The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER, 27, 1864.

t o which he alluded was the hat of the deceased. Mr Briggs's
son expressed his opinion that although it resembled his
father's hat it was shorter in the crown. It was subsequently
ascertained, however, that a piece had been cut out round the
rim of the hat, and that it had been joined, not as a hatter
would have done it, but by being sewed with great neatness ;

and the hatter who made the hat would prove that it was
Mr Briggs's hat, and there would be no doubt that it was
the one he was wearing on the night of the murder. There
was one very peculiar circumstance about Mr Briggs's hat;

it was made by Mr Digance, and the hat found on prisoner
bore that person's name. He should call before them the
person who actually made the hat, and he would state
some circumstance v; hich led him to put some silver paper
inside, portions of which, although the greater part had
_ _

been torn away, still remained. The name of Mr Briggs
was also placed insi but they would have to say whether

they were of opinion, that during the voyage to America,
Muller did not cut away that portion of the article in
eff,ving the alteration that had been made. 'When on
the box of the prisoner being searched on board the vessel
the watch that was stolen from the deceased on the night of
the murder was discovered, and when he was asked how be
became possessed cf it, he replied that he had purchased
it two years before. There was also missing a portion of
the clotting of the prisoner, which would have to be ac-
counted for. Though he had now stated as shortly as

possible the facts of this case, and although the evidence
was what was called circumstantial, yet, when the circum-
stances he related were taken into consideration, he
thought they gave evidence of the most remarkable kind.
If they, after hearing the whole of the evidence, had any
doubt, of course they would give the prisoner the benefit of
it ; but if, on the contrary, it led them to a firm belief that
the prisoner was the
guilty person they would, he felt con-
scious, give a verdict in accordance with the oath they had
taken.

The following witnesses were then called :
Mr David Buchanan (examined by Sergeant Ballantine),
23,Nelson-squre, Peckhr m, said—My wife is the niece of the
late Mr Briggs. On the 9th July Mr Briggs dined with us.
He remained at our house about three hours and a half,
and left at half-past 8. I went with him to the Nelson
omnibus in the Old Kent-road, which runs to King William
street, City. Mr Briggs was in good health and spirits when
he left we. I know that he carried a plain gold watch, which
1 am sure he had with him on the evening in question, as
I saw him look at it. He wore it hanging from his waist-
coat. The chain hal a seal and two keys attached. I
had noticed that many months ago. Mr Briggs had a
black bag with when he left me. The bag produced is
similar to the one. I know the walking stick produced; it
belonged to Mr Briggs. On the Sunday morning, in con-
sequence of something I heard, I went up to Clapton •
iquare. I saw Mr Briggs there. He was then alive. It
was eleven o'clock in the forenoon. I did not remain till
ho died. I left about nine in tha evening.
By Sergeant Parry—Mr Briggs was purely sober and
self-collected when I left. My wife is here. She was not
examined before the coroner. I don't know whether Mr.
Briggs had more than one hat. I should think he had.
He was a gentleman well off, and lived in reasonable style•
The omnibus I have spoken of goes along the Old Kent-
road and through King William-street. I walked with
him to the place of starting. I never hoard that threats
had been held out by any person against the deceased.
Mrs Buchanan—l am a relative of the late Mr Briggs. I
recollect his being at our house on the 9th of July. When
he left he was perfectly sober.
By Sergeant Parry—l was not examined before the
coroner, because my evidence was not considered important.
I have not heard threats personally, but I have so through
third parties,
Sergeant Parry—Were they uttered bya person to whom
he had refused to lend money ?
Sergeant Ballantine objected to the question by Sergeant
Parry, who did not persist.
Thomas Fishbourn—l am ticket collector at the North
London Railway. I knew the late Mr Briggs by sight,
He was in the habit of travelling by the railway with which
I am connected. I saw him on the 9 h of July. He
presented hie ticket in the usual way about a quarter to 10.
He spoke to me, and I marked his ticket. I heard of his
death about 12 the next day.

By Sergeant Farry—We look at and nip" all tickets
before the passengers enter the carriages.
Mr Harry VernEz (examined by Mr Giffard)—l am a
clerk in the employ of Messrs Roberts and Co. On Satur-
day, the 9th of July last, I went to the Hackney station of
the North London Railway, about 10 o'clock in the evening.
I was in company with a 111 r Jones, a clerk in the same em-
ployment, I took a first-class ticket to Highbury. Upon
the arrival of the train from Fenchurch-street I went to a
first-class carriage. I myself opened the door of the car-
riage. It was empty. Mr Jones and I entered it. I sat
on the right hand side—my face would be to the engine,
and about the centre of the carriage. Before the train
started Mr Jones called my attention to something, which I
saw was blood. I called a guard, a light was brought, and
we all left the carriage. I then saw a hat, stick, and black
bag. The guard locked up the carriage, leaving the
articles I have mentioned in it, I got into another

