The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-11-09 00:00:00

THE CHELSEA SUICIDES.

On Monday, at the Westminster Police-court, Paul Julius
Mal, 21, a native of Berlin, was charged with killing Her-
mann Nagel, at 21, Langton-street, Chelsea, on the 21st of
August last.

Mr. Poland, instructed by Mr. Wontner, jun., one
of the Treasury solicitors, appeared for the proilecu-
tion ; Mr. Edward Meyer. Chancellor of the Consulate-
General of the German Empire in London, watched
the case. The prisoner was not represented, hut Mr.
Albeit, the interpreter, was instructed by the Magis-
trate to look after the interests of the prisoner and
explain Hu statements of counsel, which are not usually
translated to the prisoner.
It may be recollected that the prisoner and Her-
mann Nagel left Germany together, and, after wasting
their money in riotous living, were reduced to a state
of poverty. They were left together by some women
in a house in Langton-street, and pistol-shots were
heard. When the door was broken open, Nagel was
found dead on the floor, and the prisoner, apparently
dead also, close to him. Nagel was shot through the
heart, and the prisoner, having been wounded toe, was
removed to the hospital. Being well enough to leave
on Saturday, he was apprehended by the police
and taken to the poliee.tation at Mihnan'e-row,
Chelsea, where he was charged with the murder of his
associate, on the presumption Chat either he had fired
the shots, or that they having agreed to commit suicide,
the survivor was guilty of the murder of the other.
This principle of law was laid down many years ago
and acted upon as recently as 1838. One Allison and
wife having taken laudanum, the man, who survived,
WAN found guilty of the murder of the woman.
The prisoner was not placed in the dock on the
original charge, but

Mr. Poland said he had to apply to the Magistrate
for a warrant against a young man, named Paul
Julius Mai, for the wilf murder of one Hermann Nagel.
The police were called in at the time of the murder and
found that the man Mai was very severely wounded
himself, and they took him to the hospital in order that
he might there be mired of the serious woundintlicted
upon himself. An inquiry was held in the nature of
a coroner's inquisition touching the death of Her-
mann Nagel, and the jury, after going into the
matter at great length, found a verdict of "Wilful
murder" against Paul Julius Mai, a warrant against
whom was now asked for. The recognizfinces were
returned to the Central Criminal Court with the deposi-
tions of the witnesses, and the coroner issued his
warrant for the apprehension of the prisoner and his
removal to Newgate. In accordance with the verdict
JI the jury the police, who then had no legal anus-
tame, preferred a bill of indictment against Paul Mai
for the murder of Nagel on the coroner's inquisition,
and the grand jury returned a true hill. At that time
the prisoner was in St. George's Hospital, where he
had remained till Saturday, the police meanwhile
taking care and watching him for the purpose of bring-
ing him to justice, and on Saturday last the police took
him into custody at the hospital, and charged him in
the ordinary way with murder. It was thought that
the evidence should be commenced de novo and taken
in the hearing of the accused that he might know what
he had to answer and have an opportuniay of cross-
examining the witnesses. Mr. Poland said, in con-
tinuation, he must call attention to the provisions of
Jervis' s Act, 11 and 12 Vict, , ap 42, sec, 3, and thought
it iight to state that after the finding of the grand
jur&Mr. Avery, the 'Clerk of the Arraigns, upon
ben% applied in, gave the required certificate.
__. _

