The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-28 00:00:00

Inspector Tanner—They have been closely examine&

Mr Thomas James Briggs, son of the murdered gentle-
man (examined by Mr Human), said—The last time I saw
my father alive to speak to him was on the 7,11 of July. I heard
of what had happened on Sunday. I saw him that day at the
Mitford Castle. He was at that time alive but insensible.

I accompanied him when he was removed from there to his
own house, No. 5, Ciapton-Equare. He died about a quar-
ter to 12 on the Sunday night. The watch produced is my

father's. My father for many years has purchased his hats
at Mr Diganoe's of the Royal Exchange. The one produced
seems somewhat shorter than that usually worn by my late
father. The chain and other articles found in the railway
carriage belonged to him.
Mr Titmarsh, watchmaker, Hackney, said—l know the
watch produced. It belonged to the late Mr Briggs. I had
it to repair in February, 1863. The watch, I should say,
is worth £l2. I daresay it originally cost £25.
Mr Digance, hatter, of the Royal Exchange, examined
by the Solicitor-General—Mr Briggs was a customer of

mine for nearly 30 years. Every hat he has had has been
made to order, I took an order from him for a hat
in September, 1863. The one now before me is
lower in the crown than that ordered by Mr Briggs.
The other parts of it correspond. The hat originally
was a little too easy, and I placed some tisane paper under-

neath the lining, a portion of which now remains. [This
the witness pointed out to the jury.] The hat has been cut

down from en inch to an inch and a half, The piece has
been removed, and then the upper part of the hat has been

stitched on to the brim. The silk has been pasted over to

hide the stitches. The hat has not been cut down as a
hatter would do it. I am certain of that. I never

knew such a thing to be done, but suppose it had
to be performed by a hatter, he would use gum and

then put it on a block and preFs it down with a hot iron,
That has not been done in the hat before me. The altera•

tion has been very neatly performed, and apparently by a
person who understands sewing. The hat, with the excep-
tion I have spoken of, corresponds in every particular
with that I made for the late Mr Briggs. When
a hat is ordered the name of the person so ordering it is
placed on the band of the article. That is the portion that
has been cut from the hat I now hold in my hand.
Cross-examined by Sergeant Parry—lt is not an unusual
thing to put tissue-paper underneath the lining of a hat

that is too eaey. I know nothing of a second-hand trade

in hats. hly hats might get into the hands of second.hane

dealers, as servants sometimes sell their masterb' hats.
We shall continue the case in our late edition.

The following is tho conclusion of the evidence adduced
yesterday, which appeared in our. Third Edition last
evening.—

Mr John Death, jeweller, of 55, Cheapside, examined
by Sergeant Ballantine—On the morning of Monday, the
11th of July last, about ten o'clock in the morning, the
prisoner came into my shop and offered a second-hand chain
for sale. The chain produced (Mr Briggs's chain) was
handed by me to my brother for him to set a value on it, as
the prisoner wished to exchange it for another. I went
and put it on the scale to weigh it, and as I did so the pri-
soner turned round to see me do it. After weighing it and
closely examining it to judge of its quality, I told bim I
should give £3 10s. for it. He accepted the offer, and he
then asked to be shown some new articles. I showed Wm
a variety of chains, and the one nearest to the value of the
chain offered was £3 15s. I cannot recollect the exact words
he used, but he declined to pay the 6s. I looked over the
stock and found a chain, value £3 ss, of which the prisoner
approved. It was then put into a paper box, and I made a
parcel and delivered it to the prisoner. The box had my
name and address on it. 1 asked him what he would take
for the ss, and he replied "A finger ring," I showed him
a small second hand signet ring, with a white cornelian
stone. He tried it on, it fitted him, and he retained it on
his finger.

Sergeint Ballantinr —Look at the " jump" ring. Do
you believe it once belonged to Mr Briggs' chain ?
Witness—There must have been a ring of that descrip-
tion on the chain.

Examination continned—l gave certain information to
Inspector Kerressey, snd I afterwards went to Now York
The ring the prisoner had had a whits cornelian atone in
it, with a head engraved on it.

Cross. examined by Sergeant Parry—lt is a very common
thing to exchange a chain. I had never seen the prisoner
in my shop before. My brother and myself are constantly
in tho shop, I cacnot say which of us is there the most
frequent.

