The Sun. — 1859-12-17 (London, England)

ASSIZE I.NTELLIGEN;,E.'  NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—Youtc, Dec. 15. (Before. Mr. Justice Wightman.) Charles Nonnington, aged 18, was indicted for the wilful murder of Richard Broughton, at the borough of Leeds, on the 6th of August last. Mr. Blanshard, Mr. Middleton, and Mr. Austin appeared for the, prosecution ; and Mr. Campbell Footer and Mr. Bruce" defended the prisoner. Mr. Blanshard, in opening the case for- the Crown, stated that' on 'Saturday, the 6th of August, Mr. Richard B t'onghton,- who lived near Roundhay, left his home about 20 minutes before five o'clock in'the afternoon to go to' Leeds. He went along a footpath through. several fields. He wore a watch with a key attached. by a riband. He returned home about 6 o'cl .ak very badly wounded. and with his clothes dirty. He was washed and tended by his wife, and Mr. •Hey, the surgeon, was called in and attended him professionally. The alext day Mr. Broughton died. A post mortem examination was made by Mr. Hey, and injuries were found which had, no doubt, caused his death. It appeared that he had been attacked on the road, on. a footpath leading from Roundhay to Leeds, at a place which he subsequently pointed out. He was knocked down, stunned, and robbed of his watch and riband, and received the very severe injuries of which he died. His blood was. sprinkled on the hedge, and was found on the road in a pool. Portions of his hair were afterwards found lying about, and a few yards off a bludgeon was picked up, bloody, and with hair adhering to it. On recovering the poor man walked for some distance on his way to Leeds, but, finding how seriously he was hurt, he returned home to die. The prisoner was in Marsh-lane, at Leeds, at about eight o'clock on the morning of the 6th. Ho was then in company with another person. He left a shirt at Mrs. Whiteley's, and his companion left a bundle. The other man has not been identified, , but he came back for his bundle the same morning. Normanton returned for his shirt about six o'clock in the evening. He washed, put on his clean shirt over his dirty one, and went away. In the meantime he had been seen near the spot where the murder took place by several witnesses:. But the identification principally relied on was of another character. When Mr. Broughton returned home his watch was gone. After the prisoner returned to Leeds he. went to a person named Topham, a pawnbroker, and 'offered him a watch with a key attached by a riband, corresponding in description to Mr. Broughton':. He did not, hoWever, sell it there: Shortly afterwards some one who could not be sworn to pawned Mr. Broughton's watch at another pawnbroker's,. close by. That night the prisoner was shown to be possessed of a pawn ticket for a watch. Subsequently he found his way to Whitworth, near Castleford. At this place marks of blood were found upon him. And shortly after that time ho sold a pawnticket for Broughton's watch to Smales, a collier, from whom it was traced back, which led to the apprehension of the prisoner. • Mr. Sharper, of Leeds, proved the accuracy of the Various plans produced to assist the Court and jury to understand the frequent references to the locus in quo. Mr. English, chief constable of Leeds, produced a stout sick, a paWn ticket, and a watchamlkey, &c. Mr. C. l'ob,er requested this witness to produce the various bills that had been at times published, offering rewards for the apprehension of the prisone; and they were prodneed accordingly. • Mrs. Mary Broughton, widow of deceased, exan mined—My hr.shand left our houSe at Roundhay-fur! Leeds, Which ij three miles off, at. 20 minutes to 5.' kle•had his watch. Tie wore it in his trousers watchpbiodeek,eat n, d fastenedwith rot Turiiiimnnde cby n and akey o visible ttherou riband. This is my husband's watch. i hour. Ile Was covered with bloeodca. ifarinoem backh'ls head, ea and and his clothes were dirty, as if he I been the ground. 'His watch was gone, but he. had his broker., money. ; The long riband round his neck had been and part of it was left, Mr. Hey. came anhouroricen' and a half afterwards, and my husband died between 1 and 2 o'clock the next day, Sunday. Cross-examined by Mr. Foster—My husband was, a healthy, active; strong man for his age. Mr. Hey, surgeon, of Roundhay, near Leeds, examined-1 found deceased nearly insensible, incapable of giving rational answers. He had four or five wounds on the head, and had lost much blood. I saw him again next morning, and on Monday night I made a pest mortem examination. The skull