Alston Herald, and East Cumberland Advertiser. — 1880-02-28 (Alston, Cumbria, England)

MACLEAN.  CONVICTION OF PAINE. SENTENCE OF PENAL SERVITUDE.  Tbe trial of Lewis James Paine for the murder of Miss Maclean was resumed on Tuesday morning, at the Central Criminal Court, before Mr Justice Hawkins, who proceeded to sum up the case, The summing tip lasted for five hours, and was a successful attempt to resolve into a complete narrative the statements of the different witnesses. The judge did little more than to refer to the medical evidence, which he said the jury must carefully consider. As to the law of the case, it was plain. The jury had to ask themselves if the prisoner administered the alcohol to deceased with the criminal intention of shortening her life. If he did so, even with the intention of shortening her life by a single hour he would be guilty of murder ; but if they thought on the other hand, that he administered the spirits through reckless neglect and with no intention of shortening her life, then they mast find him guilty of manslaughter. The jury returned at half-past four o'clock to deliberate upon the verdict. Before they left the court they wished to be informed whether after the prisoner had obtained the deed ot gift he could have claimed possession of the property of the deceased without causing her death. Mr Justice Hawkins said it was a very difficult thing to answer such a question, because possibly, under tertain circumstances, the validity of the deed might have been disputed by the relatives of the deceased.  The jury then left the box. There-was the usual speculation in the crowded court as to what their finding would be, and the noise of a surging multitude outside could be heard by those within for the one hour and a quarter that the jury were absent. When at ten minutes to six o'clock the jurors began to file into their box there was a good deal of excitement, and a number of ladies behind the reporters' seats struggled hard to stifle their emotion. It was a great relief to everybody when the foreman, in answer to the Clerk of Arraigns, announced that the verdict was one of manslaughter, and not of murder. The prisoner, whose self-possession returned on hearing that he had been convicted under the minor count, then proceeded, in a slow and easy if not gentlemanly manner, to make a statement, which lasted over half an hour. At the outset he proclaimed his innocence, and his surprise at having been convicted of any crime, because for the fifteen years he had known the little lady he had attained the greatest affection for her. When she had thought she was enciente she accused a tall elderly gentleman whom he (prisoner) knew. He had simply lived with her to hide her apprehended shame. He had very little of her money, and although he had sinned he was not so guilty as people thought. 'Mr Justice Hawkins passed the sentence in a voice which slightly concealed the indignation Which he said he felt. The prisoner tad been guilty of a cruel and barbarous crime, and if he had been found guilty of murder he would have been hanged, and would have richly deserved it. He had libelled the deceased lady, and shown her no regard when friendless. Under the circumstances, he must undergo penal servitude for the rest of his natural life. The prisoner, who appeared to acutely feel every word that the J udge had uttered, wail then removed below.  On Sunday morning the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Durham preached in Sunderland Parish Church to a large congregation, on behalf of the Gray Schools.