| 7 APRIL 1837, Friday New York The fine fast-sailing ship "The Royal Adelaide", under the command of Captain J. Vivian, sailed from Falmouth on Thursday afternoon with a fair wind for New York, with 115 passengers. The accommodations on board, we understand, are of a very superior order. Wholesale Robbery - For some time past, the mines and counting-houses of mines, in the parish of Breage and its vicinity, have been pillaged to no inconsiderable amount, without any discovery being made of the thief. Lately, however, the wife of a miner having sold to one person 223 lbs. of brass, suspicion was awakened that it was not honestly procured, and enquiries were instituted which led to the procuring of search warrants. Eventually, several hundred pounds weight of brass, a looking-glass, a handsome dial, and various other articles were discovered, and on the articles being identified by the several agents of the mines from whence they were stolen, James Pope, and Thomasine his wife, of Breage, and Henry Gundry of Sithney, were for the several offences, on Tuesday last, committed by John Borlase, Esq., to take their trial at the next general quarter Sessions of this place. Rat Killing Extraordinary - On Thursday last, whilst Mr. H. Ellery's men, at Bosvigo Farm near Truro, were engaged in carrying from the mowhay to the barn, about four loads of barley, the remainder of a barley-mow, the astonishing number of 156 large rats were killed in about three hours. This expeditious work was well executed by Nelson, a Newfoundland dog, and Pincher, a terrier. The latter dog is the property of William Rowe, of this town, commonly called the Little Whacker, of Truro, a noted dog breeder. The slaughtered rats, when brought together, would have been an interesting sight to any farmer who dreads the effects of these most destructive vermin. Extraordinary Fecundity - Mr. Robert Truscott, of Harvose, in the parish of St. Stephens in Branwell, has now in his possession a goose, which has produced four broods from her own eggs, in eleven months, viz, April 13 � June 2 � December 8, 1836, and the 23rd ultimo. We have not ascertained the total number of this goose's progeny, but believe they were all good flocks. Fruitful Ewes - Mr. Bone, of Stencoose, Ladock, has had this season ten ewes, which yielded twenty-two lambs; namely, three trebles, six doubles, and one single; and what is more extraordinary, among these twenty-two lambs, only four were ewes. A Magistrate Fined - Last week, the Rev. Archdeacon Sheepshanks pleaded guilty at a meeting of Magistrates, before whom he had been summoned, for having defrauded the Penryn gatekeeper of his toll, and was fined in the sum of �5. The Church - The Lord Bishop of Exeter lately instituted in London the Rev. Joshua Nasley, Clerk, A.M., to the Rectory of Poughill, in this county, vacant by the cession of the last Incumbent, on the presentation of his Majesty King William the Fourth. Wesleyan Missions � St. Agnes - The anniversary of the Wesleyan Missionary society for this circuit, was held in the Wesleyan Methodist chapel, Goonown, on Friday sen'night. In the afternoon, the Rev. R. Newton of Leeds preached a most excellent sermon. St. Austell - On Saturday last, the Annual Parish Meeting took place in the Market-house, Sir. J.S. G. Sawle, Bart. in the chair. The only circumstance of any interest in an auditing of the accounts of this great parish was the opposition offered by the Dissenters to bringing any part of the money raised by the tolls of the market to be applied to the use of the church, it having been for a very long period the custom to appropriate part of the tolls in lieu of a Church rate. After considerable discussion, it was decided by a large majority that the charges on the Church should be paid out of the market tolls as usual. As soon as the business was over, a large party repaired to the White Hart, when Churchmen and dissenters sat down to a good dinner, and spent the day with that good feeling which ought to prevail in every parish. It was, amongst other things, decided that the front-street should be forthwith paved on both sides. On Monday last, the tolls of the fairs and markets were let by auction for one year, to Mr. John Merifield, at the rent of �210. NEWS - [Proposed] Reform of the Criminal Law - [portions of a speech given by Lord John Russell, greatly edited; sentences remain as printed, however. jm] .. a Report (from the Commission) laid before Parliament last session, recommending that the