Sergeant Parry—Did not the prisoner call at your shop
in November last to have a link put to a chain, for which
he paid Is. 63. ?

Witness—l cannot say; I don't know that he did.
The Chief Baron—l think, to prevent mistake, we had
better call Mr Briggs',chain No, 1; the chain had of Mr
Death No. 2; rid the chain pawied by the prisoner
No, 3.

- -.
Sergeant Parry—Va./ well, my lord. Now did you not,
in November last, put a link on No. 3 chain ?
Witness—l cannot say.

Sergeant Parry—Can you judge of your own work in
such a case ?

Witness—No, I cannot.

.. _
Sergeant Parry—Look at the link that has been broken.
Witness—l can't remember the chain at all.

Itc-examined by Sergeant Ballantine—Until the mo,a-
lag I have refei:ed to I never saw the prisoner.
Ellen Blyth, of 19, Park-terrace, Old Ford, said—My
husband fq a messenger. I know the prisoner. He lodged
at our hone, and had done so for about seven weeks, end-
ing the 14th of July. On Saturday, the 9th of July, the
prisoner had not returned home when we went to bed at 11
o'cloo'r. Ho had a latch key with him. I saw him the
next morning between eight and rine in the kitchen. He
slept upstairs in the first floor back. I heard him come
down before I saw him in the kitchen. On Sunday, the
10th, he rems'ned in doors all day. He went out in the
evening about six. On Monday, the 11th, he went out
about eight in the morning, and retuned before eight and
nine in the evening. On that day he showed me a gold
Albert chain, the chain numbered 2 is similar to it. :When
the prisoner came to live in our house he brought a hat-box
with the name of Walker on it. I found it atter he had
loft. I gave it to the police.

Cross-examined by Sergeant Parry —There was nothing
in his marner on the Sunday different to his usual manner.
I have known him for 12 months, and I have always found
him to ben gentle inoffensive young man. lie took his meals
with us as usual on Sunday. My husband was with us
when wo went out on the Sunday. My husband was nut
examined before the magistrate. lie has not been examined
at all. The prisoner wore the same dress on the Sunday
he did un the Saturday. 1 cannot recollect how he was
dressed when hu wont out on Monday the 11th. The coat
now put into my hand is the ono ho wore on the Saturday,
Sunday, rad Monday. lam sure the trousers he wore on
the Sunday were the same as he had on on the Saturday. lie
wore a slipper on the Saturday when he went out—of that
lam positive. I gave that flipper, together with the hat
box, to Inspector Tiddy. I don't know that when he went
out on Monday ho was going to the docks. I knew he was
going to America a fortnight previous to the 14th of July.

Ho told the he was going by the Victotia, He did not give
me his address in New York, The prisoner is about 23
years of age, The last thing I wushed f,r the prisoner was
six Lew shire.

Re-examined by tha General—Tha prisoner
vitli ua cra tlie u udy eveuipg ftucu six till

