The Sun.
London, England, 1833-01-04 00:00:00

OLD BAILEY.-(THIS DAY.)

OLD COURT.
THE ENFIELD MURDER.

This being the day fixed for the trial of the men charged
with the murder of the young man Benjamin Couch
Danby, at Enfield, the Court was crowded to excess at a
very early hour.
At nine o'clock the prisoners, William Johnson and
Samuel Fare, were placed at the bar, and arraigned on
two indictments, the first charging Johnson with the mur-
der of Danby, and Fare as being an accessary ; and the
other charging both the prisoners with assaulting Danby
on the King's highway, and robbing him of 11s., his pro-
perty. The prisoners pleaded Not Guilty to both indict-
ments.

At ten o'clock, Mr. Justice GASELEE and Mr. Justice
J. PARKE came into the Court, when the prisoners were
again placed at the bar, and the Jury charged with them
upon the indictment for the wilful murder.
William Johnson is described in the calendar as a gar-
dener, and aged 29 ; and Samuel Fare alias Sleath, la-
bourer, aged 22. They looked exceedingly dejected, and
occasionally were much agitated.
Alr. ADOLPHUS (with whom was Air. CLARKsoN)
stated the case for the prosecution at considerable length,
during which the prisoners displayed the greatest eager-
ness to hear the details.
Mr. PHILLIPS appeared to defend Fare, and Mr. Bon-
Jur; to defend Johnson.

Mr. Peter Addington stated that he was a baker at
Enfield. Benjamin Couch Danby was first cousin to wit-
ness's wife. On the I 2th December Danby came to lodge
in witness's house, having been recently from India. He
resided with witness until the 19th, accompanying wit-
ness, nearly daily, in his cart when going his rounds with
bread. On the morning of the 19th witness lent him a
gun to shoot birds with, and also lent him the bowl of a
tobacco• pipe to charge the gun with. He returned to
dinner at one o'clock, and afterwards went with witness
in his cart ; they returned about five o'clock. There
was a public-house in the neighbourhood called the Crown
and Horseshoes. He left witness's house at twenty mi-
nutes before six o'clock to go out. He bad net returned
to witness the tobacco-pipe bowl. Witness never after.
wards saw him alive. The following morning at half-
past six o'clock, in consequence of what he heard, he went
to the Sergeant public-house, in Parsonage-lane, and there
saw the dead body of the deceased.
Joseph Perry, landlord of the Crown and Horseshoes,
Enfield-chase-side, deposed that within three yards of his
door there was a bridge across the New River. On the
evening of the 19th December the deceased and the pri-
soners were at his house. He first saw Danby, Johnson,
Fare, Cooper (the approver), Taylor, Wagstaffe, and
Jackson in his tap-room at eight o'clock. Fare was lying
along a bench apparently asleep, and Johnson was lying
across two chairs. A young man named Wager was also
lying on a bench. Witness laid hold of Fare, and said he
would have no sleeping there. He roused them all.
Fare appeared angry at him, and said, " -- your eyes,
you would not serve me so, but you think I can't pay for
a pot, but I can pay for a gallon," and he produced
2s. 6d. Fare was then a pauper on the parish, and out
of employ. The deceased, Wagstaffe, Taylor, and another
were at that time playing at dominoes for a pot of beer.
At ten o'clock witness had the dominoes taken away.
Afterwards witness saw the deceased and Fare tossing for
beer. Witness retired up stairs at a quarter to eleven,
having previously given orders not to draw the parties
any more liquor. A half-pint of gin was, however,
served to them, after which they went away together.
During the evening the deceased pulled out his purse
several times. It was a silk net purse, with steel slides
and tassels, and there appeared to be from 12s. to 15s. in
silver in it.
Cross-examined by Mr. BODKIN—Had seen the purse
before. Never saw Johnson in his company before that
evening. Cooper did not come in till about 10 at night.
The deceased showed a great number of pockets in his
clothes. When he showed them some one said, " What
a number of pockets you have," but it was not Cooper.
Joseph Matthews was pot-boy to the last witness. He
first saw Johnson in the tap-room with the deceased,
about seven o'clock on the evening of the 19th December.
Charles Jackson came in next. They had some drink.
Jackson asked if any one would play at dominoes, and the
deceased said he would. Witness brought the dominoes,
and Jackson asked witness to play. He consented. The

deceased asked Johnson to play. Johnson said he bad
got no money, and could not play. The deceased said,
" Never mind that ; if you lose I will ply for you." The
deceased gave Johnson some halfpence. They all four
then played for about twenty minutes, when witn-ss's
master called him away. Before he went out, Richard
Wagstaffe came in, and took witness's place at the do-
minoes. In a quarter of an hour witness returned, and
found them playing. That was before eight o'clock. At
nine o'clock witness again went in, and they had finished
playing. William Taylor was then there, and they re-
newed the game, after having had some beer—Taylor
taking Johnson's place. A little before ten o'clock wit-
ness took away the dominoes. John Wager was then in
the tap-room, as was Fare. Cooper was there, but wit-
ness could not tell what time he came in. Cooper
had an old lamp when he came in. They stayed
about half an hour after witness's master went to bed.

