Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1853-07-20 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

BRITON-VERRY.—Thomas Jones, aged 31, wag arraigned upon an indictment, charging lam with having, in June last, violently assaulted and abused Beatrice Harman, she being a child under twelve years of age. Mr. Gifford conducted the prosecutioe. Attorneys, Messrs. Coke and Sons. Mr. T. Allen defended the prisoner. Attorney, Mr. J. R. Tripp, Swansea. The odions details of thin ease are unfit for publication. They exhibited one of the most disgusting cases of brutality that ever came before n court of justice. On a Sunday in the early part of mine, the prosecutrix, an innocent looking little girl, was playing with some other children, when the prisoner came out of a public-house at Briton-ferry. called the Pudler's Arms. Ile took the child by the hand and dragged her some distance. She managed to disengage herself from him and ran to a field at some distance. The prisoner followed the child, threw her down, and committed the gross outrage descrthed. The Itetnorrage had been so great that the poor child's clothes, as well as the prisoner's were covered. Their production caused a feeling of great disgust. Dr. Whiny underwent a lengthened examination, and cross-examination by Mr. Allen. Ile proved that the capital offence had been committed. The other witnesses examitted were the child's mother, John Vaughan, p.s. Wright, Superintendent Harman, and a little girl same Gwenllian Williams, ' one of the companions of the child, upon whom the outrage had been committed. The depositions taken when the prisoner won before the committing magistrates were also put in. Ile stated that be was tinder the influence of drink at the time —that lie had no recollection of having committed the outrage. The witnesses, however, negatived this statement. Mr. T. Allen addressed the jury at some length on the part of the prisoner, contending that the offence atnounted to a violent and disgraceful assault, but that it dint not amount to the graver crime. liis Lordship thee in a very lucid and concise manner entrained up the case, WIIPII the jury after some consultation returned a verdict of Guilty. His Lordship, in passing sentence upon the prisoner said, he had been convicted by a most cousiderate jury, who had paused long !before they gave their verdict. The crime of which you have keen found guilty is next to that of murder. You have dune an injury to that child which will exist as Dng as she lives, and that merely to gratify your last; without any feeling of compassion, you got her into a field, and there, against her will, which is now clearly proved, you violated her person, reckless of the consequences which would drone; mid thia was done merely for the purpose of gratifying your filthy appetite. How is it possihle that such an offence as this could be committed without crying aloud for justice. It is impossible that suelt an offence could be visited hy a slight punishinent,—a severe punishment was reqeisite in order to deter others from committing, similar crimens on these unprotected childree. The sentence of the court, therefore. Is, that you be transported across the seas to such a place as her Majesty's ministers may determine, for the term of 15 years.