The Sun. — 1860-10-22 (London, England)

TRIS DAY.)  The October sessions commenced this morning before the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, the Sheriffs and other civic authoriti es.  The Recorder, in delivering his charge to the grand jury, remarked upon the number of persons awaiting their trial. The time that had elapsed since their last meeting, he said, had been longer than usually was the case, and to that cir• cumstance he attributed the increase. The cases, it was to be regretted, were also of a very serious character. There were three charges of wilful murder, one against a young woman named Elizabeth Padfield, for killing her child at Hometton.; another against William Webb, the chief officer of a vessel called the Brierly Hill, for killing a seaman on board that vessel; and the case of John Mullins, for the murder of Mrs. Emaley, at Stepney. He did not think it would be necessary to detain them with any lengthened remarks on the first of the cases mentioned, because they would have the whole of the evidence submitted to them, and on that they would act. With respect to the charge against Webb there was considerable doubt, as it appeared clear that at the time of the occurrence the crew of the vessel, if not in a state of actual mutiny, were, at all events, in one of great insubordination, and refused to comply with the orders given by the prisoner and the captain ; and the law under such circumstances gave very great powers to the officers in command of a ship, and in case of actual mutiny they would be justified in resorting to the use of doaaly weapons, if such an act was absolutely necessary for the preservation of the vessel. The jury would have to say to what the offence amounted. T dames Mullins, who stood charged with the wilfulhe caseof murder of Mary Emaley, was likly to occupy their attention for some time, both from the mystery with which the crime was surrounded, and the numbera of witnesses to be examnThe person had been in charged was sa working bricklayer or plasterer, lasterer, who habit of being employed onlyaft by the deceased, and it was er the prisoner had accused another person of thecrim e thatthe prisoner was suspicion fell upon himself. The evidence against return chiefly circumstantial, but the jury would leave whole of it into their consideration, and determine um e to take whether the a true bill there was sufficient to enable them t against the prisoner. He need not allude to the other contained in the cafender, as they were of the ordinary cases contained description, mint cases as usual being Very,num ,numerous, a circumstance which was greatly to be regretted. 1 the discharge of their duties. any unexpected should arise, the Court would most readily afford thorny every assistance. The grand jury then retired to their room. The case of Mullins, for the Stepney murder, is one that will attract a great deal of interest. Since he has been in Newgate he has exhibited a quiet and reserved demeanour, and has not made any allusion to the crime with which he is charged, and, of course, nothing whatever is said to him upon the subject. He has been visited once or twice by his wife and daughter, but no other relative has been to see him. Mr. J. Best, the counsel who defended Youngman for the Walworth murder, has been instructed to defend the prisoner. The witnesses for the prosecution will in all probability go before the grand jury on Tuesday, and when the bill is found an application will be made to the Judges to fix a day for the trial, which will certainly not take place before Thursday or Friday. It is understood, however, that the prisoner's counsel will make an application to postpone the trial to the November rsssi n, on the ground that sufficient time has not been afforded nu to make himself master of all the facts. These applications are 6,,..5r511v granted, so that in all probability the prisoner will not be tried at the ensuingei3ession. The Judges who are to preside are the Lord Chief Baron, Baron Martin, and Mr. Justice Hill; and the Aldermen upon the rota to act as second "Innaissioners are Aldermen Wilson, Sir J. Musgrove) Ealoruous, Sir 11, Itlngerhige) 412C1 Allen.