The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-15 00:00:00

W ORSHIP-STREET.

MYSTERIOU3 CASE.—A tall athletic man, about 30
years of age, who gave the name of George Smith and
who had the appearance of an excavator, was brought
before Mr. Broughton, under the following circum-
stances :

Police constable Stennard, G 229, stated that shortly
before six o'clock on that morning he was on duty in
King's-square, Goswell-street, in company with Sergeant
Finlay, when ha saw the prisoner, who was hurrying
along with his eyes fixed on the ground, and apparently
in a state of great mental excitement. He was without
shoes, stockings, or shirt, and his deplorable appearance,
coupled with his distracted air, induced witness to put
some questions to him ; but although he repeated them
several times, the prisoner walked on without turning his
heed, or taking the slightest notice of him. Witness then
seized him by the arm, and told him he must proceed to
the station-house, upon which the prisoner began trem-
bling violently all over, and begged to be left alone, as his
mind was ill at case, and he would not trouble any one
much longer. Upon being asked if he was in want of
food be pulled out a morsel of dry bread and observed
that it was much as be would ever require, for the
sooner he was out of the world the better it would be.
He was then conveyed to the station-house, and whilst
the charge was being taken down it was noticed by
Inspector Shekel! that his appearance exactly tallied
with the description of a man who had absconded with
three others under suspicion of having been guilty of
the murder of Robert Hannah, of the borough of 111or-
petit. The crime was committed on the 20th of Dec.
las', and a reward of 1001. had been offered on the 3P-
prehension of the culprits.
The Police Gazette of January 11, containing an
account of the murder and a description of the persons
supposed to have committed it, was handed to the Ma-
gistrete.
After perusng it Mr. Broughton put several ques-
tions to the prisoner, but his answers were ve-y vague
and ddnifaditiorry. He first stated that he had come
up direct from the north, where he had worked on dif-
ferent railways, and that he reached London oily the
day before; but he afterwards said that he was at
work at Welterhampton a fortnight ago, and that his
friends residesi in Shropshire.
Mrs gtiouatirtaN observed that the age, height, and
caress of tire ilriJohc!t exactly corresponded with the first
of the men adrettiscd, but be could not detect any
Irish accent in his delivery, which was the only circum•
stalk'd tit forienee with the description given. His con-
duct and detneanotir, however, placed it almost beyond
doubt thdt he had committed some serious offence, and
he thought the ptibiinAtion of the proceedings might
have the effect of 11'0101311r forwarding the ends of
justice. He felt it his duty in the meantime to detain
the,,nrieoper in custody.
Upon PhilbVeti from the bar, the prisoner ear-
nestly besought Grove, the gaoler, to confine him in is
separate eel/ buit as it, tag supposed that he contem-
plated suicide, Ili!' s+ieli SiNg not co:opted with.
SAno time after the eiel'Y ieferpeed the Magistrate
chat the prisoner, s:ece ha haci Detti 'puked up, had
statech hie ifettle to he William Leke, from Moseley, in
Staffoldshire, end that hie brother was b: surveyor in
BirminghtitO; rind his 'Atilt a repeetable widow re;_;ding
in Windmill,streeti Latribeth: He expressed himsolt
extremely anxious to make a ferthet communication to
the Magistrate is private.

The prisoner was accordingly ushered into a private
root:!, Obi:their MrJ :Broughton proceeded, and upon re-
turning into Court, the I,lAglstrate gave some directions
to Hanley, the chief usher, relative to the ease, the par-
ticulars tit tthicli; or the nature of the presumed dis-
closure, did not trdnspife,