The Potteries Examiner : — 1871-07-22 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

STAFFORDSHIRE MIDSUMMER ASSIZES. _  (Prom our emu Reporter.) Ox Thursday, Mr. Justiei Lush, one the judges opliointed to hold the Midsummer Asian for this county, i arrived from Worcester shortly after mid-day. At a , quarter to four his lordship, with the usual attendant , formalities, opened the commission in the Shire Hall, accompanied by the High Sheriff, Mr. C. W. Lyon: the j Rev. J. B. Webb, MA., Rector of Ohl Cleeve, Somerset, Sheriff's Chaplain ; the Rev. T. It. Finch, MA., Rector of St. Mary's ; E. B. Jennings, Under Sheriff; R. W. Hand, Acting Under-Sheriff; the Mayor of , Stafford, Mr. H. Gillard ; and Messrs. J. Brookfield ; and T. Turner, borough magistrates. His lordship afterwards proceeded in state to St. Mary's Church, rescuing prayers being said by the rector. Mr. Baron Piggott entered the town by a later train. The trial of the prisoners commenced yesterday in the Crown Court of the Shire Hall, Stafford, before the Rt. Hon. Sir William Lush, Bart., one of the Justices / of Her Majesty's Pleas. His lordship arrived at 10 o'clock. There were also present C. W. Lyon, Esq., . High Sheriff; E. B. Jennings, Esq., Under-Sheriff; RM. Hand, Acting Under-Sheriff ; It. W. HanidEsq., also Clerk of the Peace. The Grand Jury were sworn as follows :—Sir John Morris, Knight, of Elmsdale, , foreman; William Fawkeuer Chetwynid of Brockton Hall, Esq.; Lorenzo Kirkpatrick Hall, of Hollybush, Esq.; John Bourne, of Hilderstone Hall, Esq.; William Thomas Locker, of Aston, Esq. ; Colin Minton Campbell, of Woodseat, Req.; Robert Hargreaves, of Knightley Grange, Req.; Henry Elwell, of Quarry House, Lichfield, Req.; Henry Ward, of The Oaklands, E/41. ; Frederick Charles Perry, of Dunston, Esq. ; John Perks, of Wolverhampton, Esq.; Will iam Mender Sparrow, of Wolverhampton, Req.; Arthur Sparrow, of Penn, Req.; Francis Stonier Philip Broade, of Betley Hall, Esq.; Charles Cecil Cotes, of Woodcote, Esq.; Charles Radcliffe, of Wyddrington Esq. William Arden, of Longerof Is Hall, Esq.; Peter Broughton, of The Hills, Es' q. ; Charles John Morris, of Wood Eaton Manor, Esq.; Martin Madan, of Haselour, Req.; Robert Woodward, the younger, of Arley Castle, Req.; George Thompson Hartley,of Tong Castle, Esq.; James Justinian Edwards Herithcote, of Dodillespool Hall, Esq. The proclamation against vice and immorality having been read by the Clerk of the Peace— His Lordship then delivered his charge to the Grand Jury. He said the calendar, as they would observe, dealt with a considerable number of cages, but from what his Lordship had seen of the depositions in the various eases there was nothing of a particular character for him to allude to. There were Xi or 35 prisoners for trial. There were two cases of murder, and three of manslaughter. Their was one ease of murder which was of o very bad character, and which had been committed it would appear under circumstances of a very dreadful nature. The murdered man in question had been found in the morning literally roasted in a heap of cinders in Westbromwich, and a portion of his clothes burned off. There were also such marks remaining as would go to prove, he thought, that there Lai been violence which had most probably occasioned his death, and that he was afterwards cruelly burned. Evidence that had been procured pointed ton person as the murderer of the unfortunate deceased, and his Lordship thought there was a prima facie case. The other Cilies were of a mostly ordinary character, one case though lie would allude to, and that was a highway robbery on a „oentleman who happened to be going home late at night, and was violently set upon by a party of persons from a publichouse. He was much maltreated. The evidence, however, before them would be of a fragmentary character, but, notwithstanding, he thought they would find a true biil against the prisoners. His Lordship would allude to one matter which might to be attended to in future, and that was the laxity there appeared to be in sending in the gaol warrants by the Magistrates' clerks. This ought antainly tube seen to,as his Lordship had found that although this was the second or third edition of the calendar there were two cases which hail been omitted, and this was caused as he had stated. It should be recollected how essential it was that there should be punctuality. He hoped the matter would be attended to, for there was no excuse why they should not get the full returns from the gaols in proper time. Having made some further remarks his Lordship discharged the Grand Jury to their duties.