Before they went, the deceased said they would first have
half a pint of gin, and it was given them. The deceased pulled
out his purse several times during the evening. It was about
ten minutes past 11, when they went away. Wagstaff,
Cooper, Johnson, Fare, and the deceased, went away
together. When the deceased went out he staggered
about, and Mrs. Perry gave witness orders to see him pass
the river. Witness led him over the bridge, and then
asked Fare " to be so good as see the young gentleman
home." Fare said he would. Fare took hold of his

left arm, and Cooper of his right. Johnson and Wagstaff
were behind. Witness then left them.

Cross examined by Mr. BODKIN—The deceased was
the last of the party who went out of the door. Wag-
staff's house was about 100 yards from the public-house,
on the road the deceased had to go.
Richard Wagstaff statt d that he was a baker at Enfield-
chase-side. On the night of the 19th December he was
at the Crown and Horseshoes playing at dominoes with
the prisoners and deceased. They left at a little after 11
o'clock. Witness went out first, and the rest followed.
When the deceased was in the house he appeared sober,
but when he went out he staggered, and the pot boy called
out " Jack, and Sam (meaning Cooper and Fare), for
God's sake see him safe home, for he is so drunk
he had like to be in the river." When witness
got over the bridge he saw Johnson and Fare
apparently leading the deceased homewards, and
Cooper was standing at the corner of the bridge. Cooper
then went with them. Witness walked with them as far
as his own house. His house was on the way to Mr.
Addington's. Johnson and Cooper then were by the side
of decemed, and Fare about six yards in advance. Wit.
ness went in and saw no more of them that night. Wit-
ness advised Cooper to have nothing to do with the others,
as they would probably rob the deceased. Cooper said
he would go with the deceased.
Cross-examined by Mr. BODKIN—WittIeSS had been
tried in this Court two years ago.
By Mr. Anor r-nus—Was then acquitted.
John Coop,: some th.n and his appearance in
going tbrousit the dock to the witness-box, excited great
interest ia Court. On being sworn, he deposed as fol-
lows am 18 years of age. In December, I worked
at a brewery at Enfield. On Wednesday evening, the
19th of December, I went to the Crown and Horse-shoes
at ten minutes past 10 o'clock. I found in the tap-room
Charles Jackson, Richard Wagstaff, the deceased, and the
two prisoners. They were sitting at a table drinking. I
staid there until a quarter past 11, when the landlady
ordered us all out, as it was time to shut the house up.
I did not observe how the deceased walked when he
got out. Johnson and Fare helped him over the bridge,
and Matthews came out and asked some one to
lead him home. I know Wagstaff's house, about 100
yards from the public-house. Johnson, Fare, and the de-
ceased walked first. Wagstaff and I followed. I had a
candlestick like a lamp, but no light in it. I walked four
or five yards behind Johnson, Fare, and deceased. When
we came as far as Wagstaff's house (he Wag taff), went in.
He previously said to me, "Jack you had bettergo home."
I said to him, " I shall not go." Denby was not sober.
Sheffield's house was about 20 yards from Wagstaff's house.
We went on a little way, and near Sheffield's house they
were shoving one another about, and Fare fell down.
Johnson, Fare, and the deceased were shoving one another
al oat. I was then about four yards from them, and could
rot distinguish whether any thing was taken from the
cec,ased. Fare got up and went away some where. I
rid not observe where he went to. The deceased was then
ith Johnson. The deceased then got hold of may arm
and asked me to lead him home. Johnson had hold of
the other side of him. We three went on together. Mr.
Addington's house was not 200 yards further, but on the
other side of the way. I had never seen the deceased be-
fore that night, and did not know then that the de-
ceased lived at Mr. Addington's. When we got op
posite to Addington's, Johnson asked deceased to go and
get a pint of beer. The deceased said, " With all my heart."
Holt White's-lane leads into the Chace-side-road. We
passed Addington's house along Chace-side-road, leading
to Holt White's-lane. When we got to the bottom of