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Northern Star (1837-1852), 22nd December 1849, Edition 1 of 3, Page 7, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      Hon . C . Lawless , M . P . forCionmel , wasthenex speaker . He thought the leaders of the Alliance ¦ were the cause of the disunion , The rent was announced to be £ 1013 . Opi-DoOB Relief . —There are no persons now receiving out-duor relief in Ireland , under any sealed or < J < r of the Poor-law Commissioner although applications for such orders have been made by iomeof die boards . The out-door relief now afforded ( and in a few of the more distressed unions the claimants are still very numerous ) is giveu under the first section of the act , which directly empowers boards of guardians to grant relief out of the workhouse , to certain classes of disabled psor . There is tn extraordinary contrast between the northeastern and south-western unions : and the subject Hon . C . Lawless , M . P . for Clonmel , was the nex

      has exc ned a good deal of attention since the publication of the recent pamphlet of ilr . Shannon O-awford , M . P ., the object of wbich was ' to show that , in the most prosperous districts of Ulster , there is a more dense population , and a mere minute sub-division of the land , than in the most impo-• eeri ^ hed and pauperised counties of the south or west . The argument of Mr . Crawford , so far at least as the comparative freedom of the northeastern counties from pauperism , has received very striking corroboration from a statement in the last number of the Itownpatrick Recorder , as to the condition c . f the workhouse of that union—one of those particularly referred to by the honourable member for Rochdale . The Downpatrick union

      workhouse , that journal remarks , was erected to accommodate one thousand paupers , but the inmates at present are only 630 . and there are not five ablebodied men amongst the entire . Thus Downpatrick wkhouse is little more than half full , and the rate < jyer the entire umoo is bnt 11 Jd . in the pound , including the rate in aid of 6 d ., whilst several of the unions of tbe south and west are overwhelmed with pauperism and bankruptcy . The Doiunpatrick Recorder remarks : — " Tke entire suppnrt of the paupers in the union , salaries and every other charge lnrfuded . docs not amount to as much as the rate in aid . Tue ratepayewpf this union ajre therefore contributing more to the support , of tfie paupers in tbe soutn and wrst of Ireland thap-it takes to maintain their own poor . * -

      Untitled Article

      THE LATE UNNATURAL MURDER IN HARLEY-STREET . On Saturday , long before the usual period for commencing business at the , Jlarylebone police court , some hundreds of persons congregated in tie vicinity in the hope of seeing the woman , Sarah Drake , who was remanded on the 7 th inst ., upon the heinous ch arge of having murdered her child , Lewis Drake , aged two years . At half-past twelve the prisoner was placed at the bar , and , upon tte application of-Mr . Herring she was allowed to be seated during the inquiry . She held her handkerchief to her face , and scarcely any one in the court could , from the commencement to the close of the investigation , obtain a si ght of her features . THE LATE UNSATIIB . AT . Mnpnun tv

      u win uc remembered that a box containing the dead body of the child was sent off by the prisoner from her master ' s ( Mr . Huth ' s ) house , No . 33 , Upper Harley-slreet , addressed to Mr . Theophilus Burton , her brother-in-law , a blacksmith , residing at North Leverton , Notts , and that from the appearances which the bod y presented no doubt could exist as to the child haying been brutally murdered . An inquest was held by the coroner and adjourned for the purpose of enabling tho officers to get up the evidence . Mr . Phiuts , the cleric , read over the depositions taken down by him on the 7 th inst . At intervals the prisoner sobbed intensely , and it was quite

      apparent that sue felt acutely the awful Situation in which , from the confession of her guilt that she had made to the searcher , she was placed . The additionalevidence taken was as follows : Sarah Powell examined . —lam housemaid to Mr . Huth , of 33 , Upper Uarley-street , and 1 remember Wednesday , the 28 th of November . About a quarter to eleven that morning a friend came to see me , and , wishing te take her into the housekeeper ' s room , I went to tbe door of it , and found it locked . I called out , "Nevermind" to the prisoner , ¦ who , 1 believe , was inside , and I did not hear her answer anything . I did not see her go into or out of her room . I saw the door open in the course of an hour or two afterwards :

      Mrs . Jase Joussos was next examined . —She stated that she was the wife of a policeman , residing at ShirJey-common , Croydon . In the month o * f January , 1848 , she was desirous of having a child to nurse , and she applied to a Miss Harrington , who then lived at Chelsea , to do all in her power to recommend her . Shortly after this prisoner was introduced to her by Miss Harrington , and she took the child , which , was three months old , with an understandin <» . that she was to bring it up by hand as if it was her own , and she was to receive 6 s . per week for itsaupport . For the first three months witness was paid by the prisoner , and in the course of visits which were ad interim made , she understood from the prisoner that the father of the child

      was a Koman catholic , j fad she knew the child by no other name than tHfft of Lewis . She was not then in possession of the prisoner ' s name . In June the cbild became very ill , and she had it baptised in the name of Lewis . The payments ceased in April of last year , and in February witness saw Mrs . Drake at Shirley-common , where she ( witness ) had removed from Fecktatfh . She then said she would take away tip child and get it into an institution established at Boulogne . She gave me a sovereign , and said she would pay the rest as soon as she could . She took the child away then , and I did not expect to have it returned te me again . I saw her again next < l . iy between eleven and twelve at night . I was in bed when she returned . I got up and took the baby , and the prisoner told me that she had been to a doctor , who told her the child Lid got the water on the head , and that it would not live long , and that

      she had better bring it back to where the child had always been brought up . She said she would not take it away any more , and that she would do the best for the child , if I would hut keep him again . I did not say anything to her then , or at any other time , about her having taken different names . I took the child back again . She then paid me 11 s . more , in liquidation of the old debt , and I told her then I would keep the child for os . a week from that time . I did not see her afterwards until I received a letter on the 27 th of last month ' , which was dated the 26 th , and which caused me to go to Harley-street on the 23 th . Last Ausjust I received from her £ 10 , and she had sent me £ 2 previously to that , which did not pay the whole of the debt . I do not recollect the amount of the debt then . The last letter referred to was then put in and read , and was to the following effect : —

      ' Mrs . Jonxso . v , —It is with a trembling hand and broken heart I write this letter to you . You will be sorry to hear that 1 have been obliged to sell the chief part of my clothes to pay my expenses . I am a poor creature , very weak and ill , and when walkiug in the Park on Saturday for the benefit of the air , I accidently met witK . Mrs . — -, whom I knew when I was living in a family at Manchester , and she told me she would take ' me with her to Madrid . I hope to see you before i go . I shall uofc write to you , for they are all strangers to me here , and I do not wish them to know my address lou say lam not true to the cnild . I hope you will never have the trouble I have had about him . 1 have suffered greatly on his account , arid I do not " ish you to get more for him than I could pav

      ior . it will take me some time to pay what I already owe . M y wages are not £ 15 a year , and I am not able to bring him up respectabl y ! It is not in my power to do anything more for him than 1 have done . I wish him to go to the parish , and if 1 return I will do all I can for him . If I die , all my things shall be sold , and the money sent to you , but you must say it was money borrowed from you , for if tbe truth was known , my parents would curse me in my grave . If I had not done this [ accepted we suppose , the alleged ofier to go to Spain , ] I must have been starved to death . If I am spared you shall hear fro m mo in a few months ; it mav be six or twelve months before I return to England . If I leave , it will be about six o ' clock this evening . I hope you are all well . God bless you . " Yourssincerely , S . Drakb . "

