The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, DECIIIMBER 17, 1838,

have run round the neck. There i; a cut in the front or
the collar which Mr. Bolam had on on Thursday. That
cut must have required some force to have made it, it being
cut through whalebone. There was no corresponding mark on
Bolam's neck to such 4cut as appeared on the stock. The
inside of the stock is much stained with blood, but the out-
side of it is nearly clean, being very little stained. I have
also examined the silk handkerchief which I am told was
over the stock which Bolam had on. That handkerchief is
much stained with blood, ho' oi on the outside and on the '
inside. Had that handkerchief been over the stock at the
time the neck was cut, I think the stock would have been
much more stained with blood on the outside than it is.
The cuts on the handkerchief correspond in point of situa-
tion with the cuts on the stock, but they are more numer-
nus.—[The stock and handkerchief were produced and
examined by the Jury.] There are some drops of blood
on the outside of the waistcoat, and also a small quantity of
blood in the inside. The marks on the outside of the
waistcoat are as if blood had dropped upon it. There are
marks of blood on the under part of the breasts of the coat,
apparently made in an upright position. I have examined
the shoes shown to me as those of Bolam, and I find two
or three spots of blood upon the upper leather of both
shoes. There are also two or three spots of blood on the
gaiters. There are also some spots of blood on Bolam's
trousers, but they are very slight. There is blood on the
edge of the left. wristband. If Mr. Bolam had been stand-
ing at the time he received the wound in his neck, the
blood trickling down might have produced these appear-
ances on his clothes ; but if he had been in a horizontal
position it would have been different.
Mr. Glenton, surgeon, gave similar testimony as to the
superficial nature of the wounds on Bolam. He then
said that when injuries are received upon the head impor-
tant derangements of the functions of the brain may take
place, when there is no apparent relation between those
symptoms and the external appearances. Believing that
fact to be so, I think Mr. Bolam may have remained for
a certain time in a state of insensibility ; he might have
remained in such a state for hours. •A person might re-
rin in such a state of insensibility for five hours from a
blow on the head, and afterwards regain his consciousness
without medical assistance. The wound in the neck was
bleeding at the time I saw it, but it did not appear is if
it had just been inflicted. I think that a blow, capable
of producing the effect which I saw in the temple, might
have rendered him insensible. If insensibility had not
been immediately produced by that blow, but came on
afterwards in consequence of it, I think the probability
is that his consciousness could not have been restored
without medical treatment. During the time Mr. Bolam
says he was lying in the bank, he may have recovered
his consciousness and afterwards relapsed into a
state of insensibility. I think his senses might
come and go. I think if Bolam had been laid on his
back the blood from the wound in his throat might have
run down his shirt and stained the breast as it now ap-
pears. In raising Bolam up, when I first saw him, I think
it possible that some of the blood may have fallen on his
shoes and on other parts of his clothes. Although uncon-
scious, Bolam may have raised his hand to his head, and
daubed the wristband of his shirt without daubing his hand.
My impression is, that the cuts in the coat, waistcoat, and
shirt correspond with the scratches on:his side, but I can-
not swear that they do so, as I have not examined them
particularly. I believe that the scratches might have been
caused by the instrument which cut the clothes, and at the
same time. Had Mr. Bolam continued long in the place
where he was found he would have died from suffocation, if
the room had not been speedily ventilated. The scratches
on Bolam's body were, according to my impression, up
and down, crossing the ribs obliquely. I think it possible
that the abrasion between the scratches may have been
caused by a kick. I think it is consistent with probability,
that if Mr. Bolam had laid in a state of insensibility from
the time he states that he received a blow to the time
he was found, he might have been as well as he was on the
Friday.

Mr. W. Nesham, surgeon, gave reasons for believing that
Bolam, when found, had not been labouring under concus-
sion of the brain. He also deposed to the slightness of the
wounds on his neck and person.
George Ridley, formerly a clerk in the Bank, spoke to
the good terms upon which deceased and Bolam used to
live, and that the latter had interested himself to obtain a
situation for deceased in the bank.

