The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-10 00:00:00

Fire at Sandringham Hall.

The Saftron-Hill Murder.

CLERBENWELL POLICE-COITR T.

_ .
EXAMINATION OF GREGORIO.
The following appeared in our Late Edition of las
evening :

The prisoner was placed at the bar this afternoon before
Mr. D'Eyncourt ; he is a man of dark complexion, and
apparently about 40 years of age. He appeared greatly
agitated, and having supported himself for a few minutes
by the foot rail of the dock, he seated himself and began
looking round the coukt, which was crowded to excess, to
see if any of his companions were present. He occasionally
shed tears.
Mr. F. Lewis attended for the prosecution, and Mr. Galli,
of Hatton-gardon, acted as interpreter.
The learned gentleman said it would- be in the recollec-
tion of the magistrate that some time ago a man, named
Seraphina Poligioni, was placed at the bar charged with
the wilful murder of Michael Harrington ; he was com-
mitted for trial and found guilty, and now lies under sen-
tence of death in her Majesty's gaol of Newgate—the
execution being fixed for Wednesday next. He appeared
for the prosecution of the prisoner, and he thought the
case presented a peculiarity which had not occurred for
years.

Mr. D'Eyncourt--For whom do you appear, Mr. Lewis ?
Mr. Lewis—l appear on the part of the convict now
under sentence of death, either to prosecute the prisoner
for the manslaughter or murder.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—But that is not the charge entered in
the police sheet. The charge entered is one preferred
against the prisoner by Inspector Potter.
Mr. Lewis—The prisoner gave himself up for having
inflicted a wound upon Michael Harrington, and it was
quite competent for the police to enter whatever charge
they pleased.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Well, you can go on, Mr. Lewis. Let
me hear what you have to say.
Mr. Lewis then proceeded to narrate the evidence given
at the Central Criminal Court, and having remarked
that they were familiar with cases which in certain romantic
notions or drunken dreams certain persons came forward
to charge themselves with crimes ; but the present one
differed very materially, as the prisoner had admitted pre-
vious to his disappearance from London, that he struck
Michael Harrington with a lalife ; and*hat was of the
greatest importance was, that after death it was discovered
that Harrington had only received one wound, but of a very
frightful character. He thought after the evidence he
should call before the magistrate, he would at least remand
the prisoner on the charge he preferred against him.
Mr. D'Eyncourt thought it would be better if some other
person than the prisoner Poligioni should appear as the
prosecutor. It matters little who it was.
Mr. Negretti at this point stepped forward and said he
would undertake the duty.
The name of the prosecutor having been changed,
Mr. Henry Negretti then said—l am a member of the
firm of Negretti and Zambra, opticians, Hatton-garden.
From information I received, I went to Birmingham, and in
a carpenter's shop I found the prisoner at work. I asked
him if he knew his cousin was going to be hung, and the
prisoner answered incredulously, "No." I said, "Yes, he
is." Prisoner, I think, said "Is there any way to save
him." I said, " Yes, if you give yourself up." Prisoner
replied, " Come along, I am ready." After that the prisoner
took his hat and coat and put it on. "I'm going down-
stairs," the prisoner said, "my cousin shall not be hung
for me." I told him there wore no hopes for his cousin,
unless he gave himself up. I may state that I arrived at
Birmingham about half-past one, and by seven minutes
past two we were in the train for London. The prisoner
never hesitated a moment, but went willingly, and on the
road burst into tears. I did not tell the prisoner Poligioni
was charged with the murder of Michael Harrington, as he
knew it very well. On the journey home, the prisoner
gave a full description of the proceedings at the Golden
Anchor on Boxing-night. Prisoner said he went there
to drink, and that he took a great deal of rum. A disturb-
ance took place, in consequence of a person named Shaw
insulting him. After- this peace was made by shaking
hands ; but during that night there was a great
many Italians in the tap-room treating each other.
By about half-past five o'clock I was nearly drunk. He
then had some dancing. The Englishmen in the bagatelle
room opened the door and invited the Italians to enter.
The Englishmen had sticks in their hands and one a poker.
The Italians seeing this, and not liking to show that they
were afraid, three or four of them went into the bagatelle-
room. After they were in the room, the English began to
beat my brother, and then the Italians began to defend
themselves with their fists as well as they could. The
fight continued until all of them got up to the end of the
room, when my brother's face was so covered with blood
that I could scarcely recognise him. I then, to save my-
' self from being killed, pulled out my knife, and I did all I
could to save my life. If I had not done so, I should never
have come out from that room alive. I was very par-
ticular in impressing the prisoner with the importance of
the question I was about to put him. I asked "Where was
it that you really fought 2" He said, " The quarrel was in
the bagatelle-room, and in no other place." I asked him
the question several times, and he invariably answered,
"In the bagatelle-room, and not anywhere else." I asked
him if his cousin (Poligioni) was in the tap-room while
they were fighting in the bagatelle-room, and he replied,
"No, I did not see him there." I asked him where he first
saw his cousin after the fight, and he replied, "I am not
sure that I saw him, but I think I saw him pass like a
flash of lightning into the bagatelle-room. After every-
thing was over, we came out of the bagatelle-room, and
then for the first time heard Poligioni was in the hands of
the police. We followed the crowd for some time, but not
having my hat I went back to the Golden Anchor, and
asked the barmaid, Eliza, to give me my hat. I got it and
left the house. This was all related as we travelled to
London. The statement which the prisoner signed [it will
be found in another column of The Sun] was then put in
and read.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Was the statement fully interpreted to
the prisoner before he signed it ?
Mr. Negretti—Yes, your worship. The great desire of
the prisoner during the whole of the journey was to get me
to go immediately to Newgate and tell his cousin that he
had come to save him because he was innocent. I consider

