The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-14 00:00:00

THg TRAGEDY AT MICICHURST-HILL.

THE EVIDENCE OF MISS GRIGOS.—(THIS DAY.)
WALTHAM ABBEY, TUVIDALT.
This morning, at 10 o'clock, the prisoner,
Frederick Alexander Watkins, arrived at the Waltham
Abbey police station, whence he was taken to the county
court of the district.
Miss Matilda Griggs, a pretty-looking girl, was brought
to the court in a private Sy, and was accompanied by her
father and mother.

At a quarter to 11 o'clock this forenoon the magistrates
took their seats upon the bench.
Mr. Abrams, of Bow-street London, appeared to watch
the proceedings on behalf of the accused.
Mr. Jessup, the - clerk, read aloud the charge, which
stated that Frederick Alexander Watkins had maliciously
stabbed and wounded Matilda Griggs with a dagger, in a
field at Itnekhurstehill, with intent to murder her.
The first witness called was Matilda Griggs. She sp.
peered to be very weak, and was roommonated with a seat.
After she was sworn 11r. Jeaeop then read over to her the
deposition which she had made when it was thought she
was dying. He read it in the third person, and as he
stated the facts that she had deposed to him she answered
" Yee," in • very feeble tone of voice.
Clerk—Have you anything to add to the information
that you have made?
Witness—Nothing
Mr. Abrams asked her if she had not always been very
affectionately treated by the prisoner.
Witness—He always treated me with the greatest affec-
tion and attention. I know that his father had an estate.
I made the prisoner's acquaintance at his father's house.
He never complained to me of pains in his head.
He never told me that watchmaking gave him
pains in the bead. He did say that brtckmaking
agreed with him better than watchmakin4. He said be
had better health. I recollect his having his ears pierced,
but I do not recollect that he had it done on account of
pains In his head. I walked out with him on Easter Mon-
day. He told me that he had been to the stag hunt. He
did not tell me that be was uneasy in his
mind. I do not recollect that he told me that
he could not sleep at night. I would not venture to swear
that he did not. He came to my house on the Tuesday
evening. I do not think that he was in an excited state.
He came at a quarter-past 8 o'clock. We left the house
at half-past 8 o'clock. I did not notice anything pe-
culiar in his manner. I do not recollect his saying to
me, " Matilda, I feel unhappy in my mind." He might
have said so.

At this stage of the examination the witness became
quite overcome, and she closed her eyes and lay back in
the chair. Dr.H Tne at once came to her assistance.. . .. . . . . .

Mr. Abrams said that be would make—the examination
as short as possible. Miss Griggs was then assisted out of
she court.

Mr. H. L Patterson, inspector of police, was then
called, and he said, on Wednesday, the 24th of April, at
a quarterlisst 5 o'clock in the morning,the prisoner came to
the Epping Police-station, and said :—" I have stabbed •
young woman at Buckhurst-hill." Witness enutiuned
him that whatever be might say would be used in evi-
dence for or against him. He then said, " I stabbed her
in • field at Bnekhurst.hill."' " Who was she r asked the
witness. " Miss Griggs," replied the prisoner. He then
said that be felt so ill. that he wanted to go out into the
ksedan. Waning accompanied him there, and he and that
be had taken something that he ought not to have taken
the night before. He said that he had taken acid that he
used in his trade as • watchmaker. When he got better
witness asked him, " Who is Miss Griggs ?" "The
daughter of Thomas Griggs, well borer, of North-
Buokhuret.hill." When asked why he stabbed6TM
replied, " We bad some words, and all that." He said that
he had stabbed her with a dagger. He said that he did not
know how often he had stabbed her. He supposed in two
or three places. He said he did not know where he had
left the young woman. He supposed that some people had
found her. He said that his name was Frederick Watkins,
of 36, Henrietta-street, Covent-garden, and that he was
a watchmaker, now lodging at the Foz, Buckhunt-hill.
Witness examined his hands. Found blood on his hands.
(When that statement was made, the eyes of all in the
court were directed towards the prisoner. He looked very
red, and he leant upon his right hand.)
The witness continued, and said that be then took the
prisoner into custody, and left him in charge while he
went to the meadow.

Croas-examined bi Mr. Abrams—The reason of witness's
asking the prisoner so many questions, after cautioning
him, was to ascertain where the girl was, and whether she
was alive or dead. The prisoner was not in the least
excited at the time.

[The ezaminstionwee proceeding when our report left.]

FOREIGNERS TRAVELLING IN ENGLAND.—A co-
respondent of the Times relates the following :—" A Swiss
gentleman, having come to Leaden with some friends,
wished to visit • sister-in-law residing at Bicester, in Ox-
fordshire, where, after some difilculty, from his being un-
able to speak English, he arrived in mfety. On his return
to town, however, on the Bth of April last, being a little
embarrassed at having to change trains at Bletchley, he
was politely shown into • carriage by four well-dressed
gentlemen (T) who endeavoured to fore. him to play at
cards. On his persisting in his refusal, they seized him by
the throat and robbed him, and he escaped further vio-
lence only by adroitly thrusting his fist through the win-
dow, opening the door, and jumping out while the train
was in motion. Had he not done so, ho would have found
himself, if anywhere, penniless in Manchester instead of in
London. Having found his way back to Bletchley, and
made known as well as he could his misfortune to the sta-
tion-master, he was passed on to London."
MACKEREL. —An immense quantity of mackerel,
estimated at 350 tons, was caught on the Cornish coast
during the past week. Upwards of 170 tons were sent
from 81. Ives to London in a single day, and the large
provincial markets were also extensively supplied. Prima
varied from 12e. to 30s. per six score, according to the
condition of the fish when landed. The mackerel have
moved a long distance from Penitence and Bt. Ives, and
the fishermen have to arrange with the largest and swiftest
beats to get the can:thee on shore in time to be despatched
by the morning and mid-day trains. A steamer is called
into requisition when available. The fishery has for some
time given constant and profitable employment to • very
large number of people.