Matthew Cree, porter in the bank, deposed to the same
effect. He then gave evidence as to the position of the
deceased and Bolam when he (witness) left the bank
in the afternoon previous to the murder. When I left
the bank at half-past three o clock Bolam and Millie
were sitting side by side at the table, and apparently
on good terms with each other. All the time that Millie
was there I never heard an angry word between them.
Mr. T. M. Greenbow, surgeon, deposed as to the posi-
tion and nature of Bolam's wounds. He said—l should
think the scratches were about two inches in length, but
perhaps hardly that. They appeared to have been made
by a sharp instrument, which had not penetrated the skin—
certainly they had been made by repeated blows or strokes,
not by one blow or stroke. Any sharp instrument, and,
therefore, a pen knive, might have made them. A penknife
might easily have effected the appearances I saw. As the
cuts on Bolam's body corresponded exactly in situation with
the cuts on the clothes, I think it probable that the marks
on the skin were caused by an instrument which passed
through the clothes. It did not appear to me that the
marks on Bolam's body were likely to have been produced
by a violent thrust made against him. I also examined
Bolam's neck. I found a cut on the left side, which was
nearly healed ; it was under the jaw-bone on the left side,
and it had been about an inch and a half or two inches long.
It appeared to me quite a superficial wound. I also examined
the stock. There was a cut on the front part of the stock
which had cut through it. The position of the cut on the
stock did not correspond with that of the wound. I think
it not probable that the same cut which cut the stock could
have cut the neck, unless the stock had been in a different
position from that in which it was.

Mr. Henry Heath, surgeon, deposed—l examined the right
sleeve of the coat, and also the lining of the same sleeve.
There arc marks, which I think to be marks of blood, on both
sleeve and lining. I think there has been an attempt to rub
out the blood on the right sleeve. I should think that the
attempt has been made with water, and that the water and
blood hid gone through the cloth, and stained the lining.
There is an appearance of roughness on the nap of the cloth
on the outside. It is the appearance we often find upon our
own coats after an operation, if we take a towel dipped in
water and rub the coats with it. I think, from the appearance
of the wound, Bolam must have received the wound whilst
he was lying down. If this wound had been received at
seven at night I do not think that any blood might be ooz-
ing from it at two o'clock the next morning. I think it
would be entirely dry by that time. The wound on the
neck could not have bled many minutes. Ido not think
Bolam could have received the marks of blood on his coat
and waistcoat whilst he was lying on his face. I give
my opinion as to the time the wound might have bled with
considerable hesitation, the wound having been healed when
I saw it.

Mr. Joseph Armstrong, cashier of the savings' bank said,
—I have known Mr. Bolan) about sixteen years, during the
whole of which period he has been actuary in the bank.
He was always very correct in his accounts with the
bank, and I have no reason to think there is now any
incorrectness in his accounts, nor any defalcation in his
accounts—there cannot be, because none of the money
passed through his hands. He might receive money
from individuals, but. it would be at their risk and
not at that of the bank. I have net heard that
he has received money in that '.';ay and not accounted
for it. , I found the keys of Bolam's desk in the lock of
the desk on the morning of the fire. It is the desk nearest
the window. The desk was open. There was no money
in that desk, but there was some copper in the one adjoin-
ing, which was also open. I have known Millie for about
twelve or fourteen months. During that period he has
been occasionally employed in the Bank up to May last,
and since then constantly employed. He had not, how-
ever, received his appointment as permanent clerk until
Tuesday week, when at a meeting of the directors he was
so appointed. I believe Mr. Bolam had interested himself
with the directors to get Millie that appointment. Bolan'
and Millie were upon good terms, at least as far as I ever
saw. I have seen Mr. Bolam wear an office coat at the
bank—it acobaltueforcotawto.
months. During
I Dhauvreingnowthsicehenthimime
h wear e
has been wearing a black coat. He has not lately been
wearing sleeves above his coat. I cannot say how long it
is since I saw him wear his sleeves, Mr. Bolam had the
that w
bluea
charge of the keys of the safe, but there is a safe within
the large one, the keys of which Mr. Cooke or I kept
when any money belonging to the bank was put into
s
it. Mr. Bolam had the key of the inner safe on the night
of the fire. The key of that safe has never yet been
found. The inner safe has been opened, and amongst other
things found in it were about 801. in notes, belonging to
Mr. Bolam, and his own money. I was not aware before
the fire how many keys there were belonging to the door of
the large room leading into the Arcade. I then learnt
there were three. I am not aware that any key was taken
to Sir Matthew Ridley and Co.'s bank every night. About
ten or twelve months ago I heard Mr. Bolam say some-
thing about an anonymous letter, but I do not recollect
what he said about it. I think if he had said it contained
a threat to take away his life I should have recollected it.
I am quite sure that within the last six months he has not
said anything to me about any anonymous letter. A person
passing from the bank door to go to Mr. Bolam's desk
would go within six feet of the place where Millie was
lying. When I went into Mr. Glenton's about four o'clock
morning, Bolam said that he had received some
anonymous letters. Mr. Blackwell then asked him if he
had° nFriday
ever s ho w n any o£ the letters to any one. He said to •

