The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-26 00:00:00

THE MURDER OF MR, BRIGGS.

Examination of Muller at Bow Street this
Day.

The usual crowd assembled in Bow-street this morning
to witness the arrival of Muller at the police-court. On the
arrival of the prisoner's van at about halt-past 10 the rush
towards it was terrific, and on Muller making his appear-
ance, instead of the hissing and hooting he received cn
Monday week, he was to-day received with loud cries of
"Hurrah, hurrah I"
Muller was placed in the dock at a few minutes past 11
before Mr Flower, the sitting magistrate, b'st it was found
that most of the witnesses had not arrived from attending
the inquest at Hackney.
Mrs Repsch, however, was in attendance, and she was
accordingly reexamined by MrGAlard. She said, I recollect
having a conversation with the prisoner about his wearing
a new hat. He told me he had smashed his old one and
thrown it into the dusthole, and that he had had the one
then on (the ono supposed to belong to the late Mr Briggs)
two months. My husband asked him what he paid for it,
and he replied 14s. 6d. My husband said "Why that looks
more like a guinea hat." That is all I recollect about the
hat. I remember about the end of last year his bringing
a hat-box to our house. I cannot recollect whether it was
in November or December. Ho said Mr Mathews had made
him a present of the hat. He showed us the hat. The one
produced (the hat found in the railway cairiage), I believe
to bo it. It had a stripped lining of white brown and blue
with a small black and white edge. I gave a description of
the hat to the police before it was shown to me.
Mr Flower—You had seen it often, I presume ?

Witness—Yea, sir.
Mr Giefard—The prisoner used to put his lettere into hls
hat ?
Witness—Yes; he used to place them underneath the

linisg.
Mr Beard (prisoner's actorney)—Have you ever seen him
do that ?

Witness—Yes.
The witness, in continuation, said, when the prisoner
showed him the chain, he said he purchased it when he was
going to take his passage ticket. He said he had but halt
a crown Icft after paying for the chain and ring. I saw the
prisoner on the 9th of July. To the best of my knowledge
ne had then a pair of dark trousers on—a green and black
mixture. He had had them but a very short time. His
coat was merely a plain morning coat. There was nothing
peculiar about the collar of it. I think it was of cloth,
but I don't distinctly remember. I have seen him wear
other coats beside that ene. I recollect one with a velvet
collar.

Mr Beard—When did this conversation take place about
the hat ?

Witness—On the Monday morning when he showed me
the chain. I will not swear the prisoner wore the dark
trousers on the Monday or the Tuesday prior to the 9th of
July. I first heard of the railway outrage in the weak fol-
lowing—about Tuesday, to the best of my recollection. I
also hoard there was a large reward offered for the discovery
of the murderer. I never said anything to the police about
the murder until two gentlemen came to me. When the
prisoner went away, he had nearly
a new pair of boots. I
know he has had a coat, but I did not see it.
Mr Giffard—How do you know he had a new coat?

Witness—l have heard the prisoner say so.
Godfrey Ferdinand Repsch said—l saw the prisoner at
my house on Saturday the 9th of July. He then wore a
morning coat and dark trousers—brown and grey, any
colour, every colour. (Laughter.)
Mr Beard—Let that be taken down.
Witness—l cannot say positively ; there was brown in
the colour I know. I recollect tho priso'nor coming to my
house OP the following Monday. He then wore a new hat.
I said `•You've got a now hat." My missis also said to him
"You ate very extravagant to have a new hat on." Prisoner
said he had had the hat a couple of months. I told him it
was a very good hat. I asked him what it cost, and he told
me 14s Gd, and said it was a good hat and worth a guinea.
He then wore a single-breasted coat and light trousers. He
remained at my house that day till about 1 o'clock, but I
saw him every day after until ho sailed for America.
Mr Giffard—Dil you ever see the prisoner in thessdark
trousers after the Saturday you speak of f
Mr Beard—l object to your using the word " dark "
trousers, the witness says they were all colours.
Mr G.ffard--I don't wish to call them dark trousers if
you object. Did you ever see the prisoner in the trousers
he wore on the 9th of Jul
3'
Witness--No.
after that day ?