      The witness Johnson said the letter was dated " 22 , Edward-street , Dorset-square , Nov . 20 th , 1840 . "—Mr . Long : When did you receive it ?—Witness : —The next day , the 27 th , and I went on it to 22 , Edward-street , and from information I got there I went to Upper Uarley-street , but did not know the number of the house . I went to Nos . 24 and 25 , and several other houses , but did not find Mrs . Drake that ni ght . On the next day—Nov . 28 —[ this is the day on which the child is supposed to have been murdered , ! I went again , and found the prisoner at No . 33 , Upper Harley-streef . I saw her there , and had the child with me . I saw . her in her room , and there was no one present but ourselves . She said she did not know when she was

      going abroad , and that the family had put it off until April or May next . I said , " Mrs . Drake , do not say that ; for you had never . any intention of going to Spain . " She then asked me if I would have anything to eat , and I told her no ; and she then said she thought the child was very much better than when she last saw him . I said he was quite well , and a hearty little fellow . I told her I must not take him home any more , for it was the second time she had deceived me ; for when she went into the country she said she was going to the Isle of Man , when in reality she was going to Nottinghamshire . She then asked me to take the child back for a week or so , until she could get some one to take care of him . I told her no , that my husbaud

      said l was to leave tue child with , her and not bring him back again . The sum of £ 9 10 s . was due to me at this time , She then came to tl « area door with me without the child , whose hat and things she had taken off before I left the room . At the door I told her my husband would take out a summons against her for the money . 1 went up the area steps , and when I got to the top of them she called me back again , and said " How much is it I owe ?" I answered " £ 9 10 s . " I then went away , leaving the child with her ; and I saw no more of her until the following Friday ( the 30 th ultimo , ) when I went to the house in Harley-street again . She had written to me in the meantime , and she asked me if I had received her letter , and I said " No ; but that no doubt my husband would receive it that day at

      two o ' clock . " I brought the child ' s things , and told her there was a note and a bill in the parcel with them . She said " Very well , I will read them by and by . " She said she had got the child out of the house , without anybody knowing it , to a friend of hers , who would lend her money as far as the debt went . When I got home I found a letter from her . —The letter was produced , and the substance of its contents is as follows : — " Mrs . Johnson , I have got a friend who will lend me the money to pay you the first week in January . My friend ' s money is out , and I cannot pay you before . I have none of my own until I have earned it . If yon summon me I cannot pay it , and I do . not know what advantage it will be to you to cause me to lose my character . Providence has so provided for me

      that I have concealed everything from the person in this house , and I hope you will not expose me . —S . Drake , Harley-street , Nov . 29 . "—Examination of the witness resumed—I have had no further communication with the prisoner after that . I went down last Saturday morning to NorthLeverton , and saw the child there dead . I am sure it was the child I had been bringing up . —The witness then indentified the clothes ~ found in the box as those worn by the child when living . Evidence was next given as to the receipt of the box by prisoner ' s brother-in-law , Mr . T . Burton ( before referred to ;) the said box was fully and completely sworn to as being that which was sent from Mr . nuth ' s house by the prisoner for conveyance into the country by the London and North Western Railway .

      Mr . Fkascis Buec examined—I am a surgeon , and reside at South Leverton , and have been in practice eince the year 1830 . I was called into examine the body of the child ,. and I was examined as a witness at the coroner ' s inquest held onrrot the Royal Oak , North Beverton , on the 3 rd inst . It was the body of a pale child , from 18 months to two years © W » as Ijodgtf from ifcj appearance , It

      Untitled Article

      seemed to have been dead only a very short time ; not longer than a week , perhaps not so long . On viewing the child I observed great redness , amounting to hyidness , of the face and forehead , and particularly of the eyelids , which were swollen , ine tongue was compressed between the teeth , the hands clenched , and the nails blue . I observed a bruise on the Je # side of the forehead , and there was also a bruise on the lower part ' of the left ear . By the direction of Mr . Falkncr , the coroner , I opened the head , and on turning back the scalp , 1 discovered extensive bruises corresponding with those I observed on the outside of the left part of the hflRd .-Mr . Long : Were they such bruises as might have been inflicted by blows or violence ?—. ¦ I .-.,-.... ,.

      Mr . Blagg : Yes , by a blunt instrument .-l should say by something obtuse . On removing the scull , I discovered corresponding marks on the membrances of the brain and on turning back the dun a matter I found a considerable quantity of extravasated blood on the left hemisphere of the brain . I also found extravasated blood in the ventricles of the brain , and at the baso of the skull , ine bram generall y was congested . I then opened the bod y and took out the stomach , and found in it about half a pint of fluid resembling gruel . I also tound several portions of undigested meat . It appeared to have been cured or salt meat . The stomach was perfectly healthy , as were all the abdominal viscera . I tW im » niui 4 i >* n \™* i «« ii

      found the right lung completely collapsed . The left lung , with the exception of the lower part , was in the same state , and I found there a very sniall quantity of air . I ought to have said that there was a handkerchief tied twice round the neck of the I vJ " - f tllc ' uanulerchief appeared to be tight . Inere was a mark round the neck , and nbraised skin by the side of it , and also considerable eechymosis m the . situation of the mark . Violence would have produced the effects I discovered in the bram , and in my opinion they could not be produced except by external violence , and such violence , in my judgment , was sufficient to cause death . —Air . Long : Did the appearance of the neck indicate such a decree of pressure on it as must , hhvn

      produced death ? -Mr . Blagg : Yes . sir , and led me to suppose that the child had been hanged or strangled in addition to receiving the blows . I am of opinion that death was caused by one or the other of them , or by both together . Sergeant Whiicher said that on the 6 th instant , accompanied by Superintendent Kinler , he went to Uarley-street . and on searching the house found three white linen aprons , marked " S Drake , " in black ink , and numbered " 16 , 18 , 24 . " He had compared them with the apron found in the box , by constable Smith , and they corresponded in name , make

      , and texture . He had received a bunch of keys from the prisoner , one of which unlocked the box in which the dead child had been found . ; Maw Ass Wignbll identified the box as the one she had brought down . It was the only one the prisoner had unpacked when she came to her place . This witness also identified the wrapper . Mr . Herring , who , in the present stage of the proceedings , deemed it unnecessary to put many questions to either of the witnesses , applied for a remand , principally with the view of having an opportunity of perusing the whole of the letters to which allusion had been made .

