1862 Cornwall Quarter Sessions and Assizes Table of Contents 1. Epiphany Sessions .................................................................................................................... 1 2. Lent Assizes ........................................................................................................................... 24 3. Easter Sessions ...................................................................................................................... 55 4. Midsummer Sessions ............................................................................................................. 70 5. Summer Assizes ..................................................................................................................... 90 6. Michaelmas Sessions. .......................................................................................................... 130 Royal Cornwall Gazette 3 January 3 1862 1. Epiphany Sessions These Sessions were opened on Tuesday, the 31st Dec., at the County Hall, Bodmin, before the following magistrates:— Sir Colman Rashleigh, Bart. (presiding), Chairmen. C.B. Graves Sawle, Esq., Lord Vivian. J. Borlase, Esq. Hon. G.M. Fortescue. Neville Norway, Esq. Sir John S. Trelawny., Bart. Edwin Ley, Esq. N. Kendall, Esq., M.P. J.T.H. Peter, Esq. R. Davey, Esq., M.P. W.C. Braddon, Esq. W.H. Pole Carew., Esq. C.B. Kingdon, Esq. E. Coode, jun., Esq. Rev. Prebendary Tatham. F. Howell, Esq. Rev. R. Buller. D.P. Le Grice, Esq. Rev. Vyell F. Vyvyan. H.R.S. Trelawny, Esq. Rev. C.M. Edward Collins. R. Gully Bennet, Esq. Rev. James Glencross. C.A. Reynolds, Esq. Rev. J.J. Wilkinson. R.G. Lakes, Esq. Rev. S. Symonds. The Rev. F.A.H. Scrivener, rector of Gerrans, and the Rev. George Sayle Prior, rector of St. Breock, took the oaths on presentation to these livings respectively. The following gentlemen were sworn on the Grand Jury:— Mr. Robert Hart Pike, Camborne, foreman. “ Edward Cowlin, Gorran. “ John Daniell, Bodmin. “ Wm. Ford Geeke, St. Columb. “ Henry Major Harris, St. Ives. “ Thomas Harris, Bodmin. “ William Hawke, St. Columb. “ Richard Hidderley, Camborne. “ Samuel Key, St. Breock. “ Charles Lawry, St. Minver. “ George Lee, St. Blazey. “ Thomas Pearce Mabley, St. Minver. “ Hart Nicholl, St. Breock. “ James Northcott, St. Austell. “ Moses Parnell, St. Ewe. “ James Paynter, St. Breock “ Henry Pethick, St. Breward. “ John Phillips, Lanlivery. “ Wm. Polkinghorne, St. Columb. “ Wm. Powne, St. Columb. “ Wm. Randall, St. Minver. “ George Richards, St. Ives. “ Richard Veale, St. Columb major. The following gentlemen also answered when called:—Mr. Henry Williams, St. Columb; and Mr. Samuel Wills, St. Breock. ADDRESS TO HER MAJESTY. Immediately after the grand jury had been sworn, and before the proclamation against vice and profaneness had been read. Lord VIVIAN said—Before we proceed with those public duties for the discharge of which we are now assembled, I think it right to submit to the magistrates a duty which we should perform—namely, that we should adopt an address to Her Majesty on the irreparable loss which she and the country have sustained in the death of his Royal Highness the Prince Consort. The evidence which we have had in this county as well as elsewhere of the sorrow and grief which has been entertained throughout the entire land by all classes of people is the best proof that could be afforded of the real worth of him who has been taken from us, and it renders altogether unnecessary any eulogy of mine. Nor need I attempt to express in the eloquent terms that have been already used the feeling that pervaded all classes of people in every part of the county. As we are all aware, the feeling of the people has been one of intense grief—of grief greatly felt, and well-deserved. But if our grief has been great, how much more intense must be the grief of our gracious Sovereign, to whom Prince Albert proved himself an admirable husband and an admirable councillor and friend? I consider that in discharging this melancholy duty, it will best become us to intrude as little as possible on Her Majesty's grief,—no further than to express to Her Majesty our deep sorrow for the loss we have sustained, and the sympathy of our hearts for Her Majesty in her heavy bereavement. We must all necessarily feel a greater love and veneration for the Sovereign, finding as we did, that even in the moment of her intensest (sic) suffering she felt the duty which she owed to her people, and expressed her anxiety to fulfil that duty. (Hear, hear.) I venture then to propose that a committee should be appointed by this court to draw up an address to the Sovereign expressive of our grief for the irreparable loss which Her Majesty has sustained; and I am certain that the hearty prayers of all will be offered up to Almighty God, that it will please Him to temper the wound He has been pleased to inflict upon her, and that he will be pleased for many years to preserve to us a Sovereign who has so well earned the love and respect of her people. His Lordship then proposed that Sir John