Cross-examination continued—l know he had some new I
clothes about two months before the conversation took place
about the hat. I can't say I ever saw him again in the
trousers he wore on the Saturday. When I had the conver-
sation with prisoner about the hat I never turned up the
lining to see whether there was a name in it.
Mr Giffard—What trousers had the prisoner on when you
saw him on the Monday ?
Witness—Light:ones. They are not the same he had on
on the Saturday.
What trousers had ho on on the Tuesday ?
The same as he wore on the Monday—light ones: I
cannot recollect what he wore on tho Wednesday,
if you please.
Jonathan Mathews, the cabman, was here recalled, and,
in answer to Mr Beard, said—l cannot tell you how I was
occupied on Saturday, the 9th of July. I cannot tell you
'recise than that a
where I was on the night of thaoudayw.illlnwotilflourgndeterftoarketatoe
3 ,I.l‘ i
T.:
rri t Beard—Be
ese
sas
srr
.....da
____l
yßh
a:
vtiaa
m said littleu st
aorsef morecnto
the
particular,eaercltaarass tlore eanp
witness,
swear I was not in Edmonton or its neighbourhood that
night. I was at Norwich about fourteen years ago.
onky.ears. He worked for Mr
t. Mr Wild is my brother-
said—l have
o employed that he first came
circumstance
rest
Ivoift.witness—lt
yours
i took
life.oNve ka
s placelsso
r Repsch'a to wish us good
Eliza Mathews, wife
brother-
in-law. knownilladw,.a thel It was
tailor,wa prisoner
si
nw while
ol
eoa
ibbe about whichuw.ltstatrtsh:oei'
to our house. 1 recollect his coming to our place on Mon-
day, the 11th of July, between two and three o'clock. He
York.
said he
h s
previousha d
tog comeAbout 4 o'clock, as
the eh ldren were coming trom school, I got the tea ready.
He made no observation about my husband. Ho said the
firm (Messrs. Hodgkinson) was going to send him out, and
that they were going to Pay him £l5O per annum. He
doiirne
ge t t fromoNe
svM
said he should like to have his salary half
yearly. He said
nothing more than that he had come to say good bye. I
recollect ho said he bad met with an accident, and that the
firm was paying the doctor during his illness. I paid him
3s. that day fur a small parcel of tea he brought mo a few
weeks previously. My sister, Mrs Mabbs, was present
when I paid him.
Mr Flower— Was she present during the conversation,
or only pert of the time.
Witness—She came in just as we had done our tea, so she
only heard part of the conversation.
Examination continuod—Mrs. Mabbs also paid her
ls. 6d. Prisoner was then wearing a new
albert chain. He took it off and put it into
my hand, and asked me what I thought of it.
At first I thought it was not a good one, as the gold was
so light, I told him I did not like it as well as his ola one,
and ho replied "no chain is a Very nice one." Ho then
attached the chainon his waistcoat and put his hand into his
pocket; he took out a cardboard box and said " that is the
box the chain was in," Ho gave it to my little girl. I
saw the name of Death on it, and I remarked that he was

a good jeweller. My little girl had the box playing with
the whole of the afternoon. I also observed that he had a
ring on his finger with a white cornelian atone, upon which
a head was engraved. lie held out his hand for me to
look at it, and said his father had sent it him from Ger-

many. I asked him if it was a family likeness, and he
said it was not. He ,left our house about six in the even-
ing, and I walked some distance with him towards the om-
nibus. Prisoner walked slow and lame. I bade him good-
bye, and the prisoner then said he thought he should come
on the following morning to see my husband. The next
day, about half-past eight in the morning, my husband trod
accidentally upon the little box. He made some observa-
tion as he picked up the box, and I then put it into a
drawer. My husband came home on the Monday night
following, about 10 o'clock at night, and I then gave the
box to him.