George Blyth, examined by Mr Giffa.rd—l am the hus-
band of the last witness. The prisoner used to leave home
with me when he first lodged with us. We used to go out
at half-past 7to a quarter to 8. During the last week of
his continuing with us I left him at home every morning.
On Sunday, the 10th July, the prisoner accompanied me
and my wife in a walk to Victoria Park. On Monday
evening I did not see the prisoner when I returned home.
He did not come in till between 8 and 9 o'clock. When he
returned Haifa was with line. I noticed a gold chain he
had on. It was a different ono to that which he had pre-
viously worn.
Cross-examined by Mr Metcalfe—l believe he hurt his
foot by a cart going over it. He wore the slipper on the
moraing of Srnday. We walked during the whole of the
time we were out on Sunday. lie wore the same things on
the Sunday that he did on the Saturday. I can't say how
he was dressed on Monday. The coat now before me is
the one the prisoner wore when I last saw him. He was
always looked upon as a quiet, well conducted young man.
I never know him to get into any disturbance. Ho told
me he was going to America about a fortnight before he
sailed.
Elizabeth Sarah Rspsch, exam'nel oy the Salicitor•
General—l reside at 12i Jewiy-street, Aldgate. My hus-
b and is a tailor. I have 1-aoa a the prisoner far nearly two
years. He formerly worked for a fo:end of my husband. I
saw him on the 9 h of July last. His ou a watch and chain
I knew was then in pledge. I first saw him in the morning
about 12 o'clock. He remained with us all the afternoon,
and last recollect seeing him at our house about half-past 7.
•1 knew ho had met with en accident. I saw him with a
slipper on. I went out and left the poisoner there a :th John
Haifa. He left one of his slippers at our house. I returned
home about half-past 8, and Muller had gone. I next saw
him on Monday mooning between 10 and 11. He then wore
light trousers—on the Saturday he had dark ones on. When
he came in ho sat down on the shopboerd, end pre duced a
chain from his waistcoat pocket. Chain No. 2 I believe to
be the same. He sPid he had bought it in the docks, and
had given £3 10s for it. He also showed me a with a
white cotnelian stone, which he F','d he had also bought.
He had the t ing on his finger, and raid he had given 7s 6d fur
it. I noticed he had a different hat on than usually wore by
him. He had his old hat on on the Sa a day when I saw
him. I remerked to him that he was extravagant in having
a new hat, when he said his old one was mashed, and he
had thrown it in the dust-hole. My husba-1 raked him
what he paid for it, and he replied Ps. 61. My husband
said " Why that looks more like a grinea hat." Muller's
former hat was ve.y d'lsreut from it. It had a merino
rim and wrs lined u;th blue end broua-stoippel firing
The lining was so pezulirr that I frequently was induced
to look at it. I have seen him place letters unde..leath the
lining. [The hat found in the roiluay re siege was then
shown to the IN 'ainess, and she raid to the best of her
belief it was the one she had seen the prisoner wear ]
Prisoner said Mathews had made him a prevent of the

hat. This was either in November or December of the
previous year. I never saw him wear any other. He brought
the hat on the first occ iion. I saw it :n a box &miler to

that now produced. On Satto-day, Jv'y 9, the prisoner,
to the best of my toiler, wore the old bat (the one for-id in
the es/liege). I know the poisoner bad a single-breasted
uvercoat, with a velvet collar. I don't think he wore that
on the 9th July.

Cross-examined by Sergeant Pa, ay—The prisoner wore
the slipper the whole of the Saturday, but I cannot say
whether he left with it on or not. Pl:soner was fond of
finery, and was partial about showing things. I can't ssy
he was fond of romancing. He told us ho had told Mrs
Blythe that Messrs. Hodgkinson were going to send him
to America. I don't know the colour of the lining of my
husband's hat. I had a right, I suppose, to move Mullet's
hat if it was in my way at home. That weu'd enable me

to see the colour of the lining. The hit was constrntly in
my hand. I know Haifa. He has been in the habit of
coming to our house. I dcn't know the colour of the lining
of his hat. I cannot say whether I looked inside Mullet's
hat 30 or 40 times. I may have done so. I know
a person namtd• John Mathews. I did not see him until
after he came from New York, lam positive I did not see
him before he went. I recollect the prisoner refusing to

lend me ss. I don't think he said he could not lend it be-
cause he was going to buy a hat. Indeed he could not say
so, because he gave me the money. I said he did not lend
me the money in the first instance, because you put your
questions to me so rapidly. He never lent but one sum of
money. I don't expect to get any of the reward.
Re-examined by the Solicitor-General—He had not the
samo hat on oa Monday, the 11th, to that I saw him in on
the Saturday. I recollect repay'og the 5s I borrowed of the
prisoner. He said nothing about buying a hat. Tb;a
occurred after he had shown me the hat he got Cora
Mathews. I have lent prisoner small sums of money, which
he has repaid. I don't think ho borrowed anything daring
the last week I saw Woe in London. When Mrller first
showed me ths hat I said " What a peculiar lining." I have
noticed him once place letters in his hat. I pledged a coat
for Muller to enable h'oi to pay his pe3sago to Ametic.l.
He esked me to pawn it, I did it on Wednesday the 13th.
I pledged it at 131, blincy,:es, I gut Gs on it. I gave it to
Muller.
Godr-ey Ferdinand Illosch st“d—l saw ttle p.'son.9r at
my hor-:e on SaLarday the 9't of July. lie the a wore a
morning coat and dark .cor lore. I know ho had another
pair of trousers, new one but I never saw them after
the 9th of Jrly. I recollect the pt ;goner coming to my