      Mr . Lose saw no objection to this course , and remanded the prisoner till Satupday ( this day . ) Sarah Drake is the eldest daughter of a respectable cottager , named Thomas Drake , of North Leverton , at which place she was born in August , 1813 . Her father and mother . ire still living , but the latter is blind . She was the eldest of four children , three daughters ( one of whom is dead ) , and a son . Having received a scanty education in the village , she waa seut out to service , and for some lime w is in the employ of ths late S . Kay , of Sutton-cum-Lound , at the period when he wasmurdered , on the 27 th of December , 1 S 32 . Shortly afterwards she lived in the

      family of John Walker , Esq ., of Lound : but after having , in order to avoid a prosecution , signed a piper acknowledging herself to be culpable , she was discharged in disera . ee . We next find her in the service of the llev . John Mickle , vicar of South Loverton , and soon afterwards in that of Mr . F . Blagg , surgeon . In the year 1830 ? he left Levorton , under the pretence of taking a situation at Manchester , and was sbseut for several years , during which time her friends were in total ignorance as to whether she was living or dead . Daring her absence she has said that she was in the East arid West Indies , aud certainly passed part of the time on the Continent .

      On tho 26 ; h of December , 1844 , an inquest was held by Mr . Falkland , coroner for Nottingham , on the body of a new-born male child , which had been sent from Euston-square Station , London , to Nottingham , thence per Queen coach to Uetford , and by carrier to North Leverton . directed— " Mr . T . Burton , North Leverton , near Retfovd , Nottinghamshire . " This circumstance , at the time , excited considerable interest , and many were the surmises as to whence such a present coujd be sent , and for what particular purpose . After a post mortem exaininqtioh of the remainshoweverthe surgeon gave

      , , it as his opinion that the child had not been born alive , and also , from various appearances lie believed the mother had delivered herself . The jury coisequently brought In a general verdict— " That the chad was sent , but it did hot appear by whom , and that whether it was alive before , at or after ils birth , to them was unkubwn . ' After th / s investigation the body was interred , and ihe , gossip which it had exci ( ed soon died away ; and had no ' , the recent despatch of another dead child !' iefrcshed the memory ot the past , " and [ ointed in a similar direction , it would not have been thought necessary to notice the

      circumstance . A few months after the burial of the child in question , Sarah Drake r jturncd to Leverton , but only stayed a short time . In 184 S siie visited her father aud mother for the second time , and remained with them for nine or ten months : and it is believed that she would have continued to do so , ha I not her poor old mother been continually tensing her about the other dead child with which she hsid previously tr oubled them . Soon after her first visit to Retlbrd she went to live as servant with Mrs . Ram-ay , of Tosmorc House , near Bicester , Oxfordshire , in 1845 . with whom she remained until July , 1847 . when she

      left that lady on account of being enceinte by , as she said , a person of ibe name of Lewis , or L-uis ' , ' a Frenchman , who was butler in the same family , and after whom the unfortunate child received its Christian nnnie . The child was born on the 9 th of Octol > er , 1846 , but by , whom it was nursed until Mrs . Johnson received it in January , 1848 , there are now no means of ascertaining . Sooa afterwards Sarah Drake was known to be in the . keeping of an officer in the army at Chatham ; but they notagreeinglong she then took a situation in the establishment of Lady Ann Gore Langton . On her leaving that lady she was well recommended to Mrs . Huth , in whose service she was when apprehended .

      After the examination of the wretched woman , Sarah Drake , Mr . Herring , her solicitor , made application to Mr . Long for all the property belonging to his client to be given up , in order that sufficient funds might be raised for efficiently earning nn the defence . The magistrates acquiesced in the request , and . Superintendent Kinder ^ of the Nottingham constabulary , handed over to Mr . Herring a gold watch and about a pound ' s worth of silver , which were found in the possession of the prisoner when searched by Mrs . Bridge , at the Marylenonc-lane station-bouse . Sergeant Whiclier , of the Detective Police , also gave up

      to the learned gentleman the keys oi the prisoner ' s boxes , which were then at Mr . Huth ' s ( her late master ' s ) house . Shortly after Mr . Long had made the order alluded to , Mrs . Johnson , the . female who had had the charge of the murdered child , and to whom many pounds are still due for the care which she took of it , spoke to Whitcher upon the matter of the debt , and on the matter being made known to the magistrate , he thought it right that a portion of what belonged to the prisoner , and which wss still in her boxes , should be kept back for the benefit of Mrs . Johnson , whose peculiar position in the melancholy affair entitled her to much commisseration and

      sympathy . On Tuesday Mr . Herring , who was not aware that the magistrate had altered his decision in the first instance given , entered the court and addressed Mr . Long in reference to the insufficiency of the means afforded him for defending his client , at thu same time stating that the worih of what had been given up to him did not excaed £ 5 or £ 6 . Sergeant Whitcher came to the court and held a communication with Mr . Herring , who ascertained from him that the boxes containing the prisoner ' s clothing , &c , had been taken away by him ( the sergeant ) from Mr . Huth ' s premises , and that in his opinion a sufficient sum might be realised to compensate Mrs . Johnson , and also to furnish the accused with the means necessary for her defence . The

      solicitor gave this information to the magistrate , av . d said that lie had made an arrangement with Whitcher to meet him in Scotland-yard , when the boxes which were there would be opened , and the contents thereof carefully examined . Mr . Long said he was glad to hear the adaption of a course of , which he entirely approved had been agreed upon . Mr . Herring said that he had examined the whole of the letters produced on the last inquiry , and had selected two which he considered to be of muoji importance , but it was not his intention to cross-examine Mrs . Johnson with regard to them , as he ( Mr . Long ) bad no d-ubt made up his mind to send the prisoner before a jury . Mr . Herring thanked the magistrate for his attention , and then withdrew .

      Untitled Article

      Max Drowned is Bed . —Last week a sailor , named W . Lnthom , on board tho sloop Turner , lying on Duddon Sands , took out a plug in the vessel ' s bottom , in order to allow the leakage water to escape . He neglected to replace the plug , and went to bed . As-the tide rose , the vessel filled with water , and drowned the poor fellow in bis bed . Mr . Garcia is appointed SolicitoE-General at Trinidad .

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      YORK . tt i ' j op Wn ' ' L AluRDEB .-Bonjamin George iirn- ' > Wils CUi »" ged with the wilful murder of ttilliam Healdand Elizabeth Henld , at Kisottinglev , on the 13 th of July last . —Mr . Blanshard and Mr . Ueothby were counsel for the prosecution ; Mr . Overend defended the prisoner . This gvand jury ignored the bill against the prisoner , who was now placed upon his trial on the coroner ' s inquisition . — it appeared that the prisoner , and his father mother , and brother , and the two deceased , who were the children p f the prisoner ' s brother , resided together at Knottiugley , near Pontofract . Two or tureo months previous to the commission of the ottence the prisoner met with an accident to his spine , whilst lie was at work , and the consequence was that he was prevented from following his daily occupation for several weeks . One of the results o ' f the injury was that tho prisoner ' s mind became

      uvucn depressed , but he so far recovered as to be able to resume his work , and he got engaged upon a line of railway . At this employment he remained tor some time , but the work being too hard for him , the injury he had previously received to his spino was much increased , and . he was again compelled to deawt . from work . Ilia mind was more impared than before ; ho gave utterance to expressions of tear of being thrown upon the parish , and evidently showed signs of insanity . On tho 13 th of July , j . hilst the father of the two deceased was absent , the prisoner went with the children into the garden , situated at a short distance from tho house ? In a Uttle tune lie returned to his mother , whom he had left , m the house , and said that the children still remained in the garden . His mother said thai he should have brought them into the houseand hi .

