On Saturday last, the Grand Jury of the South Lancashire
Assizes, sitting in Liverpool, returned a true bill against the Reverend Joseph Rayner Stephens, for a misdemeanour. What thenature of the misde- meanour with which he stands charged may be, is as yet unknown to any person save the Grand Jurors themselves. A number of witnesses, how- ever, were examined before the Grand Inquest, to prove sufficient to warrant them in finding the bill. Several of the witnesses, it is said produced large pikes in illustration of their evidence. It is not the in- tention of the Government to try Mr. Stephens at these Assizes, but to remove the case by certiorari into the Court of Queen's Bench ; and his present bail and recognizances will be discharged. Mr. Mai& and other officials, from the Metropolis, have been in Liverpool on business connected with the case ; and it is stated on authority, that another bill is to be preferred against Mr. Stephens at the Chester Assizes, which commence this day. The fresh indictment is said to be for some offen- sive and violent speech delivered by him at Hyde.—Times.
James Spankie, a noted poacher' has been committed to Guildford Gaol, on a charge of shooting at Mr. Edward James Baker, of Fren- shaw Hall, Burry, on the 16th ultimo. Mr. Baker was returning from Guildford to his own house, when he was wounded in the right arm by a bullet. He proceeded cautiously to make inquiries ; and his suspi- cions falling upon Spankie, that man was arrested a few days ago.
In a case of small larceny, at the Bodmin Assizes on Thursday last, Mr. Baron Gurney said, he considered it right to state, that he had some depositions returned to him, which it was utterly impossible for any one to read. He must request Magistrates to employ persons as clerks who could write a legible hand. In the present instance, a pro- fessional man was the clerk ; but be could not write so well as a boy who had been educated at a penny school.
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