The Sun.
London, England, 1832-09-13 00:00:00

MURDER.

William Dignum was indicted for a highway robbery,
and attempt to murder.
This case has already been fully detailed in the police
reports. The prosecutor, Mr. Henry Andrews, in the
employ of a Mining Company, while going through Hag
gerstone, in the parish of Hackney, on the night of the
24th of August, was attacked by two men, who knocked
him down, and robbed him of 21. 10s. and a silver watch;
while on the ground, one of them knelt on his breast, and
pulling a knife from his pocket, cut his throat in four
places, one of the wounds being of a very dangerous nature.
The prosecutor stated, that, although it was dark, he had
a good opportunity of seeing the man who cut his throat,
and he was convinced the prisoner was that person. After
the men left him, he made his way to a lock on the Re-
gent's canal, about 180 yards distant, the keeper of
which, James Sinnoll, conveyed him home, and had his
wounds attended to. The following morning, a policeman
found the prosecutor's watch near where he was attacked,
and hestated that the ground bore marks of a severe struggle.
A few days afterwards the prosecutor, accompanied by
two policemen, went to the Crown public-house, i❑
Church-street, Bethnal-green, where the prosecutor point-
ed out the prisoner among several other persons, and said
that was the person who knelt on him, and cut his throat.
The prisoner then said he could prove an alibi. The pro-
secutor said, that the prisoner, when he knelt on his body,
had on a fustian frock-coat.

Before the Magistrate, the prosecutor swore most posi-
tively to the prisoner, but from what he had since heard,
viz., that it could be proved he had been at work at home
at the time of the robbery, he would not now like to swear
so positively, otherwise he felt convinced the prisoner was
the person.
On behalf of the prisoner, two persons in his employ
as chair-makers, in Hart-street, Bethnal-green, most dis-
tinctly proved that they and the prisoner were at work
together from 4 until past 11 o'clock, at his house, on the
day of the robbery, and that he could not have been one
of the persons who attacked the prisoner.
Mr. Baron GURNEY stopped the case, and said he
thought from the testimony of those witnesses, as well as
the prosecutor not being quite positive as to the identity of
the prisoner, there was such a doubt as would not justify
him troubling the Jury with any further evidence. The Ma-
gistrate must have had considerable doubt, and have given
some credence to the evidence of the two witnesses just
called, because be had bound them over to give evidence
for the prisoner, which was a very unusual course.
The Jury intimated their satisfaction of the prisoner's
innocence, and immediately Acquitted him.
Mr. BODKIN said he had at least 20 witnesses to speak
to the prisoner's character.
One of the Jury said he knew the prisoner to bear a
good character.
The prisoner was immediately discharged.
The prosecutor, on applying for his expenses, was told
by his Lordship that he might of course have them, and
that there was no imputation whatever upon him, for no-
body could doubt the conscientiousness of his testimony,
although he might be mistaken as to the person.
Richard Collins, a stout young man, with one arm,
was indicted for stealing three coats, 2i yards blue cloth,
and four pairs of trowsers, in the dwelling-house of John
Walter.

It appeared that on the morning of the 26th July, as a
lad named Thomas Moore was taking down the shutters
of the shop of the prosecutor, a tailor, of No. 415, Strand,
he had occasion to go round a corner to put the shutters
by, and on coming back to the shop he saw the prisoner
walk out with a bag containing the property named in the
indictment. Moore followed him, and on his seeing the
witness he ran away, and in the pursuit dropped the pro-
perty. He was, however, overtaken, and given into
custody.
Prisoner—Now, I ask you, whether I did not 'stand
still while you fetched a policeman ?
Boy—Yes ; but a man held you.—(Laughter,)
The prisoner was found Guilty.
His LORDSHIP intimated to him, that although the Le-
gislature bad taken from his offence the capital punish-
ment he must not expect to have any other opportunity
of plundering shops in this country.

Charles Aihin and William Day'on, two boys, were
indicted, the former for stealing, and the latter for, receiving
three dozen pen-knives, three silver pencil-cases, an opera-
glass, &e., the property of Charles Essex. The former
only was found Guilty.
James Danks Dunn Was indicted for stealing forty
gold rings, value 101., from the dwelling-house of Mr.
Dickinson Sowerby, a pawnbroker, of Brick-lane, Spital-
fields.

Mr. Edwards, foreman to the prosecutor, stated that on
the 29th of February, about seven in the evening, the pri-
soner came in to ask for a wedding-ring. Witness showed
him a paper containing about forty rings, when the priso
tier snatched the paper, and ran out of the shop. Wit-
ness pursued, and caught him in the middle of the road ;
they struggled, upon which his two companions came up
and knocked him down, and the prisoner escaped.
On the 17th of July witness saw the prisoner
in the Kingsland-void, walking for a wager of Si.
He was taken into custody by the officer, and he begged
to be allowed to walk out his match, but be was refused.
At the station-house, the prisoner said he should not walk
a match again, as he expected to be sent across the " her-
ring pond."
The Jury found a verdict of Guilty.
Susannah Emmerson was indicted for stealing 51. of
silver in the dwelling-house of Leah Hart, her mistres..
She was found Guilty.
Samuel Holmes was indicted for stealing 25 pair o'
gloves, value Si. the property of Joseph
The prisoner was found guilty.