The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-28 00:00:00

Frightful Murder in Saffron-Hill,

Sarafini Polioni, a ferocious-looking Italian, about 33
years of age, was placed at the bar of the Clerkenwell Police
court yesterday, before Mr Knox (who is sitting for Mr
Barker), charged with the wilful murder of Michael Har-
rington, by cutting him with a knife,. He was also charged
with feloniously cutting and wounding Alfred Rebbick and
George Bannister.

Mr T. Wakeling appeared for the prosecution, and Mr
Inspector Potter, who has charge of the case, was present
to watch the proceedings on the part of the police. Mr Gue,
rine attended as interpreter.
Mr Wakeling said the prisoner was an Italian, and lived
close to the Golden Anchor publichouse, Great Saffron-hill.
He had grossly insulted the landlord, and was turned out of
house some time before: On Monday night a lot of Italians
got up a disturbance in the house. The prisoner rushed up
stairs, knocked a woman down and stabbed the deceased.
He had previously stabbed two others, one of whom, it was
stated, was at the point of death. The deceased made a
statement at the hospital, as well as the other unfortunate
man. These statements he proposed to submit in evidence.
They were as follows :

Dec. 26, 1861.
My name is Michael Harrington; I was at Golden An-
chor pnblichouse, Great Saffron-hill, about 7 o'clock this
evening. I was stabbed in the belly. The man with a mous-
tache is the man that did it. God forgive him. I mean the
man now present. I am on my dying bed. God forgive him
I will not sign.

witnesses, { THOMAS A. POTTER, Inspector,
RICHARD FAWELL, P.P. 425 A.
St Bartholomew's Hospital.
My name is Alfred Rebbick. I reside at 59, Great
Saffron-hill. I am a potman. lam 22 years of age.
About 7 o'clock this evening there was a disturbance at
the Golden Anchor, Great Saffron-hill. I went into the room
to try to quell it. An Italian was in the room. That man
stabbed me. I immediately struck him with a stick. I
afterwards gave that man into custody of Police-constable
425 A, Fawell. This statement is true. I know lam dying.
The.man who stabbed me is now present. That is the man.
(Signed) ALFRED REBBICE., X (his mark).
Witnesses
THOMAS A, POTTER Inspector.
{ RICHARD FAWELL, 425 A,
Royal Free Hospital, Dec. 26, 1864.
It was thought the stab whioh killed the deceased was
intended for the landlord of the house.

The following evidence was then taken, which was inter-
preted to the prisoner :

Frederick Shaw—•l am landlord of the Golden Anchor,
Saffron-hill. I saw the prisoner last evening. He came
about half-past five. He was talking to my wife. He came
with five or six other Italians. He said he could settle me,
he could settle any six Englishmen like me. I did not speak
to hiro. He then left. They did not all leave. He had
been drinking. He returned in 20 minutes. I did not see
him return. The other Italian struck me. Soon after there
was a row in the room. I went out for a constable. The
constable came, and the next thing I saw was the prisoner
being taken out by the police. Constable Fawell, 425 A,
went into the bagatelle room. I was pushed into the bar
parlour by some of the customers, as the Italians threatened
me. I then saw the prisoner taken out. I afterwards saw
the deceased Harrington at the foot of the stairs leading to
the bagatelle room. He was not able to speak, and his
bowels were all protruding, I got him into the bar parlour,
I raised his shirt, and found he had got a severe cut, He
was then taken to the hospital.

Maria King—l am the wice of William King, 58, Leather-
lane. He is a bone button manufacturer. I was with my
husband at the Golden Anchor on Monday night last, I
knew the deceased, he was in the roorr..—the bagatelle room.
He was in the room with my husband and several others.
They were not playing. The English people were taking re-
freshments by themselves. I saw the prisoner. I was going
out of the bar to go home. It might be from six to half-
past, and the prisoner met me at the door of the bar and
struck me full in the face with his fist, and knocked me
backwards. There was then a rush into the bagatelle-room.
I was knocked down.

Mr Knox—You were knocked down, and the rush corn.
pleted it ?

