The Express. — 1853-05-14 (London, England)

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.  OLD COURT.—YISTEILDAY. Bzvou me Loss Cans horns Amp Mi. /LION AU3III/COl.  Thomas Hackett, 30, labourer, was indicted for the wilful murder of Eliza Lea, by drowning. It will be recollected that at the last sittings of this court the prisoner was tried for this offence, and the jury were locked up to consider their verdict, but on. of them being takes dangerously ill, they were all discharged without coming to any decision, and the primmer was left for trial at them swims.  The ffeblemee against the primer this day did not differ from that glen a knee excels, and was purely of a cireammtemllel daraeter. The phew and the deceased had lived together, but at the time of this occurrence were separated, the prisoner either living with or being married Se omether woman, and the deceased was living with her seedme origgerting herself by going out ironing. On Jaw $l, her leather gave her hat a-sovereign to buy some &miry seeds with, and she left home in the elbseseem for that purpose. She shortly afterwards went with a Mrs. Hermitage, whose husband had been • fellow-workman of prisoner's, to try to Clad whirs prinoner was at work, and after some time susemiled, led pdesur end the two women left together wad had 1111011. ft to drink at several public-houses, which demised geid for, and they finally went to Mrs. Her. mimeo home, where the prisoner and deceased sang songs toiri about ten o'clock they left together, and about eleven IMO one in the garden of the Regalia public-house, POrtlead-town, which abuts upon the Regent's-canal, 'heard a gurgling sound and splashing, as though:some one was in the water. He inatantlygave the alarm, and with the landlord ran down a passage by the side of the house leading to the towing path of the canal. In this passage they met a man carrying a small bundle and walking somewhat fast. The man in height and dress resembled the prisoner, and in answer to them said that some one had either fallen or thrown themselves into the canal. He was requested to come beck and render assistance ; he came back, but instantly left, and was met by the policeman hurriedly leaving the spot. The night being very dark and foggy, and the splashing and all noise having ceased, a light waspromired, sod something being discovered in the water a rope was thrown over it, and it was got out, and proved to be the body of deceased ; every means were resorted to to restore life, but without effect. Upon examining the body no marks of violence were observable. Whoa the Wins found the prisoner the next day, and told him what he was charged with he dropped his head upon his breast, and for some time made no reply, but suddenly rousing from his dejected state, said, I shall be able to clear myself. At his lodgings were found the things which deceased had bought the previous day, excepting one portion, which prisoner's wife bad pawned that morning. Mr. Parry, in a most eloquent and forcible appeal to the jury, urged the very circumstantial nature of the evidence and the fearful responsibility they would incur by convicting • fellow creature of so fearful a crime upon the mere probability that he might have been guilty. The Lord Chief Justice having carefully summed up, the jury retired, and after an absence of about half an hour, came into court, and returned a verlict of Not Guilty.  et the