carriage.
Sergeant Parry—l have no questions to put to you, sir.
Mr Sidney Jones, examined by Mr Beeley—l live at No.
10, I3arnsbury-park, Islington, and am a clerk in the bank
of Messrs Roberts. On the 9th cf July I was with Vetncz
at the North London Railway. I had a ticket for a first-
class carriage. Vernez opened the door and we got in.
On entering the carriage I saw a black bag on the seat near
the door. 1 took it up and placed it on the opposite side.
By Sergeant Parry—l was very well acquainted with Mr
Briggs. I had known him for about four years.
Benjamin Haines, examined by the Solicitor-General—
I was guard of the train just referred to. My attention, on
arriving at Hackney, was called to the state of the carriage.
I got my light and examined it. On the near side cushion
(that nearest the engine) and the quarter lights there was
blood. After I had examined the seat I looked underneath,
and found a hat. That now placed in my hands is very
like it. I also found a stick and black bag. I locked up
the carriage with those articles inside. Mr Greenwood is
the superintendent. When the carriage arrived at Chalk-
farm it was examined by Mr Greenwood, locked up, and
taken to Bow, where it now remains. It has never been
used since.

By Sergeant Parry—l did notice blood on the floor. It
was principally on the cushion. It was in a liqu'd state
when I saw it. There was a large spot on the window
glass, about the size of a crown piece, from which blood
was trickling down. We left Fenchurch-street at 9 60,
and Hackney at 10 15. We left Bose station one minute
pest 10. 1 have not measured the distance between the
Bow and Hackney station. lam certain I did not see Mr
Briggs at the Buw station. We stayed at Hackney about
four minutes. It would take three minutes and a half to
go the distance between Bow and Hackney Wick.
By the Solicitor-General--I also saw blood on the cppo-
site cushion and the handle of the offsi le door.

Examined by Sergeant Ballantine—William Timms, a
guard on the North London Railway, said—l travelled
with a train of empty carriages from hackney Wick station
on the night of the 9.h of July. We left the Victoria-park
station about 25 minutes past 10. In passing tho Canal.
bridge my attention was directed to something in the road
by the engine driver. Mr Briggs was lying between the
up and down line, with his head towards Hackney. I put
on the break and stopped the train. The driver went to-
wards that which we had seen, and I followed him. When
we came up to it we found that itavas the body of a man.
lie was at once taken to the Mitford Castle public-house,
and I took the carriages on to the station. I then returned
to the Mitford Castle. A female servant in about two hours
came and identified the body as that of Mr Briggs. I re-
mained with the gentleman the whole of the night, and
left about half-past five in the morning.
By Sergeant Parry—lt took four or five of us to carry the
body to the publichouse, but several other persons were
around— about a dozen I should think altogether.
By Chief Baron—The man was lying on his back be •
tween the up and down lino, with his head towards
Hackney.
Alfred llc:kin—l was the engine driver of the train of
which the last witness was guard. We were going to
Fenchurch-street. While on the journey my attention was
called to something lying on the line. I called the attention
of the last witness to the circumstance. I stopped the
engine, and we went back. I did not assist in carrying
the body. I remained with the train. After the body was
carried away I saw nothing more of it. The fireman re-
mained with me.
By Sergeant Parry—Where the body was found the rails
ran on an embankment about eight or nine yards high.
Police-constable Unpin said—l was on duty near the
embankment on the evening of the 9th of July. I heard
a cry, and went towards it. I saw a number of persons
carrying the body of a man. 1 accompanied them to the
Mitford Arms. I saw his condition and sent for a surgeon.
I searched the body and found four sovereigns, some keys
in left, hand trousers pocket, and in the breast pocket I
found a flarin and the half of a first-class return ticket. In
the right hand trousers pocket I found lOs in silver and
some more keys. I found a diamond ring on his finger.
The shirt was bloody, and there was a black stud in it.
Mr Francis Toulmin, examined by Sergeant Ballantine
—I reside at Lower Clayton, and lum a surgeon. I was
the medical attendant of the late Mr Briggs. Ho was, I
believe, in his 70th year. I was called to him on Sunday
morning. 10th of July, between two and three o'clock. Ile
was then lying at the Mitford public-house. Ile was re-
moved under my superiuteadence from there to his own
house between six and eight o'clock in the morning. 1 saw
him again at Ws own house at:nine. I saw him repeatedly
during the day on which ho died. Ho expired about a
quarter to 11 on Sunday night. It was a hopeless case
from the first. Nothing could be done. I afterwards
made a post mortem examination of the body on. the
12th, Mr Brenton and other men were present,
On the bft ear was a jagged wound which divided
the cartliage. Anterior to that Was a deep wound
—er the eyebrow, which penetrated to :he bone,
' - etieutly found not to have entered the
'''' were several Leised

but villich was att....,
cavity Gt the enthium, On hie.

inch in

wounds, most of them abut three quarters of

length. One, on the crown of the head, was 3in. in length.
On removing the scalp the skull was found to be extensively
fractured, the fissures extending from before to behind. The
temporal bone was driven in and comminuted. The wounds
on the crown of the head, I should say, were caused by a