Trelawny, Mr. Kendall, Mr. Carew, Mr. Sawle and himself should be the committee to prepare the address. The motion was seconded by Mr. KENDALL, and carried. Shortly after, the Committee returned and presented the following address which was read by the Chairman:— "The magistrates of Cornwall, deeply feeling the irreparable loss which has been sustained by the death of His Royal Highness the Prince Consort, desire to offer to Her Majesty and the Royal Family the heartfelt sympathy of all classes within this county, and to express their anxious hope and fervent prayer that it may please Divine Providence to support their beloved Sovereign under this most severe trial." Mr. SAWLE moved that this address be adopted, signed by the Chairman, and forwarded to Sir George Grey for presentation to Her Majesty. Also, that it be entered on the minutes of the court. Mr. CAREW seconded the motion, and it was carried. CHARGE TO THE GRAND JURY. The proclamation against vice and profaneness was then read, after which the CHAIRMAN delivered his charge as follows:— Gentlemen of the Grand Jury.—The court is always highly gratified to see on such occasions as the present a good attendance of grand jurors, especially at this season of the year, when, no doubt, many of you would much prefer being in the circle of your own homes instead of coming here to your duties to your country. The calendar which you will have to investigate is, I regret to say, a somewhat heavy one, both as regards the number of prisoners committed, and the character of the offences with which some of those prisoners stand charged. The evidence, however, to bring home these offences is of the ordinary description, and, therefore, calls for no particular remarks from me. On the 1st of November, the Act for the Consolidation of the Criminal Statutes came into operation, and it is possible that some of the indictments which will be submitted to you may be prepared according to the new forms. If so, you had better not trouble yourselves with that matter, but leave the form of the indictment to the court here. If you think that the evidence is sufficient to justify you in placing a prisoner on his trial, you will find a true bill and send the case to this court here to be dealt with. The number of prisoners in the calendar is 39. At the last Epiphany Sessions the number for trial was 26. The total number of criminal prisoners received during the quarter just ended is 153. You will thus see that there is a considerable though not a very serious increase in the number of prisoners for trial. Now, it has often been remarked both by myself and my brother chairmen, when presiding in this court, that it is impossible to account satisfactorily for the periodical decrease and increase of crime; but at the same time, if you look at the calendar which will be placed before you on this occasion, and also at those which have been submitted to the Quarter Sessions for many years past, you will see that in one particular they are all alike—namely, the absence of education amongst the prisoners. Whatever may be the causes which operate in producing crime, there can be no doubt that ignorance and vice go hand-in-hand together, and that the criminal population of the country consists principally of the least educated portion of it; and therefore, it may be hoped, that as religious education is extended among the lower classes, there will be proportionate decrease in the per centage in the crime which takes place in this country. The subject of the education of the lower classes has recently occupied a large share of public attention, owing to the new regulations proposed to be introduced into the National Schools. It is not my province to refer to the course that shall be taken, and I shall content myself with remarking that no doubt considerable attention will be given to the matter in the next session of Parliament; and I trust that some scheme will be devised which will afford to the poorer classes the opportunity of acquiring a good education, and that that education will be based on the Holy Scriptures. Education without religion would no doubt sharpen and develope (sic) the intellect of the youth of the country; but I believe that nothing but true religious principles inculcated in the minds of youth will strengthen and fortify them, and enable them to resist those temptations to which they are subjected in life. The children of the poor are taken away from school at an early age, and especially is this the case among the mining population of this county, where children begin to work very early. It is, therefore, impossible to give them an advanced education; but I believe that such an education may be given them as will enable them to walk morally, religiously, and orderly through life. It therefore behoves all of us, in our respective stations, to afford our utmost support to the formation of such a sound religious education among the people, in order that we may thus assist in diminishing that amount of crime which unfortunately exists in this country.