      , wpiy was , " I have killed them both , as I thought it better to do so than . let them pine to death . " Ilia mother was much agitated , at what > ho heard , and exclaimed , "Oh . Benjamin , you sursly haven ' t , " and the prisoner ' s answer was , "Yes , f havo ; we are going to be sold up to-morrow , and that was the reason I killed them . " There was an entire absence of motive for the act , as the prisoner liad always s . iown the , most extreme- kindness and affection for the two children . Mr . -Ni ghtman , the . surgeon , who attended , the : prisoner when he was confined owing to tho spine being injured , gave instructions to the family to . keep their eyes upon him , as he was not fit to be . trusted , his mind being affected , and ho might do himself an injury . The little bov and girl . wero found dead in the garden ; their heads dreadfully beaten , death must have been effected with a thick piece of wood . The iury returned a verdict of " Not Guilty , " on the ground of insanity ; and the prisoner was then removed .

      Cuttino and Wounjdisg . —John Ciyer was indicted for having , at Gargravo , on the 19 th of Oct . last , ielonionsly cut and wounded . "William Beecroft , with intent to murder him . —It appeared that the prosecutor , who is only sixteen years of a-. ro , resides with his two sisters and two brothers nt ' Ganjrave the pvisoncv living next door . About seven o ' clock on the 19 th of October , as the prosecutor and his sister were returning from work at the mill , where they were employed , the prosecutor obsorved that his shoe was untiedand as he was stooping down to

      , tie it , the prisoner having an axe in his hand , rushed out of his house in a great fury and struck the prosecutor ii violent blow on . the side of the head , with the edgo of the axo . This rendered him insensible , and on being conveyed home a sur » eon was sent for , who dressed the wound , which was of a serious and dangerous character , having made a fissure in tho skull . It was endeavoured to be shown that constant quarrels had taken place between the two families . —Verdict " Guilty . "—Sentence of death recorded .

      Abmixistkkisg Poiso . N .-Richard Cludelay , was indicted for having , at Leeds , on the 15 th of September last , administered to Ruth Horsfield , a child of the age of ten months , two cocculus indicus berries , with intent to kill and murder . —It appeared from the evidence of a young woman named Mary rioi * - nelu , that she resided with her father , who was a printer , at Ilolbeck , near Leeds The prisoner had courted fcer for some time , and the result of an illicit intercourse had been the child to whom the prisom-r was accus . 'd of a d ministering poison . Q'lie child was ten nunths old in September hsf , nnd had been unwell from cholera in August : on the oihot the followin / month , ( September , ) the prisoner came to the house of Mary llor . ifield ' s father , where she resided , with the child ; the mother left ' . the

      h- use for the purpose of going a few doors off after a bonnet , leaving the prisoner alone with the child , "lien she returned , in about ten minutes , she found it unwell from vomiting , which , upon taking it up , ti-ll upon her dress , the baby ' s frock , and likewise upon a cloth with which she wiped its mouth . The next day the child had recovered . But a few days afterwards ( the 15 th of September ) the prisoner was again nt the house , and the mother , having occasion to go to her aunt ' s , a few doors off , left the prisoner alone with the infant , again ; when she returned in about ten minutes she found the infant sick , and its mouth bloody , and taking it up in her armsshe

      , said > "Oh , my bairn ; " and then the prisoner paid , ' What ' s tho matter ?—I ' ve done nothing to it . " bheivj . licd , " You have . " Tlie childth-n vomited ; ami what appeared to be a pill fell from its mouth , which afterwards turned out to be a cocculus indicus berry . She picked it , up , when the prisoner tvied to taive it out of her hand , but she prevented him , mid s ad slio would show it to Dr . Scott . The prisoner left the house , and the next morning ifc was discovered that the child had evacuated ano her cocculus indicus beny . —The jury retired for about twenty minutes , and relumed , bringing in a verdict of" Guilty . ' —Sentence deferred .

      Violent OuTitAfiE on a Lady . —Edward James Perks , 27 , and John Taylor , 20 , were indicted fov having , on the 17 th of September , at Huddersfield , feloniously assaulted Mrs . Ellen Bradley . The proseeutrix , Mrs . Ellen Bradley , isa widow lady , with two children , residing at Gledliiil-temce , Huddersfield . On the 17 th of September last , she spent tho day with her brother , Mr . Edwin Jowctt , of Springstreet , and returned home about ten in the evening . Indoiiigsoshohad to pass aplacecalled Spnn « Wood . On going along this , place she was accosted ' by two men , who seized her from behind , and threw her on to the railway embankment . At this moment footsteps were heard , and the men left her . Troscciitrix cried out for help , whereupon the prisoners came up , having with them a large brown do « .

      Mrs . Bradley exclaimed , " If you are men , help me ! " Taylor replied , " I'll . soon show thee the help I'll give theo , " and proceeded to take off her bonnet and sV . iwl . She cried out " murder , " and then Taylor placed his hand over her mouth , and swore with an oath that " lie would despatch her soul if she cried out again . " The men then proceeded in the most brutal manner to perpetrate the violence charged against them in the indictment . After the prisoners hail effected their purpose , prosecutrix implored her brutal assailants to spare her life fov the sake of her children . To this Taylor replied that he would have sonic money , and the two then took her forward to a light , when Taylor made use of a very . indecent expression and repented his former violence , and called on his companion to

      follow his example . Taylor then searched her bag , but finding nothing but some stockings he gave her them back , at tho same time using a most awful imprecation . He swore lie would have some money or else lie would have her life , and she said , " if ho would only spare her life and go with her homo , she would find him money and also moat and drink . " Taylor asked where she lived , and having considerable presence of mind , she misled him on this point . He agreed to go with her , and she conducted him towards her brother ' s house . When they got opposite to this house , Taylor began to have misgivings , and observing there was a Tight iu the house , ho said , with an oath , that " prosecutrix was a liar , that she was going to deceive him , and if slip did deceive Sum , he would stick < i knife through her

