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 K, 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 hire to the house,
No. 1, Robin A ood-lane, close by where he saw a man who
was bleeding from two wounds, and was very ill and very
sick. He procured the assistance 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
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
assigned to him in the Union-house, Bow-road.
The extraordinary adventures, sayings, 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. He has an inordinate
love of vanity, and likes to talk of himself, and to hear him-
self talked about.
Mr. Edwin Holland, superintendent of labour in the city
of London Union-house, Bow-road, said the prisoner had
recently come out of Holloway Prison, and returned to the
workhouse, and he would not work. 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 th- magis-
trates of this court, and has declared his
perfect fitness.

The prisoner—l can't do it, your worship. lam very ill.
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Mr. Paget—You are committed to prison and to hard
labour for one month.
theTuhenpiornis.ohnoeurs—e.Thank your worship,