The Sun. — 1834-07-25 (London, England)

LITLLEDALE.) James Griffith, a Greenwich pensioner, aged 65, was indicted for a rape upon Jane Elizabeth Flory, a child under ten years of age, at Chatham. The day laid in the indictment was 6th April. Mr. ESPINASSE stated the case, and called Jane Elizabeth Flory—Witness stated she lived with her father and mother at Rochester. Knew the prisoner, who lived at Fair-row, Chatham. On Sunday morning, 6th April last, she carried the prisoner his shirt. She stayed to dine with the prisoner's grandson, a little boy. After dinner she sat in a chair, reading a hymn-book. The prisoner came to her, told her to hold her tongue, and not to cry, and he would give her a halfpenny. She said she would tell her mother, on which he hit her • across her back with a rope, and made the little boy who was in the room look out of the window. The witness then detailed the particulars. A woman knocked at the door, and she told the prisoner there was somebody at the door. He said, " Let them knock." Mrs. Douce came in to borrow a saucepan, and prisoner placed witness in his lap, and threw a towel over it. Mrs. Douce went away, and the prisoner then pushed witness out, and said he would thresh her the next time he saw her, if she told her mother. She did not tell her mother until the Thursday week after. Elizabeth Douce lived in the same house with the prisoner, and went to borrow a saucepan, and saw the girl sitting in the prisoner's lap : it was on Easter Sunday, March 30th, and not on 6th April ; she knew it was so, because she boiled a leg of pork on that day, and borrowed the saucepan for the potatoes. Mr. BonKxN, for the prisoner, took the objection of the day, but his Lordship ordered the case to proceed. Mrs. Flory stated that her child was nine years old last December. Witness did not discover anything the matter with her child until the 17th April. She then took her to a surgeon. Afterwards she went to the prisoner and threltened to take him up. He said he must stand the law's trial. She saw him again that evening, and told him the child's evidence was clear against him, but if he was agreeable to come to terms, she would make it up. He asked what terms. She said three pounds, and pay all expenses. He said he had not the money, but would give a note for it under his hand.  Another witness was called, who proved the mother's offer of compromise ; and the surgeon was also examined., His LORDSHIP adverted to the doubt respecting the day, and said it was a very singular case, but it was clear the mother had made a handle of it to endeavour to get money from the prisoner.—Not Guilty. Thomas Hamond, a labouring man, aged 20, was indicted for a rape on Mrs. Pegden, on the 19th March last. It appeared from the evidence of Mrs. Pegden, who was aged 43, and was the mother of twelve children, that as she was returning home from a visit to her mother, between seven and eight o'clock in the evening, the prisoner seized her violently, and notwithstanding her repeated cries of murder and most vehement struggles, accomplished his purpose. Two men came up who recognized the prisoner, and he made off. The prosecutrix was assisted home, immediately told her husband, and the next day the prisoner was apprehended.  Mr. CLARKSON, for the defence, endeavoured in vain to show that the man was insane. • The Jury found the prisoner guilty, and his Lordship after stating his entire concurrence in the verdict, passed sentence of execution, telling the prisoner he could hold out no hope of mercy to him. (CIVIL SlDE—Before Lord C. J.