The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-19 00:00:00

CHARGE OF MURDER.

John Thompson, 35, labourer, was indicted for
the wilful murder of George Frederick James.
From the evidence it appeared that, on the 23d
of November the deceased and some other men had
been to the Swan publichouse, Hammersmith,
Broadway, when the prisoner and another man,
named Webb, came in, 'and began to make some
remarks about a hare which Collins, a friend of the
deceased, had in his hand. They left the house with
prisoner and his companion, going away with them.
A quarrel arose afterwards, when theprisonerknocked
James down, and the police being close at hand,
the prisoner and Webb were taken to the station.
The police then, as the deceased did not attempt to
rise, proceeded to lift him up, when it was discovered
that he had received a stab on the left side,
and he appeared to be dying. He was at
once taken to the West London Hospital,
where he expired a few minutes after ho had
6een admitted. The prisoner, Thompson, was
searched at the station-house, when a pocket-knife
was taken from him, upon the blade of which was
a quantity of blood, quite damp. On the knife
being found the prisoner did not deny that it belonged
to him ; but, on the contrary, asked that it might
be returned to him, as he wanted it. On being asked to
account for the blood on the blade, he was silent.
The surgeon of the hospital stated that the death of
James had been produced by the wound in the side,
the heart having been penetrated by the instrument
used in inflicting the injury. The knife found on
the prisoner would produce a wound similar
to that he found on the body of the deceased. The
grand jury ignored the bill against Webb, and the
prisoner, therefore, was alone indicted for the of-
fence.

The jury returned a verdict of guilty, but with a
recommendation to mercy.
The learned Judge put on the black cap and
passed sentence of death in the usual form.

NEW COURT.
(Before the Common Sergeant.)

James Howard was under trial in this court for
a very heinous offence, for which he was committed
for trial from Bow-street.

The Jury returned a verdict of guilty, and the
learned Judge sentenced the prisoner to 15 years'
penal servitude.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

THAMES.

A STRONG AND POWERFUL MAN.— William Onion,
who has been immortalised in the coliumns of Punch,
was brought 13...f0re Mr. Paget to answer a charge
of being drunk and disorderly.
The prisoner has been repeatedly before tho court
for assaults on the police and others, and for
drunkenness and disorderly conduct. Last night
he was intoxicated and standing in front of a public-
house making a noise and pushing against every
person going in and out. He was taken into cm-
tody by Macklin, a constable, No. 162 H, and used
very foul language.

Mr. Paget said the prisoner was a very trouble-
some fellow, who was before him a few days ago,
when it was proved that he recently frightened a
lady out of her wits by asking her for work in a
very rough manner at a late hour of the evening,
and there was then another troublesome and dis-
orderly man with him. On one occasion 'the pri-
soner was found to be drunk over his father's
grave in Stepney Church-yard, and making a dis-
turbance in the middle of the night.
The Prisoner—Yes; I lost my father 36 years
ago, and I sang " Father, come Home" over his
grave. I had a little drink on that occasion. 1
have a veneration for my father's memory like other
men.

Mr. Paget—lt was a most strange and unseemly
proceeding.

Police-sergeant Smith, No. 47 K, stated that th•
prisoner had been convicted at the Middlesex Ses-
sions for assaulting a London Duck constable, and
sentenced to nine months' imprisonment and hard
labour. The prisoner was a strong and powerful
man, and very troublesome.

Mr. Paget sentenced the prisoner to be impri-
soned for seven days, and kept to hard labour.
The Prisoner (impudently) —Thank you, sir ; a
merry Christmas to you.

SWEARING IN SPECIAL CONSTABLES.-Mr. Howell,
a solicitor and vestry-clerk of the parish of St.
George-in-the-East, waited on Mr. Paget this
morning, and had a long conversatiJu with him in
an under tone. Mr. Howell said he had issued
printed notices calling upon the inhabitant house-
holders to come forward and enrol themselves as
special constables, and he made an arrangement with
Ur. Benson yesterday that those well-disposed persons
desirous of enrolling themselves as special con-
stables should attend the vestry hall, state their
names and addresses, and afterwards proceed to
the Thames Police-court to be sworn in. The in-
habitants, however, objected to being sworn in
the police court, and to proceed there in twos and

three along the streets. Besides, it was likely they
would be detained if the ordinary business was pro-
ceeding on their arrival. Under these circumstances
he had respectfully to ask the magistrate to attend
the Vestry Hall to swear in special constables.

Mr. Paget said he could not without great in,
convenience to the public leave the court, in which
there was a heavy pressure of business. He was
anxious to carry out the views of the Home Secre-
tary, and would swear in and enrol any inhabitant
in the court, but he could not leave his post for a
distant part of the district.

After some conversation, Mr. Paget said he
would write to Sir Thomas Henry, the thief magi-
strate, to supply another police-court magistrate to
swear in special constables at the Vestry Hall.
The inconvenience and trouble mentioned by Mr.
Howell would be entirely obviated if, the precepts
of the Home Office were directed to the county
magistrates, who are a body of loyal men, and are
willing to act in the matter.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This Day.
---,..
(By Telegraph.)

GRAVESEND, Thursday Morning.
Arrived, Dec. 18- Star of China, from Shanghai.
Arrived, Dec. 19—Borussa, from Gemtsche ; Catharine
Elizabeth, from Gothenburg ; Bronce, from Cuba ; Arkara,
from Wyborg ; Red, Whhe, and Blue, from Brussels;
Blanche, steamer, from Dunkirk; Victor, steamer, from
Brussels ; Hatton Cayter, steamer, from Gothenburg.
Sailed—Seine and Tamise, steamer, and Esther, steamer
for Paris; Gosforth, steamer, for Trieste.
DEAL, Thursday Morning.
Anchored, Dec. 18.—Mayflower, from Shields, for Argos.
teria ; Chryseis, from Suuderland, for Calcutta.
Anchored, Dec. 19 —Mirella, from London for Bombay ;
Arracana, from London, for Mobile.
Passed -Seine et Tamise, screw steamer, from London,
for Parist, Elaine, screw steamer, from London, for
GlaFgovv.