Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1865-07-27 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

KEATING.) This court was opened at ton ,o'cl'Jck precisely, when there was a largo number a raagtrates in attendance. The following gentlemen wtre sworn on the grand jury: :John Floyer, Esq. (forenutn), W. P. Okedon, Esq., R. Williams, Esq., H. N. Middleb.m, Esq., R. H. Swaffield, Esq., J. Gtuldry, Esq., G. Whieldon, Esq., C. W. Digby, Esq.' J. if. Calcraft., Esq., H. Frampton, Rag., J. J. FarquharsuYi, jun., 'Esq., H. Williams, Esq., H. C. Goodden, C.. J. Parke, Esq., G. Cartwright, Esq., H. P. Cambridpo, Esq ~ E. H. Smith, E-q., .J. E. Bridge, Esq. L. G. St. Lo, Esq. M. Williams, Eq., R. if. Eliot. Esq., R. P. FeatherstOnhaugh, Esq., J. W. P. Fyleri Esq. Whe proclamation again .t vice and immorality having been read, his lordship 'proceeded to deliver the  when Private Sculley and Sergeant Hayes came up, and he was taken to the guard-house. Incosi-examitiaou by prisoner, who had a nuinter of papers in his hand to winch he referred : I did not go out to get the letter va,per because I feared you might injure yourself. I. (lit not go and report that I was afraid of you because I thought I should be laughed at and made a fool of. I'm did not leave the room to go to Private Rowe's room. I did smoke a gread deal before I married you in India, but lam now obliged to leave it off. I complained to Captain Malan, at Devonport, that I had no clothes or hoots to wear ; it was a proper comilaint. Capt. Malan in away abused me. Private M. Scully having deposed to going up on hearing Mrs. Heap call murder, in answer to his lordship, said, The married soldiers were allowed to keep their rifles and ball cartridge in their rooms. Sergeant Hayes proved ordering prisoner to the guard-room. Prisoner told him he did not intend to shoot his wife, but only to frighten her. He also spoke to finding one cartridge missing, and another broken as though it was about to be used. The sergeant also proved that the ball had passed through the wooden partition about 2 ft. 9 in. from the ground, and into the other married men's apartments. Superintendent Underwood spoke to apprehending prisoner. On the road to Weymouth barracks prisoner said it was all his wife's fault.—Prisoner being asked if he had any witness as to give evidence on his behalf called Captain Malan, who, in answer to prisoner, said: The I • size of your room is about 14 feet long, by about 5 feet. I am not certain whether there is a chimney piece there or not. I remember in 1862 or 1863, at Devonport, Mrs. Heap asked me to report her husband to the commanding officer, for not providing her with peeper clothing. I spoke to prisoner, and in her box in his room there was a very good pair of boots, which had been in her possession more than a week. I reported her to the commanding officer for lying. I would not believe her on her oath. There were rooms on either side of prisoner's, where the woman could have got assistance in a minute if she had needed it. After examining the cloak, witness said, I have had eleven ; bullet holes in my clothes, and I don't believe any bullet touched that. 1 have known prisoner in barracks for six years. I know that the prosecutrix has been once or twice threatened with being turned out of the barracks, and she has more than once left her husband. Before leaving the box, the Captain remarked that prosocutrix had said he abused her; he wished to say ha did no such thing. His lordship explained that prosecutrix did not exactly say he abused her, but sheseemed to think that be had not exactly done her justice in regard to the boots, which she said she had got by washing. Mrs. Rowe, the wife of a soldier at the barracks, was also called, and spoke to prisoner being in her husband's room, April 15, from 8 to 8.15. p.m. Mr. V. D. Lawrence, governor of the county gaol, aaid prisoner had not appeared to be cif a cruel disposition. On the contrary, he had been very kind in attending upon the sick in the infirmary. Prisoner's wife had told him that she had told the chaplain an untruth as to the number of husbands she had had. The Rev. B. L. Watson, chaplain of the gaol, said he had seen a great deal of prisoner's wife lately, and he confessed that he could not believe any uncorroborated statement she made, even upon oath. She appeared to be ignorant of the distinction between truth and falsehood, and seemed to have no moral sense. Dr. Murphey, assistant-surgeon to the 75th Regiment, saw prisoner at the guard-room, after the occurrence in question. He found him labouring under great mental depression, and very weak and desponding. In cross-examination he said this arose partly from drinking and partly from nervous excitement. Twice since prisoner tried to commit suicide by abstaining from food. Dr. Good said prisoner came under his attention aboutthree months' since. When he first saw him prisoner was in a very excited and depressed state. From his manner and appearance be doubted the state of his mind, and considered it to be his duty to order him to be placed in the infirmary and strictly. watched. Prisoner had been in the infirmary the whole time; had now nearly recovered, and was in a right state of mind. Capt. W. Hume said: As a shot prisoner was in the second class, and was a very fair shot up to 300 yards. He had known Mrs. Heap for three years, and would not believe her .on her oath. Prisoner read along defence, in which he endeavour to show that he discarged the rifle, not with the intention of injuring his wife, but only to frighten her, as he had been exceedingly annoyed by her conduct. The jury retired to consider their verdict, and; on returning to court, gave a verdict of guilty, strongly recommending the prisoner to mercy. The judge asked what were the grounds of their recommendation? The foreman said—the excitement prisoner was under at the time and the provocation he had received from his wife. Prisoner being asked if he had anything to say why judgment should not be pronounced, said it was known only to God whether or not he intended to kill his wife. The judge said it was the province of the jury and the jury alone to say whether a prisoner was guilty or not; they had found him guilty, and the sentence of the court was, that he be kept in penal servitude for 15 years.