The Sun. — 1862-03-11 (London, England)

CROWN COURT. (Before Mr. Justice Blackburn.) John Cummins, 19, a letter-carrier, pleaded guilty to an indictment, charging him with stealing a post letter containing money and postage stamps, at Woolborough. Mr. Poulden and Mr. H. P. Cole were counsel for the prosecution, and Mr. Holdsworth for the prisoner. Mr. Holdsworth said the prisoner most unadvisedly had pleaded guilty. The prisoner's father and other persons would state that the prisoner had always borne a good character. The learned Judge said it was useless in such a case to call witnesses to character, as a person could n9t be in the Post-office unless he had borne a previous good character. Calling the father was merely giving unnecessary pain. These cases were so serious that it was absolutely requisite to visit them with a severe punishment. The sentence would be four years' penal servitude. Caroline Binmore, 14, was indicted for administering poison to her mother with intent to murder her on the 18th of January, at Torquay. Mr. Carter prosecuted. The prisoner was undo fended.  It appeared that on the evening of Jan. 18 the mother was going out, when the prisoner said to her " Mother, you'll have a cup of tea before you go ?" The mother said she could drink one. The prisoner then said, "Mother, I've poured it out, why don't you drink it while it's hot P" The mother then took some of it in her mouth, and found it had a bad taste to it, and therefore she did not drink it. The mother had threatened to beat her if she had told her an untruth, and she was then going out to inquire about it when the girl offered to give her a cup of tea. The mother kept some sugar of lead in a cupboard. The mother then went to make the inquiries, and ascertained that the girl had told her a falsehood. The cup of tea was then sent for ; it appeared to have a sediment ; it was taken to a chemist who tested it and found it to contain a drachm of sugar of lead. Half a drachm was enough to destroy life. The druggist was asked by the prisoner how much sugar of lead he sold for a penny. Witness—Half au ounce. Prisoner—Because that was the quantity mother had at first.  The Prisoner was then taken into custody, and was charged with having put poison in her mother's tea. She at first made no reply, but afterwards she said what she put in the tea was sugar of lead, which her mother kept to wash her leg with ; that she kept it in the cupboard, and it served her right, as she had no business to leave her old messes about. There was no label on the bottle. The wretched girl was undefended, and appeared to be without a friend to advise or assist her. She at first pleaded guilty, and it was not until the question was put to her in plain language whether she intended to kill her mother that, she said not guilty. The farce was gone through of asking her  whether she had any questions to ask the witnesses and whether she wished to address the jury it her defence. Of course, the result was that she looked about with surprise, but did not say anything. Mr. Justice Blackburn summed up the case. The only doubt was whether the prisoner was aware of the dangerous consequences of such an act. Verdict—Guilty with intent to do grievous .bodily harm The learned Judge then senteneed the prisoner to six weeks' imprisonment, and then to be sent to a reformatory school for five years.  YZHOME CIRCUIT, CIIELMSORD, March 10. 'Chief Justice Erle opened the commission here. The calendar is far heavier than at Hertford, and includes some very serious cases. There are 2 cases of child murder, 11 of arson, 4 of burglary, 1 of stabbing, 1 of assault and robbery with violence; 1 (against several men) of robbery from the person, and 1 (also against several men) for a serious assault on the police. Added to these are the usual number of minor charges. There are alto. gether above 40 prisoners for trial. The Chief Justice will sit here in the Crown Court.  Mr. Justice Wightman will preside in the Civil Court. There are 14 causes already entered for trial (several of which are special jury cases), and there may be more entered between this evening and to-morrow morning. It is probable, therefore, that both judges will have enough to do, and that the assizes will fully last the week, which is allowed for this place.