Mr. Flowers—Did prisoner say when ho had met with
the accident.
Witness—Yes. He said he met with the accident on the
Nlonday previous to the Saturday, by a letter-cart mating
over his foot at London Bridge.
Cross-examined--I don't know that I owed the prisoner
tnore than three shillings. I can swear that I don't owe
him any more. I have been married to Mathews 12 years.
John Henry Glass—l reside at 91, Henry-street, Hamp-
steadt-oa', and lam a tailor. lam in the employ of Mr.
Hodgkinson. I have known the prisoner about four years.
On Thursday the 12th of July he came to me in the shop,
about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and asked me if
I would buy a watch. He showed mo a gold one.
He said that he had also got a chain, but that it was
in pawn for £l.- He told me he wanted money to go to
America, and that was the reason ho asked me to purchase
the watch and chain for £l, because he could then go abroad.
I told him to come on the following Wednesday morning,
which he did about 9 o'clock. We both went to the pawn-
broker's and redeemed the chain. It was at a shop kept by
a Mr Barker. He afterwards went to Cox's, near Leicester-
square, and there the watch and chain were pawned by the
prisoner for £4. The prisoner actually pawned the things.
I took the ticket and he the money. It was pawned in m 1
name. I gave him 5s more for the ticket, so altogether I
had advanced £lss, as I had to pay the money to take out
the chain. We then parted, prisoner saying he was going
to the London Docks to get a ticket for New York, and
he should come and bid me good-bye before he went ; and
he did so the same day about six o'clock in the evening.
This was on the Wednesday following the 9th.
Mr Gifford, of 4, Queen's-square, Finsbury, assistant to
gessrs Grinnell, shipowners—They have an office at the
North Quay of the London Dock, I open it about 9 in
the morning. I recollect the prisoner coming there on the
13th of July last, about 11 o'clock in the morning. He
asked the price of the passage to New York, and I told
him £4. lie asked when the ship sailed, and I replied to-
morrow. He then went away. I was on duty at that office
on the previous Monday. If any person came to inquire
about a passage on that day I should have been sure to see
him. Nothing had passed between us relative to the pas-
sage to:New York before the Wednesday. On that day he
returned to our office about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and
said, " I've come to pay my fare," and laid down £l, for
which I gave a contract ticket. [The contract ticket pro-
duced is the one I delivered to the prisoner.] After this
he wont away, but returned, to the best of my belief, about
half-past 3, and brought his luggage. It consisted of
three parcels—two large and one small. I took no-
tice of one—it was done np in canvas—and
about 18 inches long and 9 wide. It did not appear to me
to contain a hard substance. He had a box, bat I did not
see it. He asked me to take charge of his parcels, but I
refused. He then took them away, and I told him he would
have to leave them with Smith, tho foreman of the docks.
the next day the prisoner came to the vessel, the Victoria,
and went aboard, and was so when she hauled away. She
went into Shadwell Basin that afternoon, and on Friday
morning she sailed. I went with her as far as Gravesend.
The vessel went right on, with the prisoner on board.
By Mr Beard—l am not alwa)s at the office, sometimes
lam on board the ships. There is a German porter in the
office who would answer inquiries during my absence.
Mr Flower—Were you absent at all on the Monday ?
Witness--I might have been called away.
Mr Flower--Aad remained some time, I suppose ?
Witness —Yes, sir.

Thomas Bacon, assistant to Mr Cox, pawnbroker, pro-
duced a gold watch and chain pawned by the prisoner.
[These were identified by the witness Glass as those he
purchased.] The articles were pledged for £4. I took them
in, but I cannot identify the prisoner as the person who
pledged the articles.

The watch and chain here spoken of were those belong-
ing to the prisoner, and not those stolen from the late Mr
Briggs.
Mr Digance—l am a hatter, and carry on business at the
Royal Exchange. Mr Briggs was a customer of mine, and
had been so for five and thirty years. I have made every
hat he has worn during that period. I took an order from
him in 1863. It was on the 24th of September—the parti-
culars are entered in my book. The hat was made expressly
for him, and sent home a few days after.
Mr. Giffsrd—Will you just look at the hat which has
been cut down,