      heart in a minute . Having got close to tho door , she told him he must release her right arm , or she could not open the door . He did release her , and she succeeded in getting hold of tho handle of tho door , but finding the lock fast she cried out " Murder , " which brought her brother to the window , and then Taylor released the unfortunate woman altogether , and made his escape . Steps were immediately taken which led to the apprehension of both the prisoners very shortly . Taylor was found under the bed in his father ' s house , and Perks was apprehended at his lodgings in Manchester-road . As to the question of identity , the prosecutrix made no doubt about the prisoners being the men , for , in addition to the night being starlight , and the length of time thev were with her . thev each

      during that time addressed the other by his name . The jury found both the prisoners guilty , and a previous conviction of felony was proved against Taylor . His lordship sentenced the prisoners to be severally transported for the term of their natural lives . Ali . egkd Aitemvt to Foison . — John Laverack , 20 , and Hannah Laverack , 2 i , were charged with having , on the 1 st of November last , at Armin , feloniousl y mixed white arsenic in a certain quantity of tea , and administered the same to Abraham Laverack and Hannah his wife , with intent to poisen them . —Mr . Overend stated the case . The proBecator and his wife , Abraham and nannah Laverack , were labouring people , and lived at Armin , near Goole . The male prisoner was son to the

      prosecutor , and the female pri soner was his daughter-inlaw , and they both resided with tho old people in the same house , On the 1 st of November last , about six o ' clock in the evening , tbe prosecutor and his wife , who had been engaged at field labour during the day , - returned home and took ten . The female prisoner was in the house , and before her father and mother-in-law came home she had prepared the tea . The prosecutor and his wife drank their tea , and very shortly ' afterwards they became violently sick ; and the suggestion on the part of the prosecution was that poison had boon put into the tea-pot by the female prisoner , at the instigation of her husband , tho other prisoner , —Verdict , "Kot Guilty . "

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      Alluded Concealment of Child-birth at HobnuRY . —ijjnma Craven , a well-dressed and highly respectable-looking young indy , was indicted that , on the Cth of August last , at Ilorbury , she was delivered of a male child ; and her father , Edward Craven , who was a retired tradesman , was charged t'lat ho , knowing that his daughter had been so delivered of a child , * endeavoured to conce .-. l its birth . There wero other counts in the indictment , charging both the defendants with having endeavoured to conceal the birth . After evidence had been given , the jury returned a verdict of "Acquittal , and the defendants were at oncu liberated .

      ALLKOED MURDBIt AT KoilTlI BlERI . KY . —GlWC Watson , 26 , was charged with the wilful ninrdcr of "l lliam Brown , on tho 23 rd of August last , at aortn Bierley , It appeared that the prisoner and several other men were drmkin ? at a becr-houso on the 23 rd of August last , wfien a quarrel took place , m the course of which the prisoner stabbed the deceased with a knife . The latter fell to the Srouwl , avuj , -when taken up , lie was found fo have eleven wounds on his body . On the 25 th of the same month he died , and it ' was proved in evidence that his deatk was caused ly the severe wounds he had reeeived . Verdict , " Guilty of manslaughter " sentence , twenty years' transportation .

      LIVERPOOL . Child Mc tder . —Mary Ann Page , aged 27 , was charged with the wilful murder of an illegitimate male child , at Manchester . —About the Cth or 7 th of August , the prisoner , went to the house of a person named Philli ps , at Cliorlton-cum-IIardy , near Manchester . On tho 4 th of September , not appearing in good health , she requested Mrs . Phillips to " o to a person at Banktop , in Manchester , to purchase her sorae herb tea . Mrs . Phillips went , but , on her return , was alarmed at some appearances , and suspected the prisoner was in tho famil y wav . The prisoner denied it , but Mrs . Phillips indi « nantl . v called upon her to loavo the house . The prisoner begged to be allowed to remain over night , and her veqixestwas gvanteti . Twice during tlie ni"ht the prisoner was observed to go to tho yard , and to stay there for a considerable period . At half-past five

      , the prisoner rose , went to tbe back yard , and again remained for a considerable timo . Shdrtl y after this , she asked a son of Mrs . Phillips to get her a pair of scissors , and went up stairs . The boy laid them on the stall-s . Mrs . Phillips found them tnore , and asked the prisoner what she wanted with them . To cut a knot in my sfriys was the reply . - Mrs Phi ) h p 3 was alarmed " from tho position in winch tho prisoner was sitting , and called in a neighbour , Mrs . Silgrim . The prisoner denied that she had been delivered ; but the room was searched , and in a Lu-ru handbos the body of a newborn child was found . The prisoner owned to a policeman who was brought that the child was her's . Tlicjury found tho prisoner " Guilty" of the minor charge acquitting her of the graver charge of mm-< ier . His lordship sentenced her to imprisonment with hard labour for two months .

      Manslaughter . —Francis narrison , aged 25 , and Joseph Harrison , aged 18 , ( brothers ) , were indicted for having killed and slain Michael Shorrock , at Over Darwcn , on the 12 th of November last . \ ordict , "Guilty ; " but the jury recommended the prisoners to mercy . Sentence , 3 ix months' imprisonment each wi ' th hard labour . Poaciiino . —James Lloyd , John Taylor , "William Roscoe , James M'Intyre , William Walker , William 1 ether , and Thomas Seddon , were indicted for n ht , P « cl » nff -it Altcar , on the estates of the Earl ot fceiton It appeared that on the night in quesa person named Warner a gamekeeper to the Earl of befton , was , with a number of his assistants , - . vatching on the land in question , hidden near the corner of a field in the occupation of Warner . After being-there some time , they saw several men come into the field , and they remained a short period ta

      lking together . Two of the men remained at the gate , and the others proceeded through the field , i hoy had a dog with them , which was hunting in the hem . On Warner and his assistants rushing towards them he was strucli with a bludgeon by Seddon , and it was seen that several of the others were armed [ in the same way . Warner succeeded in securing Lloyd , and a struggle took place between the other poachers mid the gamekeeper , which resulted in tho capture of the whole of the prisoners . —His Lordship having summed up , the l"iy , after some deliberation , said they thoiiaht the prisoners were on the land with the intention of taking gamej j , ut t j 1 Oy wcro not gatisne j t ^ t i , were armed with offensive weapons . —His Lordship said that the latter ingredient was necessary to constitute flic offence alleged , and tho prisoners were acquitted . This concluded the business of the assize .

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      The December sessions of the Central Criminal Court commenced on Monday morning , bofore-the llight Hon . the Lord Mayor , the Common Sergeant , Aldermen . Hunter , Finn ' s , and Carden ; the ¦ Sheriffs , Messrs . Lawrence ami Kicoll ; the Under Sheriffs , Messrs . Millard and Wire ; and the usual city officers . —The calendar-contains the names of 109 prisoners for trial at tho present session . Ciiakok of Consi'iracy . — Thomas Barnard M ' Carthy , 44 , George M'Carthy , a young lad , his son , James Grady , 01 , and George Grout , 33 , surrontleycil to take their trial upon an indictment ., charging them with unlawfull y conspiring together to defraud Henry Barr of certain goods and chattels . The defendants were acquitted .

