The Express. — 1863-02-02 (London, England)

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. (THIE DAY.)  The February session of the Central Criminal Court was opened this morning before the Riot Hon. the Lord Mayor (W. A. Rose, Esq., M.P.), the Recorder, Aldermen Sir R. W. Carden, Phillips, and Gibbon*, Mr. Sheriff J. C. Lawrence, Mr. Sheriff Jones, Mr. Under-Sheriff Ferrer, SLc.  The first edition of the calendar contains the names of 116 prisoners. The Recorder, in his charge to the greed jury, said be was sorry to inform them that the number of cases were more than usually large considering the abort interval which had elapsed since the last samion, but be did not think the cases were venally of • deecription which would involve much difficulty as far as their investigations were concerned. There were two charges of wilful murder. In one case, three prisoeers were charged with murdering a sailor, and it appeared that there bad been • quarrel between two parties at a public-house, and the prisoners, who were foreigners, wanted the other party to fight, which, however, they declined, and some of them ran away ; they were followed by the three prisoners, and as the others were turning a corner, the deceased man received • stab from one of the prisoners. The question for the grand jury to consider would be which of the prisoners committed the act. The deceased man was not certain which of the three it was ; but be thought it was the man named Cares, as he was nearest to him at the time. Then there was the evidence of a witness which fixed the man Oallalc as the one who inflicted the wound. Then came the question whether they were acting in concert, in connexion with this part of the transaction. There way no doubt they ware acting in concert Se regarded the first part of the quarrel, bat it would be for the jury to say whether they were satisfied that there was any incentive from either of the prisoners to the other, if so they were equally answerable. There was another came of wilful murder, in which a man was charged with the wilful murder of his wife. It appeared that the prisoner and his wife lived eery comfortable when sober, but unfortunately were both addicted to drink. On the night of the occurrence, it appeared that the deceased was sober, and went to • public.' boon to fetch the prisoner, but he refused to leave. She afterwards refused for a time to let him in, and ultimately • quarrel arose which ended in a fight, in which the deceased took a good part. The prisoner grasped his wife by the throat, and she became insensible, and was taken to a surgeon, but died before she got there. It seemed to his lordship, however, that they were both engaged in a mutual contest, and it would rather be a case of manalaunhter than murder; but that would be • gumption for the grand jury to consider. There was a charge against two persons named Hermann and Manus &Mar for having in their possession a number of forged foreign notes of some foreign order. One of the prisoners, it seemed, applied to an engraver to have a note copied, and there was some objection at first, on the ground that it appeared to be an order for the payment of money. The engraver, however, wax smeared that it wee merely a ticket. The police were communicated with, and an appointment was made with the pnaonere when the work was to be done. The prisoners called, and the police were in waiting, and they left with the notes—one handing them to the other, and they were taken in to custody with them in their posiession. One of the prisoners said he knew nothing at all about them. But there would be evidence to show that they had been acting in concert, as they were seen looking. at the stone together in the shop, and they were examining the notes together when they were taken into custody. These were the only canes to which his lordship thought it necemary to call the attention of the grand jury, sad they proceeded to their duties.