punishment of death should be restricted to a very small number of offences. In 1835, the whole number of persons condemned to death in this country was 523; and the number executed only 34. In 1836, the number of those condemned to death was 494, while the number executed was no more than 17. For murder there were, in 1835, 25 persons convicted. One of them was pardoned in consequence of some informality in the indictment; three were transported for life, and 21 out of 25 were executed. But for the crime of burglary, while there were 193 convicted and sentenced to death, there was only one of them executed. With respect to the crime of shooting with intent to kill or maim, 60 were convicted and only two executed. As to robbery, 302 persons were convicted in 1835, and none of them executed. Judges [are currently] compelled to pass sentence of death on prisoners for such offense as sheep-stealing, and then apply to the Home Secretary for a mitigation of the sentence, thus keeping from the knowledge of the public the amount of punishment actually inflicted. The extreme uncertainty of its [death penalty] infliction took away from offenders the salutary dread of punishment. Therefore, Lord Russell was proposing several bills; one for the abolishment of capital punishment in the case of forgery; another relating to offenses against the person; another to relate to robberies and stealing against the person [etc, etc]. Mr. Ewart and Mr. Hume expressed their approbation of the course taken by Government. 14 APRIL Cornwall Assizes, continued Vyvian vs Humprhries Case involving the Great St. George mine, covering three columns of exact testimony. As the case is intricate, and involves land boundaries & payment for ore, only a list of witnesses is included. [Actually, the case was printed in the next two issues of the paper; it was very involved, and one main point was that the land had to be worked nine months out of the year, or ownership reverted to the lessor. A very, very profitable vein of ore had been found, and was making the current owners very wealthy. jm] - John Stephens � miner for 30 years - Mr. James White, Captain of Great St. George Mine under Williams and Trelease - John Coombe, a miner works under English Mining Assn., started at Great St. George - John Letcher - Wm. Stephens - Thos. Pill - Wm. Harris - all miners, deposed to working on Letcher's shaft - Rd. Rowe & removal of [pumping] engine - John Tonkin - Edw. Harris - James Stephens, a mine captain - Mr.Thomas, a surveyor of the mine - Thomas Phillips, miner, 58 years of age. - Richard Tonkin, a miner, worked there 12 years - John Daggo, surface captain, has know Bolenna [mine] since a boy Mr. Stacy Grimalde, who had extracts from the rolls in Somerset House, London � showing part of Bolenna was Duchy. Extracts were objected to, as "it is very easy to make extracts tell which way we pleased." James Gripe, a mine agent living at St. Agnes James Mitchell, toller to Mr. Peter for the manor of Tywarnhayle Henry Tregonning, mine agent, book-keeper and under-xxxx; kept the cost-book CROWN BAR, Thursday, March 30 - Before Mr. Baron Gurney, and a Special Jury - The King vs. the Inhabitants of the Parish of Minster. Mr. Sandercock, yeoman, of the said parish, was the prosecutor in this indictment, which was first preferred at the Michaelmas Quarter Sessions last, and thence removed into the King's Bench, and by writ of Nisi Prius brought to this assize. The parish pleaded the general issue. Mr. Rowe, for the prosecution, said there were two critical questions; first, was..a public highway? And secondly, whether the repairs were to be made by the parish. This case occupied the whole of the day. No proof could be produced of the road ever being a public highway, or of its having been repaired by the parish. The Jury consequently returned a verdict in favor of the defendants. Easter Quarter Sessions Robert BEAR, 29, and William BEAR, 31, on bail, were indicted for stealing 72 feet of net, the property of James England, on the 24th of December last, at Padstow. They were also indicted for stealing five ducks, the property of Thomas Rowe Brewer. After hearing the evidence, the Jury pronounced a verdict of not guilty on both counts. Jane ANDREW, 76, and Benjamin ANDREW, 67, on bail, were indicted for stealing a deed from Mr. Rimell, [Runell?] a solicitor, at Falmouth. It appeared from the evidence that a settlement prior to the marriage of the prisoners was prepared by Mr. Rimell, in 1828, by which a