The sympathies of English juries are absolutely inexplicable. Mrs. Mary
Sadler quitted her husband, and lived with Captain Sills, of the Argyll and Bute Militia, as his mistress. His family endeavoured to induce him to quit her, and he promised to do so ; but was deterred, as Mr. Justice Smith, who tried the case, thought, by her repeated threats. At last he carried out his re- solution, and Mrs. Sadler, sitting by his side on a bed at a fare- well interview, stabbed him. She was tried for wounding with intent to murder ; but the jury found her guilty of only unlawful wounding, and added a strong recommendation to mercy, their notion apparently being that if people will form such connections they deserve all they get. That may be quite true, but then they do not deserve it from their equally guilty partners. The judge sentenced her to 15 months' bard labour.
Previous page