      RoiinKin * nv a Discharged Servant . — Alfred Lipscombc , 17 , was charged with stealing twentyseven sovereigns , the monies of Cornelius Phillip ' s . —It appeared that the prisoner had formerl y been in the service of the prosecutor , who is an upholsterer at Islington , but had recently been discharged . On the evening of the day mentioned in tho indictment , Mrs . i'hillips , the wife of the prosecutor , hearing a noise in the bedroom , went there , accompanied by her servant maid , nnd on tho latter looking under the bed the prisoner was discovered

      concealed . An alarm was given , and he rushed out and made his escape , and it was soon afterwards ascertained that an escritoire in tbe bed room had been broken open , and the amount mentioned stolen therefrom . The prisoner was taken into custody the same night , but none of the money w . is recovered . —The prisoner in his defence asserte ' d that the witnesses were mistaken as to his identity , and declared that bo was innocent of the offence with which ho was charged . —The jury returned a verdict of . " Guilty , " aud he was ' sentenced to be kept to hard labour for one vear .

      Embezzikmesi by a Cijsiik . —Samuel Marlow Phillip , 29 , a young man of gentlemanly appearance , pleaded guilty to the charge of embezzling money belonging to his employers . —Mr , Bodkin , who appeared for the prosecution , said he was instructed to recommend the prisoner to the merciful consideration t » f tho court . —Mr . Clarkson , who was instructed to defend the prisoner , said , that as lie observed by the indictment , rtere was a charge against him of having been previously convicted of felony , he thought it his duty to inform ilic court that fifteen years ago ho was so convicted , and was sentenced to one month ' s imprisonment . Since that period he had been abroad ; and , he was informed , had entirely retrieved his character bv his

      conduct , and he had served with honour for some time in tho American army . He had returned to this country , and obtained respectable employment ; but , haying recently married , a temporary pressure , arising from that change in his position , had iiuiuced him to make use of his employer ' s money , in the hope that ho would have been enabled to roplace it , in which , however , he was disappointed . Under these circumstances , he trusted the court would think it was a case in which the prisoner might have another chance afforded him of becoming a respectable member of iociety . —The Common . Sergeant said the sentence he was about to pas » was a very lenient one , considering the character of tho offence , and lie hoped it might satisfy the justice

      of the case , without operating as a biul example . The prisoner hud been recommended to mercy by the prosecutor , and he appeared to have borne li good character for a long period , and under these circumstances he should only sentence him to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for four months . Manslauoiiikk by Stadiiing . — William Ilickcy , 28 , labourer , was indicted for the manslaughter of William M'Carthy , by stabbing him with a knife . It appeared that on the Ctli of Juno , the prisoner and the deceased quarrelled and fought , and upon the former getting the worst off in the struggle , he was observed to draw a knife from his pocket , and to stab tho deceased in the left side , and he then ran away and succeeded in making his escape . . The deceased was taken to the University Hospital , where he remained for tlneo weeks , and was then

      discharged , apparently cured . Ho subsequently enlisted into the army , and soon afterwards lie was found to be suffering from some disease of the lungs , and lie died on the 12 tUNov . Tho surgeons who wore examined stated the immediate cause of death was an abscess in the lungs , but they , at the same time , expressed a confident opinion that this abscess was the result of the wound that had been originally inflicted by the prisoner . —The jury found the prisoner " Guilty . "—The Common Sergeant , in passingsentence , said that the un-English practice of using the knife must be . repressed by severe punishments . There was no end of auch cases in every calendar , and he considered they were a disgrace to the country ; and , as far as he was concerned , lie was determined to put a stop to them . lie then sentenced the prisoner to bo transported for seven years .

      Muiimsnous Assault and Robbery . —Johanna Iirovfn , 21 , ataUmaso " alino Irishwoman , and Margaret Forbes , 18 , wore indicted for the capital offence of robbery upon William Williams , tho indictment , alleging that attbo time of the robbery the prisoners out and wounded the prosecutor . It appeared that the prosecutor met Brown in Westminster , aud accompanied lioi * to a notorious Urothel in Castle-couvi- ,. where tlioy were joined by tbe other "sciaan . aai won hU refusal to comply

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      with their demand , for ' money , they made a most murderous attack upon him with n poker , iind cut ins head open and inflicted severe injury upon him , and at tUe sumo timo robded him of a * half-crown and some other money . —The jury found both prisoners " Guilty . "—The Common Sergeant said it was : x very serious offence , and he had no alternative but to order judgment of death to be recorded against them . —The prisoner Brown upon hearing this bog .-m to bellow most stoutly , and « s she left the dock she shrieked out , " Oh , shall I be hung ? Am I going to be hung ' "—Jud gment of death was recorded . K . MHEZZI . EMEST . —John Bartholomew , 29 , pleaded guilty to a charge of embezzling divers sums of money , the property of Daniel Pratt , his master . — The prosecutor , who is the proprietor of the JSritteh lianner newspaper , recommended the prisoner to the merciful consideration of tho court on

      account of lua previous good character . —Tho Common Sergeant sentenced him to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for one year . A Scouxdkki , Dbtkctkd . — W . Tarbuck , 23 , tallow-chandler , was indicted for feloniously with menances demanding of William Russell tho sum of £ 2 , with intent to steal the same . —The prisoner , a tall effeminate looking man of dissipated appearance , in a mincing tone pleaded "Not guilty . "The prosecutor , wlio is in the service of Messrs . Lewis and Allenby , tho silk mercers of llegcntstreet , stated at about nine o ' clock in the evening of the 8 th ^ of this month , as he was returning home from Knightsbridgc , he had occasion to enter a place of public convenience , where lio saw tho prisoner , who spoke to him . Prosecutor instantly left , and walked away , intending to cross the park

      but finding himself followed by tho prisoner , he turned round with tho intention of getting into the main road again , when the prisoner camo up , and catching hold of him in a most improper manner said , " You are a gentleman , and must g ive me £ 2 . " Witness tried to get away , and called for the police , when two officers came up , and ho at ' once stated the charge , when the prisoner threatened to give him in custody for indccoJitly assaulting . him . —The constable who took the charge said lie ! had . seen tho prisoner for some long timo hanging about the secluded parts of the park . When searched at the station , a small packet of rouge was found in I 113 pocket , a duplicate , and a few penco . —The jury immediately found the prisoner " Guilty . " — The prisoner , who said lie could bring a clergyman to speak to his former good character , was ordered to bo brought up on a future day to receive judgment .