In answer to the Magistrate, Mr. Poland went on
to say that at the time the indictment was preferred
the prisoner WWI in the hospital, and the police were
there to see be did not go at large ,• the certificate was
dated October 22, and he had it before him, and in the
face of that he did not see how his worship could do
otherwise than act under the provisions of Jervis's
Act—issue the warrant and commit the prisoner forth-
with. One, of course, would feel that although there
was a full inquiry before the coroner, the prisoner was
not present and knew nothing about it, and it was
always thought that a man should have an opportu-
nity of hearing what he had to answer, and have an
opportunity of cross-examining the witnesses. He
in a great ninnsure thought so too ; still he most re-
peat, he could not, in the face of that certificate and
clause of the Act, do other than ask for a warrant for
the apprehension of the prisoner, anti upon his being
identified with the person against whom the bill was
found, then ask that he should he committed to
the next version of the Central Criminal Court to take
his trial on ties original charge. He had gone into
the matter very carefully. The learned counsel then
made a cursory reference to the 17th section of Jervis's
Act, which enacts that the justices before committal
shall take the depositions of the witnesses in the
presence and hearing of the accused person, but said he
could not see how that could possibly apply to this
case ; he should give the prisoner a copy of the evidence
given before the coroner, arid also furnish him with
snob further evidence an he proposed to call, so that he
would have every opportunity of preparing his defence.
All that now remained was to ask the magistrate to
issue his warrant and commit the prisoner under the
3d section of the Act.
Th. Magistrate said he was of opinion that he was
hound to accede to the application of the learned
counsel, without any general observatione affording the
prisoner an opportunity of examining the witnesses.
It was simply his duty to issue the warrant and com-
mit the prisoner, without it being incumbent upon him
to go into any question prior to the finding of the
grand nary and having relation to the merits of the
case anterior to the finding. He was not justified in
deviating from the course laid down, although it might
appear a hardship that the prisoner was not ahowed
to hear the evidence taken against him. Upon pro-
duction of the certificate of the Clerk of the Arraigns,
and the identification of the person charged, he should
commit him, without further inquiry.
Inspector Gill then produced the certificate of the
finding of the grand jury, and
The Magistrate issued his warrant for the apprehen-
sion of Paul Julius Mai for the wilful murder of Her-
mann Nagel.
In a few minutes the prisoner was placed in the
dock : he is quite a stripling, and appears but seven-
teen. He was very calm anti self-possessed throughout
the whole of the proceedings, only once exhibiting
any anxiety. When the inspector got up into the
witness-box he wanted to know why Mr. Gill was the
prosecutor, but was quiet when told by the interpreter
It was only a matter of form; he objected also to be
sent to Nesegate in his present state of health, and said
he was not to leave the hospital.
John M, inspector of the T Division of Police,
said he identified the prisoner, and had just appre-
hended him on the warrant. The prisoner was dis-
charged on Saturday from St. George'. Hospital.
Witness was present when the coroner's jury. returned
a verdict of "Wilful murder against the prisoner for
the murder of Herman Nagel, and witnesses were
bound over to pro/write at the Old Bailey, at the Sep-
tember Session; the indictment was preferred, and a

true bill found against the prisoner. Witness had ap-
plied to Mr. Avon', the Clerk of the Arraigns, for a
certificate of the finding of the grand jury, and pro-
ducecl it. The prisoner was the person mentioned in
the certificate. The warrant was interpreted to the
prisoner by Mr. Albert, the interpreter.
Mr. Albert haNing interpreted the evidence of Mr.
„...

GM,
Prisoner said he had no question to ask, except that
he wanted to know why Mr. Gill should accuse him of
such an offence.

Mr. Albert said he had great difficulty in making
the prisoner understand the charge. He then explained
that Mr. Gill was simply a nominal prosecutor, and
the prisoner was apparently satisfied.
The Magistrate said the evidence of identity was
sufficient, and he should commit the prisoner.
Upon this being explained to hint prisoner said he
was too ill to go to prison.
Mr. Poland said every attention would be paid him.
He was then committed to take his trial at the Old
Bailey.

Upon being removed from the dock to the reserve room
he completely broke down, and, burying his face in his
hands, said he had not a friend in this country, and Ida
father even had not come over to see him. He became
more calm, however, when Mr. Albert explained what
would be done with him, and he was satisfied that he
would have justice. He was removed to Newgato in
a cob under the care of Mr. Gill.

MODERN ENGLISH FARE.
100 much of a good thing, we know,
Is sometimes to be had •
More often, in thia world of woe,
Too much of one that's bad.
T.Aiours pordra will cloy, they say
Yet make a shift could I
To dine off partridge every day ;
But can't stand humble. pie.
That, of all diabes, I like least
cram It . but I find
That far is that continual lout
From a contented mind.—Punch.