that the police have treated me very disrespectfully through-
out the whole of these proceedings.
Mr. Lewis—We will not go into that just now.
Inspector Potter—l have witnesses to prove most cer-
tainly that the prisoner never entered the bagatelle room
at all, that he never left the taproom.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—The injury was said to be inflicted in
the bagatelle room_?
Inspector Potter—Yes, your worship.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Then you wish to charge the prisoner
with aiding and abetting in the commission of the murder ?
Inspector Potter—Yes, your worship.
Mr. Lewis—l dOn't wish to contend with the police. I
ask for a remand on the evidence I have already adduced.
If the police wish to
,prefer another charge they can. I
shall call Mr. Shaw, the landlord of the Golden Anchor, U
necessary.

Inspector Potter—l intend to call Mr. Shaw, Mr. Lewis,
so you can do so after me.
Mr. Lewis (indignantly)—You forget, Mr. Potter, you
are in the police ; you have no right to address me, Mr.
Lewis.

The witness Shaw then entered the witness-box, and, in
answer to Mr. Lewis, said he recollected seeing the prisoner
in the house the night of the murder. He was quite sober.
.Mr. D'Eyncourt--If any words of difference were ut-
tered by the people in the bagatelle room
Witness-4 must have heard it. The prisoner was the
sole cause of the disturbance. He struck me, and that
caused the uproar.

Mr. Lewis—That is all the evidence I adduce to-day.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—Then I shall remand the prisoner upon
the charge you have preferred against him until Saturday.
Inspector Potter—l hope your worship will remand him
fora week.
Mr. Lewis—l must protest, Mr. Potter, against your in-
terfering with the charge I am prosecuting. You can make
what application you please when I have finished.
Inspecter Potter—l shall not have time until the expira-
tion of a week to communicate with the proper authorities.
Mr. Lewis—As the unfortunate man Poligionia is under
sentence of execution, I wish to proceed as rapidly as pos-

Bible.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—l remand the prisoner until Saturday
next at one o'clock.
Inspector Potter—Then, does your worship discharge Inn
from the charge I have preferred against him—that of
aiding and abetting Polignioni in the crime of murder.
Mr. D'Eyncourt—No. You can proceed with that now
if you think proper, but I think the case had better stand
as it now remains, at least for the present.
Inspector Potter—Very well, your worship.
The prisoner was then removed from the dock.

RAILWAY DIRECTORS IN PARLIAMENT.--...-A list
prepared for Bradshaw's Manual shows that Parliament has
opened with 50 Peers directors of railway companies, and
149 members of the House of Commons ; the publication of
the names of the Board of the Metropolitan District Rail-
ways Company raises the latter number to 151, or three
among every 13 members.

A rumour spread with great rapidity in town last
evening, to the effect [that: Sandringham Hall, Norfolk,
the seat of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wale; had
been totally destroyed by fire.

It is quite true that a fire broke out at Sandringham
Hall this morning, but the injury to the noble mansion, we
are happy to say, is of a very limited extent.

We are authorised to state the following :
" A fire was disovered at an early hour this morning in
one of the sleeping apartments in the upper portion of San-
dringham Hall. The furniture within the apartment
was consumed, but the flames were fortunately confined to
the room in which they originated
" The damage done is but of very trifling extent."