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

CHARGE OF MURDER.

John Thompson, 35, labourer, was indicted for
he wilful murder of George Frederick James.
From the evidence it appeared that, on the 23d

of November the deceased and some other men had
►.een to the Swan isublichouse, Hammersmith,
Broadway, when the prisoner and an.)ther 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 theprisoner knocked
Thompson 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
been 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 prisonerodid not deny that it belonged
to him ; but, on the contrary, asked that it might
bereturned to him, as he wanted it. On being asked to
account for the blood on the blade, he was Went.
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 case was proceeding when we went to press

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, but the jury had not re-
tured their verdict when we went to press.

POLICE INTELLIGENOE.—This Day.

THAMES.

A STRONG AND POWERFUL MAN.—William Onion,
who has b3en immortalised in the columns of Punch,
was brought before Mr. Paget to answer a charge
of being drunk and disorderly.
_ _ .

The prisoner has been repeatedly before thy) 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. 1-le was taken into cus-
tody by Macklin, a constable, No. 162 1-1, and used
very foul language.

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-
orthrly 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—rlt was a most strange and unseemly
proceeding. _ _ _

Polic,;-sergeant Smith, No. 47 K, stated that the
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.
'rlie Prisoner (impudently) —Thank you, sir ; a
merry Christmas to you. _ _

SWEARING IN SPECIAL CONSTABL ES.-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 conversation 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 au arrangement with
Mr. 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 prc-
ceeding on their arrival. Under these circumstances
he bad 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 chief 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.)
URAYLSENDI Thursday Morning.
Arrived, Dec. 18- Star of China, froM Shanghai.
Arrived, Dec. 19—Borussa, from Gerntsehe ; Catharine
Elizabeth, from Gothenburg; Bronco, fiom Cuba ; Arkara,
from `'Vyborg ; Red, While, 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; Gosfortb, steamer, for Trieste.

DEAL, Thursday Morning.
Anchored, Dec. 18.—Mayflower, from Shield; for Argos-
teria ; Chryseie, from Sunderland, for Calcutta.

Anchored, Dec. 19 —Mirella, from London for Bombay ;
Arracann, from London, for Mobile.
Passed—Seine et Tamiso, screw steamer, from London,
for Paris; Elaine, screw steamer, from London, for
lilasgow.

MADAME TUSSAUD'S EXHIBITION.—A full-length
portrait model, taken from life, of Frederick Baker, who is
condemned to death tor .the atrocious murder of a poor
little girl at Alton, is now added to the Chamber of llorrors
in Baker-street. The figure of Theodorue, King of Abys-
sinia, continues to be a great attraction.
SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM.—The relict of the
late Dr. Woollaston has just presented to the Art Library
of the Museum a valuable series of drawings of Greek
and Roman mosaics to be found iu Spain, France,
Pompeii, Prussia, Ilalicarnassus, Switzerland, Rome and
Italy generally, Constantine, Carthage, and also in various
counties of England, which had been executed for Dr.
Woollaston.

LETT'S DIARIES FOR 1868 have made their an-
nual appearance. Tho arrangement of the matter in each
of the many and various sizes in which the diaries appear
seems, if it be possible, to be More than usually good.
The want of every person needing a diary has been
met by the Messrs. Letts, and the unusually cheap rate at
which the books are published accounts for the immense
circulation they have already achieved. As a recognition
of the usefulness and excellence of these diaries, Messrs.
Letts received the silver medal at the Paris Exhibition. •