Witness•--The list produced is a bell crowned hat, similar
to that I supplied Mr Briggs with in 1803. I have com-
pared the measurement of the hat with the figure; entered
in my book, and it corresponds in every particular. The
hat when it was sent home wat found to be a trifle too large,
and the next day Mr Briggs came into the shop, and I
pasted apiece of tissue paper underneath the leather inside the
hat. I find the piece of paper has been removed, but small
fragments of it remain adhering to the hat, which clearly
shows there had been tissue paper all round. The hat is now
shorter than it was when it left my shop. It lira been out
down from one inch to an inch and a half. It has not been
done as a hatter would do it. It is very nicely done by an
inexperienced hand. It is now stitched on. If a hatter
had had to effect such an alteration he would have used a
composition for such a purpose. When a hat is made to
order we always put the name of the person for whom
it is made inside it, just by the band. The place
where I should have placed it in the hat
now before me is gone with the part which
has been cut off. Mr William Thorne is the name of the
person who actually manufactured the hat.
By ➢lr Beard—lt is not an unusual thing to put tissue
paper inside hats. 'When the hat is too large at the side
we place tissue paper in that part. I never saw the hat
after I put the paper inside until it was shown to me. We
sometimes give the old hats left at our shop away. The
hat now in my hand is a genuine hat.

Mr Giff.ird—You have the hat now in your hand ; will
ycu swear that it is the one you made for ➢ir Briggs.
Witness—l will not undertake to swear that if the pieces
that has been cut away were here I could then say whether
or no.

Mr Beard—Or, I suppose, you mean to say it would en-
able you to speak more positively.

Witness—Yes.

Frederick William Thorne—l am a hat manufacturer. I
made the hat now put into my hand. It has my private
mark inside. I furnished the hat for Mr Digance.
Mr Giflard—ls it in the same state now as when you
furnished it.

Witness—Certainly not; it has been cut down,
Mr Giffard—ls the work doneas
havea hatter would do it ?
Witness—No; a hatter would
and varnish, The shortening of the h at usedn mi o
we ohe is
foorei
mi o ne
had been sewed round, and not done in any respect like a
a workman would effect such an alteration,
Mr Flowers—Do you think the sewing is
neatly done ?
Witness—Yes,
sir,
I should say it is very neatly done.
Mr Samuel Titmarsh—l reside at Church-street,
Hackney, and am a watchmaker. I knew the late Mr
Briggs as a customer for the last seven or eight years. The
witness here examined the watch handed to him by Inspec-
tor Tanner with his glass, and immediately afterwards he
said—l now know that this watch was the property of the
late Mr Briggs. I had the watch to clean on the 6th of
February, 1863, on which occasion I made some figures
inside the case which still remain there.
Mr Thomas Fishbourno, of Lucas•street, Commercial-
road—l am a ticket collector at the Fenchurch-street
station of the Blackwall Railway. I attend at the bottom
of the stairs leading to the North London Railway trains.
I knew the late Mr Briggs by sight. I saw him on Satur-
day night, the 9th of July, at a quarter to ten. He spoke
to me.
Mr Giffard—Do you recollect what he said ?
Mr Beard—l must object to that,
Mr Giffard—lt is immaterial, and therefore I shall not
press it.
Witness--My attention was called to the outrage on the
Sunday afternoon. I then went to Bow with Sergeant
Lambert, and from thence to Mr Briggs's house at Hackney.
Police-constable 71 It said—l was on duty in Wick-lane,
Bow, on the 9th of July last. I heard a cry of a man on
the line. I afterwards saw several persons carry the body
of a gentleman to the Mitford Arms. I searched the body.
I found the shirt much disordered. There was a black stud
in it. There were £1 and some keys in one of the pockets,
but I have returned the keys to the bank. In the right hand
trousers pocket was 8s in silver, and in the side pocket various
letters and papers, by which I was enabled to ascertain
who he was. The gentleman had a diamond ring on the
small finger of the left hand. There was a new sort of
watch-fastening on one of the waistcoat button-holes, but
as I did not know how to get it out I left it there. I have
measured the spot at which the body was found, and I
found it is 1,431 yards from Bow station, and 740 from the
Hackney Wick station, The entire distance from Bow to
Hackney Wick is 1 mile 414 yards.
The Court hero adjourned for ten minutes.
On the reassembling of the Court,
Benjemin Haines was called—He said, I am a guard on
the North London Railway. I was the guard of the train
that left Fenchurch-street at 9 50 p.m. on the 9th of July
last. The train was live minutes late at starting. The
same train goes add returns at that hour. On our return.
ing to Hackney in ab )ut half a minute after the train had
stopped, my attention was called to a first-class carriage near
the engine. I got my lamp from the break soon, and when I
got back I found the gentleman waiting who had first called
my attention to the carriage. When I saw the carriage
first the door was open, and I found blood on the near side
cushion, and saw blood also trickling down the glass win-
dow. The handle of the off side door had blood on it. The
door was fast. I know the handle had blood on it, because
when I touched it I felt a dampness on my hand, which
on getting to the light I found to be blood. I found
the hat, bag, and walking-stick in the carriage. left
them there, locked the carriage up, telegraphed to Chalk
Farm, and on arrival there I saw Mr. Greenwood, I

