The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-02-21 00:00:00

THE DYNAMITE OUTRAGES IN
LONDON.

TRIAL OF THE PRISONERS.
SCENE IN COURT.
The hearing of the charge against James Gilbert
Cunningham and Henry Burton in conneetion with
the recent explosions at the Tower and the Houses of
Parliament, and also with the outrage on the Metro-
politan Railway on the 2nd ult., was resumed on
Monday at Bow-street Police-court by Sir James
Ingham.
Mr. Poland prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.
Mr. Quilliam, solicitor, of Liverpool, appeared as
before for Cunningham, and he now informed the
magistrate that the prisoner Burton desired him to
defend him, as nrisoner,7in consequence of his incar-
ceration' did not feel physically capable of conducting
his own defence.

Inspector Jarvis, recalled, confirmed his depositions
given at the hearing of Feb. 2.
Michael Joseph Myers, who was sworn in the
Jewish fashion, said: I live at No. 5, Lavender-road,
Clapham Junction, and am an auctioneer, in business
at 9, St. Margaret's-terrace, Harrow-road, 339, Edg-
ware-road. On Friday, the 2nd of January, I went
to Bermondsey from the Edgware-road. I took a
second-class return ticket to Farringdon-street. I
returned at night from Farringdon-street station to
Gower-street. I had with me a small hamper and
some Dresden china. I went to the door of a spare
brake, which was as nearly as I can recollect the
second carriage from the engine. I took hold o f the
handle to open the door. There were three men
inside.

Do you recognise any of them here?
Witness: Yes, the nearest to me (indicating Cun-
ningham.)
The prisoner Cunningham (excitedly) : You are a
liar. The prisoßer was desired to be quiet by the
gaoler and his solicitor.

- Witness continued: I went to open the door and
he was leaning against it with his arms on the
window, looking out. He said, "You can't come in
here," I said, "Why not ?" He said, "Because you
can't." I got to the side of the door and looked into
the compartment. I said, 'There's only three of
you in there." He said, "You can't come in. I
went away from the carriage to get in the first one I
could. I got into a second-class carriage and stood
up against the door, it was about two or three car-
riages from the brake. He made some observation
as I was leaving the carriage which I could not
catch. All the time he was talking to me he was
leaning over the door to prevent my getting into the
carriage. I could not recogniie the other two men.
After I got into the carriage the train went on.
As we were proceeding from King's-cross to Gower-
street there was a noise which sounded like a
clap of thunder. It lifted me nearly off my feet
as I had hold of the door. There was great excite-
ment, and the train drew up at Gower-street Station.
I got out there, and when I was on the platform I
saw three men, one of whom was Cunningham. I
was coming towards the ticket collector, and I saw
them coming to the rear of the train. They crossed
the line at the back of the train, and I went to go the
same way. I was stopped and lost sight of them.
On the 4th of this month I came to Bow-street
Police-station in the afternoon, and made a statement
subsequently at the Hunter street Station. I came
here again last Monday, the 9th. I was in the
passage way. The door of the court was slightly
opened. I saw the prisoner Cunningham sideways,
and I said, "There's the man" immediately. lam
quite positive he is the man I saw. .
Do you know the other prisoner,turton ?—I have
only seen him frequenting the Edgware-road, but
don't know anything of him. It was previous to
Christmas. He was walking with a gentleman with
whom I bad done previous business.
Crosepexamined by Mr. Quilliam : I very seldom
forget faces. I could not say whether I saw Burton
a fortnight before Christmas-day, or whether it was
less than a fortnight. I could not positively say how
long it was.
Witness was pressed as to the name of the person
with wh3m he had seen the prisoner Burton, but said
he did not know it. He had not recognised Burton
before that morning. The gentleman had transacted
business with him, but he had kept no record of it,
and had not taken his name. He could not say bow
long it was before Christmas. The gentleman had
brought witness some tea for sale, and had taken some
goods in lieu of the money.
Mr. Quilliam: You took a second-class ticket ?
Yes.

