The Sun. — 1844-12-09 (London, England)

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—York, Dec. 6. (Before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE ) John 111‘Cann was to-day put upon his trial, charged with the wilful murder of Benjamin Gott. Another count in the indictment charged him with manslaughter. This case must be even yet fresh in the recollection of our readers, as it created at the time of its occurrence considerable excitement. Five other persons, named Rogan, O'Brien, Donovan, Quin, and Power, who had been concerned in the matter, were triad at the last assizes, and were convicted of manslaughter ; but in consequence of some legal objections being raised to the form of the indictment, judgment was_respited, and these persons are still in custody. M‘Cann at that period was not apprehended. Mr. Bliss and Mr. Overend were for the prosecution, and the prisoner was defended by Mr. Wilkins. The facts of the case were briefly narrated by Mr. Bliss, and were as follows :—On Whit-Monday last, the 27th of May, there had been a procession of Orange lodges. On that occasion two bands were engaged, one of which was called the Idle and Calverley band, and of that band Gott (the deceased) was a musician. As they I% ere passing through the town of Bradford, the band playing certain tunes, and amongst others " the Boyne Water," which gave great dissatisfaction to the Irish population of the neighbourhood, who fancied also that a still more offensive tune, called "Croppies, lie down," had been played. When the procession was over, and the musicians were returning home in a straggling manner, a number of Irishmen were seen coming behind them, having sticks and other weapons in their hands, and making use of threatening language. The Irishmen commenced as attack, and the first thing they did was to knock down the man who who was playing the drum. They then fell on Gott, and from the violence that was employed his death resulted. On a past mortem examination the deceased's skull was found to have been most severely fractured, and death was attributed to that cause. Amongst the people in the crowd was the prisoner, and he took an active part in the proceedings. Thomas Thornton, the first witness, was undergoing examination, when Mr. WiLictsis said, he thought it would be idle for him tfait oon, rfaaote attempthe Justice rhnttg hoiaese crmo, oom bat the minor charge against the prisoner. He had read the depositions over twenty times, ofc momor. LdfaetsnahtßnshilispeaD gefxpihrreeteresbumirrms.iitesisfisnt aiygennic,te.ws sh Het owpolue ladd, guilty thereaddressed alluded theto n jury,the commencement of this report, and recommending them to find the prisoner guilty of manslaughter. The jury, without hesitation, pronounced the prisoner Guilty of Manslaughter, and sentence was deferred till the opinion of the fifteen judges could be had upon the legal objections before referred to. John Critchlow and William Bolton were next placed at the bar, charged with having on the 25th of August last., at Sheffield, feloniously and unlawfully attempted to destroy a certain steam-engine, by the explosion of a large quantity of gunpowder, the property of John Wilson, Thomas Dunn, William Jeffcock, and George Hounsfield. This case would have been tried yesterday, but Mr. whole hebehalf jury. o Af the fresh jury watshn oje this bin eecrtedn n gt oetmh e. pannelled for the trial of the prisoners. Mr. Wilkins, Mr. Overend, and Mr. Smith were for the prosecution; and Mr. Grainger was for the defence. The prosecutors in this case were some of the largest coal-pit owners in the neighbourhood of Sheffield. In the month of May last there was a general " turn out " of the colliers in that part of England, and the prosecutors' pits had been unworked from May until the date , of this occurrence, in August. Towards the end of August there were symptoms of returning good sense on the part of the men, and on the 26th it was determined that some of them at least should return to their work. At the mouth of the pit there was, as is frequently the case, a steam-engine, worked for the purpose of hauling ' up the coal, as well as of letting persons in and out of w the pit as occasion might require. WWI; as the engine I