The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1858-04-13 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

EXTRAORDINARY CASE.  Samuel Smith, clergymen, of Clifton, and Sarah Smith, his wife, were charged with maliciously cutting and wounding John Leech, with intent to murder him, and also with intent to do him grievous bodily harm, on the 3rd of February, 1868, at Westerleigh. Mr. Skinner, Q.C., and Mr. Grippe appeared for the prosecution; Mr. Fluddleston, Q.C., and Mr. J. Symons defended the female prisoner. The male prisoner was not defended by counsel. Mr. Baron Channel' having summed up the evidence at 7 p.m., the jury found both the prisoners Guilty of cutting and wounding with intent to disfigure and to do grievous bodily harm, but, they added, that the female prisoner had committed no actual violence, and that she Mul acted throughout under the coercion of her hut. band.  -- -His Lordship deferred passing Beaten,* till the morning, and said he would admit the woman to bail, and reserve the point in her favour. • .•  April T. At the sitting of the Court this morning, the Rev. Samuel Smith and Sarah Smith, his wife, who were convicted yesterday of cutting and wounding John Leech, with intent to disfigure him ard to do him grievous bodily harm, were brought up to receive sentence. It will be recollected that the jury found specially that the female prisoner had committed no actual violence on the prosecutor, and had noted throughout under the coercion of her husband; they also strongly recommended her to . . .  Mi.. Heron Channel' said he should reserve the point in favour of the wife; and in the meantime as regarded her, judgment would be reapited, and she would be liberated on bail. His Lordship then addressed the male prisoner, and said it was • painful duty for him to have to pass sentence upon a person like the prisoner, who by him talent' bad raised himself to a position of responsibility, which he bad now forfeited. The prisoner had had an opportunity of making his own statement of facts, some of which were entirely unsupported by evidence, and ad endeavoured to satisfy the jury that he had not the felonious intent, but merely intended to chastise the proaeoutor for the wrong which be had done him. But the iury had found hiso guilty of striking the blows with • felonious intent, and, if death had ensued, there could be no doubt he would have stood at the bar for the crime of wilful murder. His Lordship observed that there were some of the circumstances which could not be lost sight of. The design was deliberately formed in January, and carried on with contrivance and management, and three letters were written containing the grossest falsehoods, till on the 3rd of February he went on the ground armed with • deadly weapon. which he had purchased only the night before, in anticipation of the prosecutor's visit, Nor could his Lordship forget the fact that when it was proposed to arrest him he threatened that if anybody touched him he would blow their brains out. Alter ionic further observations, his Lordship passed on the prisoner a sentence of four years' penal servitude. The female prisoner was then told that on entering into bail she would be set at liberty. She appeared very pale, and had rather • forbidding look. The male prisoner, who was a powerfully-built man, and had • most determined countenance, received his sentence with great calmness, but seemed very elision' about his wife, who appeared to be in a fainting state.  THE HAYMARKET MoRDER.—At the Central Criminal Court on Friday the trial of Giovanni Lani was brought to a close before Mr. Justice Crompton. The prisoner tasked very pale and unworn, and seemed to feel deeply the puition in which he was placed. Mr. Atkinson addreued the jury on the part of the prisoner in a very able speech. Mr. Justice Crompton commenced summing up at half•past eleven o'clock. The jury retired at half-past one o'clock and returned into court at ten minutes to two, when they gave a verdict of guilty of wilful murder. Mr. Justice Crompton rased sentence of death upon the prisoner in the usual