A full report of the trial of James Blomfield Rush for the murder of Mr. Jermy and his son, of Stanfield Hall, in the county of Norfolk, commencing on wednesday March 28 and concluded April 4, 1849 at Norwich Assizes.

Rush, James Blomfield, -1849.

Date:: [1850]

Credit: A full report of the trial of James Blomfield Rush for the murder of Mr. Jermy and his son, of Stanfield Hall, in the county of Norfolk, commencing on wednesday March 28 and concluded April 4, 1849 at Norwich Assizes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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$that she statc'l that Kush bad told hei‘ that oe kept his papers in a secret place in the floor •f the closet, known onlj'to his mother , and himself. In consequence of this statement, a seaxcli was made in the floor of tliat closet, and the papers were found. I shall show you that the circumstances are corroborated by a letter to which I have already alluded, written to JRped, relative to the interview which took place in Mylnerstreeh.as well ashy the agree- ment which was there signed. But there is another fact which I might state. When before the magistra' es. she deposed, upon her earlier examination, a portion, but not the whole, of what I nave now stated. In particular, she gave one of the most important facts—that Kush had desired her to say that he ]^d been out only ten minutes. I shall show vou that Rush was excessively incensed against her for making that statement, a statement which, if it were true, went to his life, and would well account for any degree of exasperation which he might evince. Tou will learn what his conduct was; and I will afterwards show you that although he knew .she had mafia this statement against him, he wrote a letter to her, and you will have to judge whether this letler be or he not consistent with the suspicion that Rush knew she hiid been sw'earing against him that which was most material. The letter is dated from Norwich, and begins thus.— “ I am sorry I used the language I did when I was last with you, but I hope you know enouglr of my temper to believe me when I tell you that you have nothing to fear from my bad wishes or from what I then said. Whatever be the result of this unjust accusation against me, you will always have ray best wishes for the health and happiness of yourself andpf owr child. Write only a few words to acknowledge the receipt of this, for w'e are not allowed to say more. James B. Rush.” That letter was-intercepted, and will be laid before you. Another circumstance will be proved to you. When the man, whoever it was, fired at the two women, the first person was wounded in the leg, and I told you before that when that shot was fired, the pistol or gun might be a little inclined. At that spot v/as found a ramrod. Now that ramrod is too short for either of the guns that were found, which do not want ramrods. It would rather appear to belong to a carbine or large pistol, either single or double- barrelled ; hut it may have belonged to a pistol, or it may not; and it may have been left designedly. I beg to repeat again what I said before, that it. is immaterial with what instrumerds of death these transactions were accomplished. 1 will shew you what was found, and give you all the information -which it is our power to la}’ before you. The only ohsei-vation 1 have to make is this: There is a witness wdro, under ordinarj' circumstances, should have 1 een called before you—I mean the xinfortirnate Mrs. Jermy. I will prove to you that she is now in a state in which she cannot be removed without danger to her life; and upon mature conside- ration it seems to us doubtful whether any statement of hers would, even under recent Acts of Parliament, he evidence. Under these circumstances, therefore, you will have no evidence on, the part of Mrs. Jermy, and it will be for you to say whether or not we satisfy you. This, geptlemen, is the case. But I- am reminded bj’ my learned friend that there is another observation -which I ought toiliave made. I have told you that the man that fired the shot had a cloak on. I -shall shew. \ ou that there wa.s such a cloak in the possession of the prisoner. I cannot tell you how Rush was dressed when he went out, and when he returned, and for this reason : Emily Sandford was in the parlour, and he did not.come in until she, ha-ving opened the door, had retm-ned back again. I shall be aide to shew you that, upon another occasion, he took active precautions that he should not be seen. Now, gentkmen, that is an outline of the case. It consists of tw'o species of direct evi- dence, and it consists also of that which sometimes is the only evidence which in cases of this, kind can be brought before a Jury—circumstantial evidence; because, when people medi- tate,crimes like this, of course they take care to surround themselves with all the circum- stances they can, which will conduce to secrecy. Therefore, in many ol these cases, it is impossible to lay any direct evidence before the Jury. Gentlemen, you have heard a great deal about this case. You will, I am sure, dismissal! you have read and heard from your minds, and attend only to the evidence The prisoner iias a right to require of you that you should sift the evidence minutel}’, and that, if you entert’iin, not a fanciful and capricious, but a reaaouabloand.solid doubt, that you should give him the benefit of it. But, gentlemen, you have your duty also to discharge to the public If you have no retisonable doubt, society, which otherwise would fall back into its original barbarism, expects that outrages like this should bo repressed by the iron hand of the law. This, is a question of unusual publicity. The eyes uf this great, assembly, and 1 may say of vour countrxmen, are upon you. But that, gentlemen, will in no-way influ'nee you, further lhan to make you more anxious to discharge yonr duty, and to adhere to the golden rule of human conduct, which, believe me, is this, “To do, upon all occasions, j our duty, and to leave the consequences.”—The learned sergeant then concluded, at a quarter to eleven o’clock, having occupied the attention of the Court rather more than au hour and a half. Rush now applied for the witnesses for the. prosecution to be sent out of com't—more especially Mr. Cauu.the solicitor.$