The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-05-02 00:00:00

THE NEW FRENCH IRONCLAD.

The Formidable, which was launched at the port
of L'Orient last week, is an ironclad of the first class,
with double screw and turrets ea barbette, built partly
in iron and partly in steel, with a displacement of
11,336 tons, and measuring 340 ft. in length by oft.
broad. She has two compound engines of three
cylinders each, with a force of 8320-horse power.
There is a double bottom to all those portions of the
vessel occupied by the turrets, engines, and boilers,
and she is built in eleven water-tight compartments,
rising about 4ft. above the water-line. The Formid-
able is only partly ironclad, her floating line being
protected by steel plates extending from bow and
stern, and varying in thickness from 14in. to 22in.,
the plates being thickest at midships. The turrets,
which are to carry three 15in, guns, are also pro-
tected by plates 16m. thick, and the vessel is further
protected by plates 3in. and 4in. thick upon the deck.
The total weight of the iron and steel plates is about
4000 tons. The armament of the Formidable is to
consist of the three 15in. guns in the turrets, twelve
6in. guns in the battery, and eight Hotchkiss revolver
cannons, to say nothing of several tubes for White-
head torpedoes. The Formidable will carry 800
tons of coal, and will have an estimated speed of
fifteen knots an hour, and will be able to steam 1650
miles at full speed or 3000 miles at a speed of ten
knots without coaling. She will carry two masts,
upon which there will be platforms for revolver guns,
but practically, it may be said that she will not carry
sail. She was laid down in 1879, at the same time
as the sister ship, Admiral Baudin, but she will not be
ready to take the sea for another two years, by which
time she will have cost about £650,000, including
£450,000 for constructing and £BO,OOO for arming
her. The crew of the Formidable will number about
500.

There is a religions sect in Ohio which believes that
when human beings die they turn into cats. The
congenial souls who have in this life been in the habit
of staying out nights will be happy ater death I,indet,
this arrangement.

THE AOMFORD MURDER.
A SCENE IN COURT.
At the Central Criminal Court the trial of David
Dredge, 52, labourer, and James Lee, alias Adams,
alias 2yiensem , 52, .labourer, for wilfully murdering
Thomas Simmons, an inspector of the Essex Con-
stabulary, at Romford, on January 20, has beer.
concluded.
Mr. Poland and Mr. Montagu Williams appeared
for the Public Prosecutor; Mr. Grain defended Lee,
and Mr. Stern defended Dredge.
On the 20th of January last Inspector Simmons
and a police-constable met on the high road near
Romford three men, one of whom was no doubt Lee.
There was something suspicious in their appearance,
and the inspector called on them to stop. According
to one witness, he seized the coat of one of the men,
saying "Stop a minute; let us see what you have
got." The man instantly shot the inspector. In
his flight the former threw away an overcoat, and
this, which was identified as having been once
worn by Lee, was one of the chief pieces of evi-
dence against him. Though mortally wounded, the
inspector bravely pursued his assailants for a con-
siderable distance. The constables who were with
him could not arrest the men, for as soon as they were
approached they drew revolvers and threatened to
fire on the officers. In the end all three made their
escape. The evidence of identity, though chiefly
indirect, was, on the whole, conclusive. It was
proved, for instance, that Lee had purchased a spec-
• tacle-case found in the overcoat thrown away in the
flight after Simmons was shot; that in his possession
were found cartridges similar to others found in the
overcoat; and that they fitted a pistol which it was
proved that he had tried to pledge.
Mr. Stern called some witnesses for Dredge for the
purpose of showing that, at the time of the murder,
the prisoner had some legitimate business which
called him to Raynham and the neighbourhood of the
murder.
Mr. Poland then replied on behalf of the Crown.
While the learned counsel was addressing the jury
upon the point of the identification of Lee at Chelms-
ford Gaol, that prisoner rose no, and in a violent tone
exclaimed that what Mr. Poland stated was a brutal
lie.

