The Sun. — 1866-06-11 (London, England)

BOROUGH HOP.  The accounts from the plantations being unfavourable, the hop trade is firm, and prices have improved. Last week's imports into London were 28 bales from Rotterdam, and 56 bales from Antwerp. Mid and East Keats Bos b 190 s per cwt Weald of Kents Bos to 120 s per cwt Sussex Bos to 112 s per cwt  80s to 126 s Per cwt Olds :s 20s to 503 per cwt —1  The calendar contains 111 cases for trial, and amongst the offences charged there are 7 for murder, manslaughter 4, burglary 16, forgery 4, wounding with intent to murder 8, the rest being of the orderly description. The Recorder, in addressing the Grand Jury, said he regretted that the offences which would be brought before them in the discharge of their duty would be of a more than usually serious nature, as there were no less than seven charges of murder and four of manslaughter. Amongst the first mentioned there was the case of William Smith, who stood charged with the wilful murder of Sarah Masora, a person who, prior to her decease, occupied the position of housekeeper to the Messrs. Bevington, wholesale leather dealers, No. 2, Cannon-street, West. The circumstances of the easy aie'sothewhat peculiar, and in order to arrive at a result they would have to be taken into consideration, aad judged of as to whether sufficient to bring home the capital charge to the prisoner. The unfortunate woman, it would be found, met with her death very shortly after 9 o'clock in the evening, when a ring was heard at the Street door bell, and the deceased went to answer it ; and remaining away from her apartment a longer time than was usual, her fellow-servant went to ascertain the cause of her absence, and then discovered the unfortunate woman lying dead at the foot of the stairs. The learned judge then went through the circumstances of the case which led to the apprehension of the prisoner, who was a person residing at Elm, and from a letter that was discovered amongst the papers of the deceased, it was supposed that he was the person who had the interview with the woman on tho night of the murder. There were other circumstances which increased the suspicion against the prisoner, as ono of the witnesses deposed to the fact that he had said to a person in Eton, on the evening of the murder, and in time to enable him to carry out his intention, that he had forty miles to go before 11 o'clock. It also was shown in evidence that the prisoner was seen proceeding from Eton after this, so that it was probable that he was carrying out his assertion about travelling the forty miles. The next important piece of evidence was that of a person who lived next door to the Messrs. Bevington's warehouse, who, being in the street, had her attention called to Bevington's premises by the slamming of their street-door at 10 minutes after 10 o'clock on the night of the murder, and to seeing a person walk off at a very rapid pace. Subsequently the witness picked out the prisoner from amongst a great many others, and positively identified him as the man she had seen in Cannon-street on the night of the murder. If the grand jury entertained any doubt on the evidence it would be better for them to throw out the bill ; the more particularly as the prisoner could be brought up again if additional evidence should at any future time be discovered against him, which could not be the case supposing he stood his trial and was acquitted, as no man, by the law of I♦.ngland, could be placed twice in peril for the same offence. The next indictment adverted to was the case of Stephens, charged with the murder of his wife at Edmonton. The prisoner in this instance admitted the charge, stating it was caused through jealousy, so there would be no difficulty in the case. There were two females, named Pratt and Bennett, charged with child murder, and hero the question in each case would be whether the children had boon born alive, and whether the death had been caused by vio!ence. The cases of manslaughter arose from the carelessness of those driving vehicles through the metropolis ; and with respect to the other charges they were of such a nature that no difficulty could be met with in their disposal. Tho grand jury then returned to their room, and tho trials in a short time commenced, the first case being devoid of interest.