W Ur ess—Yes.
Mr Knox—How long did you stop on the ground ?
Witness—l do not know.

By Mr Wakeling—l was stunned. I saw the constable
go into the room and bring out the prisoner. I did not see
the man that was struck.

Richard Mellowship, 42, Coldbath-square—l am a button-
maker. On Monday night I was at the Golden Anchor,
kept by Mr Shaw, Saffron-hill. I was in the bagatelle-
room between six and seven. I knew the deceased. He
was there, and stood by the side of me. The prisoner rushed
inta the room first, with several behind him ; all Italians.
I saw the prisoner strike the deceased in the stomach, and
the deceased fell to the ground. Ho was not picked up in
a moment. He had been stabbed, and his bowels cut out.
I did not see anything in his hands. I mean the prisoner.
My wife said, !‘ Oh come away; you will be murdered."
I then saw the blood. She was near enough to the deceased
to have got the blood from him. It was on her shawl.
By Mr Knox—l went out of the house, but I was obliged
to run in again, as the house was surrounded by Italians
shouting "Garibaldi for ever." When the rush came the
deceased had just finished singing a song, and the prisoner,
without having a word with him, struck the deceased, and
he fell.

John Liddle—l live at 10, South-square, Gray's Inn-
road. I am a French polisher. I was at the Golden Anchor,
Great Saffron-hill, about six or seven when this disturbance
took place. I knew the deceased, Harrington. He sat
next to me. I sang the first song, and he sang the last. It
was in the bagatelle-room. There were some twelve or
fourteen in the room. There were no Italians in the room.
The deceased called upon me for a song. I then gave
"The Ship's Carpenter." The deceased sang a song
just after it. The prisoner came in. I saw him strike Mrs
King. He met her at the door and struck her, It knocked
her down. Then he rushed in and struck the deceased, who
had just risen from the first seat near the fireplace. He
struck him on the stomach. The deceased fell on the floor.
Deceased had not said a word before he was struck by the
prisoner. Two constables came, who took prisoner into
custody. Several other Italians followed into the room. I
myself struck the prisoner with a stick. The deceased said,
" I am stabbed," when he fell from the effect of the blow,
whereupon I struck prisoner with a stick. Another man
struck him, and he fell, and we held him till the police
came.

Mr IV. King, 28, Leather-lane—I am the husband of
Maria King. I was at the Golden Anchor on Monday about
6or 7. I was in the bagatelle room. There was a company
of us there. I saw the prisoner there. I did not see him
strike my wife. I picked her up. I went out, and I found
that somebody had struck my wife. Harrington, the de-
ceased, was there. I saw the prisoner come into the room.
I was knocked down in a struggle. I was knocked down
behind the door.

Mr Knox—Did you, or did you not see the prisoner and
the others come into the room ?

Witness—Yes. When I got up I saw the prisoner on the
top of Harrington. I laid hold of him, and held him till
he was given in charge. I did not see any blood,.
Mr Knox—Were there any words passed before this took
place ?
Witness—No.

Richard Fawell, 425 A—On Monday night between G
and 7, I was passing down Saffron-hill, by the Golden
Anchor, when my attention was called by Mr Shaw to a
disturbance in the house. I went in, and I there saw the
prisoner and several others in the taproom breaking up one
of the seats. I went out and called Police-constable 157 G.
We went in, and in going into the bagatelle-room 1 saw
Alfred Rebbick following the prisoner. Rebbick said,
" That man has stabbed me." We went into the room and
found the prisoner in custody of Mr King. Harrington was
lying in a corner, and 1 was told that he had been stabbed.
I said I would take the prisoner into custody for assaulting
Rebbick. He beeame very violent. I told him that he was
charges
i with stabbing Rebbick. He answered me some-
thing n Italian, which Ido not understand. The prisoner
was conveyed to the police station. Afterwards I took him
to St. Bartholomew's Hospital. I saw Harrington under
the hands of the surgeon. He was the same man who was
pointed out to ma as Michael Harrington in the bagatelle
room.

Mr Knox—Did you tell him in the bagatelle room that
you took him in charge for the assault upon Rebbick
Witness—No, I told him in the street. Ho became very
violent.

