The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-11 00:00:00

THE SVN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENT` "O, JANUARY 11, 1865.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT—This Day.

OLD COURT.
(Before the Lord Chief Baron and Justice Blackburn.)

THE MURDER IN PLAISTOW MARSHES.

Edward Ferdinand Karl Kohl was indicted for the mur-
der of his countrymen, John, alias Christian Furhop.
The prisoner pleaded not guilty, and elected to be tried
by a mixed jury of English and foreigners.
The Solicitor-General conducted the prosecution; and
Mr. Best, of the Oxford circuit, defended the prisoner.
It will be recollected that the prisoner was a German,
and had been engaged as a sugar baker. About the middle
of last September he went to Germany, and returned to
England on Oct. 2. He met with a young woman,whom he
married, and he afterwards lived in a house in My-street,
Plaistow Marshes, the rent of which he endeavoured to pay
by letting out apartments. From Germany he brought
with him a young man named Furhop, and introduced him
to Mrs. Warren, with whom he had previously lodged-
Furhop took lodgings in her house, and afterwards he took
lodgings in the prisoner's house, where he remained up to
the time of his death. The young man was found foully
murdered in Plaistow Marshes on the Bth of November in
a reed field by the side of the river, the head having been
cut off. The clothes were stripped off, with the
exception of the boots and trousers, and there was
nothing to indicate a struggle. It was supposed that the
deceased had been struck down at once, but it was con-
tended on the part of the prisoner that the deceased had
laid violent hands on himself.

The Solicitor-Ceneral in opening the case referred to the
above circumstance, and then stated the nature of the
evidence he should produce touching the movements of the
prisoner and the deceased together. He commented on the
fact that the prisoner had given a false account of
his conduct, and had stated that on the day of the
murder he was at a sugar bakery in Whitechapel,
whereas it would be proved he was on Plaistow Marshes,
where the body was found. The clothes of the prisoner had
been submitted to Dr. Letheby, who found spots of blood
on them. He had also inspected a chopper which had been
in the prisoner's possession, and had found upon it small
portions of cotton linen fibre, and also a very small portion
of human skin. A knife, he said, would also be produced
which was found on the spot with human hair adhering to
it, and this knife he should prove was the property of the
prisoner.. The learned gentleman then adverted to the
minor points connected with the charge.
The first witness examined was Elizabeth Warren, who
proved that the deceased had occupied lodgings in her
house. He had previously to his going to lodge with the
prisoner left in her care six sovereigns, a gold chain, a
watch, and other articles. She refused to give them up on
his return until her demand for rent was liquidated. The
deceased and prisoner afterwards came to her house, paid
the money, and took away the things.
In cross-examination, she said the prisoner was a very
peaceful man.
James Warren, the husband of the last witness, said he
had seen the dead body found on the marshes, and iden-
tified it as that of Furhop.
Eliza Whitmore said she saw the deceased and the pri-
soner in company together. She identified the knife found
near the spot where the murder was committed as the
property of the prisoner, as he had previously shown it to
her, and made some observations about it.

Mary Ann Wade said she had been in the habit of
lending the prisoner a chopper. Previous to the murder
he borrowed it and returned it to her, a portion of the
handle having been painted red. Prisoner said he painted
it because the handle was loose.

Henry Schultz, a German, said he saw the prisoner and
the deceased in company the day in which the latter dis-
appeared. The prisoner told him he had lost the young
man in London. Kohl told him the young man had 4/.los.
in his poCket. Witness said perhaps he had met a girl, to
which the prisoner replied if he had spent his money he
would turn him out of doors, as he owed him four weeks'
rent. He had seen the body and had identified it as Fur-
hop's. He also identified the boots Furhop wore.

Walter Jackson, a greengrocer, said on the •7th of No-
vember the prisoner made a small purchase at his shop. In
paying he drew from his pocket a handful of money, gold
and silver, amongst which were a few halfpence. He
(witness) made some remark aboilt the money, when the
prisoner replied he was going to Germany in a few days.
Mathilda Harris proved changing a sovereign for the
prisoner on the Saturday after the murder.
Joseph Williams said he became acquainted with the
prisoner in October last year, and he eventually married
his (witness's) sister. He afterwards went to Germany to
arrange matters, and brought back a young man with him
whom he called John. He said he had known the young
man from childhood. The prisoner, when he returned
from Germany, did not bring any money with him. The
only money he ever saw in his possession was the sove-
reign which was changed to pay the marriage fees. That
was the only time he ever saw the prisoner with any
money. Prisoner had no money to purchase furniture. He
had never done a day's work since he had been married.
On the 15th of October the prisoner showed me the ticket
of a watch, which John, he said, hadgiven him to pawn to
purchase victuals with. He saw John the night before ho
was missed. He went to see the prisoner in Ilford gaol.
He told him to go and get his cousin Bill to say that
he was with him on the Thursday. He told him lie
could not do that as it was not the case ; to which the pri-
soner replied, " Well, he must say se."
Mary Jane Cooper said she saw the prisoner on the river
hank on the 7th November. She saw him jump the ditch
near the third stile. He was jumping from the reed-bed.
(The case was proceeding when we went to press.)

