The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-02 00:00:00

The Murder in Olerkenwell-Clo se.

Yesterday, at the Clerkenwell police-court, Alfred Jack-
son, aged 22, was brought up on remand before Mr D'Eyn-
court, charged with the wilful murder of Francis Plowman
Robert.

It will be remembered that the prisoner and the deceased
were fellow-workmen, in the employ of Messrs French and
Sons, jewellers, Clerkenwell.close, and that on the night of
the 23d ult. groans and cries of " Murder" were heard tc
proceed from the workshop of Messrs French and Sons,
Clerkenwell-close, and immediately afterwards the prisoner
was seen to rush out of the workshop, jump upou a pump in
the back yard, get upon the wall, and escape, but was sub-
sequently apprehended. The deceased was found in the shop
covered with blood. He died in a few hours afterwards.

Mr Ricketts appeared for the friendeof the deceased ; Mr
J. Wakeling for the prisoner; the case being in the hands
of Inspector Potter, acting inspector G division.
Mr Ricketts said he proposed to submit in evidence the
statement made by the deceased before death, he then having
a sense of danger.

Mr Wakeling—l object to that evidence being received.
Mr Ricketts, on the former examination, said it was inad-
missible as evidence.

Mr Lewis—The case of the Qaeen v. Foster will meet the
case.

Mr D'Eyncourt—We will take the medical evidence first.
Mr W. Eccles. house surgeon at St Bartholomew's Hos-
pital, said when the deceased was admitted into the hoapital
I believe he was in full possession of his senses. I have made
a post mortem examination, and found the scalp exceedingly
bruised. I discovered a fracture of the left side of the skull,
extending upwards to the top of the head. The fracture
affected a blood vessel. The fracture extended in various
directions. As far as I can tell from the appearance of the
skull, two blows caused the fracture. There were two ex-
terior bruises over the fracture. The deceased could not
have inflicted those injuries on himself. The blow or blows
must have produced the fracture, and must have been given
with great force. The cause of death was the effusion of
blood pressing on the brain caused by the fracture.
The depositions taken at the first examination having
been read,
Mr D'Eyncourt said, with respect to the statement of the
deceased, when he was found and asked by the witness
Brunton who did it, and ho said " Jackson." he was in-
clined to think it was evidence, and as it was down on the
depositions he should take it as evidence.
After a discussion with the solicitors,

Mr D'Eyneourt decided not to receive that evidence, but
to let the solicitor for the prosecution be aware of it at the
trial.

Mr Ricketts said he should show that some rings and
pieces of gold had been missed from the overtime box on
the prisoner's bench. That would show the motive.

Mr Wakeling objected to that evidence being received.
Mr D'Eyncourt—This is a peculiar case. There were seve-
ral people about, and any one might have taken the things.
Mr French examined—l live at 5, Newcastle-place,
Clerkenwell. lam a jeweller. The deceased and prisoner
wore in my employ. On the evening of the 23d ult., I fol-
lowed Brunton into the yard about half past ten. I saw the
deceased in the workshop. He was standing against the
door, leaning against the shop, bleeding very much. I
spoke to the deceased. It was about half a minute after I
first saw him. I said, "My poor boy, who has done this."
He said "Jackson. ' lam certain it was not more than
half a minute. I helped Mr Brunton to put deceased on
the stairs. Mr Brunton then left. I next said, " What
did he do it for."

Mr Wakeling —This is the evidence I object to.

Mr D'Eyncourt, after hearing witness's evidence in pri-
vate, decided that he would take the evidence on the depo-
sitions.

Mr D'Eynoourt to the witness—Did you hear the excla-
mation made by Thomason that a man had got over the wall ?

Witness—Yes.

Miss Ann French—l live at 5, Newcastle-place. I res
member the night of Wednesday, the a'd of last month. I
remember the French workman leaving by going through
the house about 10 oVock. There was no one with him,
At the time he left the house I put the chain up on the back
door. No one could open the door from the outside while
the chain was up.
Mr D'Eyncourt—What door is that ?

Witness—The door leading from the house to the yard.
There is no means of getting:out after dusk except through
that door, When I locked the door I did not know that
there was any one in the workshop. I then went into the
back parlour, over which is the door of the yard. I remained
there until the alarm. No one passed through.
By Mr Wakeling—l was in the parlour with Mr French
talking, I was sitting at the table near the door. The door
might havo been shut•

Sergeant Baldock examined—At 4 o'clock on the morning
of the 24th ult. the prisoner Jackson was brought to the
Clerkenwell police station. I was told he was charged with
a violent assault on a man named Roberts, a fellow-work-
man, in the workshop at 5, Newcastle-place. I told him I
should detain him there until I had sent to the hospital to
ascertain if the man was dead. He would then be charged
wick wit C %al ranweel es- 74. wea 4.wi. la. -vv.*

and I cautioned him. I told him he need not make any
statement to me, but if he did it might be used as evidence
against him, He said " I know nothing of it. I never
struck him. I and Roberts were left together in the work-
shop till 25 minutes past 10. I left by the front door.
I closed the front door after me. No one saw
me close it." I asked if those were the chthes
he had on all day. lie said " I have no other." I ex-
amined his overcoat. It was wet through. It was a wet
night. Under the sleeve of the under part of the right elbow
I found a quantity of wet mud. On the knee of the trousers
I saw white as if from whitewash or mortar. The next day
I examined the workshop wall and I found marks as if
made by a person getting over. The walls were rough cast
with concrete. It was a very wet night. I also examined
the window occupied by Mr Thomason, and as an experi•
ment to see if a person could be recognised at that point
the lights were put down. One of Mr French's workmen
got over the wall, and I went into the workshop, and out
of 20 men I identified the man who got over.
A plan of the premises was handed in by Inspector Potter.
Gustavus Gouges, 15, Garnault-place--I am a diamond-
cutter. I remember Wednesday, November 23. I work at
Messrs French and Son's. I knew the deceased. I left the
workshop at ten o'clock. I left Jackson upstairs and
Roberts downstairs.

Mr D,Eyneourt—ls there a workshop upstairs as well as
downstairs ?
Witness—Yes.

Witness—When I left Roberts and the prisoner were the
only two left there. I wished the prisoner good night. I
knew of no difference between the two. I asked the prisoner
to leave, and he said he was going to stop later. He was
working by himself when I left. Both of them were quite
sober.

Mr Ricketts— That is my case.
Mr Wakeling—l shall reserve the defence.
The prisoner was then committed for trial at the Central
Criminal Court on a charge of wilful murder.
The prisoner was then removed.