      THE ATTEMPTED PARRICIDE AT CHISWICK . Wkhnksday . —II . B . Monkhouse , 28 , described as a mariner , was indicted lor feloniously shooting at John Farmer Monkhouse , with intent to murder him . In other counts his intent was laid to be to do grievous boaily harm . Mr . Bodkin prosecuted , and Mr . Ballantine defended the prisoner . The learned counsel for the prosecution having briefly opened the case , the following evidence waa adduced :

      Wiutam Asdkbto-v deposed that ho was a cabdriver , and on the 4 th of October ho was engaged by the prisoner , in the Minories , to go to Chiswick , and witness agreed to take him there for Hs . At this time the prisoner appeared as though he had been drinking , and before they started they had some liquor together . On the road to Chiswick they stopp 3 d at several public-houses , and witness and the prisoner had drink at all of them , except the Black Lion , which was tho last house they stopped at . ¦ When they arrived at Chiswick the prisoner directed him to stop at the house of the prosecutor . It was then about ten o ' clock at niMit and quite dark . The prisoner , when he pulled up told him to ring the bell and ask for Mr .

      Monknouse , and say that a gentleman wUhed to speak to him . Witness did so , and the servant shut the gafl and went in . She returned in a minute or two and said tho gentleman must send in his name , and tho prisoner then said he would jro himself , and forced his way into the garden . Very soon afterwards witness heard the report of fire-arms , and in a minute or two the prisoner swaggered out of the gate and mounted the box of the cab , and told him to go to the top of the lane . Witness asked him about the repoat of the fire-arms , and he said it was not thoro . He then pulled up at a public-houso and demanded his faro , and tho prisoner said that if he drove , him to tho Bell , at Haling ho would give him

      a sovereign , and witness agreed to do so ; and as they wcro going along the prisoner rolled about a good deal , and witness told him to mind that he did not fall off . When they arrived at the Bell the prisoner invited him to dii . ik again , and they both had a glass of brandy . The prisoner then wished him to drive him to his brother ' s house , which he said was up a lane dose by , and ho drove according to Ins direction , and they rang the bell at one of the houses in tho lane , but received no answer and witness drove back again to the Bell , where the prisoner a 3 ked the landlord to give him a foverei « n , but he refused , and at this time a policeman canio up and the prisoner was given into custodv . ¦

      Elizabktii Baynes , servant to the prosecutor confirmed the evidence of the last' witness with regard to the conduct of the prisoner in rushing past Itor towards the house , and said that as lie passed her he exclaimed , "lam a Monkhouse , and I'Jl speak to him . " She looked towards the house , and saw the prisoner standing in front of her master , who was on the hall-stops , and at tho sa me moment she saw a flash , and heard the report of a pistol and just as her master was falling there was a second report . The prisoner was standing close by the prosecutor nt this time , and after he had fired he turned round and came towards her , and as he passed her he said , " There , " and he went away and she saw no more of him . The prosecutor at

      this time was crawling upon his hands and knees towards the footpath . Mr . J . F . Monkhouse said : The prisoner is my second son . I have five children by a first marriage , and one by a second . I remember a ringing at the bell of my house on the ni ght of the' 4 th October , and after my servant had brought me a message , the prisoner rushed up to me and shot me . Sot a word passed between us before it happened . I heard the reports , but I did not sec the weapons with which he sliot at me . One of tho shots took effect in my throat , and I fell to the ground immediately . 1 did not hear tho prisoner say anything except that ho was a Monkhouse . I had seen the prisoner about a week before , when lie came to my house , when I told him lie should not remain there . Wo

      were not exactly upon good terms . The prisoner is a sailor , in the merchant service . 1 myself havo served in the royal navy , but left it in 1810 . The prisoner vraa first apprenticed to the sea . He ia now twenty-eight years of age . —By Mr . Ballantiire : The prisoner s mother died in 1831 , and I believe the disease of which she died was brain fever . Four others of her children ooBides the prisoner were alive when she died . The prisonerwasboumlapprenticeto learn the sea , but I don ' t know what they made of him . Since ho has been out of his apprenticeship , I believothc prisoner lias been to " sea as a common sailor . I don ' t know where the prisoner went upon bis last voyage . He was away a year and a half . I was never a common sailor myself . Before ho was apprenticed the prisoner was ata young gentleman ' s school at Hammersmith . His motlii !! was a

      gentlewoman , but I believe she had no fortune . Upon the occasion I have referred to , the prisoner wanted to sleep at my house , and tor certain reasons I refused to allow him . —By the Court : The reason I refused to allow him to sleep was , that I thought he ousjht to have sent mo nn apology for his conduct prior to his going to sea the last time . —By Mr . Bodkin : 1 he prisoner was between mxtccn and seventeen when he was apprenticed . M y first wife had only a small fortune . I derive tho property I am nowpossessed of from my grandfather . Hkmiy Heeses , a police constable , deposed to apprehending the prisoner at the Bell , at Ealing , about twelve o ' clock ' at night on the 4 th of October . Witness asked him if Ms name was Monkhouse , and

      he said it wss not . He then told him ho suspected he was the man he wanted , and he-must take him to the station-house , nc was then taken to tho police station . He appeared to have been drinking a great deal . When he vas searched a pistol , with the barrel separate from the stock , several bullets , which fitted the pistol , and a small quantity of gunpowder and some percussion caps , were found upon him . On the Sunday following witness went to Ealmg and received another pistol and some gunpowder from the landlord of the Boll . They were fellow-pistols , and both had percussion locks . As he was taking the prisoner to the station-liouse , he said that if he had a pistol he would blow his brains out .

      Mr . Williams , tho landlord of the Bell , deposed that when the prisoner camo to hia house on tho night in question he produced two pistols , and laid them on tlie table with some gunpowder , and witness took them up and put them i » a drawer . Ho afterwards saw one of tlie pistols in the prisoner ' s hand , and directly afterwards he was taken into custody . Witness subsequently delivered the second p istol to the officer . The prisoner appeared to be very much excited , and walked wildly abffift the room .

      Mr . T . W . Perfect , a surgeon , residing at Hammersmith , deposed that he was called upon to attend tho prosecutor on the night of tho 4 th of October . He wns suffering from the effects of a gunshot wound , faint and trembling , and he expectei ho * would die almost immediately . Mrs . Monkhouse and the servant were holding a basori to his mouth , from which a quantity of blood issued . He undid the collar of his shirt ,- and found a gun-shot wound , with a large blackened surface , upon tlie throat . The ball appeared to havo entered immediately in front of the neck , and tho stiffening of the stock appeared to linve had the effect of diverting its course into the cavity of the throat , and then , upwards , where it must haye touched the base of tho skull , or some other hard substance m tke head ,

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      A Califobxiax Abvestuhek . —A Sir . John Evans of Totnes , left Teignmouth about two years ago , in the vigour of twenty-four years of age ^ to seek a commercial clerk ' s situation in St . John's , Newfoundland . It did not suit him , and he got into the Chited States . His Devonshire friends have lost sight of him ever since , till now , when a letter arrives dated from the Gold Region of America , August 22 , in wlich he states that he arrived there last July , and in six weeks he was the possessor of six or seven pounds weight of gold ( worth £ -300 ); he and his partner , working in the sands of the river , could collect three or four ounces daily , which

      as gold is worth in civilised countries about i $ 17 s . pd . per ounce , seems very lucrative labour , but then it must be remembered that food , clothing and lodging are enormously dear there ; little or no coin is nsed , and one pays in a shop with gold dust —so that " down with the dust , " is no longer a figurative expression . Mr . Evans has also commenced searching in the " diggings " in the mountains , but had not , at the date of his letter , yet picked up any solid lumps of gold there . Other persons have got large solid masses in the diggings , some weighing 141 b 3 . Mr . Evans journed across the Rocky Mountains , and took two horses with him . He says hemeansto return to England when lie has amassed fifty thousand dollars .