house on the following Monday. He then wore a new
hat. I said, " You've got a new hat." ri:toner Ba'd
he had had the hat a couple of montl• 4. I told Lien it
was a very good hat. I asked him vQ,4it it c mit, and he
told me 14s Gd, end said it wes a goad hat r id worth a
guinea. He said he had worn it but two or throe
limes on Shrilly. Ho took a watch and cb •e out of b's
coat pocket.
Cross-examined by Sergeant Pr- .y—l have seen him
wear the clothes I saw him in on Saturday before that
day. I said, when I was first question i about tire clothes
theeprisoner wore on the Saturday—l said they we.e a
mixture of black, brow a, and eve.y colour, and lie y
old. I did not ask him to come to Jr house early on Mou-
day morning to cut out some work. I I new he was going
to America. I gave him leave to work up his clothes at
at my house on that account. Everybody who knew the
prisoner knew he was going to America. I have known
Matthews fur some time, but I had not seen him for a long
time. The first time I saw him was at the inquest at
Hackney after he had given the information. I know that
two months previous to his departure for New York he
bought some new clothes.
Re-examined by the Solicitor-Generel—l never noticed
the change of hat until the Monday morning. The trousers
put into my hand aro the dark trousers I have mentioned.
I don't know that they were left behind by the prisoner
when he went to America.
John Haffa-1 have known the prisoner about 14 months.
I recollect the 9th of July. I was at Mr Repsch's on that
day. I recollect the prisoner being there. He left in the
evening between 7 and 8, saying he was going to see his
sister. Previous to his departure from Engleud I lent
prisoner 12s, on the Wednesday. He gave me a duplicate
of a gold chain as security.
The Chief Baron—What chain is that—l, 2, or 3 ?
Counsel—No. 2, my lord.
Witness continued—l afterwards got a ticket of a coat
from Mr Repsch, which I got out of pawn two days be-
fore the prisoner returned from America. I sent it to
Scotlrnd-yard for him to wear on his arrival in London.
I was perfectly swan he was going to America. I knew
he was home. I have seen him in possession of money,
both gold and silver, previous to the 9th of July. I
can't say how much, but I believe it was to pay his pas-
sage. Daring the time I have known the prisoner he hes
always borne the character of a kind young man. I
have heard him say his sweetheart's name was Eldred,
and that she lived at Camberwell. When he went out
on Monday I saw him go out in a slipper. I assisted
him to the utmost of my ability to nuke up his passage
money. I never asked Min how be had spent the money
I had seen in Fs possession. He did not say that he
had bought a watch and che'n with the money. I will
not say he did not say so, but I vial recollect.
Mr Robert Death—l am the 'mother of Mr John Death.
I recollect the prisoner coming into our shop on Monday,
the 11th. I don't think I ever saw him before.
Sergeant Parry—Are you sure ?
Witness—To the best of my recollection, I never saw
him till that day.
Sergeant Perry—Look at the chain No. 3. There is a
link broken. Have, you ever seen that before ?
Witness—No, I never saw the chain before. There is
something so peculiar about it, that if I had I should have
been certain to remember it. It appears to have been
mended. Such a 'weir wov'd be sent to a job-
bing jeweller; is. Gd. would have been about the
price. Prisoner wore dark clothes when I saw
him, although my fist impression wee that he
wore light trousers. The person who does our jobbieg
repairs resides in Bartholomew-eque re. The chairs a-a
generally sent to the makers for repair.
The trial was at this point adjourned until to-morrow
morning.

Bank of England Return,•—Last Evening.

An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth Victoria,
cap. 32, for the week ending on Wednesday, the 26th day
Lt Oct. IS64:

ISSUE DEPA.RTAIENT.

Notes Issued .......X27.056,155 6overarnent Debt X 11,015,10
Other :Securities .. 3.631,90 u
tioldtloiu & Bullion 12,406,155
tSilver Bullion ....

Zi7,056,151
132..NR1NG

£27,056,155

oprletors' Capi-

tal - £14.553.000
Rest
Public Deposits (in-
cluding Exche-
quer, Savings'
Banks, Commis-
missioners of Na-

tional Debt, and
Dividend Ac-
counts•) L723.549
Other Deposits— 13,697,777
Seven Day and
vil►a Bills L05,810

-c '6,015.052
IV

Oct. 27, 16C,1.