The Sun. — 1827-08-25 (London, England)

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.-WARWICK, Au'. 23.  William Timpson stood charged, on the Coroner's inquisition, with the wilful murder of Sarah Timpson, in the parish of Birmingham, on the 6th of October, 1826.  The prisoner, a powerful man, 34 years of age, was brought into Court in a strait waistcoat, by five men, who were scarcely able to hold him at the bar, so violent were his paroxysms of madness. Upon the testimony of Mr. Birch, the surgeon who attends Warwick gaol, and who described the prisoner as  being insane ever since his commitment, the Jury teterned a verdict to that effect; and the prisoner was ordered to be taken care of until his MajestY'S pleasure respecting his future disposal should be known:  The deceased, we understand, had been the prisoner's housekeeper. Having nearly severed her head from her body with a case-knife, he went to an officer and gave himself up, saying, he had committed murder, and wished to suffer for it.  Thomas Goodwin was indicted for assaulting Jane Lee on the 28th of July last, in the parish of Aston, and forcibly and feloniously taking from her person two sixpences. _ _  The prosecutrix stated that she was a married woman. At about half-past seven o'clock on the evening of the above day, as she was getting over a stile, when passing through a farm, the prisoner accosted her from the other side, saying, " Ah, now I have you." The prosecutrix asked him what he wanted, and he replied, " I must have a kiss." She told him he should not, and gave him a smack in the face; upon which he took hold of her, and she told him to have done, as he might find plenty of girls who would be willing, and need not force a woman against her will. He persisted in attempting to assault her until she drew a sixpence from her pocket, and gave it to him to let her alone. At this time she was in fear of her life, as he was pulling her clothes up, and held an open knife to her breast. As he still seemed disposed to persist in his purpose she gave him another sixpence to permit her to go away, which she was at length, and after much abuse, allowed to do. She afterwards met a girl whom she asked if there were any men near who would take up a man that had ill used her. Having found the owner of the farm, the latter went back with her, and they discovered the prisoner lying on his face in the ditch near the stile. He was sleeping, but did not appear drunk. This part of her testimony was corroborated by that of the farmer. The Jury immediately returned a verdict of Guilty. The prisoner was also indicted for assaulting the prosecutrix, with intent to violate her person; but he was not tried on this indictment.  h This prisoner, Thomas. Goodwin; John Renshaw, convicted of a rape upon Caroline Smith, at Birmingham; Thomas Hudson, convicted of stabbing Thomas Stych; and James Smith, and Benjamin Budworth, convicted of stealing 120/. from the person of James Lloyd, were then placed at the bar to receive judgment. The Learned JUDGE addressed them severally on the heinousness of their respective crimes. He told 'Renshaw, that were it not for the strong recommendation of the jury, in consequence of some discrepancies in the evidence for the prosecution, the sentence of the law would have been suffered to take its course in his case, as it would also in the case of Hudson, had he been convicted on the count charging an intent to murder. Goodwin had stopped short of the completion of an offence, for which, had he perpetrated it, he certainly would have paid the penalty of his life; and Budworth and Smith had not been guilty of violence, although they had committed a serious robbery. Under all the circumstances of these cases, his Lordship would recommend it to his Majesty that their lives be spared; but they must expect to leave this country for the rest of their lives.  Joseph Williamson, and thirteen other defendants, pleaded Guilty to an indictment for a riot at the last election for Coventry, and entered into their own recognizances to keep the peace for two years.  FRI CiiS OF d. to d.