NEW COURT.
THE CASE OF MR. HAMMOND.

Mr. Baron Bramwell attended this morning for the pur-
pose of passing sentence on Mr. Hammond, a surgeon, who
had pleaded guilty last session to two indictments charging
him with illegally locking up and otherwise ill-treating
his wife.

Mr. Sleigh, on the part of the defendant, informed hls
lordship that it had been arranged that a deed of separation
should be drawn up between Mr. and Mrs. Hammond, and
further, that he (Mr. Hammond) should return half the
amount of Mrs. Hammond's fortune to her.
Mr. Baron Bramwell,
_in" sentencing the prisoner, told
him he had pleaded guilty to very serious offences. He was
surprised that he had returned only one half of the lady's
fortune to her. He (the learned judge) should have thought
that the least he could,have done was to return the whole,
and beg her pardon for the cruel treatment he had subjected
her to. As the arrangement spoken to by the learned
counsel had proved satisfactory to the parties interested, he
should not refer to it any further, but he had a public duty
to perform, and that was to deter others from the perpetra-
tion of such gross cruelty. He therefore sentenced him to
12 months' imprisonment with hard labour.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

MARLBOROUGH-6 T. BEET.
MEDICAL STUDENTS AND 'TILE POLICE IN THE HAY-
MARKET.—CharIes Ellis, of 14, Merrick-square, Frederick
Thompson, of 22, Trinity-square, John Heaps, of 4, Tri-
nity-square, medical students, and William Eaves, a porter,
living at Putney, were charged before Mr. Tyrwhitt, the
first two with disorderly conduct in the Haymarket ; and
the others with obstructing Police-sergeant Forrett, 292
A, in the execution of his duty.
The sergeant 'said that shortly after one o'clock that
morning, he saw a crowd of persons assembled in the
Haymarket, Ellis; Thompson,•and Heaps forming part of-it,
Ellis and Thompson shouting at the top of their voices.
He persuaded them to go away, but Thompson said he
would go when he liked, and that he did not care a
for the bobbies. Finding persuasion useless, and as the
crowd increased he took Thompson and Ellis into custody,
and Thompson then thrust his hand down his stock. In
passing along Jermyn-street Eaves and Heaps obstructed
him in getting the others to the station, Eaves saying,
"Wait till I get my knife, you —• Assistance coming
up the defendants were all got to the station. •
In answer to Mr. Tyrwhitt, the sergeant said there were
three or four ()tilers with the defendants, and that some of
them were in court.

The defendants Ellis, Thompson, and Heaps, called tw•
witnesses whose evidence was of no benefit to them.

Eaves called a witness who, when asked by the magis-
trate his name, answered in such a bullying impudent
manner that Mr. Tyrwhitt ordered him to stand down,
and said he would not hear him.

Wm. Wood, -151 C, corroborated the sergeant as to the
disorderly conduct of the defendant's.
Mr. Tyrwhitt said he had no doubt at all about the
case, and that the witness called by the defendant Eaves
was one of those who were acting like blackguards in the
Haymarket. He should fine Ellis 2s. 6d., Thompson 10s.,
Eaves 55., and Heaps would be dicharged.
STEALING Music Booxs.—Nicholas Beyney, a French-
man, described as a commission agent, was charged with
stealing twenty-four music books, of the value of 141., the
property of Mr. Joseph Alfred Novell°, music publisher, of
Dean-street, Soho. . . .

The parcel of books was taken from a cart waiting at
Mr. Novello's door in Dean-street, and they wore after-
wards traced to the prisoner's possession.

He was remanded.

MARYLEB ONE.

SOOT PIRATES.—A VALUABLE COMMODITY.—Edward
Hicks, a sweep, was charged with stealing a sack of soot,
the property of Mr. John Brown, 1, Goldsmith-place, Kil-
burn, master chimney sweep.
It appeared from the evidence that the prosecutor is in a
very large way of business, having the contracts for the
principal West-end mansions, as also for the houses in
most of the squares. It is the practice of his men, when
they get a sack full of soot, to deposit it at a certain fixed
spot, for Mr. Brown to fetch it away in his cart.
This morning, at an early hour, one of the men
deposited a sack of soot in Clarendon-terrace and then left
it. Shortly afterwards the prisoner was seen to empty the
soot from the prosecutor's sack into one of his own. Mr.
Brown came up just as he was making off. He gave him
into custody. The value of the soot was is. 6d., and just
now it was a very valuable commodity. During the past
three months he had lost between 20 and 30 sacks, and
parties like the prisoner go about stealing the sacks and
soot. Prisoner had been in his employ, but he was com-
pelled to discharge him for dishonesty. _ _

Mr. Mansfield sentenced the prisoner to one month's hard
Labour in the House of Correction.

