The Sun. — 1863-12-17 (London, England)

WESTERN CIRCUIT:TAUNTON, DEC. 16. (Before Mr. Baron Pigott.)  Emanuel Cash ,was indicted for ravishing Charlotte Feaver, on the 7th of November, at Ansford, and six other men were charged with aiding and abetting. There were other indictments charging each one as a principal. Mr. Edlin and Mr. Hooper were counsel for the prosecution; Mr. Frideaux defended Coles; Mr. T. W. Saunders defended Pitman; Mr. Ffooks defended all the others. This was one of those brutal cases that unhappily sometimes disgrace our courts of justice, but we shall only allude to the facts very briefly. It appeared that the parents of the prosecutrix lived at Castle Carey, the father being a gardener. The girl, who was 20 years of age, worked in a factory, and lived with her parents. She was keeping company with a young man named Sylvester Sheen. On Saturday evening, the 7th of November, after leaving work, she returned to her father's house, and shortly afterwards Sheen called for her, and they went out to take a walk. About ten o'clock they went to the Half-moon publichouse, which was kept by Coles, one of the prisoners. The girl had a glass of peppermnit, and Sheen had a pint of beer. The prisoners came into the house and joined them. They remained at the publichouse till 12 o'clock, when they all went out of the house, Coles accompanying thew to the door of the house, Some of the prisoners knocked down Sheen, and they seized holi of the girl, all of them, with the exception of Pitman and Coles, effected their purpose, assisting each other. The girl cried " Murder I" Coles stood by. A man named Wright came up and threatened to send for the police. Coles said it was a shame, but he did not like to interfere amongst so many men ; but he added, " Take her into the stable, as there is some clean straw there." They then dragged her into the stable, threw her down, and then all of them, with the exception of Coles, repeated the offence. The girl after a time went home, her father left her in, and she then told her mother what had happened; but no complaint was made to the police until the following Saturday. Three of the prisoners were immediately ap • prehended, the others absconded, and were not taken for some time.  Charlotte Feaver deposed to the facts of the case. She was cross-examined at considerable length by the learned counsel for the defence, but her evidence was not shaken. She pulled their hair, she struck them in the face, she called " Murder I" and cried to be taken to her mother. Seven had intercourse with her in the stable. They were there an hour.  Silvester Sheen corroborated the statement of the prosecutrix as to the outrages. The men pushed him about and struck him. He was afraid to interfere. Coles said there was clean straw in the stable, and thoy had better carry the young woman there, aad not make a noise in front of the house. They then dragged her into the stable, They were an hour in the stable, Ho could see all that was going on. He could not interfere, because they threatened him and struck him. George Wright came up and saw tho men surrounding and dragging the girl, and he heard her cry Thomas Goodrich, a neighbour of Coles, heard .ties " Murder!" and a call of of what astaitdhetyhahtandedrodnree.ss ~ I wish window ma nyddear listened, m mother wu trandseeer: here." There shut There were cries of a woman in distress for half dan hour. was off h He opened his belroom custody, the window again. 'made statements George Feaver, the father defences for their respective clients. wasaß Ad htpoeoriini teethewemh ewileberaedl e° ot;lerareiii :We. oli fttchai it lahkbeserhl osoandna.dw Burge i n in their cells, and heard them e.snPoeirtman witnesses were called • TheOOuth the°r scounselof partth the prisoners a cd made ba e balil ee and i dp eafl Mr. Baron Pigott summed up who certainly did not over the whole evidence as it applied The jury found all the with great care, reading ease to each prisoner. a different punishment as prreigsaorndeerds gpuiitlmtya,nbuatnrdeccoomlems.ended The Judge then sentenced Emanuel Cash, William each, Burge, and Hallett, to be kept in penal servitude for five years,and ittaau and „ Giles to be kept in penal servitude for three years, Voles to be imprisoned for two years.