The Sun. — 1849-01-01 (London, England)

CRIMINAL COURT.-( THIS DA Y.)  OLD COURT.  These sessions commenced to-day before the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, Aldermen Hunter and Challis, the Sheriffs, &c.  In consequence of a week only having elapsed since the termination of the last sessions, the number of prisoners for trial are few compared with the number usually for trial at this Coart. The judges on the rota are Chief Baron Pollock, Mr. Justice I'atteson, and Mr. Justice Maule. There are three cases of manslaughter, one of murder, one of shooting at a person, one of horsestealing; but the case likely to occupy most attention will be that of Samuel Hedy, the engine-driver, and William Watkins, the stoker, who are charged with the manslaughter of Richard Perry, on the South-Western Railway. The grand jury having been empannelled and sworn, The RECORDER proceeded to deliver his charge to them. The calendar comprehended a list of prisoners the total number of which was 75, and that number would necessarily receive augmentation during the labours of the grand jury by commitments by magistrates, but even with that augmentation he did not anticipate that the duties of the grand jury would bear any proportion to the ordinary duties of the grand juries (generally at that court, the interval having been so short between the present and the last session. Although, however, the calendar was light in a numeral point of view, it contained a charge of enure der, two cases of cutting and wounding, two cases of robbery with violence, a case of shooting at a party with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and it also contained a charge of attempting to commit a rape. The majority of the cases, however, were larceny, which required no particular comment from him. There were also three charges of manslaughter. Only two or three other cases required any comment from him. There was a charge of the concealment of the birth of a child, and by a recent statute in such cases there was a particular course pointed out for the magistrate to examine the prisoner. Now, in that course if the grand jury should find that the evidence was insufficient to sustain the charge without knowing what had been stated before the magistrates, he should feel it to be his duty to direct that the examination before the magistrate should be laid before them. The other cases to which he should advert were cases of violence to the person and the use of the knife upon slender provocation. He knew of no way of putting down these offences—the perpetration of which he was sorry to say had increased to an alarming extent —but by administering the law with respect to them with the utmost rigour. The use of the knite till late years had been confined solely to foreigners; it was unEnglish , it was a most wicked practice, and one that must be put down by inflicting punishment according to the strict letter of the law. There was a most, serious charge of murder, and one somewhat out of the ordinary circumstances. It was a charge of driving a coal waggon purposely over the body of the party, and thereby causing his death. Now, in order to make out that charge it must be shown that it was purposely and wilfully done. He would not go Etc) the details of the case, but if the grand jury found from the evidence that the act had been wiltully done, it woul.l be their duty to put the case into a course of trial upon the charge of murder. The Learned Recorder having referred to the dictum of Mr Justice Foster upon the subject, and having shortly alluded to the charge of assault with intent to ravish a child under twelve years of age, and some of the other cases in the calendar, remitted the grand jury to the discharge of their duties.  The Court then proceeded to swear in the petty jury.