The Express. — 1848-01-12 (London, England)

CAPITAL CONVICTION. John Heathen and six others were put forward, charged with the wilful murder of John M'Enery, at Adamstown, ou the 3rd Oet., 1847. The prisoners declined to join in their challenges, and John heathen was then put forward, and, a jury having been sworn, given in charge for the murder. The Attorney. General opened the case for the crown. He said it would appear in evidence, that on tho night of Sunday, 3rd October last, a party of armed men went to the house of the deceased M'Enery. What the motive that induced them to do so was, there might be some difficulty in ascertaining, because the evidence to he produced would show a motive so light and trivial, that it would be almost impossible to conceive that any human being possessed of the common feelings of humanity, could, with such a motive and with such provocation, be induced to commit a crime of so dreadful a nature. Renihen, it appears, bad some dispute with the family of M'Enery, out of which there arose an investigation at petty sessions. In a short time after this dispute a party came in the middle of the night—M'Enery had arms in the house for his protection, and these he on that occasion used, as he was fully justified in doing—he endeavoured to resist the party outside, and fired some shots. However, seeing the party outside so large, he knew that further resistance would he unavailing—he accordingly ceased firing, and endeavoured to hide himself: the party immediately broke into the house, demanded money and arms, and after possessing themselves of both, searched for M'Enery ; having' found him, they dragged him out of the house, when they beat him severely, and inflicted some gun shot wounds on him, from the effects of which he died mat day. The attack wee proved by the widow of the deceased, but she could not identify the prisoner as one of the party. Mary M'Enery, the daughter of deceased. Mary O'Connor, a female servant, and John Cuasen, a labouring man, proved the attack, and fully identified the prisoner. Mr. O'Hea addressed the jury for the defence, but examined no witnesses. The Lord Chief Justice charged the jury, who, without leaving the box, found the prisoner Guilty. The same spparent indifference that characterised the unfortunate men previously convicted capitally at this CnrllMi.l- was observable in the present instance. There was not a movement of a single feature betraying emotion of any kind. The prisoner was remanded, with an order to he brought up for sentence next morning.  ROYAL litniANE SoClrm.—The usual half-yearly meeting was held yesterday at the offices, 3, Trafalgarsquare. Mr. B. B. Cabbell, M.P., presided. The minutes of the monthly meeting, during the last half year, having been confirmed, Mr. C'harlier, the secretary .read the report for the year 1817. The number of cases (it was explained that • case frequently included several persons) which had been treated by the society was 130. Of these 168 persona bad been successfully treated, and 9 had proved beyond recovery. The number of suicides attempted was 23. The number of silver medals awarded was 21 • of bronze medals, 43 ; of written forms of thanks, 10; emit pecuniary rewards, 111. The receipts were as follows:—Subscriptions, donations, dividends, &c., 2,5731. 161. ; legacies, 1011. 15s. bd.; making a total of 2,6751. Ila sd. Expenditure: balance overdrawn last year. 171. la. 3d. •, rewards, salaries, drags, printing, medals, &c., 2,260!. 25. 5d.; expenses of the Hyde.park receiving honed, Ptc., marquees in the several parks, 3511.75. 7d., leaving a balance in hand of 271. Os. 2d. The secretary further reported that the marquees and the receiving-house were in excellent order and condition, and that the number of bathers in the Serpentine from July to December had been 225.850. The report having been adopted, thanks were severally voted to the Puke of Norfolk, president. the vicepresidents and officers of the society, all of whom were reelected. The secretary then read the eases in which awards were recommended to the consideration of the meeting. The first was that of Daniel Fisher, a quarter-master of her Ma. jasty's sloop, Spitfire, who had leaped overboard and saved the life of John Haggerty, in the straits of Sunda. This wee not his first action of the kind, as he had distinguished himself Tti a similar manner upon several previous oceanone. The next case was that of the Rev. E. L. Davis, who had saved the life of Win. Davis, in the Kingsbridge River, Devonshire. The man was endeavouring to reach a boat in the middle of the river by means of two oars placed across his chest. He lost however those supports, and not being able to swim must have been drowned but for the timely assistance of the rev. gentleman, who immediately plunged into the water and rescued him. The next case was that of James Mulqueeny, a private in the 46th Regiment, who rescued a comrade, named Webb, from drowning while bathing at Vale Castle, Guernsey. , The last case was that of Charles Weltch, • boatman of Hythe, Southampton, who leaped into the water from the quay, and saved the life of Wm. Warner. It was quite dark at the time, and the man in the water was scarcely discernible. It was at the risk of his awn life that Welsch succeeded in rescuing the drowning man, who was sinking for the lad time. In each case the society awarded silver medals to the persons distinguishing themselves. The usual complimentary vote to the chairman terminated the proceedings.