Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1871-05-20 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

CHARGE OF MURDER IN LEEDS. John Pearson (aged 17) was on Tuesday again brought up at the Leeds Police Court, before Mr Bruce, on the charge of stabbing James Morris, on the 7th inst. Mr Billington appeared for tfie defence. The charge has now resolved itself into the more serious one of inurder.—Mr Kelly, sur— geon, said he had made a post-mortem axamination of the body of James Morris. The wound on the left breast penetrated to the cavity of the chest, between the fifth and sixth ribs, into the lung as it overlies the pericardium, and penetrated partly the fibrous portion of the pericardial membrane. The lung and pleura were highly inflamed, with a certain amount of serious fluid in the pleural sae. The pericardial membrane was also inflamed, and the inflammation was of a recent character in both cases. The heart itself was healthy, and the other organs were also healthy. The pleuro-pueumonia 'was sufficient to cause death, and so was the inflammation of the pericardium. The inflammation in both cases was due to the wound undoubtedly. In cress-examination, Mr Kelly said the deceased had been well nourished, and was a perfectly healthy subject.—Geo. Webster, Grey-street, New Town, employed by the Leeds Corporation, stated that he had had a grating pointed out to him on the 9th of Mar, in Brussells-street, near Marshlane. He cleaned the grating out, and there was found a pocket-knife in the cart afterwards. The knife was shut. It was given up to Police-officer Fox.—Mr Bruce: Did you notice the knife in the scoop before you turned it into the cart I—Witness replied that the knife had not been noticed, because it was dark. They were first at the grating about a quarter past 12. Then the dirt was emptied out of the cart, and they returned to the grating between three and four o'clock. The cart was filled again and emptied at Crown Point Depot, and on returning the knife was found in the cart.— Cross-examined : Many things were found in the grates, knives included.— Henry Heaps, cloth finisher, residing in Off-street, knew the prisoner, who had worked with him recently at Mr Snell's mill for a week. During that week the prisoner had a knife in his possession similar to the one produced. He, however, never had the prisoner's knife in his hand, and did not know what blades it contained.—After the depositions had been read over, Mr Billington submitted that there was no case to support the capital charge of murder, and that the committal must, therefore, be for manslaughter.—Mr Bruce said he could not, of course, tell what view the jury might take, and, for reasons which ought to be appreciated by the prisoner's attorney, he should not state his reason for the course he was going to adopt, because he did not want to prejudice the defence by anything that might be said. The charge would be that oI murder.--Mary Lalley, single woman, residing in the Old Infirmary-yard, was called for the -defence. She knew the prisoner, and was in his company on the 7th of May. At night, after eleven o'clock, she saw Morris come up to the prisoner in Dukestreet. Morris took hold of Pearson by the back. of the neck and threw him out into the road. , The trisoner said, " What have you done that for." Morris said, "You b---, I'll show you if you don't go away from here." He then went no to the prisoner and got hold of him by both shoulders, but Pearson, breaking away from him, ran up Dukestreet. Morris spoke to witness. The prisoner came out of the Lloyd's Arms yard, and Morris was then standing talking with witness. Morris then walked towards the prisoner. She did not see a knife. Morris, when he first meddled with the prisoner, laid hold of him very roughly. PHsoner hind had a good deal of drink.—The .prisoner was then committed for trial at the next Assizes.  It is to be feared that the faculties of our old frieLd Mrs Ilarris are becoming somewhat impaired, or, to use her own words, "her hearing ain't so good as it used to be ;" in proof of which, on hearing a friend say that at the late review "Brighton mustered very strong," she 'Yes, I daresay that the Brighton Mustard is very good and very strong, but I likes Colman's, as is sold at the sign of ti e Bull's Head."