The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-16 00:00:00

THE SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST
BARON DE VIDIL.

I • • •
Owing to the'unfairourable state of the man Rivers, who,
it is stated, witnessed the whole transaction at Twicken-
ham, we believe it has been thought advisable,
this morning, to bring the accused, Baron
do Vidil, from the House of Detention, to Bow-street
police-court in order that ho might be conveyed to
Twickenham for the purpose of identification.
Information of the circumstance had been telegraphed to
the accuser, the prisoner's son, informing him that his
presence was absolutely necessary in order that he might
be present during the taking of the man's deposition, should
such a proceeding bo thought necessary, but it is expected
the son will decline proceeding further in the matter, and
thus the mysterious affair will terminate.

EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONER AT BOW-

STREET.

[The following appeared in our Second Edition of last
evening :---]

Yesterday the Count de Vidil was placed at the bar,
charged, on the information of his son, with intent to mur-

der him.

The prisoner appearcid to be a spare, gentlemanly-looking
man, about 50 years of age. He is of the middle stature,
and wears a very large flowing beard and moustache. He
was dressed in a black frock-coat, a check Chesterfield
wrapper, and light trousers. The Baron was brought from
Paris to London in the custody of two of the French police,
and by them delivered into the charge of Sergeant William-
son, of the detective force, under whose care he was brought
to the police-court.

The prosecution was conducted by Mr. Charles Pollock,
instructed by Mr. Ellis, of Spring-gardens.
The accused was defended by Mr. Sleigh and" Mr.
Orridge. _ _ _

In answer to Mr. Burnaby the prisoner said his name
Was Alfred Louis Pons de Vidil.

Mr. Pollock said—l ask you to grant a fresh warrant for
the apprehension of the prisoner, as some difficulty might
perhaps hereafter arise. The prisoner, on being made
aware of the charge against him in Paris, made a request
to the Prefect that he might attend in England to answer
the charge, and therefore I cannot say that he was appro•
hended on your warrant.

Air. Corrie—l don't think such a course at all necessary,
the prisoner is now in custody.

Mr. Sleigh—The Baron is hero at his own request to
speak freely.

Mr. Pollock—l did not say that the prisoner merely
attended at his own request.

Mr. Corrie—l don't think any new warrant is necessary,
so we will proceed with the case.

Mr. Pollock—l am not in a position to go on with the
evidence at the present moment, so I propose to have the
deposition that was made when you issued your warrant
mid, and, having produced a witness to identify the prisoner
as the Baron de Vidil, I ask you, Sir, to remand the
prisoner to a future day.

Mr. Sleigh—My client is charged with wounding with
intent to murder, and I think I have a light to demand
that some evidence be adduced before he is committed to

prison on such a charge.

Mr. Pollock—l intend to have the deposition read, and
to ask for an adjournment, as I am not prepared to go on.
Mr. Corrie—Do I understand you, Mr. Sleigh, that you
object to such a course?

Mr. Sleigh—Certainly not. I shall not resist such a
proceeding. I wish the person who made the deposition to
be present while it is read, and then to havo it entered as
his sworn statement; but I say that I think evidence of
some sort or other should be offered before the baron is
locked up as a prisoner.

Mr. Corrie—Are you, Mr. Pollock, prepared to go on
with the case to-day ?

Mr. Pollock—Certainly not.

Mr. Sleigh—What I contend is that there ought to be
some evidence offered to justify the detention of the baron.
Mr. Corrie—All I have to ask you, Mr. Pollock, as re-
presenting the Crown on this occasion, is, are you prepared
to go further than merely identifying the prisoner to-day.
If not, I shall take the responsibility of remanding the
prisoner—a magistrate has the power to remand without
any evidence being offered at all.

Mr. Burnaby, the chief clerk, having read the charge
against the prisoner, which was to the effect that he did, on
the 28th of June last, wilfully and maliciously cut and
wound Alfred John de Vidil, with intent to kill him,
Mr. Pollock called Mr. Parker, who, in answer to the
questions of the learned counsel, said—l am a magistrate
of the county of Hertfordshire. lam acquainted with the
person of the Baron de Vidil. I have known him for
some years. The person standing at the bar is the Baron
do Vidil.

Mr. Corrie—l will now hear what you have to say, Mr.
Sleigh, but I don't think it at all necessary to proceed fur-
ther to empower me to remand the prisoner.

Mr. Sleigh—lf that is your view of the case, sir, I
have nothing further to say.

The prisoner was then remanded until Wednesday next.
Mr. Sleigh—l think lam justified in saying that if the
communications that have been made to me during the
few minutes' conversation I have had with my client are
borne out by evidence, a very different complexion will be
put upon this case hereafter.

The Baron was then removed from the dock. During the
proceedings he appeared to be greatly agitated, and held his
hand up to his face to conceal his emotion.
The court was crowded to suffocation during the pro-
ceedings.

About twenty minutes to six o'clock the prisoner was re-
moved in the police vela to the House of Detention, amidst
the hootings and groans of the large crowd outside the