The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-25 00:00:00

ME SUN, LONDON. Flil 0A I' El ENING, OCTOBER 25, 1%7.

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711 E BLOOMSBURY MURDER.

EXTRAORDINARY SELF-ACCUSATION.

Last night a man, who said his name was
Samuel Aluggeridge, described himself as storekeeper
to a co-operative society, and gave the address 7,
Pulteney-court, Silver-street, Golden-square, wont
to Bishopsgate-street Police-station and gave him-
self up to tho acting inspector on duty at the
station (Sergeant Henry Williams, No. 11, City
Police), stating that he was the man who accident-
ally shot the Life Guards bandsman, Edwin M'llon-
nell, in Vernon=place, Bloomsbury-square, on the
night of the 27th or morning of the 28th of Sep-
tember. The charge was entered on the police-
sheet, and he was locked up. He wa3 su')jected to
a medical examination ; the surgeon expressed an
opinion that he was of sound mind, and at present
sober, though probably but recently recovered from
intoxication. lie bears 110 resemblance to Groves;
he is taller, darker in complexion, and has
whiskers.

BOW-STREET.—This DAY.
EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONER.

Samuel Muggeridge, aged about 35, rather tall,
compactly built, of a dark complexion, and dressed
in a light brown overcoat, was placed before Mr.
Vaughan charged on his own confession with
having murdered Edwin APDonnell on the night of
the 28th of September.
Sergeant Williams said--1 am acting inspector
in the City police. Yesterday afternoon about 20
minutes to 4 o'clock the prisoner came to me and
stated that he wished to give himself up for the
murder of the bandsman M'Donncll. lie was per-
fectly sober, knew what he was saying and doing,
but he had had something to drink. lie was asked
his name by the inspector, and said it was Brown.
He afterwards said it was no use telling a story, that
his right name was Samuel Muggeridge, and that
he resided at No. 7, Pulteney-court, Silver-
street, Golden-square. He further stated that
he had been to the Amphitheatre, Holborn,
that evening, and after having left there,
and not far from the theatre, he fired a
pistol by way of a lark between two men, and

accidentally shot one. He was asked by the inspec-
tor what day it was that the matter occurred, to
which he replied that he could not tell exactly, it

might have been the 26th or 27th of September.
He was asked if he had any pistols about him or at
home, and he said he had none about him, but two
would be found at his lodgings. The one ho had
shot the bandsman with he had thrown into the
Thames—over the middle arch of London-bridge.
Ho was then asked if ho still adhered to the state-
ment, and he said—" I do, and 1 don't wish to say
anything further." I searched the prisoner, but
did not find anything of importance upon him.
Mr. Vaughan—Nothing with respect to this
charge ?
Witness—Nothing but a small quantity of powder,
a pocket-book, a penknife, and key.
Mr. Vaughan—Did he mention the name of the
man that was shot, and where ?
Witness—No, your worship ; he said the bands-
man.

Mr. Vaughan—You have heard what the witness
has said. Do you wish to ask him any questions ?
Prisoner—No, your worship.
Inspector Brennan, of the F division of police,
said the last witness brought the prisoner to the
Bow-street station about 20 minutes to six. I have
heard his evidence. He repeated it to me in the
prisoner's presence last night. I asked the prisoner
if he had heard what the sergeant said, and whether
it was correct. lie said " Yes, it was." I told
him it would be my duty to charge him on his own
confession with having murdered M‘Donnell, when
he said, "I did not murder him, but accidentally
shot between them. I had been drinking at the
time." 1 told him I was going to ask him a ques-
tion, but that he need not answer it unless he liked,
but that whatever he said I should have to report

it to the magistrate. I then asked him when the
matter occurred. He said, "On the 26th or 27th
of September last, but I am not certain as to
the date." I asked him where it took place,
and ho replied, " I don't know exactly
where it took place, but it was not far
from the Amphitheatre, Holborn, where I had
been." I asked him if he was by himself at the

time, and he said, " No, I was with a friend of
mine. I object to tell you his name ; he had no
idea I was going to fire the pistol, and he tried to
stop me when I did do so, but I had not intended
to bit either; but I shot ono of them and ran
away." I asked him whore the revolver was, and
ho replied, " Over London-bridge ; I threw it over
the next day, thinking I might be discovered.
I threw it away for the reason that it has been
a source of each misfortune to me ; that is all I
have to say, and it is a voluntary statement."
When I read the charge over to him, he said, " I
have not murdered him; I shot him accidentally."
I asked him where ho got the pistol from. He said
" I've had it in my possession a very long time ;
about five years. I had it when I was at Constan-
tinople. I bought it from one of the sailors on
board ship when I was there; it was a six-shot
revolver. I threw tho pistol over the centre of the
bridge, on the left hand side." After I had taken
the charge I read it over, and 1 asked him if he
had any objection to sign it, and he said "No,"
and then signed the written statement I produce.
I directed the last witness (Sergeant Williams) to
make out a statement of what the prisoner said to
him at the Bishopsgate station. He did so. I
read that statement over to the prisoner, and he
said, " They are both perfectly correct, and I have
no objection to sign them." The statement of
Sergeant Williams I also produce. Mr. Superin-
tendent Durkin was present during the whole of
the time the charge against the prisoner was being
taken, and Inspector Thompson during a portion
of it. Inspector Thompson asked the prisoner a
question or two.
Mr. Vaughan—Did the prisoner appear to you
to be labouring under excitement at the time he
made the statement ?

Witness—He appeared to have been drinking in
the early part of the day.
Mr. Vaughan—Was he calm and colleoted at the
time?

Witness—Yes, very.
Mr. Vaughan—What made you think ho had
been drinking?
Witness—His face was flushed.
Mr. Vaughan—Did he assign any reason for
making the statement ?
Witness—l have repeated word for word, all that

the prisoner has stated. I now recollect that the
prisoner said he had been tasting wino at the docks
in the early part of the day. In the late part of
the evening Furber came to the station. I placed
the prisoner amongst 18 others, when Furber re-
cognised the prisoner to a certain extent, but ho
said he thought the person who fired the pistol that
killed 1116 Donnell was taller than the prisoner.

Mr. Vaughan--WO will have that from Furber
himself.

Mr. Vaughan—Do you wish to ask this witness
any question ?
Prisoner—None, sir.

Superintendent Searle, of the E division of police,
said—About seven o'clock last night, bearing the
prisoner was in custody on his own confession, I
proceeded to his lodgings, accompanied by Inspec-
tor Thompson. On searching a drawer, in the
front room of tho first floor, I found two pistols
(produced). Ono was loaded, the other was not.
Mr. Vaughan—What are they, revolvers?
IVitness—No, your worship, single barrels.

Mr. Vaughan—Are the barrels rifled or smooth ?
Witneis—Smooth barrels, your worship. I had
had the ball with which M'Donnell was l Wed, but
it was not large enough to have come from either
of the pistols. From other matters connected with
the case, I am quite sure the bullet was never fired
from either of the pistols produced. On my return
to the station I told prisoner I had found the pistols,
when he said the shot was not fired from either of
them. The one the shot was fired from ho brought
from Constantinople. I saw a man named Ripley
last night, who has been assisting the prisoner
ately on Saturday nights, and I inquired whether
he had been out with the prisoner. Ripley said
that he:recollected being out with the prisoner about