The Express.
London, England, 1868-12-31 00:00:00

124 Nt-ir r-WitOI,IIPTON 4 POLICJIMN A?
1i03114.

.
NORTHAMPTON, Wzosamitt NNW%
The morning William Bridgewater, machinist,
aged 23. was placed at the bar, in the Town-hall, before
Memo. J. M. Venionits:;:zori,arft;Nillarey, J. Perry,
B. F. Law. and T. with the wilful
murder of James Kemp, on Saturday, by shooting him
with a gen is Omphell-equare, Northempton.
Mr Keenan, chicf constable of the Borough sonotahu-
Mu, watched the case on behalf of the polio. ; the pri-
soner was defended by Mr. W. Khaimah, solicitor, of
Northam; ton.
The court was very densely crowded, it being known
the prisoner had also attempted to shoot his brother, and
on the pprisoner bring brought up, the Mayor said he
hoped silence would be muntainal during the inquiry
into such a serious charge.
11Ir. Whit-ken', the town-clerk, having been sworn by
the Mayor. deputed to some conversation he had with
Kemp prior to his death, and it was as follows. as he had
reduced it to writing :—I am the clerk to the magis-
trates of the borough of Northampton. On Sunday morn-
ing, tke 27th of December, soon after l 2 o'clock, I
attended at the Hamel Infirmary to take a statement
from police-eamMble James Kemp, wlio lay there dun-

gensuily wounded. He then appeared to is ha a dying
state, and the medical men who were around him evillest
to be of opinion that be was sinking fast and would not
recover, and one of them, I think Dr. Mash. said that he
thought it impossible that he could survive, and I then went
to the deceased's bedside and asked him how he feltl
and I said, ••Themed.cal men think you will not recover;'
and be then said. " I am very ill ; lift me up. I feel I
than not recover." After which I, with PO'ne difficulty,
took down his statement in writing. Ile appeared per-
t. oily :enable, and I read it over to him, and he sub-
*ads cl his mark. His statement was as follows :—" I
fcel that I shall not flyover. I ra• walking down Camp-
Lell-equare this evening. We were going by the side of
the square, and saw a man named Bridgewater, and he
said, ' Keep away, or I'll shoot you.' I thought he was
'eking, and did not like to tie a meant, and followed
Lim, and then 1 felt a shot at my neck, and felt I was
wour.de d." After making that statement I remained at
the infirmary, as he seemed to revive a little; and think-
ing that at the time he made the before-mentioned de-
claration that be might not be sufficiently conscious of
ayprtacl.ing death, I attended next wonting with the
mayor. 'I he deponition of the deowneed as made before the
may or at the intirmaiy on Sunday night was then read as
follows .—•• I am one of the borough police constables, and
left duty a little after ten. and went up Newland to
Campbell-equaie, and there I flaw a man. He had some-
thing in his Land. 1 have looked at the prisoner, Wil-
Lam Bri.ll.ewater, and think be is the man. He said,
• Keep an lIT. or I'll shoat you.' Ile said eornethin,r
fret before to said th4t, bat what it was I don't know.
I thought be was yoking, and I did not like to be a
coward, and went up to him, and saw some-
thing Inv, in his hand.. He told me to keep
back, and then I saw a flash, and then I felt somethiev4
its my neck. I then fancied I had been shot in the ne
and went towards the MIA. He was lorhaps ten yard off
when I e timed. A man who came from Landon was with
me at the t me and a men named George Crisp." lie the
pritoner—" Do you think I intended to hurt you ?"—to
%%Lich Kemp anawced. •• I don't know."
'I he oral evidence was as follow. :

Banitel Wills—l live at Alfred-street, Grange-real,
Fernondsey. Faturday last I was at Northampton.
1 met Kemp some some time between a quarter- ttO
and 11 o'clsck at the bottom of Abingdon-street. lie told
me he had kit oe dat7. A permn named George
Crisp was with me. N.' witAed with Kemp up
Newland to Campbell.square. We went along by
the wall, and saw a man in the mob* of the
square en the waste ground. I mid, •• I believe
that man is drunk, Kemp.' Kemp then walked towards
litm, and the man mad something which I thought was
.tlk tit follow me." I didn't bear any Ithing else said
sow the man move, and saw the earls of a gun.
did not we the gun till afterwards. I heard the report of
the gun, and then Kemp said. "oh! I'm shot." Romp
was not more than su or eight yards from the prisoner
when the gun was let off. Prisoner went towards the
Uprer Mound, and Kemp followed him. I al-o ran after
him along by the Fleetwood Tavern, and got to very
nearly the comer of Victoria-street. and then Kemp OA
hold of the collar of my cost, which be held for a few
wends, and then fel down on his face. flitted him, and
thought it was no use stopping for him, as I
took him for dead, and I followed the man round
into Victoria-street. He had the gun produced in
kis hand. He went to the third or fourth
door fast Mr. Stroulger's gateway, and knocked. but he
was not let in. I went back a little way to look after
Kemp, and when I returned to Victoria-street two two
had hold of the prisoner. and another one had the gun. I
believe the prisoner is the man. The gun is a double-
Darrel. A police-officer came up and took charge of the
prisoner.
By the Mayor—l was about ten or fifteen yards from
the prisoner when he spoke. and heard what he said.
14 Mr. Shootwilth-1 don't think the prisoner said,
''Don't come near me or I'll shoot you." 1 believe be
said, •• Don't follow me." .

