The Sun. — 1849-03-30 (London, England)

THE STANFIELD-HALL MURDERS.  TRIAL OF RUSH.  NORWICH, THURSDAY.—Fiom a very early early hour this morning the Court-house was besieged at every door by crowds of persons anxious to be present at the trial of •the prisoner, James Bloomfield Rush. The court was fixed to be opened at nine, but by half-past seven the court was more than half filled, and by eight o'clock it was crowded in every part. Among those present were the Earl of Leicester, Lord-Lieutenant of the county; the Lord Bishop of Norwich, Earl Cadogan, Lord Hastings, the Marquis or Douro, Colonel Mason. the High Sheriff of the county; J. J. Ireland, Esq., High Sheriff of Suffolk; Sir J. P. Boileau, Sir H. Drocant, Mr. Bagge, M.P., Hon. W. Rufus Rom, Hon. and Rev. Edward Pellew, Rev. Archdeacon CuDyer, Sir T. Beauvoir, Bart., Henry Dover, E-q., Chairman of Quarter Sessions; Professor Sedgwick, Col. H. Fitzroy, Hon. E. Keppel Coke, M.P., Lord Huntingfield, William Burroughes, lizq., M.P., &c., &e. There was a very numerous array of barristersin Court.  Mr. Sergeant Byles, Mr. Prendergast, and Mr. Evans appeared fur the prosecution. Before the Judge entered, a model of Stanfield hall and of the Potash farm, very neatly executed, which lay on the table before the bar, was regarded with a good deal of curiosity, and served, in aid of the very general conversation which was going on, to amuse the audience till nine o'clock, when Mr. Baron Rolfe took his seat on the bench, and immediately after every other feeling was absorbed in anxiety to see the prisoner. He was brought into the dock in the custody of the Governor of the gaol, and of a turnkey, and advanced with a firm but slouching step to the bar, where he deposited a large bundle of papers. His features were resolute and set, but his hands trembled excessively, not only at first, but during the day, so that it may be habitual. Without any attempt at minute description, it may be said that Rush is a powerfully made man, with strong but rather coarsely moulded limbs, and below rather than above the middle height. His shoulders, which aro slightly inclined forwards, support a short bull-neck, on which a large and massive head, which a craniologist would declare indicative of the possession of strong animal passions and considerable intellectual power, is firmly set in such a way as to render it rather difficult for its owner to look straight before him. His mouth, and the general formation of his jaw and the lower part of his face, betray great determination and an unflinching will. Ile was dressed with care and neatness in a suit of black and a white cravat; his gray hair was carefully brushed, and his appearance altogether that of a respectable yeoman..  The indictment was in the usual form, and charged him with the murder of Mr. Jenny by shooting with a pistol, &c. On being called on to plead, he said in a firm and distinct tone, " Not guilty," and put in the same answer to an indictment on the coroner's inquisition. The prisoner having requested a few moments to arrange his papers, the swearing in of the jury was suspended till he had done so. On one juror haying been passed over he asked, " Why, has be been challenged?" and the clerk of the court informed him he was challenged by the Crown.  The prisoner challenged one juror only, but after the first two or three had been sworn said, turning to the jury-box,—" There is one observation I shoted like to make to those gentlemen; if they have anything on their minds which might have any influence over their verdict, I hope they will retire without my challenging them, and let others take their place. If they have expressed any opinion as to the trial, they ought to do so. I don't know how many of them there may be, but I hope those who may be influenced will retire." The jury having been sworn, after a pause, the prisoner said, —" My Lord, I wish to make an observation before the counsel makes his addres  Arr. Baron