The case of Russell the gaoler, convicted of being an
accessary before the fact to the self-murder of Sarah Wormsley at Huntingdon, was argued in the Exchequer Chamber on Saturday, on certain exceptions taken by his counsel at the trial. The Judges have, after de- liberation, allowed him the choice of being transported for fourteen years, or of being again indicted anew for the same offence : he has chosen the former alternative.
On Sunday morning, a gentleman named Lewis, a Major in the Army, was awakened in the New Hummums, by some one stirring in his bedroom ; and turning round to see who was there, he saw a young man stealing gently from the dressing-table towards the door. Major Lewis jumped out of bed, and seized the intruder by the braces and shirt. He struggled violently to get away, and threw the Major's watch on the floor in the passage. At this moment, the Major felt the grip which he had of the shirt and braces give way, and heard a tear. The man then struck him with his elbow a violent blow on the chest, and also on the face ; and twisting him round, tore himself from his grasp and rushed up stairs. Major Lewis called loudly for assistance ; and the waiter and several gentlemen came out of their rooms. Mr. Harrison, the proprietor of the hotel, directed that the doors should be locked, and sent for a police constable. On examination of the bed- rooms, a young fellow, whose name turned out to be Macnamara, was found pretending sleep, but who on being roused was found to have his braces and shirt torn. He was conveyed to Bow Street, where he was examined; but Mr. Harmer having intimated that there was reason for concluding that be had been engaged in a similar attempt at the Swan- with-Two-Necks, he was remanded till yesterday, to give an opportu- nity of having the second charge examined into.
On Monday afternoon, two of the swell-mob, as it is called, named William Gooiman and William Henry Barnett, charged with robbing various house,., under the pretence of looking at apartments, and who were remanded for further examination, were taken down to Totbill Fields in the prison van, handcuffed together. On getting out of the -van, Barnett, who had by some means got his hand out of the hand- cuffs, made a desperate attempt to escape, and succeeded in springing .over the heads of several persons who were assembled round the van to see them get out. He ran towards Palmer's 'Village, followed by Kane, the gaoler, and others. He was at length stopped by Mr. Morris, a coal-dealer in the neighbourhood, and secured and conveyed back to prison.
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