trustee was appointed to manage some property belonging to the female prisoner. The trustee subsequently died, leaving the deed in question in the hands of his father. The prisoners - of the father, who placed the deed in the hands of Mr. Rinell. Prisoners called on him, and having distracted him under the pretense of examining the deed, tore the same into pieces and tried to put it in the fire. Mr. Stokes, for the prisoners, put it to the bench whether this was a case that should go to the Jury, since the deed was the bone fide property of the prisoners. The Chairman directed the jury to find the prisoners not guilty. Wm. B. C. BAKER was charged with stealing eight pairs of gloves, the proper of Mr. C. Hawke, of Truro, on the 3rd of February last. Acquitted. John SANDERS, 10, charged with stealing a quantity of oranges, the property of Messrs. Reynalds and Carne of Truro, from a boat lying at Truro Quay, belonging to Jonathan Tregilgus. Mr. Stokes appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Bennallack for the prisoner. The facts were clearly proved; and the Jury found the prisoner guilty, but recommended him to the mercy of the court on account of his youth and good character. To be whipped and discharged. Joseph POLLARD, 16, was charged with the same offence, committed at the same time and place, guilty. To be whipped and discharged. Elizabeth MOORE, 27, committed by the Sheriff for the non-payment of �20 on a forfeited rec guidance [fine], for not appearing at the last general Quarter Sessions, and being now ordered, by the same warrant, to abide the decision of the Justices at the present Sessions. Mr. Stoker, on behalf of the prosecutor, stated that the prisoner was a material witness on behalf of the prosecution; that she was induced to absent herself from the trial because the prisoner was her sister-in-law; and that by her absence the prisoner, who was charged with a serious offence, was acquitted. Mr. Bennallack, on the part of the prisoner, said that she was very poor, and quite unable to pay the amount of her recognizance. The Court severely reprimanded the prisoner, and as she had been in prison from the 7th of February, discharged her, stating that if she had been able to pay the amount of her recognizance, she would have been imprisoned until it was paid. WEDNESDAY - William GILBERT, charged with stealing hay, oats, and straw, the property of James Eckly Procter, at Launceston, from his stable. Guilty, to be imprisoned three months at hard labour. Edward FRAMPTON, charged with being an accessory, was acquitted. John SPRY, also charged with stealing the same as above, acquitted. Walter NICHOLLS, was charged with stealing coal, the property of Mr. Martyn, of Lower St. Columb. Mr. Martyn supplied Perran Consols with coal. Prisoner was a waggoner in the employ of a person called Kitto, and on the 20th of March, prisoner was employed to carry a wagon load of coal to Perran Consols. One of Martyn's men followed him, and saw him fill an empty sack with coal from the wagon. Guilty, to be imprisoned three months at hard labour. Wm. CROCKER, jun, 19 and Samuel ROBINS, 29, charged with stealing on the 24th of March last, four barn door fowls, property of John Heller, of Tywardreath. Acquitted. Sarah DUNN, 19. The indictment contained two charges; one, for having issued a counterfeit shilling, having other spurious money in her possession at the time, and second, with endeavouring to pass a counterfeit shilling knowing it was bad. The Jury found the prisoner guilty of the second count, and the Court sentenced her to be imprisoned six months at hard labour. James SIMMONS, 17, charged with assaulting Mary Ann Mill, a girl about twelve years of age, with intent &c, on the 17th of January last. Guilty, to be imprisoned twelve months at hard labour. Richard MASON and William BRAY, indicted for riotously assembling on the night of the 31st of March last, in the Borough of Truro, and assaulting two constables, Thomas Walley and William Couch, [while] in the execution of their duty; there was also a count for a common assault. Mr. Stokes addressed the Jury for the prosecution. He stated that of late the inhabitants of Truro had been greatly annoyed by disturbances at night. Since the committal of two men to prison for drunkenness and disorderly conduct, who it would be remembered had subsequently brought an action against the magistrate and obtained a verdict, an impression had gone abroad that drunkenness and riot were without the pale of