The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-13 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT-CCHIS DAY.)

I his morning being affixed for the trial of Mr. Medhurst,
the avenues to the Court were crowded at an early hour
I Admission to the Court was only to be obtained through
the medium of tickets from the Sheriffs. The Court was
crammed to suffocation immediately after the doors were
opened.
Mr. Justice COLERIDGE and Mr. Justice COLTMAN took
their seats on the Bench at ten o'clock. . Several ladies
were on the Bench.
Shortly afterwards Francis Hastings Medhurst was
placed at the bar, and arraigned on the Coroner's Inqui-
sition for the wilful murder of Joseph Alsop, and also on
an indictment for the crime of manslaughter. He pleaded
1 N.ot Guilty, and afterwards sat down in a chair provided for
him in the dock.
Sir F. Pollock and Mr. Bodkin appeared for the prose-
cution, and the Attorney-General and Mr. C. Phillips
conducted the defence.
Sir F. POLLOCK said it was his painful duty to state to
the Jury briefly and fairly the circumstances which had
placed the prisoner in his present unfortunate situation.
He requested the Jury to pay their serious attention to the
statement he was about to make. The Learned Gentle-
;flan then stated the facts of the case at considerable
length, and took that opportunity of expressing the regret
he felt that the Rev. Mr. Sturmer had not interfered to
prevent the quarrel between prisoner and the deceased, by
interposing his authority as tutor between those gentle-
'nen. Deeply lamenting that a gentleman of the prisoner's
station and family should have adopted the un-English
practice of stabbing—a practice which had recently
increased to such an extent as to demand Legislative in-
afteerrence—in justice to the prisoner he would state, that
the occurrence he had shown every contrition, and
endeavoured by every means in his power, to alleviate the
sufferings of the deceased. The Jury had heard the Co-
roller's inquiaition, charging the prisoner with Murder, and
ttlihlieemintud.icsat,
mv ent with Manslaughter, and it would be for
of which offence the prisoner had been guilty.
ue relatives of the deceased had instituted the prosecu-
tion for manslaughter, not from any vindictive feelings,
but in the discharge of a most painful duty, they were
the
desirous of performing their duty to the memory of
t deceased, and at the same time of doing justice
°„ 11,g_ dying Opinion of the condct the prisoner is most p melancholy of
occasion. He felt it
it his duty to state that in his ( Sir F. Pollock's) opinion,
bthe prisoner's offence amounted to manslaughter only, and
Tan ad come to this opinion after a perusal of the deposi-
and an attentive consideration of all the circumstances
_Ol the case ; and he trusted the Jury would not suffer their
natural feelings of abhorrence at the use of such a weapon
as that by which the deceased's death was occasioned, to
induce them to enter a verdict which was not fully war-
ranted by the evidence. He felt assured that the Jury
Would give their utmost attention to the evidence on both
sides, and return such a verdict as would give satisfaction
to the countyy.
eutiTuhne:f....ollovving witnesses were then called for the prose-
Rdward Wm. Bunney examined by Mr. BODKIN.—Was
a fellow pupil with the prisoner and the deceased in the esta-
blishment of Mr. Sturmer. Was present on the day the af-
fray took plebe. Mr. Dalston left that evening. Alsop
that..lltiad took place.
were in the dining-room with them on
While they were there the prisoner entered.
Had seen him before at breakfast. When he came into
In room witness was getti a book. The prisoner said
the blackguard that had "ustaggone away, alluding to Dal-
ston, had broke the glass of his watch. 'That observation
Wappeared to be addressed to Mr. Sturmer, who said he
ondered he (the prisoner) had not knocked hint (Dalston
prisoner )
own before. Alsop said the
was a liar and a black-
guard, and on looking round
witness saw the prisoner strike
else4.lsop with a stick. Could not say whether he had anything
in
Stick fro his hand. A scuffle ensued, and Alsop got the
Se m Medhurst, and struck him with it. They then
parated about eight feet. Alsop then again advanced
tiutowards the prisoner, apparently to strike hi, when Med-
asaprstiftlegt:hased
Whiistnleefstslihaenadrodutthoef
shpisripnogekgeot., putts mething in
isht hand, and struck Alsop with something that had
stt the abdomen. Alsop then put his twTohheatnhcisastto was
aso_r!uleb, Crying, " he's stabbed me, he's stabbed
4_sienwent down on both his knees, near the mantel.
