Rrancepeth Castle, to receive the illusttieus visitor.  The late Speech of the Lords Commissioners is said to have been the entire composition of Mr.