The Sun. — 1844-08-15 (London, England)

GUST 15, 1844.  Boners in his Court. The consequence is that the whole of the business is disposdd 6f to-day ; though, to effect this, the Courts sat to a late hour. In the course of a trial of two men, before Mr. Justice Patteson, for stealing some potatoes, a sack, and a pot, a girl, 14 years of age, was tendered as a witness in behalf of the prisoners. She was objected to on the part of the prosecution, as not understanding the nature of an oath. On this the Learned Judge proceeded to question her. She stated in answer to these queries, that she lived at Chenstock, which is a parish between this place and Bristol. She had never been to school. Had not learned to read or write. Had never been in chapel or church, or received the least religious education beyond this, that she had sometimes said her prayers to her mother. But sho did not know where those went who told lies and perjured themsslves. Knew nothing about heaven or hell, and had never heard there was a God. Of course her evidence was rejected. The Learned JUDGE, in summing up the case to the jury, said it was truly awful to find that, in a country like this, and in a part of it where there were, comparatively speaking, but few inhabitants, a girl of the witness's description should be so neglected as to be obliged to confess that she bad never heard of a God Thomas Hill and William Ash were indicted for having been, with two others, found armed on the preserves of a Mr. Popham, in this county, for the purpose of unlawfully taking game.  Mr. Carrow conducted the prosecution ; Mr. Edwards defended the prisoners. Before the trial of the case Mr. EDWARDS took this objection to the indictment:—The indictment stared, in the language of the statute under which they wereindicted, that the prisoners were on the lands of Mr. Pupham for the purpose of taking game, without saying that their purpose was to take game there. He contended that the indictment was bad, as, if this was an offence against the statute, then three gentlemen who might be going to their own preserves for the purpose of taking game, if it were by night, if to get there they trespassed on any other person's land, would be amenable to the very penal enactments of this statute. Mr. C tRROW contended that from the words of the statute it was clear this would be so. The Learned JuDaE, after consulting with Mr. Justice Patteson, said that he should decide against the objection, as the prisoners could then bring a writ of error and try the point, which was a new one, in the Court above. The trial, therefore, proceeded. It appeared by the evidence that the prisoners and two others had been watched by Mr. Popham's gamekeeper from a beer-house to one of his preserves, into a field adjoining, which they were seen to enter, after having tried several other fields. A gun was then heard, and the. keepers rushed forward to secure them, but they managed to make their escape. The next morning, on searching the spot near to which they were standing when the gun was fired, pheasant's feathers were found scattered about the ground, as if a bird had been killed there. The two other persons were taken up that day, and had been tried last circuit, at Taunton, but the prisoners absconded, and were not met with till May. Mr. EDWARDS addressed the jury for the prisoners. The Learned JUDGE summed up, telling the jury that there were two questions for them to determine—first, the identity of the prisoners with the party who had been seen in the preserve, and next, that they were there for the purpose of taking game. The identity of the party was clearly proved ; and what object could men have in a preserve at eleven o'clock at night but to take game ?  The jury, after a few minutes' consultation, returned .heir verdict, Not Guilty. The Learned Judges will proceed to-morrow morning ,o open the commission at Devizes.  .tf✓o R THE RN CI RC Ul T.—Lancaster, Aug. 12. The assizes for the northern division of the county of Lancaster commenced here this morning. Their Lordships sat fur the dispatch of business at tea o'clock. Mr. Justice Cresswell sat on the civil side, and the Chief Baron on the criminal. There are 15 causes entered for trial. The calendar contains the names of 19 prisoners, of whom 1 stands charged with murder, 1 with rape, 2 with manslaughter, 3 with burglary, 1 with feloniously shooting, and 1 with bigamy. (Before the