William Abott, 137 G—On Monday night there was a
disturbance at the Golden Anchor, Saffron Hill. I went in,
and found the prisoner in the custody of King.
Faithful, 158 G—On Monday I was called to the Golden
Anchor. I saw Michael Harrington, whom I knew. It was
about half-past six or seven. He was lying in the bar par-
lour insensible. I lifted up his shirt and saw his bowels
protruding. I got a cab, took him to St. Bartholomew's
Hospital, and delivered him to Mr Peerless, the surgeon.
I produce the trousers worn by the deceased, which I took
off his body—the mark or cut there corresponds with the
wound on deceased's body.
Sergeant Baldock, 1 G—On Monday night, at about a
quarter to 8, the prisoner was brought to the Clerkenwell
police court, by Constables Fawell and Elliott. He was
charged with stabbing a man. I told him I should detain
him at the station until I ascertained that the man was
dead, and if dead he would be charged with murder. I
asked him if he understood English. He answered "Yes."
I then examined his hands. His right hand was covered
with blood. There was an old knife upon him, and it ap-
peared not to have been opened for some time. I pointed
out blood on his hands, and he said "I only protected my-
self." I afterwards told him he was charged with the
wilful murder of Michael Harrington, by stabbing him in
the belly with a knife, and also assaulting and cutting two
other persons. He said, "I never use knives."

Inspector Thomas Potter, G division, said—ln conse-
quence of information received from last witness I conveyed
the prisoner in a cab to,St Bartholomew's Hospital, accom-
panied by Sergeant Baldock and other constables. I found
the man recognised by the officers as Harrington in bed. In
consequence of what the doctor told me I said to Harring-
ton," Will you listen to met" He went off in a dose. I
then said, " Can you hear what I am saying?" He said
" Yes." I said, " The doctor who is now present says you
have but a short time to live, and I want you to answer a
few questions." He then said, "If I am to die God have
mercy on me." He repeated that several times. I then
asked him to look at several men near the bed. He said,
" Oh, let me die quiet." I then said, "Where are you hurt ?''
He said, "In the belly; for God's sake untie my belly," I
again asked him to look round the bed to see if he knew
anyone. He then looked round, and pointing to the prisoner
said, " That's the man who done it; him with the black
moustache, I hope God will forgive him.' I then said,
"Will you take this pen and sign this statement ?" He said,
"No, God bless him."

Mr Knox—Did the prisoner make any statement to this ?
Witness—l showed the prisoner a note I had taken. He
said I don't understand English.
Mr John Peerless—On Monday, about seven, the de-
ceased was brought to the hospital by 153 G. tie was in a
state of great collapse, produced by shock and loss of blood.
I examined him. I saw four feet of intestines protruding
from a wound near the naval. There were four wounds in
the intestines. There had been a great deal of bleeding. I
closed the wounds in the intestines and returned them.
About nine o'clock the inspector came. At that time the
deceased was conscious. I told him he was dying. He
would not believe it. At last I convinced him of it. I
asked him if he had got any statement to make. He said,
"If I must die God forgive me." I asked if he could point
out the man who wounded him. He replied to the effect
that he did not wish to hang him, and hoped God would
forgive him, as he did. He afterwards pointed out the pri-
soner as the man who had done it. He refused to sign the
paper tendered by the inspector. The prisoner was then
removed.

Mr Knox—When did the deceased die ?
Witness—About half-past 3. I have no hesitation in
saying that death was caused by the wound in the bowels.
Mr Knox (to Inspector.Potter)—Tad the deceased any
children ?

Mr Potter—He leaves a widow and five children totally
unprovided for. He was about 38 years of age, and web a
costermonger.

Mr Knox—Something must be done for her. Before I
leave the court I will give directions about her. In all pro-
bability the prisoner will have to be brought here on an.
other charge. I will therefore remand him.
The prisoner was then removed.
Mr Knox directed f 5 from the poor-box to be placed in
Mr Potter's hands for the use of the deceased's family.
In order to prevent the recurrence of stabbing outrages
on Saffron-hill, Mr Potter has placed extra men in that
district.