The Sun. — 1851-12-13 (London, England)

PARKE.) John Hampson, who was tried yesterday for the murder of his wife and convicted of manslaughter, was called up for sentence. His LORDSHIP said the jury had taken a favourable view of the case in acquitting him of the charge of murder, in which he entirely concurred, but that they had formed, on the other band, a very unfavourable view of the case in finding that, owing to his illtreatment, his unfortunate wife had met with her death ; in which view of the case the Learned Judge said he also quite agreed with the jury. He felt bound to pass upon the prisoner the severest sentence of the law for the crime of which he had been convicted, which was, that he be transported beyond the seas for the term of his natural life. Patrick Goulden, 28, was indicted for the wilful murder at Manchester of John Owen. Mr. Wheeler prosecuted, and Mr. Monk defended the prisoner. The circumstances of this case occurred on the night of the 10th iof October last, upon which occasion a general illumination took place in celebration of her Majesty's visit to Manchester. The deceased, who was about 50 years of age, resided in Cable-street, a street running out of Oldham-road. The prisoner, who lived in the same street, next door to Mahon's public-house, had married the daughter of the deceased's wife by a former husband. Upon the night in questioa between twelve and one o'clock, the prisoner's wife and the deceased were standing close to the beerhouse, engaged in angry conversation. While this was going on the prisoner came up. There was a good light over Mahon's beerhouse, and the illuminations, which were general in Oldham-street, made it easy to see what passed. The prisoner asked, " What is this row about ? " upon which the deceased answered, " Your Missis says you are able to fight me, and I'll fight you in the morning." The prisoner said, " I can fight you at any minute,",and immediately struck the deceased. The deceased, who had not aimed any blow himself, put his hand up to his eye, and staggered back against the railings. A witness named Murphy ran up to him and laid hold of him, placing him in a sitting position on the ground. He, however, fell, and was then placed upon his back, and very shortly afterwards was carried to the infirmary, bleeding from the right eye. The deceased appeared to be a little in liquor, but the prisoner was sober and walked steadily. After giving the blow the prisoner and his wife went into their own house and closed the door.  Ellen Smith, who lived opposits Mahon's, and was a witness of the quarrel between the prisoner's wife and the deceased on the night in question, heard the prisoner's wife say to the deceased that he had a sister who was a prostitute, and an aunt who had been transported. He denied this, and was walking off, when she asked him to stay, as she was only keeping him in suspense till her husband came. This witness then saw the prisoner, who was standing apparently listening about six or eight yards off, draw something glittering from his right hand coat pocket, and step forward towards his own door and address the deceased as above stated. She then saw the prisoner draw his right hand up and stab the deceased on his right eye. The police 'constable who was called in to see the deceased spoke to going to the prisoner's house and inside refusing compelled to force his way in, the parties refusing to open it. He found two knives on a stool, the blade of one being about four inches long, and the haft of about the same length. On charging the prisoner with stabbing the deceased, he sai▪ d he had not done it with anything sharp, but wi▪ th a wooden chip he had picked up at Isiew-cross. Upon this, witness going back to Cable-street from the infirmary, whither he had gone to see the deceased, he searched about for the chip, but could not find one. 41r. Skinner, house-surgeon to the Manchester Infirmary, saw the deceased about 1 o'clock on Saturday morning, when he was brought there. The eye was much swollen and bleeding, and at that time he was unable to make an examination, nor was he able