The Express.
London, England, 1862-08-28 00:00:00

SOUTHWARK.

Henry ICemp,a well dressed old man, 66 years of age,
• varnish maker, carrying on Wainer at JammailLgovt
Bermondsey, was brought before Mr. Burnham,
with criminally aseaultingJernima Clark, In years old, sad
Mary Ann Stewart, 13 years old, both intelligent-looking
girls, the daughters of re- ectaLle parents.
The first complainant, a fine-looking girl, said that her
parents lived near the prionner's house, and she frequently
saw him. On Monday morning she and another girl, about
her own age, were going to school, and at the Spa-road
Station they met the prisoner, who accosted them and took
themes far as the London-bridge Station. The other girl
then left them and then she and the prisoner got on board
• stiamboat and proceeded to Waterloo-bridge, where they
got out and walked to Islington. He was about to take
her into • house, when a woman stopped them, and sent
for a constable, who took the prisoner before a magistrate.
She then stated that on Sunday morning she went to the
prisoner's house, when he criminally assaulted her, and
the magistrate sent the prisoner to this court for examina-
tion on that charge. The girl now stated that the prisoner
entioed her and another girl into his house on Sunday morn-
ing and indecently assaulted her.
In crame-exarninatiou by Mr. Hines, witness said she never
Made any resistance, neither did she say anything about the
assault until after be had taken her to Islington. She never
told her parents of his conduct.
Mary Ann Stewart, 13 years of age, also residing in the
same neighbourhood, • fine looking girl, said that she went
'to the prisoner's house with the lust witness. He let them
into the house, and put her on the bed, when he indecently
assaulted her. She made no resistance, neither did she
call out. He gave her sixpence, and told her not to tell
her parents what had occurred. This witness admitted to
Mr. Burcham that the prisoner had on two previous owe-
;ions treated her in • similar manner, and she never aid s
word about it.

Mr. Burnham observed that the prisoner was a disgusting
old beast, but a 1 I the girls were over 12 years of age. and the
law made them comentiog parties, therefore he must dis-
charge him.

THE LATE MYSTERIOUS MURDER IN THE
ISLE OP SHIPPBY.-EXAMINATION OP THE

ACCUSED. .
In consequence of further information having
been received by the police of a character likely to bring
home the charge to the two prisoners, William and Edward
Johnson, father and son, who had been discharged for want
of evidence, Superintendent Green, of the Kent county con-
stabulary, again apprehended the prisoners on Monday
evening last, shortly after 8 o'clock, on the charge of having
feloniously killed and murdered William Elliott, by shoot-
ing him with a gun on the 2.9 th of July last, at Minister, in
Sheppey. When the superintendent t3lel them the charge,
the elder prisoner merely said, "Oh, very well." The
younger prisoner made no remark. Yesterday morning the
two primmer' were placed at the bar of the county justices'
office, at Sittingbourne, before Mr. E. Twopenny and the
Rev. G. B. Moore, and the following evidence was given.
Mr. Johnson, of Faversham, appeared on behalf of the
accused.

Thomas Gurfett (master of the National School,Minster)
deposed—On Monday week, the 15th inst., 1 saw the two
pnsoners, between .7 and 8 o'clock, between the Bat and
Ball farm—the place that used to be called the Old Black
Cottage. I heard a cart passing, and I called out, " Can
you give me a riue 1" A voice answered, "I cannot." It
was dusk at the time, but I knew the voice. Wm. John-
son then said, " Oh, it is you, Tom 7—jump up." I said,
" No, I don't want to ride now." He replied. " Get up ;
and I did so. Directly I got up in the cart, I said. "I hope
you are innocent !" Was. Johnson answered, " What do
people say!" I replied, "Some any that you are inno-
cent, and others say iat you are guilty. For my part
I have struck out that, according to the evidence given at
the inquest, you were not the man, and I hope you are not."
I said," So strong is the prejudice, that I was in °curer
sation with Mr. Frost, as we were returning from the
regatta, and talking of the murder, and I stated that I be-
lieved you could not be guilty according to the evidence.
Mr. Frost replied, ' Then I believe that you are as bad as
he is, and that you bad a hand in it.'" When I mentioned
this, William Johnson turned round, as we were sitting
hack to back in the cart, and said, with much emotion,
"The man I shot I never knew." I said, "Hold your
tongue—bold your tongue." William Johnson was about
to make some observation, when his son (the other pri.
miner) said, "Father, father, hold your tongue. Do as Mr.
Gurfett mays—bold your tongue." After some further con-
versation I said., " It is pretty well known whose gun was
fired off on the night after the man was killed." William
Johnson said. "Is it!—whoa was it then? I replied,
"Mr. Wright's." The prisoner said nothing in answer to
that.

Some further evidence having been taken, the prisoner■
were remanded for a week for the attendance of other wit-
nesses.