The Sun. — 1846-04-03 (London, England)

PLAIT.) • Benjamin Skyrnal, aced 20, was indicted for 12ring gun at William Hughes, on the 13th of last Auj -rievous uuponost, the Queen's highway, with intent to do him some a loaded tr bodily harm. Mr. Greaves and Mr, Huddleston prosecuted ; the piisoner was defended by Mr. Skinner. From the evidence of the prosecutor, who is a cattle and pig dealer, living at St. Margaret's, it appeared that on the day in question he had been at Hereford, and was on his return home in the evening, when the prisoner, whom he previously knew by sight, came up to him at a place called the Slough, in the parish of St. Margaret, and entered into conversation with him, walking by the side of his horse, until they came to a garden belonging to a man of the ni2ole of Colman, when Skyrnal stopped, and appeared to be taking something out of the hedge ; meanwhile Mr. Hughes rode on about 100 yards in advance of the prisoner, whom he heard running after him, whereupon he reined in his horse, and at, the same instant a gun was fired, and his (the prosecutor's) hat fell upon the neck of the horse. He recovered it, and immediately galloped off. Very shortly after this Mr. Hughes procured assistance, and finding the prisoner still at the spot whence the shot had been fired, he charged him with having attempted his life, and secured the man at the bar, who observed that it was a person of the name of John Davis who had fired the gun. The prosecutor had sold about 50/. worth of stock in the morning, and had that amount about him at the time of the attack. Additional evidence was adduced corroborative of the prisoner's guilt; a little girl, to whose father the gun belonged, proving that she had lent Skyrnal the gun to shoot birds with about the time in question, and the gun was found the same morning after the occurrence above detailed, ten or twelve yards from the place where Mr. Hughes was fired at. The prisoner was convicted of firing with intent to do some grievous bodily harm; and a previous conviction for felony having been proved, he was sentenced to fifteen years' transportation. As soon as their Lordships have disposed of the few remaining cases here they will proceed in the course of the afternoon to Monmouth, and open the commission for that county, where seventy prisoners now await their trial. The following is an analysis of the Monmouthshire calendar :—Violating the person, 7 ; housebreaking, 4 ; cutting and maiming, 2 ; forgery, 3 ; sheep-stealing, 9 ; killing cattle, 1 • highway robbery, 6 ; stealing from the person, 5; minor Pffences, 30; manslaughter, 2; firing stacks, l— total, 70.  WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Taunton, April 1. The commission for holding the assizes for the county of Some Mr. Justice w Erie.opened rrh ein l e tow btu% IN; nnes3s, s at esrdhaays ba fte eenr at oboen e, a sb ye all round ytahnonesfelcataihurr lgceyuhoi ete2,eroinsc3peer;sxi prisoners neammelircesail oryfduoelsrirlgy, thlrti:a wounding,lat h. t ere being only 19 cases in the cause list. The calendar, however, is very heavy, atheeur summary n;beingnmrThetem t followingin6g ; tarson, i 4; murder,burglary, ; housebreaking, 3 ; rape, 4; horse-stealing, 1; sheep-stealing, 6 ; robbery, 4 ; bigamy, 1; bestiality, 1; larcenies, 60; embezzlement, 3; entering inclosed land by night, 7 ; concealment of birth, 1. .To'in Hake and Daniel Hake were indicted for burglarioulv breaking and entering the house of William French, ats Otterford, and stealing therefrom several knives and other articles, his property. Mr. Cox was counsel for the prosecution. t'irtolg b m teheenevpidroepnecrelyit aeplopseeadredatthnaitgbtht!e pornosetbeuetofro'sllobwouinsge ba morning it was found that a panel of the door had been broken through, and that a quantity of knives, in which the prosecutor dealt, had been taken away. From some information which had been received, suspicion attached to the prisoners, who were brothers residing in the neighbourhood ; they were apprehended, and the stolen property was found upon them. John Hake confessed that he had broken into the !louse. The jury found both the prisoners Guilty. Sentence-4°bn Hake, transportation for 15 years; Daniel Hake, transportatlcni for ten years.  --