But the brake is in the third-class carriages? Yes;
but they will not let you get into second-class car-
riages with these hampers. I did not call the atten-
tion of the station authorities to Cunningham,
because there was no time. I did not speak to the
guard because I did not think it requisite. I in-
fermed the police in consequence of what I saw in the
papers.
Further questioned, the witness said that he did
not know that the prisoner Cunningham was in the
dock when he looked into the court and saw him.
The prisoner was laughing in the same way as he
did at Farringdon-street. It was a face that could
not be easily forgotten. He had given a descrip-
tion of Cunningham before he sa.w the prisoner in
the dock. ,
Joseph Hammond, a guard on the Metropolitan
Railway, said: I was guard of the Hammersmith
train on the night of the 2nd of January. My brake
was at the end of the train. A man named Taylor, a
porter, was acting as under guard in the brake next
the engine. That is a third-class carriage. The next
carriage is also a third-class, and there is one com-
partment there with a brake. There would be no
official of the company in the spare brake, and pas-
sengers with merchandise would be allowed to travel
in it. Ordinary luggage, labelled, would go in the
guard's van. Between King's-cross and Gower-street
there is a signal-box known as Charlton Box. The
explosion occurred nearly 150 yards from there. The
train had stopped at Charlton Box signal a minute
before the explosion. Witness described the explo-
sion, and said that the gas lights were blown out at
Gower-street Station, but that the incandescent lamps
remained alight.
Mr. Quilliam did not cross-examine the witness.
John Seward, a Hyde-park constable, said that he
was in the train when the explosion took place between
King's-cross and Gower-street. He identified the
prisoner Cunningham as a .person he had seen in a
third-class carriage leaning out of window at Bishops-
gate Station. Prisoner asked witness for a light or a,
match. There was the wheel of a brake in the com-
partment. There was a little seat and what seemed
like a workman's tool basket. He did not notice any
one else in the compartment. He had that day seen
Sergeant Crawford of the E division in court, and
recognised him as having seen him at the Gower-
street Station on the night of the explotion. Witness
had only seen Cunningham that morning when he
picked him out from about 15 or 16 other men.
Cross-examined by Mr. Quilliam: He was not on
the platform when the train arrived at Bishopsgate•
street. He was running down the stairs as the train
was coming in. He would not swear positively that
Cunningham was the man he saw at the station, but
to the best of his belief he was the man. He had
read the report in the daily papers, but had not seen
a description of Cunningham that would enable him
to identify him.
Harry Taylor, a porter on the Metropolitan Rail-
way, said: On Friday, the 2nd of January, I was
underguard of the Hammersmith train.. I was
in the front brake. There was a spare brake,
and people with luggage sometimes travel in
it. Before the explosion I had noticed two
persons in the spare brake. I think I noticed
them first at Bishopsgate. I again noticed them
at Aldersgate, and again at Farringdon-street. I can
swear to the prisoner Cunningham as being one of the
men. I saw Sergeant Crawford at the railway station.
On Monday week, the 2nd of February, I came to
Bow-street Police-station, and I identified the pri-
soner Cunningham. I have not the slightest doubt
that he is one of the men I saw in the train. On
Thursday, the sth of February, I went to the King-
street Police-station, and saw a number of persons in
the yard, but could not recognise any one of them. I
have an idea that I have seen the other prisoner,
Burton, before. It may be at Aldgate. Not on this
occasion, but on some other occasion.
Cross-examined by Mr. Quilliam: I went to the
spare brake more than once and noticed Cunning-
ham. I took notice of his colour. I thought it was
a kind of a coppery colour. His general appearance
struck me as being that of an American. I looked
partieularly in the brake to see if there was any
luggage there, but I noticed nothing particular. I
don't think I noticed them after leaving Farringdon-
street. For all I know to the contrary they might
have got out at King's-cross. I could not give the
description of any other person who rode in the train
that evening.
Michael Crawford, a police-sergeant of the E divi-
sion, said: I was on duty outside Gower-street station
on the night of Tuesday, the 2nd of January. Some
part of the station is open. I saw a flash and heard
tahne e
sxtpaltoi soino.n. I Irsaanwdao
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I saw the carriage with the guard's brake and the
spare brake. The spare brake was opposite the
' teinctkreatu- ccoe 1 l
ande ct otrh' se box
exit. I betweenu ot
itcheed two y staircases, the
of
his brake, and then I looked into the spare brake.
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I saw three men there standing up. They came out.
I believe the guard opened the door. They stood for
a few seconds, perhaps half a minute, outside the
brake door. A lady was screaming behind me. I
went and opened one of the carriage doors then a
little way down, about a few yards, and saw the lady
coming out of the carriage bleeding from the nose.
Several people came to ask me what was the matter,
and when I turned round the three men had gone.
Now, look at the prisoners; what do you say to
them? I swear to the best of my belief they are two
out of the three men. (Both prisoners here smiled.)
On Monday, the 2nd of February, I came down to
Bow-street and identified Cunningham from among
nine or ten men. On Thursday, the sth of February,
I went to the King-street police-station and identified
Burton among twelve to fifteen men.
Cross-examined by Mr. Quilliam. The third man
was about sft. 9in., dark, and with a dark overmat.
I cannot speak as to his features, but I believe I
should know him again. I could not say how the
men left the station. I was writing down names, and
addresses, and had my back to the train. I remarked
Cunningham, he had the appearance of a seafaring