pointed out the carriage to him, and gave him possession
of the articles. I then proceeded to Bow, where
the carriage was placed in a shed, where it now remains.
It has never been used since. The train on that evening
took three minutes and a half to run from Bow to Hackney
Wick.

Mr Greenwood, station-master at the Chalk Farm station
of the North London Railway—On the night of the 9th of
July the last witness showed the interior of a first-crass
carriage of the train of which he was the guard. I took
the hat, bag, and walking stick therefrom, and delivered
them to the police the next Morning.

Inspector kerressey, of the K division of police—On the

10th July, about nine in the morning, I went to the Bow
station and there I saw a first class carriage, No. 16/ I
observed the ban Ile of the door of the off side was bloody,
I then went to No 5, Clapton-square, and saw Mr Briggs.
I examined his hands cartfully to ascertain whether there
were marks of blood thereon. I found none. I noticed a
hook on Mr Briggs's waistcoat, which was taken off by
Mr Briggs, jun , and deliver2d to me. I now produce it.
I also produce the gold chain Mr Death ideatifiis. I re-
ceived it from that gentleman. I also got a smaller ring,
which I produce, from Sergeant Prescott.
By Mr Beard— I first saw Mr Briggs about nine o'clock
on the morning of Sunday the 10th.
Mr Francis Toulmin—l reside at Lower Clapton, and I
am a surgeon. I was the medical attendant of the late Mr
Briggs. I was called to him on Sunday morning, 10th of
July,•between two and three o'clock. He was then lying
at the Mitford public-house. He was removed under my
superintendence from there to his own house between six
and eight o'clock in the morning. 1 saw him again at
his own house at nine. I saw him repeatedly during the
day on which he died. He expired about a quarter to 11 on
Sunday night. I afterwards made a post mortem examina-
tion of the body on the 12th. Mr Brereton and other medical
men were present. On the left ear was a jagged wound
which divided the cartlidge. Anterior to that was a deep
wound nearer the eyebrow, which penetrated to the bone,
but which was subsequently found not to have entered the
cavity of the cranium, On his scalp were several incised
wounds, most of them about three quarters of au inch in
length.
Mr Flower—When you say several, do you know how
many there were ?
Witness—Four of five, one was three inches in length.
On removing the scalp the skull was found to be exten-
sively fractured, the fissures extending in various directions.
The temporal bone was found driven in and comminuted.
Blood was found in considerable quantity between the
dare mater and the brain. No disease was discovered.
The heart, lungs, and liver were quite healthy.
Mr Giffard— What was the cause of death ?

IVitnesa—Fracture of the skull and concussion of tho
brain.

Mr Gifflrd—Cculd you form any opinion how the injuries
were inflicted ? . . .

Witaess—l should say they were inflicted with a blunt
instrument forcibly used.
By Mr Beard—Mr Briggs was moved by my direction
from the Mitford Arms in a dhoolie, or kind of ambulance.
I don't know that the medical gentlemen who were present
at the post-mortem disagree with me in my conclusion.
There was grit about the -wound on the ear. My attention
was not drawn to a stone on the six-foot way. I did not
try whether that stone fitted into any of the marks on the
head of deceastd.

Mr Gt;ffard—lf the blows had been struck in the carriage
and the blood had fl )wed would not grit adhere if the body
had fallen from the carriage ?

Witness—Yes.