1 e • Before the blow was struck Alsop was
ru nearer
any
door than Medhurst. Medhurst left the room
seeinga immediately after the blow was struck. Did not recollect
person before leaving the house. Before the
andurrenee there had been a coolness between the prisoner
AlaoP ; it occurred the Sunday before and was about
tomet trifling matter. Alsop and Dalston were on friendly
krend'hii• Witness had seen the knife now produced, in
to
urst's possession during the whole of the last guar-
me Saw the knife before Alsop came to the establish-
Citre Alsop was the stouter man of the two.
sms-uerxeaimeginetdbebyy the ATTORNEY-GENERAL—On Sa-
t.Tay
all breakfasted together as usual.
After breakfast Dalston went away in company with witness.
_uotl ton and the prisoner slept hi the same chamber. Did
4 see whether Medhurst had a watch in his hand. The
prisoner addressed Mr. Sturmer on the occasion alluded
to, and not Alsop. After Alsop had struck Medhurst with
a stick, witness did not observenthem come near the side-
board. There was a table i
thee
Medhurst was at the further middle of the room, and
the window. Alsop was nearerztl:Tlity of the table, near
Re-examined by Mr. BenKlN_--looser op could have left
,
the room.
__The Rev. Mr. Sturmer examined by Sir F.
PoLtscee—
Yr The
of the parish of Hayes, and had been so for
lagour years. Had an establishment there for pupils, In
inarch last had three pupils besides the prisoner, who bad
last witness
him about two years and two months. The
,nto ineas had been with him about twelve months.
Alsop came there on Ash Wednesday. They usually
sat
in drawing-room, On Saturday, the 9th c.f March,
_r Dalston left the establishment. At that time some of
launerliiinpils were not on speaking terms with Alsop. On the
had Ling in question Medhurst complained that Dalston
he oroken his watch-glass, when the deceased replied that
struck Wss a liar and a blackguard for saying so. Medhurst
; Alsop with a stick, when a wrestle ensued. Wit-
,e:is did not interfere or say any thing, but left the room.
whatwitnesa was leaving,he heard the prisoner say "Good God,
hat was
have I done." Sometime afterwards,
the deceased was taken to his own bed-room where the
Prisoner followed him and remained with the deceased un-
til Mr. Chadwick canie Witness informed Mr. Alsop's
relations of what had 'taken place. Mr. Alsop was an
?rPhttnr and his aunt had placed him under witness's
care.
The deceased wished to see his aunt, and after some time,
witness sent off an express. The deceased's aunt came
about seven o'clock in the evening. Before the express
was sent off, the prisoner said he would pay the expenses,
let it cost what it might. On witness saying that the
Wound was only a scratch, that it would be well to mor-
row, the deceased said he might not live till then. After
this, witness saw Alsop and Medhurst shaking hands, the
former said " We were both wrong and I forgive you." This
was after Mr. Chadwick, the surgeon, had been there.
On the following morning, Mr. Patten, a surgeon, was
sent for, and he and Mr. Chadwick acted together. On
the Wednesday following further medical advice was
sent for, but Mr. Alsop died ou the Thursday,
at twelve o'clock. On asking the prisoner for the
knife he gave it up to Mr. Patten. Witness knew he
had such a knife in his possession, and he had seen him
open it. The prisoner had had the knife scme time. Wit_
Hess believed that he had it before he came to his estab-
lishment. He always carried it about him. Witness bad
seen him cut wood with it. Had told the prisoner it was
a very dangerous knife.