THAMES.

ALLEGED OUTRAGE IN A STATION-HOUSE.—A young
man, who was fined ss. yesterday for being drunk and in-
capable of taking care of himself, made an application to
Mr. Paget for a summons against a police-constable, named
Road, 66 H, for striking him in the station-house of the H
division in Leman-street, Whitechapel.
The applicant stated that a constable took him into cus-
tody on Monday night, and was very kind and civil to him,
but while he was in the dock at the station-house, and the
charge was being taken, 66 H told him to turn round, and
then struck him a violent blow with his clenched fist on
the eye, and blackened it. This outrage was quite unpro-
voked. He had not offended the constable in any way.

Mr. Paget questioned the applicatt very particularly and
at some length, and he adhered to his statement, on which
the magistrate said that he would grant a summons in the
usual way. At the same time he wished to have all per-
sons, including the inspector, who were in the station-
house at the time in attendance when the case was heard.
It was requisite that he should have all the information
that could be given.
Burnett, a police-constable, No. 158 H, said that the
matter had been reported to the Commissioners of Police,
and he believed that an investigation was now pending.

Mr. Paget said he had nothing to do with that. The
applicant complained of an assault, and he was entitled to
a summons. It mattered not whether the individual com-
plained of was •a police officer or any other person.
The applicant wished to address the magistrate again,
but Mr. Paget said he could hear no more at present.

MARKETS —This Day.

MARK LANE.

The arrivals of English wheat, fresh up to our market, to--
day, were very moderate. The 9ondition of the produce
being tolerably good, the demand both for red and white
produce ruled steady, at quite Monday's currency.
The market was fairly supplied with foreign wheat. The
trade for nearly all qualities was very quiet, and the total
amount of business transacted was small, at late rates.

Floating cargoes of grain move off slowly, at previous
quotations.
The supply of barley on sale was but moderate. Good
and fine malting produce moved off freely, at extreme rates ;
and other descriptions ruled firm in price.
Malt changed hands to a moderate extent, at full prices.
The supply of oats on sale was tolerably large. Selected
parcels were firm in price ; otherwise, the oat trade was
dull, at fully Monday's decline in the quotations.
Beans were dull, at about previous rates.
Peas met a slow sale, on former terms.
The flour trade was steady, at.full currencies.

ARRIVALS THIS WEEK.
Wheat.BarleytMalt. Oats. Flour.
English and Scotch 890 1,350 '2,250 2,720 950
Irish — 1230
Foreign 1650 21,980: 1,020 620 sacks
3,510 brls.

Severe Storm and Wreck of Boats.

The Wick coast has during the past week been
visited by a succession of severe gales, which
threatened the most serious consequences to the
numerous boats engaged in the winter herring
fishing. On Thursday afternoon the weathermode-
rated, and a large number of boats proceeded to sea;
but towards evening the wind rose, and continued
to increase till the morning, when it blew a perfect
hurricane from the south-west. Early in the even-
ing, fortunately, the boats made for the harbour,
and they all succeeded in reaching it in safety, with
the exception of two, which were forced to take re-
fuge in Ackergill Bay, the wind, however, having
veered round to the north, made the position of
these two boats a perilous one ; and on Friday
morning the crews, in order to save their own lives,
deemed it advisable to run the boats ashore, which
they managed to do with considerable difficulty.
One of the boats, belonging to William Keith, was
dashed to pieces on the rocks ; but the other, be-
longing to Robert Robertson, having taken the
ground on a sandy bank, was speedily drawn up
beyond the reach of the waves, and was found to
have sustained but little damage. On land the gale
did not pass without doing considerable mischief.
Chimney-cans and slates were blown down in every
direction, rendering the passage of persons through
the streets very dangerous. The most serious
casualty, however, occasioned by the storm, was the
death of Mr. George Dunbar, carrier between Dun-
beath and Wick. It would appear that the unfor-
tunate man, who was on his way to Wick on Friday
morning, was overtaken by the storm when near
Whaligoe. The road is very much exposed at that
place, and it is supposed that the cart, which was
laden with light and bulky goods, was caught by
the gale and capsized on Dunbar, who was likely
to have been walking at the lee side. At all events,
the cart was found overturned upon the road, with
the horse strangled in his endeavour to free himself ;
and on the cart being removed, the body of Dunbar
was found beneath, life apparently having been
extinct for a considerable time.