man. I noticed Burton's moustache, that it was long
and ginger, and I noticed that he had very high cheek
bones. I was spoken to about the three men the fol-
lowing day, and expressed an opinion that I could
identify them. I did not describe their features
minutely.
Re-examined: I have no doubt as to Cunningham
but I would not swear positively to the other man.
Annie Nunn, who had a surgical bandage round
her head, said: I live at 130, North-street, Poplar.
1 went to the Tower on Saturday, the 24th of Jan.,
with a girl named Balaam. I was going up the
stairs to the chapel, and when I got to the top I saw
two little boys in the chapel. I went from the chapel
into the room where the arms are. I noticed some
smoke coming up on the right of me. It seemed to
come up from the floor, close to the wall. Next
there was a terrible noise. After the noise gave over
we were lying down, but I did not notice myself
fall or anything touch me. Then a gentleman came
through the flames and got us out. My face was
burnt, and the rifles were lying upon me. I was
taken to the hospital at the Tower, and afterwards
to the London Hospital. I was discharged on the
4th cured. I was deaf at first, but afterwards re-
covered my hearing.
Mr. Quilliam did not cross-examine the witness.

Elizabeth Balaam, whose head was similarly
dressed, and who was suffering from deafness, gave
evidence to the same effect as the last witness. She
stated that she was not deaf at all before the explo-
sion.

Ernest Stratton, a little boy whose head was also
bandaged, gave evidence of the same character.
It was stated that Herbert George, another lad who
accompanied this witness, was not sufficiently re-
covered to attend.

James Munroe, 17, William's Rents, Back Church-
lane, Whitechapel, an employ 6 at the Tower, said he
was on duty there on Saturday, the 24th January
last. He was at the north end of the banqueting hall
between one and two o'clock. A person coming from
the chapel and going through the hall would pass the
place where the explosion took place, and then pass
out of the door at the north end, and turn to the left
to a place from which the steps go the Council
Clsamber where the horse armour was kept. He
heard the explosion as near as possible at two o'clock.
I identify the prisoner Cunningham, witness con-
tinued, as having been round that day. With
regard to Burton I cannot swear to him
being round that day, but I have seen him
there previously in the month of January. Cunning-
ham was passing through the banqueting hall,
as if he had ccme from the chapel in the ordinary way
that visitors have to go. He went up the steps
towards the Council Chamber. I was about six yards
front the stairs. I knew him by sight before. I have
seen him once before. It was some time in January.
It was about half-past one or 25 minutes to two when
he passed through. Afterwards the explosion took
place and the hall was set on fire. The floor and ceiling
were damaged and the ceiling set on fire. Our hydrants
were in good order, and we got the fire out before the
fire brigade arrived. On the Monday following the
explosion I picked Cunningham out as the man I had
seen on the previ ms Saturday. I have seen
the prisoner Burton at the Tower some time in the
month of January before the explosion.
Cross-examined by Mr. Quilliam : Nothing extra-
ordinary occurred the day I saw Burton at the Tower.
There was an interval of about twenty-five minutes
between the time Cunningham passed me and the
explosion. The Council Chamber is over the Ban-
queting Chamber. I am collector at the Catholic
chapel in Great Prescot-street. I have never seen
him there.

Mr. Quilliam, referring to a request made by
Burton at the last hearing to be supplied with a copy
of one of the newspapers, said that it had not been
granted by the authorities.
The magistrate said that he could not interfere
with the prison regulations.
Upon the application by Mr. Quilliam for permission
to see the prisoners, the magistrate, after examining
the regulations of the Secretary of State, declined to
allow him to see the prisoners at the court.
Mr Quilliam then made a complaint on behalf of
Burton who said he had been ill-treated in gaol by
four warders and a sergeant.
The magistrate referred the learned gentleman to
the visiting justices or the Secretary of State.
The further hearing of the case was then adjourned
for a week.