The Sun. — 1858-12-17 (London, England)

DEC. 15.  (Before Mr. Justice Wightman.) Emma Bennett, who pleaded guilty, and John Harford who pleaded not guilty, were charged with having robbed Edwin James Taylor of his watch, and having at the same time used personal violence to him.  Mr. Sargeaunt conducted the prosecution. The robbery was proved to have been committed by the hand of the female prisoner in a public street, her male companion standing at a little distance and interfering with blows when the prosecutor endeavoured. to pursue her. A crowd gathering round the escape of both was prevented. Verdict, guilty. Both prisoners were sentenced to four years' penal servitude.  Wm. Richard Timms stood charged with having, at the borough of Birmingham, feloniously cut and wounded Mary Ann Owen, with intent to murder her.  Mr. Spooner prosecuted, and Mr. O'Brien, at the request of the Court, defended the prisoxer. The prisoner paid his addresses to the prosecutrix, with whom two young women lodged and worked. On the 4th Of October, about half-past six in the morning, the two female lodgers returned from a party at which they had spent the previous night, and found the prisoner at Mrs. Owen's house, lying upon a sofa in the lower room, .c,-liere it appeared he had been sleeping, while • Mrs. Owen occupied the room above. All met together at breakfast, of which the prisoner, though invited by Mrs. OWen' refused to partake. He sent for a qUartern of din, of which he desired Mrs Owen to drink, but she refused. After breakfast Mrs. O wen went up stairs, and was followed by the prisoner, who asked her what she meant to do. She replied, " I mean to do what I told you. I won't go with you since you're so tipsy." Prosecutrix then went down stairs and was followed by him down and up stairs again, when he closed the door, desired her to sit down amain, asked her whether she meant what she haesaid, and, on her answering " Yes," put his arm round her neck and drew a razor across her throat, inflicting a wound some 4 inches in length and an inch and a half deep in the deepest part, but in such a direction as closely to approach the principal blood vessel, but not divide it. The prosecutrix uttered a cry of " Murder," upon hearing which Jane Hummins, one of the female lodgers, ran up stairs, and upon entering the room found the prisoner leaning over Mrs;Owen with a razor in his hand, in the act of cutting her throat. Mrs. Owen was lying on her back, while the prisoner's knee was on her chest and his left hand on her forehead. Hummins struggled with him, and having succeeded in wresting ibe razor. from, his grasp ran _down stairs and gave an alarm. She then returned up stairs and saw the prisoner kneeling and leaningagainst the wall by the side of Mrs. Owen who still lay upon the floor. She again went down to bring sonic one in and was -followed by the prisoner, who declared that he would kill any ene who came near him. He again returned to the room and Hummins follow..ing him saw hiM with a knife in his hand. She went down once more, and called " Murder," and on returning found that Mrs. Owen hal the knife in her hand. The prosecutrix then became insensible, and a police man arrived, who took the prisoner into custody. Prisoner declared to him that he intended to murder her, adding, " I will murder her when I am at liberty, rather than any one else shali have her ! " The razor had been borrowed of a neighbour by the prisoner about two days previously. • Mr. O'Brien addresseu the jury, contending that the act was not one of deliberate intent to 'murder, but the result of a sudden fit of jealousy. The learned Judge observed on the ability with which the prisoner's counsel had addressed the jury, and having commented on the e7idence,, left the case to the jury, who returned a verdict of guilty of the full offence. Sentence of death was recorded, subjecting the ' prisoner to per al servitude for life, or such term as her Majesty may please to determine. . A number of burglaries ana other cases of little • public interest were diSposed of in the course of the day. '