the law. . From the evidence, it appeared that the constables were conveying three girls to the watch-house, for disorderly conduct; the prisoners, with several other men (who have since decamped) rescued the girls from the custody of the constables, and violently and brutally assaulted them. The prisoner Bray, in his defense, through Mr. Bennallack, his attorney, set up an alibi, which he proved to the satisfaction of the Jury, notwithstanding Walley swore that he seized Bray by the collar. The Jury found the prisoner Mason guilty, and the Court at once sentenced him to six months imprisonment at hard labour, expressing their regret that the other persons who took part in the affray had not been captured, and declaring their determination at all times to visit with severe punishment any obstruction offered to constables in the execution of their duty. Two or three bastardy cases were then disposed of, which terminated the business of the Session. Vivian vs Humphries - [Another 2 1/2 columns on the case; much about what Mr. Carpenter did and did not do. {ie, revoking the sett with Humphries, and then giving a lease to Vivian and Carne for parts of the land - jm] � It took the Judge 5 and 1/2 hours to sum up the case; during summation he said "Gentlemen, I must admit a more dry and uninteresting case I have never heard, and had it come from my court, instead of one over which I have no control, I would have stopped it long since." Penzance Quarter Sessions On Friday last, the usual great Sessions of the Peace for the borough of Penzance were held before Walter Coulson, Esq., Recorder, and the Magistrates of the town. There was only one criminal case, that of a boy for stealing a watch, who was found guilty and sentenced to six months' imprisonment and hard labour. Abolition of Flogging in the Army - Mr. Tooke, in accordance with several former votes on the same question, paired off with Mr. Baring Wall, in favour of Mr. Pancourt's Amendment, and not against it, as stated, by mistake, in several of the daily papers. The Late Murder on the High Seas - On Friday last, the trial of Richard Edwards and John Woodcock, the master and mate of the schooner "Ada", for the murder of Alexander Nance, on the passage from St. Michael's to Falmouth, took place at the Central Criminal Court, before Mr. Justice Littledale and Mr. Justice Coleridge. The evidence given against them was the same as that given on their examination before the Magistrates at Falmouth, which has already appeared at length in our columns. A number of witnesses gave the prisoners an excellent character for humanity and general goodness of disposition; and the jury, after deliberating about five minutes, found them guilty of manslaughter only. The case occupied the attention of the Court for nearly eleven hours and a half. The prisoners have since been sentenced to transportation for life. News for the "No Popery" Men - A Catholic Chapel has been opened in Penzance for the accommodation of the members of that body. Suicide - An inquest was held at the General Wolfe Inn, St. Austell, on Saturday last, before Joseph Hambly, Esq., Coroner, and a respectable jury, on view of the body of Jeremiah Couch, shoemaker, who had committed suicide by hanging himself on the preceding day. It appeared that he had for some time past been labouring under the influence of considerable excitement, and had given proofs of aberration of mind. Deceased was an industrious, sober, and honest man, and his death has caused a great sensation among his neighbours and friends. He was in his 60th year. Goran Haven - The annual feast commenced at this place on Monday the 3rd instant, when the fishermen of the cove tried their skill in a rowing match, which, after a hard tug, was won by the "Bodkin", beating the "Shuttle" and the "Roaring Lion". A second match took place between the Bodkin and the Shuttle, rowed by boys, which was well and severely contested throughout, and was won by a very short distance by the "Bodkin". Penzance - The annual vestry for examining the Overseers accounts &c, was held, at the Work-house, on Friday the 31st ult. the accounts having been read over, gave great satisfaction, and passed unanimously. Mr. M. Williams was continued as Assistant Overseer at the usual salary, and Mr. Elvans, Governor, at �20 per annum. A select vestry was also appointed. On the Wednesday following, the Way-wardens' accounts were examined, and a board of 20 householders for the repair of the highway were appointed. |