The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1844-08-27 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

CAGES. Thomas Dutton. 17, (could neither read nor write,) eight year'. of age. pleaded guilt! , having i'avibhed Jane Hyde, a girl of Thiantas Howard watt charged with having feloniously ravished Ann Clegg) tit Ashton-under-Lyne ; and Thomas Andrew nd'."" was cliatgf d with feloniously aiding and abetting him in committing the felony. Mr. Br.rx.dt conducted the prosecution, and Mr. MTHoPPared for the defence. Ibe jury acquitted both prisoners. John Cross, 23, (could neither read nor write,) was charged with having violated Susan Bamford on the 28th June. Mr. Wilkins appeared to prosecute, and Mr. Green to defend.  The prisoner was discharged. Robert Knight, (could read and write imperfectly,) was charged with having, at Reddish, feloniously ravished Alice Booth. Mr. Brandt conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Wilkins defended the prisoner. It appeared in evidence that the mother of the girl might have had the means of knowing the outrage which had been committed on her daughter, and that when she became acquainted with it, she did not for a week afterwards apply to have the prisoner apprehended. Under these circumstances, at the suggestion of the Learned Judge, Mr. Brandt declined to go further with the case. The prosecutrix, in giving her evidence, stated as the reason why she had not reposed confidence in her mother, and told her of what had happened, that she dreaded her severity. James Seal was indicted for a misdemeanour, in having assaulted Amelia Meanor, with intent to ravish her, on the 29th July, at Ashton-under-Lyne. The jury acquitted the prisoner. WOUNDING, WITH INTENT TO MURDER, tl/4E. John JoAnson, 32, (could neither read nor write,) was indicted for having, at North Meols, on the sth instant, maliciously cut, stabbed, and wounded Mary Johnson, his wife, with intent to murder, or do her grievous bodily harm. Mr. Monk appeared to prosecute. The prisoner was without counsel. It appeared that, on the day mentioned in the indictment, the prisoner, whilst under the excitement of liquor, quarrelled with his wife, and during the altercation took a knife from his pocket and attempted to stab her. She escaped from him, and ran into a house, where she remained for some time, and, on coming out, the prisoner again attacked her, and stabbed her on the lower part of the right thigh. The jury found the prisoner guilty of the offence, with intent to do grievous bodily harm.—Sentence deferred. John White, who bad been convicted on Tuesday of a burglary, and sentenced to seven years' transportation, was placed at the bar, when the learned JUDGE said, that at the time sentence was passed upon him, some doubt was expressed whether the term ought not to have been ten years. Upon consulting with his learned brother Judge, he was disposed to concur in that doubt. It would be necessary, therefore, for him to pass a sentence of ten years' transportation ; but he would make a representation with respect to the prisoner's case, and he hoped the original sentence would not be increased ; and if it should turn out that the Court had the power of passing a sentence of seven years, he should have the benefit of it. The Court rose at a quarter before seven o'clock.