The Sun. — 1844-06-17 (London, England)

WILLIAMS.)SENTENCE UPON AUGUSTUS DALMA S. Mr. Christopher. Mealing, who had been an officer in At a few minutes after ten on Saturday the Judges entered her Majesty's Customs for nearly forty years, and was thq Court and took their seats upon the Bench, and Augustus on the eve of superannuation on his full salary, was paining, who was on Friday found guilty of the murder of brought before Mr. Henry for final examination, on a Sarah Eleanor M`Farlane, upon Battersea-bridge, on the night charge of stealing a head of tobacco, the value of which of Monday, 29th April, was brought up to receive judgment. did not exceed 6d., the property of the London Dock The unfortunate man appeared very self-possessed, although Company. the nervous working of the muscles of the mouth exhibited From the evidence of the different witnesses, it apthe strong agitation which he tried so SURR_eiessfully to subdue. peared that on Wednesday the prisoner, who was on On being asked the usual question what I . had to say why duty in the tea department of the London Docks, on 1 passing by a cask of leaf tobacco, which some men were sentence of death should not be passed against him, the pr along, took a he d f l b h. h sour, in a very firm tone of voice, said—" My Lords, God, 1 a o t eto acco, w ie pro-1 jetted from the end that had given way, and concealed the great Judge, before whom I must next apppear, knows that I am quite innocent. I was not with her (the deit behind him. had done, desired nci of the labourers perceiving what he ceased) on Battersea-bridge, nor in Duke-street, nor in the tehnperishcemer to give the tobacco back, beer-shop. I was not with her, nor near her, on the night and told him at thet when she was injured. lam now quite ready to receive my self for taking it, and the s h oul d be ashamed of himsentence."property was returned. .The The Learned Judge, Baron GURNEY, then put on the black circumstance coming to the ears of some of the dock tap, and in the most impressive manner said—" Augustus i officers, the prisoner was taken before the surveyor of Dalmas, you have been tried and found guilty of a most Customs and superintendent of the dock, and ordered by heinous offence, that of murder—and murder, too, of a per- 1 them to be sent before a magistrate. *en whom you have declared that you fervently loved. What ! When before examined, the prisoner said, in reply to were the motives which could have induced you to have the charges, that he had observed the tobacco falling committed such a crime is best known to your own con-1 from the cask, and he had merely taken it for preserva • science and to Almighty God. That you are a man of strong mind and passions, no one who has seen your self-command tion. and intended handing it to Mr. Dooley, a locker of in this Court can doubt. You have had a fair, patient, and impartial trial, and upon the evidence adduced, twelve . On Saturday, by the directions of Mr. Pelham,his soliCustoms. unPrejudiced men have rcturnedyouconvicted. Let me, there- citor, the prisoner declined. , saying anything, and was fore,mosteamestly implore you to apply to Him who can alone fully committed to take his trial forgive lyoulyourcrimes. .1 have no power, neither can I I hold you out anyhope,UNlON-