Cross-examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL—The pri-
soner was very fond of carpentering, and witness bad seen
him frequently use the knife to cut wood. On the morn-
ing in question' had talked with the prisoner about car-
Pentering, as he wanted something from Uxbridge. The
Prisoner was as calm that morning as usual. He came
down stairs with the watch in his band. Witness under-
stood the prisoner valued the watch exceedingly, as
it had been his father's. The glass was broken.
When Medhurst entered the door Alsop was at
the table and witness was near the fire-place. Mid-
burst addressed witness when he came in. Heard
Alsop say that the prisoner was a liar and a blackguard.
Before witness left the room a scuffle ensued. When he
returned Medhurst seemed to feel the greatest regret at
what bad happened. Indeed
frantic. Didheappeared ehonrtrosre-estmrueedk.,
a
and walked about like person
burst helping him up. When he first saw him after the
exceedinglytriag
fatal occurrence Medhurst was standing
wasover
AI"P
to alleviate his sufferings.
anxious that the relations of thedeeeased
; shouldtbat was e
besenet
far, and he voluntarily surrendered Himself
the day of the death.
WitncssandTb NeledNhiaugrsitstrwateentw touu l d
a
Magistrate upon his
auggestiem himself to a not interfere, and he then
con-
stable. The stick had been
surrenderedin his. mfoertitmweos.years.
He always carried a stick, even in theessheaslslinson
Mr. H. Dalston examined by
i
"log with the deceased. They In
were upon
plon NVaintimates a
teprumpsi.l
Witness quitted the establishment about 10
togetherOteo'clockon
the 9th of March. They bad all breakfasted
that morning as usual. He saw Medhwuarsststcanomdiinngg
in
notwhne
Witness .
stairs in his dressing-gown.
hall ready to go. He believed be camoeoddatestrimcks.. The
eyw
did not speak, as they were not on g
nothing about a watch. Had not seen Medhurst that
Inernisg,
NvitTehses. ATTORNEY-GENERAL had no questions to put to the
wasßose was footman to Mr. Sturmerin
Coming into the house from the stables Marchs
:iddbbe last.urrsdt
standing. Mr.
He went into the hall and siAaiwr.Mre. Alsopu
ric"ng• Mr Medhurst was near him. .
ritoeolt him by the shoulders and led him upthsetairros.om Wit-
as followed, and found the door of , _
saw
ter,i,ed- He knocked, and the door being opened, he
Allsop sitting on the bed. Medhurst sent him
week be
sh"adwielsr who came soon after. About a
..
twhieethadceident he saw Medhurst with a knife, showing it to
uecueeabsescluda,nd others and telling them how it opened
said that
and how'he could defend himself with it.
Cross-examined by Mr. PHILLIP3.—When he .
IMedhurst took Mr. Allsop by the shoulder, and took him
'P Stairs, he meant that he was assisting him • and when
he sent witness for the doctor, he was in great'distress.
, Thomas Clack, a tradesman at Hayes, went up to the
Prig 'e'r. Mr. Sturmer's house on the 9th March, and saw the
oner there, and asked if it was true that one of the
?''"ung gentlemen had stabbed another. Medhurst said he
ont one of them in the heat of passion, for which he was
,t."Y sorry • that he had sent for a medical man, who had
13°11.1M‘ up ihe wound, and said it would be well in a few
days. I:e asked witness if he should go out of the way
for a week. He said no. Medhurst then said if anything
'lrious should happen, he should surrender himself to
the law of the land, for he never meant to do any harm.
Mr. Bunney recalled— About a month before the oc-
eurreace, lie heard Medhurst say there was such a thing as
stabbing with a knife.
itt Bhlyo th a Juror—Alsop was advancing with a raised stick
hands, when Medhurst only moved one foot fur-
wtttriku, and made the blow. Alsop was evidently going to
ste.
Mr. Chadwick, the surgeon,
was called in to the
deceased on the morning of the 9th. fie found him in a
bedroom. Only Medhurst was there, and he said " Good
' ' —od, make haste." Medhurst was leaning over the bed,