The Sun. — 1845-02-08 (London, England)

CRIMINAL COURT.  OLD COURT.  THE Ruisur MunDEn.—Yesterday morning was appointed for the trial of Charles Lamb, for the murder of a vouth at Ruislip eight years ago, and upon the Learned Judges, Mr. Baron Parke, and Mr. Justice Cresswell, taking their seats on the bench at ten o'clock, the prisoner was placed at the bar. After some consultation between the Judges and the Counsel, the trial was postponed till ten o'clock to-morrow (Saturday) morning. George Hawkins, 22, engineer, and Henry Crawconr, surgeon (the latter of whom surrendered to take his trial) were indicted for a burglary in the dwelling-house of James Starke, and stealing a time-piece, and other articles his property. Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Payne defended the prisoners. The circumstances of this case will be fresh in the recol lection of our readers, and the only point of interest connected with it, was the respectability of the defendant Crawcour, and the defence set up for him notwithstanding the positive testimony of one of the witnesses as to his identity, that he was entirely innocent of any share in the transaction. The fact of the robbery was distinctly made out, and a boy named Cummings swore that he was standing opposite the house of the prosecutor on the night of the robbery, and that he saw Crawcour come to the door with a lighted candle in his hand, and observed him let out two other persons from the house. The witness said he had known the prisoner Crawcour for some time, and was positive as to his identity. Mr. CLARKSON, on behalf of the prisoner Crawcour, called several respectable witnesses, who clearly proved, from the fact of his being at another place from half-past two o'clock until half-past nine on the night of the robbery, that it was utterly impossible he could have been at the prosecutor's house as deposed to by the boy Cummings. Another witness, a toll-gate keeper, also proved that he saw Cummings riding on the box of a cab, and on his asking him what he was about he said he " had got a case with the police," and that the " swell" inside the cab was the thief. This witness told Cummings he must be mistaken, for Crawcour was a very respectable man ; upon which Cummings asked him whether, as he had already sworn to him, he had not better " stick to it."  The churchwardens of the parish in which Mr. Crawcour lived, and a number of other respectable witnesses, gave that prisoner a high character for honesty and integrity. Mr. Baron PARKE interposed and asked the jury if they were not satisfied with the evidence that had been already adduced, as to the character of the accused.  The jury said they were quite satisfied upon this point. His LORDSHIP then summed up, and the jury immediately returned a verdict of Not Guilty. George Cockett, 31, coachman, was charged upon the Coroner's inquisition with the manslaughter of Joseph Terry. Mr. PArNE appeared for the prosecution, and in his address to the jury he said that the grand jury had thrown out the bill that was preferred against the prisoner, but as the Coroner's jury had returned a verdict of manslaughter, it was necessary that this should be disposed of. Witnesses were then examined, from whose evidence it appeared that the prisoner was at Shooter's-hill, driving a hackney-cab towards London, on the night of the occurrence, when he came up to a waggon, driven by the deceased, and as the horses were in the middle of the road, he attempted to pass on the near side, but the horses suddenly swerved towards him, ran against the cab, and threw it in the path. At this time the prisoner had not seen the driver of the waggon, but shortly afterwards he was found lying upon the road, having been evidently run over either by the cab or his own waggon. There was not the slightest proof that the prisoner was in any way instrumental in causing the death of the deceased.  Mr. Justice CRESSWELL stopped the case, and expressed his opinion that there was no evidence in support of the charge. The jury accordingly returned a verdict of Not Guilty.