      Capt . Boxes , of the Koyal Horse Artillery , lias invented a very effective lighting carcase , to le fired into the air OTer an enemy's position , so as to show his arrangements and movements in the darkest night . It burns in the air at a groat altitude . At tlfc highest point an explosion took place similar to the bursting of a rocket in the air , and out came a parachute , fully six feet in diameter , sod about three feet in depth , suspending a brilliant blue lifht . The apparatus floated to the , south-east , illuminating the whole of Woolwich Common under and around it , " with a li ht nearly equal to that of 9 frll row

      ^^Mtntruisfhre.. "

      ^^ MtntrUiSfHre . . "

      (Ectttval Criminal ©Omt.

      ( Ectttval Criminal © omt .

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      J ecemiJeb ; 22 ., I 349 ., , THE -NORTHERN - STAR " — " ¦— ^^^**^^^ S S S * g **"« ** - *» w ^ -ii «« M ^ MM ^^ i ^ IMj ^ ^ - ¦ -.- ¦ i ^^ . ^ ..-.. ^ - . .. ^ . ^ At 1 .-B <« J .,,,. f * :. . *** ... " . . " , ¦** ~ y ' ft . 1 ^~ -- . ^ 1 ^ l _ 2 . - ¦ . ^ MMWB ^ -I ¦ , -- ¦ ; ,, ¦ „ - , - . * -nT ^ ,. ^^^ - - , .. - ¦ - ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ •¦¦«»

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      THE LATE GENERAL COURTS-MARTIAL . Sotiisgham . — Stoday . —Yesterday the sentences on privates Ball , Rittwortb , and Knox , tried in . this town by general courts-martial on the 6 th , jth . andSthof . November last , were communicated from Sheffield to Nottingham , having besn officially announced to the prisoners in the former town on the previous day . The unsentenced prisoners were removed to Sheffield at the time the several troops exchanged quarters a few days ago . —As it is usual in auch cases , the official minutes of each trial were read in the presence of the assembled tronps . The following is a brief summary of each case . — Ao . 787 , Private Robert Knox , charged with havhkt , on the 14 th of October last , left the Nottingham Barracks when confined thereto , and not returniiv tmt ! l the lath ; also , as a second offence , with raisin " his hand , m which was a large stone , against Sergeant-Major Davis , and uttering insubordinate worda

      in a menacing manner . —The fi'St charge was adnutted . To prove the second , Sergt .-Major Davis deposed : I was sent in charge of a picket in search of men , of whom the prisoner was one . I went to the Gate public-house in Brewhoase-yard , and was endeavouring to secure t wo of the absentees , when the prisoner and another ran away . My party gave chase . On going close to them , private Knox turned round ; he raised his hand , in which , to the best of my belief , was a large stone , and exclaimed , " Do you b . ' or words to that effect , as if in defiance of my securing him . I knocked him down with my sword , a > id broke it . I cut him across tlie head . Civilians afterwaids rescued the prisoner .

      witnesses were called who swore that the sergeantmajor ' s sword was broken during a row that previously occurred in the Gate public-house , and that -when he struck Knox it was with a short piece of the broken sword , the prisoner having his back toirards the sergeant-majorat the time . andnot making nse of any menace or expression of defiance whatever . The prisoner s ase was said to be 26 , his service two yean-, aud his character very good . — " Guilty" of the first chargs ; " not guilty" of the second . To be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for three calendar months . No . 607 , Private William Butterworth , for breaking out of barracks at Nottingham , when confined

      thereto , oa the 14 th of Octob r , and not returning onta brought back by a picket on the 15 th ; and secondly , for wsubondination in seizin' the detained Iroop Sergeant-Major Davis in the Gate publicnouse whilst two prisoners escaped , sayingmeanwbile , I will not hurt you , sergeant-maj . > r , but I will hold yon , or aords to that effect—Tue evidence for the prosecution and iu favour of the prisoner wasverv lengthy .-The prisoner ' s age was described as 2 S years , his length of service eight years , and character mdifferent .- "Gmliy" of the firstcharge , and partiallv guilty of the second . To be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for twelve calendar moflths Xo . S 19 , Private Edward Ball , charged , first , with breaking out oi barracks when confined thereto at

      Nottingham , on the 14 lh of October ; secondly , with -escaping from a party by whom he had been captured the same night , and not returning until the ICth of the same month ; thirdly , with using insubordinate language to Sergeant-Maj ir Davis on the 14 th , and saying , "lou nre uo man , Sergfant-Major , " or words to that effect . —From the evidence it seemed that the prisoner was one of those who escaped fr . im the Gate public-house at the time Sergeant-Major Davis was endeavouring to capture some of the absentees , on the evening they absented themselves from barracks . On leavim ; the public-house he went a _ circuit round Genton , and was at Radfonl , in the vicinity of tlie barracks , when a second picket observed liin ., and gave chase . He ran down

      Derbvroad , and entered Nottingham market-place , when Sergeant-Major Davis and his party met him . Bo h pickets pursued the prisoner up Park-street , when he took refuge in Mr . Shuttleworth ' s passage , which was very dark at the time . lie was observed to enter by two policemen , who gave information to th

      suiting the action to the word , he cut the prisoner across the head with his swoi d , and Corporal Stur « es 3 at the same moment thrust the point ef his sword into ihe prisoner ' s mouth . " Then it was , " said the prisoner in his defecce , "that 1 made use of some remark to tbe effect that they were not using me as a fellow-soldier , or as a mian . * ' lie was , however , secured , and given iu charge to a small parry , whose vigilance he eluded at tbe Park comer , a « lark place , and a second time escaped—not returning to the barracks until two days afterwards . —The prisoner ' s age is 27 years , length of service three years ; character indifferent . - " Guilty" of all the charges . To be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for twelve calendar months .

      Daring the late unhappy troubles , a great proportion of the men composing two troops of the 3 rd Dragoou Guards have been punished for insubordination and misconduct in one way or other ; three have been tried by general c * mrts-niartial , thirteen by district courts , about thirty have been disposed of summarily , two were fined ty the Nottingham magistrates , and one escaped . Lieutenant-colonel Arthur , to whose illesal order for confinement of tlie troops to barracks the Duke of Wellington has attributed the wide-spread spirit of insubordination wbich followed , is under ordersit is stated in the regiment , to dispose of his commission bv the 10 th of March next All the offenders " sentenced to imprisonment have been removed to the mtiitaTy gaol at Weedon .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 22, 1849, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1553/page/7/