The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-07-23 00:00:00

THE BARON DR UDR,.

Baron de Vida, whose extraordinary attempt to
murder his son we noticed at considerable length in
our last, has been brought to England, and on Monday
was placed at the bar of the Bow-street, (London) Police
court, before Mr. Come—The prisoner, • very gentle•
rranly.looking man of about U, and rather above the
average stature, was in the ctudoiy of two French
offirers, attended by :Smith and Williamson of the
detective police. He appeared calm and collected before
entering the dock, but when the charge contained in
the warrant was yawl over, he buried his face in his
hands, and became as tremulous that he could hardly
support himself at the bar—Mr. C. Pollock conducted
the prosecution, and Mr. Sleigh with Mr. Orrldge in•
it, acted by Mr. Wontner--appeared for the prisoner.
The only evidence adduced was, the identity of the
prisoner.

On Tuesday afternoon Inspector Thornton, of the
detective police waited upon Mr. Currie, and ststed that
the young man Rivers, a most important witness for
the prosecution, was lying so dangerously ill at Twicken-
ham that it was neoeiear his evidence should be taken
without further delay. kue had broken • blood-vessel
and was suffering so severely that his hie had been
despaired of. After considerable discussion it was ar-
ranged that the prisoner should be taken to Twicken-
ham, in order that the evidence of Rivers m4ht be ob-
tained. About a dome persons were atln,itted into the
room, the window of which was throivn open, and the
prisoner was placed among the crowd to be singled out
by Rivers, if his memory should enable him to identify
Mee Baron at all. The oath heist administered to Rivers,
he said : My name is John Rivers. I live here, and as. •
114•011•1.- I remember leaving this house on the 28th
of Jade Iset, and going to my work at the river side,
down fiy the Duke d'Anniale's. It war al.tit 7 o'clock.
I met two gentlemen on horseback. I think I should
know them if I saw them again. The elder pntleman
had a white hat on, They were Odom towards me,
the younger one beingnearest to the railings. I saw the
alder one strike the youngermie bulk-b•Pded blow on
the ferehead with a whip-handle or something like it.
I could see there was a alining knob it the end of it.
The young one's hat fell off, and he cried out. "Oh, dosit,
Pray don't !" I then saw the elder gentretnin strike the
young maul's hone across the head._ Inte young one
rude off &siert as he could. The uld.ribtlemae said,
"Hey ! boy ! here's your hat." and tried to jot his horse
bank. but it would not go. When I bad seen all I weld
I went sod picked up the hat. I Saw the young men
jump from his horse. Both horses were loose. I took
the hat to the Swan, where the young gentleman went
to, and the Lendlord gave tne a shilling. IL sew Mr.
Loscocabe that evening in his boat, and I told him all
to about it. I also my wife. The witness was asked
point out the elder potlenian, and, after looking steadily
round the room, he fixed his eye on the prisoner, and
said," That is the man." Again, wbeu lb.
Pr
put on his hat, he said, "I have not the lout doubt
taOf
at." The son was then brought into the room, and the
witness imiutrliately identified him. Thu Mow was •
very violent one, and the young man appeared to Le
much hurt. The blood poured down his feee.—Croar
examined by Mr. Sleigh.-1 saw them for the first time
just before the blow was struck. There is • tare in the
lane just at the spot, which would prevent my seeing
anything that might have happened before.

The examination of Baron de Vidil wu resumed at the
Hosr-street Police-court. on Wednesday.
The roriNoner, on being placed at the her, immediately
covered his face with his hands, and his conntenance
was scarcely once visible throughout the proceedings'.
At the request of his counsel, he was Provided with •
seat in the dock, which enabled bins, by leaning forward,
still more effectually to conceal big face from observation
It was obvious. however, that lie was greatly agitated,
especially when his son stepped into the witness-box,
although he did not once look towards bias. The
Baron's son, Alfred John de Pith', was conducted to the
witness-box. The Testament was offered to him by the
usher, who was proceeding to administer the usual oath,
when the witness said, addressing the worthy malistrate,
and speaking almost in a whisper, 'Will you
allow me to my • few words?' at the mime time
declining, by • motion of the hand, to be sworn, and
proceeded, in a weak tremulous voice, to utter the
followingm disjointed sentences:—" I am placed in
most nful circumstances. I a not willing to proceed
' any further, and I hope I shall not be pressed to
give evidence. lam not well, and I don't think—l
don't know (a pause)-1 don't think I can give
evidence. I do not know what will become ol my
father if—if lam pressed. I had better state hoinutly
to you that when I asked for the warrant I did so
only for my own protection, not thinking it would
lead to this. I did not think they would succeed—
that it would be executed. I did not think they would
find my father. I cannot tell what effect it will have
upon me, but I hope I shall be able to undergo
whatever you may put upon me or require if I refuse
to give evidence. If you insist upon my speaking I
am in • dreadful position. You do not know all. I
understand that my father has accused we, to a certain
extent—he has made • charge against we. If he says
I anything against me, then I shall be compelled to tell
everything. I wish him to know that if he insists I
must tell all." One more remark I wish to make
before withdrawing from this matter. Many gentlemen
has kindly moved for me and assisted me. I wish to
state that they have done so only at my own request,
and for the protection of my life. Ido not wish to
say anything against my father, unless he insist on—.
He lias been a most unfortunate man. and I do not
know if it is not the duty of children to bear even
more than I have done—to bear anything for the sake
of their parents. It is very painful. I cannot say
more. Mr. Corrie (to witness}—We all sympathise
with you, and feel that your position is a very painful
one, but it is my duty to tell you that you must be
sworn. If you refuse, I shall be obliged to
I commit you to prison from time to time until
you have unseated to tell the whole truth.
Mr. Sleigh—l submit that there ought to be no
pressure put upon this young man. Witness—lt is
very painful. This is such an exceptional case. Mr.
Corrie —I have already said it is a painful matter to
you and to us all. Still, I most ask you—do you refuse
to he sworn? Witness.—l have been greatly injured;
but I feel it is the duty of children to abstain 'rem—
and I would rather not. I must refuse. Mr. Corrie.
—rhen I must commit you foreseen days ; and if you
still refuse to give evidence you will be again anninitted
from time to time at short intervals to the House of
Correction. Mr. Barnaby—Take the witness into
custody. The Baron's son was then taken by • warrant
officer into the gaoler's room to be locked up. Subee-
quently it was arranged, in consequence of the
delicate state of the young man's health that be should
be allowed to return to his home in charge of his friends,
and the further heating of the case was adjourned till
Friday.
The re-examination of the Baron de Vidil, on the
charge of attempting to murder his son, was resumel
on Friday. The proceedings in this extraordinary
cue were commenced by Mr. Pollock stating that, in
Iconsequence of the continued refusal of the young
man to give evidence, he was instructed to retire from
the prosecution, and to leave the matter entirely in
Mr. Curries hands. Mr. Sleigh, amid some expres-
sions of disapprobation, suggested that "the ends of
justice would be entirely answered by the defendant
being called upon to enter into sureties to keep the
peace towards his son, H. de Vida." The young man
was then put into the witness-box, and, in answer to
the magistrate, expressed his determination not to give
evidence. Mr. Corrie then stated his intention to
adjourn the case until Monday last, so that the Govern-
ment might consider the question of the expediency,
or otherwise, of prosecuting the Baron on their own
responsibility. He intimated that he should express
an opinion to the Secretary of State favourable to his
interference in the matter.