Glasgow Courier. — 1847-12-25 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

MURDER. William MGregor was charged with the crime of murder, in so far as on 13th November last, at or near the door of the house occupied by him in Havannah Street, he did wickedly and fele.niously attack and assault James Christie, junior, dealer in fruit, son of, and then or lately residing with James Christie, senior, coal-porter, and did with the head of a hammer, or with a poker, or with some other instrument to the prosecutor unknown, strike the said James Christie, junior, one or more severe blows on the head, whereby his skull was fractured or bruised, and he was mortally injured, and in consequence thereof died on or about the 16th November last. The prisoner pleaded not guilty, in so far as he had only used the weapon in self-defence. The prisoner was defended by Mr. Graham. From the evidence for the prosecution, which extended to a considerable length, it appeared that about three o'clock in the afternoon of the day libelled the deceased and two or three others were in the house of a Mrs. Sheridan in Havannah Street, which is on the ground floor, and directly below that occupied by the prisoner and his father. There is an outside stair to the panel's house, which goes past Sheridan's eindow. The parties present were taking victuals, but there was no drinking. The panel's wife, in passing up the stair, "knocked her nieve " through Sheridan's window, on account of some vindictive feeling towards the parties within. The voice of the prisoner was afterwards heard hammering on the floor above, and calling bad names. He called out to the parties in Sheridan's house that he" would break through and murder them all." The deceased was eating at the time, and said, " I will go up and see what he means by knocking down the dour upon the meat." He accordingly went up, and was met at the door by the prisoner, who in a moment felled him to the fp ound without sword spoken. Deceased fell backwards at the head of the stair; and prisoner said "here's the same to you," to a person who had accompauied him up, but who immediately ran down the stair. Deceased was rendered insensible by the blow, and died from its effects on the Tuesday morning following. At the conclusion of the evidence for the prosecution, evidence was led in exculpation. A police-officer, who was one of the witnesses, stated that, on the same day on which the offence was alleged to have been committed, deceased's brother was tried in the Police Court for an assault, prisoner's wife being a witness in the case; and on that occasion the deceased, in coming up the way, threatened to do for prisond and his wife. Two girls were also examined, who gave similar testimony. At this stage of the case, the public prosecutor intimated that he had thought it his duty to bring the case forward for the satisfaction of the Court and the public, but he was now convinced there was no ground upon which a charge of either murder or culpable homicide could be sustained, and he now felt it consistent with his duty to let the case fall to the ground. The Lord Justice-Clerk expressed his acquiescence in the course taken by the learned gentleman, and intimated his decided opinion that the act had been committed in self-defence. His Lordship directed the jury to give in a verdict of not proven. This was accordingly done, and the prisoner was dismissed from the bar. Mary Ann Johnston or Nicol was convicted of having on several occasions in the months of May, June, and October last, uttered false or counterfeit coin, in contravention of 2d Will. 1V.,cap.34, sec. 7, and was sentenced to seven years' transportation. Win. Milton and Patrick Cayne were accused of several acts of housebreaking and theft. Milton pleaded guilty, Cayne not guilty. The