The Sun. — 1856-12-05 (London, England)

NORTHERN CIRCUIT. - NEWCASTLE•I72ON-TYNE,  DEC. 3.  (Before Mr. Justice Ede.)  Michael Cawthorn was charged with the wilful murder of Mark Cunningham, at Hexham, on the 25th Sept. last. Mr. Price and Mr. Liddell were for the prosecution, and Mr. Davidson for the prisoner. It appeared that the prisoner and the deceased were both hawkers, and for a week before the death of Cunningham had been lodging together and sleeping in the same bed. On the night in question the prisoner was in the Sun publichouse at Hexham, somewhat besotted with drink, having been in and out of the house drinking all the day and for five days previously. The deceased and one Gordon came into the house both tipsy. Deceased said that they had just been turned out of a public-house, by the police, when the prisoner said, " Then you have been in worse company than I have ;" and a quarrel ensued, in the coarse of which Cunningham said if the prisoner would come out he would give him what he wanted, either in light or dark. Cunningham " clicked" Cawthorn, by the shirt breast and pulled it open, whereupon the prisoner said people would say he had been in bad company. Gordon and the prisoner played at dominoes for ale, which the latter lest, and on his calling for the ale the 'landlady refused to supply any, as he was without money. However, on their giving up the dominoes and promising to go home she let them have the ale. Prisoner asked the deceased if he wanted to use him badly, to which the landlady replied that nobody would use him (the prisoner) badly if he would only go home, and she asked the deceased and the man Gordon to let the prisoner pass, and got one George Dodds who was in the house to help Cawthorn lest he should be ill-used. ' About half an hour afterwards the deceased went out to his and the prisoner's lodgings, and onCunningham's going there the prisoner produced a knife and said the police had told him to defend himself with it. The deceased told the prisoner he was no man or he would get up and put down the knife, and see what he could do bare-handed, s,s,A thereupon struck the prisoner on the face with his open hand, and immediately the prisoner stabbed the de ,ceased who cried, "Oh ! my belly." There were wortneae on the arm and the back, and in a few days afterware„ Cunningham died.  Mr. Davison in his defence contended t:„ case was one of manslaughter, and not one of murder; the knife had not been used deliberately, but im s r_uoment of passion. The jury found the prisoner gui:ty of manslaughter, and His Lordship sentenced him, to be transported for 15 years. •  William Fleming, wb o was last night found guilty of manslaughter, was sent Ancod to four years' penal servitude. William Lawson w as charged with the manslaughter of James Oliver, at Ne wcastle, on the 18th of October. The Hon. A. LVldell and Mr. Greenhow appeared for the prosecution ; and Mr. Dav Eon defended the prisoner. The deceased,, a pitman, on the night in question was drinking at a -oblic-house in the cloth-market with some other pitmen. ; they were all talking about a coursing match, wlren a dispute arose between two of the men called Ha .cle and Liddell, in the course of which the prisoner in.ceritered. He was told to remain quiet, and on interfering a second time the deceased, Oliver, stretched across the table and struck him, knocking off his hat. The prisoner then sprang up and knocked Oliver down, and it was a Ileged that after the deceased was down the prisoner j unwed on Oliver, producing an internal rupture, of which he died. Witnesses were called for the defence, who deposed to both men jumping on the table, and to it having broken down, and, in the course of the scuffle, that Oliver met with injuries, which, it was suggested for the defence, caused his death. It was positively sworn to by witnesses, who stated they were present the whole of the time, that the prisoner did not jump on the deceased as deposed to by the witnesses for the prosecution. The jury at once found a verdict of not guilty. (Before Mr. Fussell Gurney, Q.C.)  Anne Gannon, was charged with the murder of her infant, at Berwick, on the 27th of August. Mr. Robinson Fowler was for the prosecution. ....  The prisoner on the 29th of August denied having had a child, but on a surgeon being sent for she admitted she hate