The Northern Daily Times. — 1856-12-06 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

NEWCASTLE.ITPON-TYNE.—Dronmsza 3. Mr. Justice Erie took his seat at nine o'clock, and proceeded with the trial of cases from the county. Michael Cawthorne was charged with the wilful murder of Mark Cunningham, at Hexham, on the 28th of September last. He was also charged with the same offtnce on the coroner's inquisition. Mr. Price and the Hon. A. Liddell were for the prosecution, and Mr. Davidson for the prisoner. The facts of the case were very simple. Mary Guthrie, whose husband keeps the Lion Inn, at Hexham, stated that the prisoner and the deceased were at her house, but not in company together. The deceased said, " We have just been turned out of a public house by the police." Cawthorne said, "Then you have been in worse company than I have." Deceased said, "What do you mean?" Cawthorne said, " I don't owe you any animosity." Deceased said, " Nor I to you." Deceased said,,f you come out, I will give von what you want, either' light or dark." Deceased then went and sat at the fire. Prisoner, and another man named Gordon, meantime, played at dominoes. She brought in a quantity of ale, and said to prisoner, " You have no money, and had tetter go home." Prisoner said she might set it down, and he would pay her for it. She took the ale away,  but afterwards, hearing their tongues high, she went back. and saw deceased catchCawthorue by the shirt breast and pull it open. Cawthorne put his shirt breast in with left hand, and said, " What will people say about flu.' they will say I have been in bad company." The witr wanted to put deceased out, and he resisted. He was a vt, rude man She then asked Cawthorne to go home. thorne got up and said, " Do you want to use me ba She said, " Nobody shall use you badly if you will home," and she said to Gordon and Cunningham, " Allot this man to pass." Cawthorne also said, " Allow me t pass." George Dodds helped him out for fear they shut':ill-use him. As Cawthorne went out of the door he stumbled, as if from it push from behind. Witness then saw him holding up something which glittered in the gag_ lig ht. She started back and said, " Oh, dear, what's that ?"" Dod Is said, " It's a knife." The prisoner made no remark. Dodds let go the prisoner and sat down. PriA.oner went out, and witne s bulted the door after Gordon and Cunningham remained in the house for about an hour afterwards " for fear of an accident." They then went td their lodgings, but Cawthorne got there directly after them. He had an open knife in hzs hand. Deceased said Cawthorne was no man. Cawthorne said, " is not fi,.e minutes since I was with the police, and he told me to defend myself with that," showing the knife. Deceased told him, ‘• If he was for fighting to lay the knife down, and then," he said, " I'd see what you can do." In saying that Cunningham struck him with his open band upon the cheek. C twthorne stepped forward and stabbed him in the belly. The d .ctor and the p lice was sent for. The man died some days afterwards. They were all tinsmi h's labourers. The counsel for the prisoner (Ur. Davison) addressed the jury on his behalf, and urged that he did not deliberately murder the deceased, but acted under provocation and whilst in a state of drunkenness. He was found Gaiiig cf manslaughter, and sentenced to fifteea years' penal sa-vitude.  WINCIIESTeatt,