The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-15 00:00:00

The Murder of Mr. Briggs.

At the Worship-street Police •court yesterday, Gsorgo
Augustus King, 32, of Coburg Cottage, Wick-lane, Bow
publisher, was brought up for re-examination before Mr
Ellison, charged, upon his own confession, with being con-
cerned with Muller in the murder of the late Mr Briggs on
the North London Railway, at Wick-lane, Bow, and also
with being drunk and incapable of taking care of himself at
the Bow police station.

Mr Abbott appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Vann
for the defence.

Mr Abbott--I understand, sir, that there is no further
evidence to connect the prisoner with the murder than his
own voluntary confession; but there is this fast in the case,
that he really was at the Mitford ,Jastle Tavern at the time
the body was supposed to have been ruu over on he rail-
way, that he accompanied it there, and assisted in bathing
the temples of the deceased. There are several other wit-
nesses who might bo examined to confirm the terms of the
statement the prisoner made to Mr Buckley, of the Rarte
lagh Arms Tavern, if necessary, but as all the other wit •
nesses who might possibly be able to prove any further con-
nection on the part of the prisoner with the circumstances
attending the deceased's death are now absent from this
country, [ would suggest that there should be another re •
mend to allow of their examination, should it be considered
advisable,

Mr Ellison—Yes, I think that those witnesses should
have an opportunity of being examined ; and (to the pri-
soner) I cannot part with you yet.
Mr Abbot—lt has been supposed that Mr Buckley is the
prosecutor in this case, He is not so. The police are the
prosecutors, and Mr Buckley is anxious it should be so
stated.

Inspector Honey—l have Mr Hudson, the landlord of tho
Mitford Castle, here, your worship, he can prove that the
prisoner was in his house at 8 o'clock that evening, and was
there till an alarm was raised that a man had been run over
on the rails.

Mr Ellison—Very well, then let him stand forward.
Mr Thomas Hudson —I am the landlord of the Mitford
Castle, in Wick-lane, Victoria Park. The prisoner came to
my house at 8 o'clock on the night of Mr Briggs' murder.
I did not see him myself then—he did not come under my
notice till 9 o'clock, which was the time I first eaw him.
The body of Mr Briggs was brought to my house about 25
minutes past 10, and the prisoner from 9 o'clock till that
time was under my observation. He was in my parlour al/
the time, except that he went out once or twice to bring in,
a pint of ale from the bar, but he was never out of my sight
more than five minutes at any one time.
Mr Ellison—How came you to notice the prisoner so par-
ticularly P—Witness— For the simple reason that he is there
pretty well every night.

Mr Safford (the clerk)—Were you out of the room your-
self ?—Witness—Only once or twice to go to the bar, and I
can aver that the prisoner was not out of the room at any
time more than five minutes till Mr Briggs's body was picked
up off the line, I could call four or five other persons who
were there at the same time, but they cannot come hero
unless they are paid for their loss of work.
Mr Safford—How do you know it was 8 o'clock when the
prisoner call 3 to your house?—Witness--I do not know
that personally ; it was 9 when I first saw him,but I under-
stand from my people that he was, as I say, in the house at
8 o'clock.

Mr Ellison—At what time did Mr Briggs start from
Fenchurch-street 2—lnspector honey—lie started about
10 o'clock, sir, I believe.

Mr Ellison—ln what time would the train reach this
spot ?—lnspector Honey—They would take about a quar-
ter of an hour to go from Fenchurch-street to Bow.
Mr Hudson—lt is quite an impossibility, sir, that the
prisoner could have had anything to do with the murder.
Mr Ellison—There is no evidence at present to show at
what precise time Mr Briggs started,
Mr Safford (to Inspector Honey)—A description was
given of some pe son who was supposed to have been in the
carriage with Mr Briggs at the time ; have you got that de-
scription ?—lnspector Honey—l have not, sir.
Mr Safford—Has the description been compared with the
prisoner ? Inspector Honey—lt has not sir.

Mr Ellison—Were you present at the inquest I Inspec-
tor Honey—No, I was not, sir.
Mr Ellison (to the prisoner)—You have made a stela-
merit in which you said that of ter the murder was committed
you went to the Mitford Castle, and remained there soma
time, after being present at the murder and before the body
was brought into the house. The witness called proves that
you were, no doubt, at the house, but the time is not wholly
accounted for, and, as I must have that matter cleared upf
I shall remand you, but for as short a time as possible—•
three days.
The prisoner, who was now much agitated, and displayed
none of the confidence and bravado he had before shown,
humbly said, " Thank you, sir ; will you take bail ?" but
Mr Ellison declined to do so, and tho prisoner was removed.