The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-03 00:00:00

THAMES.

SERIOUS CASE OF STABBING A FATHER By HIS SON.—
Joseph Ritchie, a shoemaker, aged 18, was brought before
Mr. Paget, charged, on his own confession, with stabbing
his own father, John Ritchie, at No. 1, Robin Hood-lane,
Poplar.
' Mr. Matthew Brownfield, surgeon, of the East India-
road, Poplar, said he attended John Ritchie yesterday, and
found that he had been stabbed twice, and had lost a consi-
derable quantity 'of blood. One was a punctured wound
through the posterior part of the right shoulder an inch and
a half in depth; the second wound was also a punctured
one, nearer the spine, an inch in depth. Both wounds were
dangerous. The patient could not be removed at present.
Robert Marks, a police-constable, 349 S, said that yes-
terday afternoon the prisoner came to him at the top of
the East India-road, Poplar, and said, " Make haste, make
haste, there is a man stabbed," and took him to the house,
No. 1, Robin Hood-lane, close by where he saw a man who
was bleeding from two wounds, and was very ill and very
sick, He procured the as-istance of Dr. Brownfield. The
prisoner afterwards came to the station-house in a state of
great excitement and said, " I have stabbed my father."
The mother of the lad was present, and said "Do you know
what you have done," to which the prisoner replied, " Oh,
yes, I did it with a knife—father was going to kill you, and
I would not see you ill-used. If I had not done it father
would have killed me. I did it in self-defence.,' Witness
believed the prisoner had told the truth.
Mr. Paget said this was a very distressing case indeed--
he had no alternative at present but to remand the priso-
ner for a week.
AN EXTRAORDINARY PAUPER.—DonaId Thompson, a
adventures, sayings,
pauper chargeable to the city of London Union, who says
he is closely bordering on 60 years of age, was brought be
fore Mr. Paget charged with refusing to perform the work
use, Bow-road.
Theassigned extraordinary to
him in the Un
and doings of this
remarkable man, during the last 15 years, have been more
than once recapitulated. His last two commitments to
prison have not been noticed at all,
and Thompson is par-
ticularly annoyed at these omissions. Ile has an inordinate
love of vanity, and likes to talk of himself, and to hear him-
self talked about. .

vv
Mr. Edwin Holland, superintendent of labour in the city
of London Union-house, Bow-road, said the prisoner had
and returned to the
wr e
oc
rank
ht loyus
ecome,an od uht
eo
wf Hollyoo
nwoat work. Prison,
ld The prisoner refused
to pick oakum.
Mr. Paget—ls he in a fit state to do the work of picking
oakum.
Holland—He is, sir. The medical officer of the Union
has examined him very often at the request of the magis-
trates of this court, and has declared his perfect fitness.
The prisoner—l can't do it, your worship. lam very ill.
I have been examined by the doctor of the prison ; there is
a medical certificate; here is the correspondence with the
the Poor Law Board, the Lord Mayor, and the Guardians.
Mr. Paget declined to read the correspondence, and asked
the prisoner what was the matter with him.
The prisoner, who has a different disease every time he
com comes
to(Ltboeud curt, replied
Mr. Paget—You are committed to prison and to hardied " a perpetual stunning head-
ache."labour for one month.
The prisoner—Thank your worship, I will not work in
the Union •house.