The Sun. — 1846-07-23 (London, England)

MIIRDER.—James French, aged 35, was indicted for the wilful murder of John Steers, at Lyn,. Regis, on the 9th inst. The facts of the case were extremely simple. It appeared that on the night of the Bth July the prisoner and the decea.-ied (who was 93 years of age) slept in the same room at a lodging-house in Lyme Regis. Two of the children of the Lndlord were also sleeping in the same chamber. About half-past twelve o'clock the people of the house were alarmed by cries of " tire," " murder," &c Jackson, the landlord, entered the room occupied by the prisoner, who tamedtately jumped out of bed and com,ceneed attacking the deceased violently with his fists. lie was ill a state of nudity at the time, and whilst he w4s ‘• beating and thumping the old man in every pos,ible manner," (he prisoner)cried out "murder," " tire," us loud as he could call. Jackson endeavoured to remove the prisoner, who instantly gave him a violent blow which knocked him down stairs. At length a man named Hodderinterfered and the prisoner was taken away from the bedside of the deceased. The prisoner then said, " It's a mistake, it's a mistake; it is not the man I thought it was. I  hope I have not hurt him." The prisnner was then taken into custody, and as he was going down stairs he asked for a glass of water, which, however, was denied him, and he said, "You can't refuse um a glass or. water!" About eight o'clock in the morning a surge( i was sent for, and the deceased lingered until four o'iieell: in the 'afternoon, when he died. In the course of the same evening the constable who apprel.ended him asked him " How he could think of b.etting a poor old man in that way?" and he replied that there were a number of pe: sons round him, and he thieight they were going: to murder him. " Some of them," continued the p, bolner, " were dressed like warriors, with moust.ehies, and carrying swords in their Ends. I wasn't going to be murdered, and so I took my own part." It appeared, moreover, that the constable asked him if he had any quarrel with the old man, and he said, "No; I never: had an angry word with him." The constable stated ie evidence that he believed the prisoner had been deranged, .6 inure or less," fur the last ten years. Some years thefor ill-treating. prisoner was charged before the magistrates and it then became a qireytion whether ho ouaht to be imprisoned or sent to a. lunatic as)lurn. Mr. nirden, a surgeon at LyiLe, preyed that he made a post-rnurrem examination of tie b 0.• ) r . . 0 the deceased. and that h:, found the brain was eh,rged with extrava B:ited blood. lii his opinion, the a deceased died of eonghe. td of the brain, arising f which were very severe, the h roin external injuries, d and face of the de. ceased being covered with bruises. He had known the prisener for some titne, and, according to his judgment, Lie aim riot in pessess. Mr. KAIIIILAKE a d:lres°r 1 of his senses.sed the jury for the prisoner, and stated th,t he was prepared to call several witnesses, .vho woi,ll prove that the u:. ,ertunate man was labouring uad all in. her,dit - - . ,anity. Y tr. n —awn PLATT said it appeared to him to be quite unn, cessary to call any witnesses to prove that the man was insane, as the evidence already gi,en led to the conviction that he could not at the time have been in such a state as to render him responsible for his arts. Mr. Duke, governor of the county gaol, informed the Court that last eight t'•e prisoner was :wain in a very ur:ous -tan', and th,a he attempt, d ti, "tea, ue" the iron •iteistetil in his c• 11. saying tt at he was beset b, pc. -pie .:he want., d io •-• ui il r tern. The jury eeteedi i I return. d a v:e.dic . of Not Guilty, on the ground of insanity. The Learned JUDGE ordered the-prisoner to be con • fined in the gaol during her Majesty's pleasure.