George Crisp. the companion of the last witness, cor-
roborated his evidence. lie added—l saw the prisoner at
the police station, and be was very excited, as I thought,
from fright. The prisoner was talking in an excited
nay. I tho;ight Le talked as an excited man.
Henry Bridgewater, brother of Vie prisoner, was the
next witness*, and on his being called the preener hung
down his head, and for the first time exhibitel signs of
deep emotion. He said—l live at Leicester, and the pi"-
none: is my brother. My father lives in Victoria-street.
I tame here on Thursday to spend Christmas. and was
staying with him. The prisoner lives at Wellingborough.
Be came on Thursday night, about supper-time. We
were all friendly thin. He inlet back home next morn-
ier. as be said be was going out for • day or two
geeing, and could not eta, Christmas-day. He had
no gun with him then. r raw him again • little
after ten on Saturday bight. Some one knocked at the
door, and 1 went to answer it. I was surprised to find
it was the prisoner. I asked him tocome in. He wee very
=Lel excited, and said be would not come in. He had
Lot got anything with him then. His boy is staying at tny
father's house, and prisoner told him to come out. We
wanted the boy to stay, hat the prisoner would not let
him, and tick him away. In • few minutes the boy came
tack, and said his father bad scut Lim back. My other
brother came to me. and told me something. Ake a little
time there was another knock at the door. My father went
to the door, and I was with him. My father asked who was
Here, and prisoner replied by demanding his son again.
He said a Treat deal in a very excited manner which I
could not understand. I was afraid, from what my
brother bad told me, that he would fire through the door.
1 went and opened the window and told him to go away
er I would call the police, and he said I had better not.
I did call the police, and he went into the middle of the
load. I called "police" again, and he said he would
shoot at me if I called again. I dared him to do
so, and Le still threatened me ; but I continued to
call "police," and he levelled his piece at me. I
drew Lack, and he fired as I did so. The shots
came through the window and lodged in the ceil-
ing. I went down as my sisters were out, and I
was afraid for them. I opened the door. He was
standing on the opposite aide of the way. He did not say
anything, and I ran down the street, but I don't think he
saw me tall I had got a good way down the street. I
thought I heard • trigger go, but I did not look behind
me. I found my Indere, who were out, and then went
round to the police-station. I met them bringing him to
the station, and returned and stayed with him till he was
tidied up. When he heard that it was Kemp, he said he
would sooner have shot himself. He said he thought he
had shot his brother Henry—that is me.
Mr. Sticeemith—My brother had utterly lost the control
of Li. reason. He was mad drunk, and with a gun in his
Land he is as dangerous as a wild beast. He is given to
drink, and Las attempted his own life when under the in-
fiusnee of drink. I never had an angry word with him in
n life.
F.dwin Bridgwater, a Seemed victualler in Sheep-street,
who was deeply affected while giving his evidence, de-
posed to the fact of the plainer calling on the Saturday
evening in • wild, excited state, and taking away the gun
which Le had left there in the earlier part of the evening.
Be was very muds excited.
By the Bench— l have never said that be threatened to
shoot ray sac. I went up to my brothers' to tell them of
in Lis hay.g the gun, because I knew that when he had
Leer Le was yex y quiz on,e, and I feared if there was any
fluentt he mirlit use thegun. Ido not recollect that I
ever said to Inspector Wattle that when my brother took
easy the gun he raid lie intended to aim at someone.
icy Mr. Ithooemith— nom the excited state the prieoner
11,116 al I feared he might shoot some one, and that was the
realm. I went up and sautioned them at my father's, in
ease Le iliou:d go there. I have seen him try to pick •
gum rel thrre when he has been in drunk.
Thomas rrinuon deposal to seeing the prisoner fire off a
gun at one (0 the Lou... ilk Victoria-street, when he ran
away ditect.y. There was • cry of "Murder" and
"Police-" VI Aerie went out, and in oonsevenee of what
the prisoner's broth., said witness went up the street, and
raw the prisoner with a gun. Witness heard a second
report very shortly after the enemy, went up the street.
The pi limner's father took the gun away, and it was given
up to • Mr. Rigby.. The father had hold of the stock of
the gun and the prisoner the barrel.
By Mr. Moose/SD—The gun was given up quietly, and
there wan no struggling. prisoner seemed to have bad
a "little brae._ _ _

Pobee-constable Kenning, on night duty at the station,
mild that while the prisoner was there, neural persons
being pullout, one of them said be had shot Kemp. That
wash Vying the ellatire; and the prison& said. " Don't
make any sure of it. Take the charge from ;
give it 3ou straight. I did shoot him, and I meant
to shoot somebody. I meant to shoot my brother, and I
believe it's him that's got it. I didn't intend to injure
Ramp, for I knew him and em rorry for him." The wit-
/0 is produced the top root sad also the under coat worn
by the dreamed, from each of which a large piece had
teen blown away. He also produced Ave slugs extracted
from the top cost and two from the ander one. He also
produced • double barrelled gun which had been taken
fdrisor the•
• , and one banal had bean quite reoantly
114. Jasses Oerney Carruthers, the surgein to the hair-
nary, stated that siceeeeed was brought in about a quarter
to stoma banstandoy nicht. Ho had a wound in
the Bank salwahot. Dna ausliW Min/raw