Mr. Justice Hawkins told the prisoner he could
not allow him to use such language as this, but the
prisoner continued to exclaim in a violent manner
that what had been stated with regard to his identity
was a lie.
Lee shortly afterwards said that he had some wit-
nesses in attendance if the judge would allow him to
call them. His counsel had not thought it necessary
to call those witnesses, but he wished to do so.
Mr. Justice Hawkins said that his defence had been
conducted most ably, but if he wished to examine any
witnesses he should not object to his doing so.
Two warders belonging to Springfield Gaol were
accordingly examined, but their evidence did not
appear to affect the testimony that had already been
given.
Mr. Poland put in the statement made by Lee
before the magistrates at Romford, when he was
committed for trial. It was as follows: " I have
nothing to say in answer to the charge."
Mr. Poland then resumed and concluded his
reply.
Mr. Justice Hawkins, in summing up the case to
the jury, commenced by observing that he could not
help expressing his opinion that nothing could be
fairer than the manner in which the prosecution had
been conducted. He also said he felt bound to ex-
press his thanks to Mr. Grain for having, at his re-
quest, undertaken the defence of Lee, and he added
that this defence had been most able, and of a cha-
racter that might be equalled, but could not possibly
be excelled. His lordship then called the attention of
the jury to the evidence as it affected both prisoners.
With regard to Dredge, be said that his case was un-
doubtedly quite different from that of the other
accused, and they would not be justified in convicting
him upon the present indictment unless they were
satisfied that be and the other men were all engaged
in one common unlawful object, which they were de-
termined to carry out at all hazards, and that they all
concurred in the act which was undoubtedly com-
mitted by one of them.
The jury were about to retire to deliberate, when
Lee said that before the jury left he should like to
speak to his counsel.
Mr. Justice Hawkins told him he might do so, and
Mr. Grain accordingly had a short conversation with
the prisoner.
Lee then ditid he wished to make a statement as to
the manner in which he had been treated by the
police, and he said he could prove that Sergeant
Rolfe had been pursuing him fcr years, and he had
not had fair play. The police knew he had had penal
servitude, and this was why they had got hold of
him. The prisoner became very excited as he • pro-
ceeded, and he asserted that the police had carried
on a system of persecution and perjury against him.
Mr. Justice Hawkins told the prisoner he could
not allow him to go on in this manner. He had been
granted greater privileges than was usually accorded
to prisoners, and his unsupported assertions ought
not to have any effect on the jury. He had been
most ably defended, and any witnesses be desired to '
have had would have been brought forward at the
expense of the Crown.
The prisoner declared that he should never have
been identified but for the influence that had been
brought to bear upon the witness Marden by the
police.
The jury left the court about six o'clock. At seven
o'clock they returned, and found Lee guilty, and
Dredge not guilty.
Mr. Justice Hawkins having put on the black
cap,
The prisoner Lee said he wished to point out that
Wilderspin, the Rainham constable, had stated that
there was a tall man.
Mr. Justice Hawkins said he could not allow him
to refer to the evidence. It did not matter what he
stated, he was bound to pass sentence.
Lee: What is the use of asking me if I have any-
thing to say when lam stopped? I am a persecuted,
murdered man, and I say so before the British people.
I shall say no more.
Mr. Justice Hawkins: In your frame of mind it
appears to me useless to say anything more than that
I do not believe you are a persecuted man, as you
have had the fairest possible trial, and it appears to
me that the jury could not have conscientiously
returned any other verdict than you were guilty
of the murder of Inspector Simmons.
Prisoner: I did not do it, my lord.
Mr. Justice Hawkins: Anyone who has heard the
evidence cannot entertain a doubt of your guilt. I
have nothing more to do now than to pass the sentence
of the law. His lordship then passed formal sentence
of death, ending with the expression, "And may the
Lord have mercy on your soul."
Lee: I have had none from either the judge or
justice.
He was then removed. 4
The usual order was made that the prisoner should
be handed over to the custody of the Sheriff of Essex,
to carry the sentence into execution.
Before the jury were discharged they said they
desired to express their high approval of the bravery
exhibited by Constable Marden in the affair, and the
judge said that he concurred with them.