The Glasgow Chronicle. — 1850-07-31 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

EXCULPATORY EVIDENCE. Rev. John Macneely, minister of the Presbyterian church, Ballymacassett, was then called by Mr. Crawford, to prove that Benison was married an Epsicopalian. May Robertson—l live with my mother in Leith Walk. My sister Margaret was in the habit of going to Methodist meetings, and she had a leaning in that direction before she knew Benison. When he came to the family, it was always religious conversation that was engaged in. By the Solicitor-General—My sister became acquainted with Benison about six or seven weeks before Mrs. Benieons death.  _ Margaret Robertson was then called and examined—l live with my mother in Leith Walk. I first became acquainted with Benison in the month of March, but I had a leaning towards Methodism long before that time. When I went to chapel, I latterly went to his seat, but not on his account. I knew Benison was a married man, and there was no courtship between us. I never walked with him for any other purpose but to go to chapel or meeting. I have gone to Benison's house to drink tea, but only by invitation of his wife. I had another sweetheart at that time. It has given me great pain to have it said that there was any flirting between me and the prisoner; and I say on my oath that there never was any courtship between us. By the Solicitor-General—Nobody ever said anything to me about Benison being too much about me till after the death of his wife; but I myself began to think he did so, although I could not find courage to tell him. My mother might have told me the same during Mrs, Benison's lifetime. Alex. Murray, Stead's Place, said he had seen rats about the premises, and caught eleven of them on one occasion in the coal bunker. lie saw one on Wednesday night last. He killed one six months ago, and about one month ego he killed another. This closed the case. The Solicitor-General then addressed the Jury. Mr. Crawford then addressed the Jury for the defence. The Jury', after an absence of less than 20 minutes, returned with the following verdict : " The Jury unanimously find the prisoner guilty of both charges as libelled." The prisoner showed no emotion at the result of the trial, and remarked to the officer bes:de him, in an independent tone, "Is it of both the charges." The Lord Justice-Clerk, in dismissing the Jury, said-If it is anysatisfaction to you,l may state that the opinion of the Court concurs with the verdict you have returned. It has been my fortune to sit on many trials of men tried for their lives for serious offences and crimes, but I have scarcely seen any one in which deeper criminality was involved than it was in the case we have now to pronounce the sentence which law appoints for such offences; it must be, that the prisonar at the bar suffer the last penalty of' the law on 16th August next. Lord Ivory concurred. The Lord Justice-Clerk having put on the black cap, ordained the prisoner to be removed from the bar to the prison of Edinburgh, to be detained there till Friday, August 16th, when he is to be taken from prison to the place of common execution, and is to be hung there, and his Lordship added, with solemnity, "May God have mercy on your soul." After the announcement of the verdict, the Court was pervaded with the deepest stillness ; and every eye was directed to the unhappy man in the dock. He maintained his composure though his cheeks displayed an icy paleness, and signified his desire to address a word to the Court. He spoke in a disconnected manner, but, as near as we could catch it, the following is what he said : " My Lord, I can say solemnly, before God and before all men, that of the murder of my second wife I am innocent. If the witnesses had spoke the truth—and I could well mention their names—if they had spoke the truth of all that passed both at the time of my wife's sickness and death, I would not be a guilty man before you, my Lords, to-day. But here I can stand and say, I am innocent before God; and I pray God that those that came to declare anything but the truth against William Benison may have peace to their conscience and soul." The prisoner was then removed, and the Court shortly afterwards adjourned.