The Sun. — 1863-09-21 (London, England)

OLD COURT. The September session of the Central Criminal Court commenced this morning. The calendar contains the names of 101 persons for trial, of whom no fewer than 21 are charged with uttering counterfeit coin, 3 for firing stacks in Kent, 2 for forgery, 2 for housebreaking, and 11 for misdemeanour. The other cases are of the ordinary description, but there is also a case of child murder and attempted suicide in Marylebone. The Recorder, in charging the grand jury, said there were, he was happy to say, but two or three cases upon which ho need address them. There was one case of a painful character, a charge of wilful murder, in which there was no question of the facts. On the contrary, it was clear the murder had been committed by the prisoner, and the only question would be the state of mind of the prisoner at the time. That, however, would not be for them to consider, but it would very properly be taken into consideration by the jury in that court. There was also the case of a woman named Engleheart, who was charged with causing the death of her child, of the age of four years, The child, it would appear, was of unclean habits, and some time ago the mother had medical advice ; she had placed the child in a cold bath, and kept it there 10 minutes. On taking it out the child appeared exhausted, and she then put the child under the pump, and afterwards took it upstairs. Finding the child insensible, she was afraid she had kept it in the bath too long, and prepared a warm bath, into which she placed deceased. She told the neighbours she was afraid she had kept the child too long in the cold water; but, on examination, some bruises were discovered on the body of the child, and she accounted for them by saying she had let the child fall. A person who was in the house at the time would prove that she heard no noise, and they would have to say whether the case ought to be further investigated. The next was the charge against a person of the name of Styles, who was indicted under an Act of Parliament passed in the reign of George 111., the Foreign Enlistment Act, which made it a misdemeanour for any person to attempt to enlist persons for the service of a war with a foreign power with whom this country was at peace. In the present instance the defendant was indicted for enlisting persons to serve in the war at present going on between Poland and Russia. Two people were attracted by advertisements inserted by Mr. Styles for young men wishing employment, and on inquiry it turned out that the employment was to assist the Poles against the Russians. If those facts were proved before them it would be their duty to return a true bill, and the whole matter would undergo the fullest investigation. In the event of any difficulty arising the court would most readily give the grand jury every assistance. The gentlemen forming the grand jury then retired to their room,and in a few minutes after the trials commenced. William Jackson, dealer, convicted last session with William Storrs, a groom, for conspiring to defraud, was brought up for judgment, the sentence having been postpone. from last session, when his companion received 10 years' penal servitude, in order that certain inquiries might be made. It was proved that the prisoner had been twice convicted. On the first occasion ho was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment,and on the second to four years' penal servitude. The prisoner, on being asked in the usual form why sentence should not be passed upon him, said in a whining tone that he knew he had broken the laws of his country and ought to be punished, but he implored the mercy of the Court on account of his wife and children. The Recorder said he saw no reason why he should not pass the same sentence as he had on his companion. The sentence of the court therefore was that he be kept in penal servitude for 10 years.