The Express. — 1866-11-21 (London, England)

CHARGE OP MURDER. John Jones, 49, labourer, was charged with the wilful murder of George Styles. Mr. Poland and Mr. Heasley conducted the prosecution on behalf of the Treasury ; Mr. Daly defended the prisoner. In this case the coroner's jury returned a verdict of manslaughter only modest the prisoner, but he was committed by the magistrate upon the charge of wilful murder. The facts lay in a narrow compass. The parties were in an humble position of life, awl resided at Lewisham, and it appeared that some ill-feeling and quarrelling hod frequently taken place between the wife of the prisoner and the deceased, and there was no doubt that the latter had constantly made use of the most filthy and disgusting language towards her, and that the prisoner was very angry in consequence of his doing so, sed had repeatedly threatened him with violence. The transactior in question occurred in the night of the 13th of October, and it appeared that about half-past 11 o'clock on that night the deceased was heard abusing the prisoner's wife, and she threw some water over him. Quarreling and bad language seemed to have gone on between the parties for some time, and at length the primmer rushed at the deceased and struck him a tremendous blow on the head with a hammer, the effect of which was to fracture his skull, and inflict most dreadful injury upon him. He was taken to the hospital, where he fingered for four days and then died from the injury that bad been inflicted by the prisoner. When he was taken Sato custody be said that he would not have gone quietly but he was in the right, and the deceased had called his wife a and this was the reason that he struck him with the hammer, and he considered he was justified in what he did. All the parties, it appeared, were the worse for liquor when the transaction took place. One of the witnesses, who saw the prisoner strike the deceased, said that the blow made a noise as though a paper bag had burst. _ . .  The defence was that the act did not amount to the aime of wilful murder.  The jury found the prisoner Guilty of manslaughter, and the prisoner was sentenced to be kept in penal servitude for seven years.  (Before Mr. Justice Byles.) Jas Lori, a gentlemanly looking man, pleaded raft to an indictment which charged him with stealing 500/., the property of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England. Mr. H. Matthews appeared for the prosecution ; and Mr. Sleigh was counsel for the prisoner. It appeared that the accused was employed as a clerk at the western branch of the Bank of England, rid while so employed he availed himself of the opportunity to embezzle the amount named in the indictment. He was, however, strongly and earnestly recommended to mercy by the prosecutors on the ground of his previous character, his long service in the bank, and the opportunity afforded him of taking a very much larger mm if he had been so minded.  Mr. Justice Ryles said that the prisoner was employed in spoeition of trast, and but for the recommendation of the preeentors he should have felt himself compelled to pass a much more severe sentence. It was, however, a very serious offence, and the least he could do was to order the *goner to be kept in penal servitude for live years. (Before the Recorder.) Inc trial of the police-constable Matthew Hayes was mimed this morning at 10 o'clock. Evidence was adduced for the defence precisely of the lime description as that which was given at the last trial, to show that on the night in .mestion, the defendant and he companion Barry, the other policeman, were met hinging two prisoners in a direction from Gloucestercrescent to the police-station in Albany-street. A great somber of constables were examined upon this point, and their evidence appeared to be of the most conclusive character. In addition to this evidence. as iulduced to show that during the whole of the night of the 30th no dietarbance of any kind whatever took place in EversholtMeet The other constable, Barry, was also examined, and he swore positively that Dye and Pearce were apprehended in Gloucester-crescent. The trial was likely to occupy the whole of the day.