Mr Beard—Might not the wound on the temple be caused
by the stone referred to ?
Witness—Certainly, if the deceased in falling from the
carriage struck on the stone it might produce the wound I
have referred to. _ _

Mr Giffard—Supposing the wound on the temple was
made with the stone, would that cause the other wounds
you found on the head.
Witness—Certainly not. That would be simply im-
possible.
By Mr Beard—l read my post mortm notes over to Mr
Breretcn and Mr Ihoper, and no direct exception was taken
to them by either of those gentlemen. I did not ask either
of them to sign nay notes. I read it over to them and they
made no objection to them. I don't know that they dis-
agree with my conclusions.
Nlr Alfrad Breroton, surgeon, said—l saw the late Mr
Briggs previous to his death. I went to the spot where
Nlr Briggs was found lying, and there I found the gravel
moistened with blool. About the spot we found a round
st:.,ne in the centre of the blood stain. The stone had
blood and hair upon it. Mr Cooper has that stone in his
possession. I afterwards examined a first-class railway
carriage at the Bow station. The witness hero gave a
doseri,,tion of the interior of the railway carriage, which
was precisely similar to that given by the railway
guard.
Mr Giffard—Did you take any part in the post mortem
examination ?
Witness—No. _ . .

Mr Gifford—Did you observe it sufficiently to speak to
the cause of death ?
Witness Yes.
Mr Gifford—What, in your judgment, was the cause of
death ?
Witness—Fracture of the skull producing compression of
the brain.

Mr Flower—Upon which side of the carriage was the
greatest quantity of blood ?
Witness—On the near side, that is the seat next to the
engine. The blood filled up the cavities made in the cushion
by the buttons.
Inspector Tanner, of the detective policc—l have the
conduct of this matter by direction from Sir R. Mayne.
On the 19th of July last I left London in company with
Sergeant Clark, for New York. When the Victoria arrived
there on the 25th of August, I found the prisoner on board.
I placed him with nine other men in the saloon of the ship,
leaving 111 r Death on the deck. That gentleman went
below and pointed out the prisoner, and said " This is the
man from whom I received the chain." I afterwards, on
the same morning, spoke to the prisoner relative to a ring.
I had told him I was an officer ha the police force in Lon-
don, and I held a warrant charging him with the murder
of Mr Briggs, That he was about to undergo an exami-
nation in America, but that ultimately he would have to go
to England with me as a prisoner to answer the charge. I
then said "Have you stated that you have lost a ring ?"
" Yes, sir, not lost it, but it must have been stolen from my
pocket." I asked what sort of a ring it was, as I would
endeavour to have it found. He said "A gold ring, with a
white stone in it, with a head engraved on it. I bought it
in Cheapside. I gave 7s, GI, for it, but I don't know the
name of the shop." The ring was not found. I took pos-
session of the prisoner's effects on board the Victoria. I
heard the witness Giffard describe one of the parcels brought
by the prisoner to the decks previous to the sailing of the
ship. I have been unable to discover anything of that
kind, Prisoner said all his things were in a black box,
which on opening was found to be about a quarter full.
Mr Beard—l suppose there will be no objection to grant •
ing us an examination of the letters and papers found in
the prisoner's box.

Mr Giffard- -I cannot give any promise of that kind at
present, but I have no doubt every opportunity will be
given to the gentlemen conductinA. the defence.
Mr Giffard—That, sir, forms the-whole of the evidence
lintend to offer on the present occasion, and on it I ask
you to commit the prisoner for trial.
Mr Beard—l shall offer no opposition to such n course. I
shell reserve the defence of the prisoner until a future
occasion.
Mr Flower (to prisoner)—As a mere matter of form, I
ask you if you have anything to say against being com-
mitted for trial. You have s legal adviser, and therefore
you abide by what he says; but I ask the question as a
mere matter of form.
Prisoner—I have nothing to say now, sir.
The whole of the witnesses were then formally bound
over to appear at the next sessions of the Central Criminal
Court, to which place the prisoner was fully committed on
charge of wilful murder.
The prisoner during the whole of the five hours' exami-
nation conducted himself with the greatest coolness and
self-possession;
.so much so, indeed, that it created the
utmost surprise in the mind of every person in court,

CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS,

The following telegram has been received at Mr
Reuter's office from the Peninsular and Oriental
steam Navigation Company :
MARSEILLES, SBPT. 26.
The Euxine, with the above mails, arrived here
at 10 a.m. to-day.

The mails will leave for London at 11.30 a.m.