The Sun. — 1844-03-18 (London, England)

HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY, EDINBURGH. The trial of James Bryce for the murder of John Geddes, his brother-in-law, at West Calder, began on Tuesday, j26aalthes or Bryce, 27th of December, 1843, with murder and March 12. The judges present were the Lord Justice Clerk, Lords Mackenzie and Moncrieff. The n indictmento robbery,e he did, within the dwelling-house at Blaw-wearie, in the parish of West Calder, occupied by John Geddes, labourer, isfar r as, chargedonthe with intent to possess himself of money and goods belonging to the said John Geddes, or in his possession, or from some other malicious motive to the prosecutor unknown, attack and assault the said John Geddes, and did, with a pair of tongs or other instrument, inflict several severe blows on his head and face and other parts of his body, and did, with a cord or other ligature, compress his throat or neck, so as to strangle or nearly strangle him, and did with his feet or knees, or otherwise, trample or press upon his breast or sides, by all which, or part thereof, or other violence, the said John Geddes was mortally injured in his person, his skull and lower jaw and. ribs were fractured, mid in consequence he immediately or' soon after died, and was thus murdered by the same James Bryce. The evidence, which was wholly circumstantial, consisted of tracing a considerable sum of money into the possession of the prisoner immediately after the period of the murder, when he had been just before in want, as well as some of Geddes' property, including a watch and a pair of shoes; and of trackinglim to different places where he was seen both before and after tlirinurder. The whole of Tuesday , was occupied in examining witnesses, and on Wednesday the Solicitor-General for Scotland addressed the Court for the prosecution. Bryce was ally defended by Mr. Crawford. His speech produced considerable sensation. The jury, after an absence of nearly an hour, returned with a verdict unanimously finding the prisoner Guilty as libelled. Lord Justice Clerk passed sentence, that th; prisoner be executed on Wednesday, the 3d of April.—The prisoner received his sentence without the least emotion.  DISSENTERS'Cif A VEL PROPERTIr.—The Select Committee to which the House of Lords, on Thursday night, referred the several petitions that had been presented to their Lordships, " praying that the provisions of the Dissenters' Chapels Bill may be extended to Ireland," consists of the following Peers, who met on Saturday, at four,o'clock, for the first• time, to appoint a Chairman, and commence the duties delegated by the House to them :—Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Chancellor, Lord President, Duke of Wellington, Marquis of Lansdowne, Marquis of Normanby, Earl ' Fortescue Earl of Ripon, Bishops of London and Exeter, Lord Plunket, Lord Brotigham, Lord Denman, Lord Glenelg, Lord Cottenham, Lord Langdale, Lord Monteagle, and Lord Campbell. . THE INNOCENT SUFFERING FOR THE GUILT r.--There are some circumstances connected with the- lad Bean, whose liberation from the Penitentiary, where he had been confined for the-last eighteen months, for is treasonable conduct in levelling a pistol at the. Queen, was noticed a few days since in the papers, of an afflicting nature. His father was a journeyman gold and silver chaser, and had brought up his family in a creditable manner; but he never held up his head after the conviction of his son, anxiety of mind having brought on an attack of sickness, which terminated only in his decease. By this calamity his widow was left with three children, one of whom is ten, and the other two under that age, having nothing to depend on but her own exertions, and labouring under severe privations. In addition to all this misery, smce his release he has also been thrown on her hands, and she is reduced to utter destitution. . Bean applied to his former master, Mr. Hilton, newsvender, of Pentonstreet, Pentonville, to retake him into his employ, but being already suited, he is giving him occasional employment. Bean was instructed in the art of tailoring during his confinement.  The mortal remains of the late Sir Henry Halford, Bart., were removed at an early hour, on Friday morning, from his late residence in Curzon-street, for interment, on Monday next, in the family mausoleum at Wistow, near Market Harborough, Leicestershire, where the present Sir Henry Halford and other branches of the family will attend theinterment. ' THE SICK POOR OF WINDson.—A hamper of wine from Buckingham Peace was forivarded to the Windsor Royal General Dispensary a day or two since, for the use of the sick poor of the town ad neighbourhood,