had shown one to Mr. Buinitn, and moving his bony
wards me, said, " Mr. Armstrong, you know about thoru."
I do not know whether the letter he had shown to Mr.
Bulman and the one he spoke to me about twelve months
ago was the one he meant, or it was one he had lately re-
ceived.

John Buiman—l am secretary to the savings' bank. I
have known Archibald Bolam for several years. I C•neat
bring to my recollection that he ever told me hi I,a. !
ceived any anonymous letters. As far as my recoil: cjon
goes I never saw any anonymous letters which he shooed
rne. I have not the least rearo❑ to suppose that there is
anything wrong in Mr. Bnlam's accounts with the bank.
John Blakey—l am a shoemaker in Newcastle. I knew
Millie, the deceased. I have been well acquainted wiih
him for the last eighteen months. On the evening of the
10th of October last., Mr Millie called on me to pay a
small bill. We entered into conversation, after he had
paid his bill, about the Savings' Hank. I asked him
"if he was likely to get appointed ?" He stated that
the person who was in the bank, or who had just left,
was doing everything in his power to prevent him
getting the situation ; stating that the same person had
sent letters to Mr. Bolam, defaming his character. That
Mr. Bolam had behaved so honourably to him as to let him
see two of the letters that had been sent. He also stated,
that notwithstanding these attempts to prevent his appoint-
ment, he expected that, with Mr. Bolam's assistance, he
would succeed. He thought it was very cruel on the part of
the person who left the bank to act towards him as he had
done. Mr. Bolam did not show me any of the letters which
he had received.

The depositions of John Turnbull and of his wife Anne
Turnbull were to the same effect as Blakey's evidence.
The whole of the evidence having been brought to a
close, the COILONXR addressed the jury to the following ef-
fect :—That the crime of murder has been committed, is a
fact upon which there can be no question ; but a most lin-
portant question does arise, and that is, By whom was that
murder committed f There can only be two verdicts which
you can, from a consideration of the evidence, give in this
case. One would be a verdict of " Wilful murder, against
some person or persons unknown." Upon a full considera-
tion of this evidence, should you be satisfied that Mr. Bo-
lam is the man who has committed the murder—because
there is against no other person the slightest suspicion at
present—if Bolam committed the murder upon Millie, we
shall probably never be able to find out the cause, because
it appears that up to the very time it was committed, if it
ever was committed, Bolam was acting to Millie as a friend
—almost as a brother. Up to the very period when Mr.
Millie was murdered Bolam acted towards him with unmea-
sured kindness. That is a circumstance in favour of Bo-
lam. In the absence of all motive you will be compelled
to look well at the evidence which has been produced
against Mr. Bolam before you say whether he is guilty or
not ; but if, after considering the evidence, you come to a
conclusion that the statement made by Bolam is not true
—that he has told a tissue of falsehoods—that his state-
ment is contradicted by the evidence—that the appearance
on his clothes and person could not possibly have happened
under the circumstances which he relates, then, however
painful it may be, you will consider yourselves bound to find
him guilty of this murder.
After carefully reading over the whole of the evidence,
and commenting on such parts of it as appeared to bear
strongly on the case, the Coroner again addressed the
Jury. If (said he) from a careful consideration of the evi-
dence before you, and from your own inspection of the
dress which was found upon Bolam, you are satisfied that
the marks upon the body were not inflicted by a sharp in-
strument—if you are satisfied that he himself made those
wounds, you will have no difficulty in coming to a conclu-
sion upon the subject.
The Jury then retired, and after having remained in de-
liberation for about half an hour, returned into Court and
delivered a verdict of " Wilful Murder against Archibald
Bolam."

When the verdict was announced signs of approbation
were manifested by the people assembled in the Court,
which, however, the Coroner suppressed.