The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-18 00:00:00

CRIMINAL COURT—(Tbis Day.)

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Baron Watson.)
TIIE MURDER IN PRE CALEDONIAN ROAD.
This morning Ruben Robinson Tripp, aged 62, was
indicted for the wilful murder of James Scott.

Mr. Bodkin conducted the prosecution, and the pri-
soner was defended by Mr. Metcalfe.
The facts of the case have already been reported in
The Sun, and therefore it will merely be necessary to re-
mind our readers that the prisoner resided at 23, Gifford-
street, Caledonian-road, and that on the morning of the
7th of April the deceased entered the house of the
prisoner, between the hours of two and three o'clock,
it is supposed to speak to the prisoner about the
payment of his rent. An altercation took place, and
afterwards a quarrel, during which the prisoner stabbed
Mr. Scott in the side with a sword.
A. number of witimes were examined, whose evi-
dence went to- prove that the prisoner was in arrears
with his rent, and that the deceased went there armed
with a distress warrant to levy a distress. Scott
being the owner of the house keot a street-door key by
which he was enable 1 to enter the house at any hour
he pleased.

For the defence it was contended that the prisoner
was not guilty of Lhe murder of the deceased, and that his
death was occasioned solely by his endeavouring to force
his way into the apartment of the prisoner at an un-
seasonable hour of the night.

Mr. Baron Watson, in summing up the evidence
explained to the jury the law with respect to murder
and manslaughter, and observed that one of the witnesses
spoke to the deceased having a paper in his hand, what it
was thought was a witness's warrant. Now, if the de-
ceased had gone to the house in which the prisoner lived
to levy a distress in the dead of the night, he com-
mitted an illegal act, as no person had the
power to levy a distress between sunset and
sunrise. No landlord possessed the right of enter-
ing the house of a tenant in the dead of night.
There was no evidence as to what took place during
the quarrel which the deceased bad with the prisoner,
and it would be for the jury to form their own con-
clusion whether anything then took place, such
a blow or provocation which would reduce the crime
to that of manslaughter. It was clear that an angry
feeling existed between Scott and the prisoner, and if
the jury had any doubt on the point they would, of
course, give the prisoner the benefit of the doubt.
The jury, after a short consultation, returned a
verdict of manslaughter.
Mr. Baron Watson, in sentencing the prisoner, said
the jury had returned a verdict of manslaughter, and
therefore they had materially reduced the crime. It was
impossible for any person but himself to know what
really took piece during the quarrel, and under these
circumstances the jury bad taken very merciful view
of the case. He felt that the crime of manslaughter of
which be bad been convicted was one of the worst de-
scription, he should therefore sentence him to eight
years' penal servitude.

THE ATTEMPTED MURDER IN THE HAYMARKET.
Charles Melbourne, aged 27, was indicted for attempt-
ing to murder William Murrell, and also with feloniously
shooting at Gideon Crocker, constables in the C division
of p01i0...
Mr. Bodkin, with whom was Mr. Robinson, conducted
the prosecution, and Mr. Metcalf defended the prisoner.
Mr. Bldkin having stated the case called the follow-
ing, evidence : .
Gideon Crocker, a sergeant in the C division of police,
examined by Mr. Robinson, said—About 20 minutes
past 2 on the morning of the sth inst., I was on duty in
thenaymarket. I saw the prisoner, in company„with an-
other man, not in custody, going down the Haymarket.
Believing him to be a man who was wanted for a burg-
lary, I sent to the police-station for Constable Murrell,
who wat acquainted with the prisoner, who camepto the
Haymarket After waiting et the corner of Pal:item-street
a few minutes, I saw the prisoner in company with three
women. I said to Murrell, " Here they are," and they
immediately ran away down James's-street. They
separated, and I pursued Melbourne. When he got
some distance up the street he turned round and faced
me. He'hacl both bands in his pockets. I told him be
.must go with me as I wanted him for an attempted bur-
glary. Murrell came up and said, "That's the man."
Murrell took hold of one side of the prisoner and I the
proceeded along James.street to Vine-
other, and we
street station, I asked Murrell what bad become of the
second party, and I afterwards said to him, " You take
charge of Melbourne and I'll go in pursuit of the other
man." I accordingly left Murrell with the prisoner.
I had scarcely got into the Haymarket when
I heard the report of fire arms, and somebody crying for
assistance. I ran back and found Murrell who still had.
hold of the prisoner, but there were three or four women
round him. Murrell said, "lay hold of him for God's
sake for he has shot me. At the same instant a second
pistol was fired close to my head. I saw the pri-
soner's right hand raised and I also saw the smoke
coming from the direction. The women were
so close to me that I could not see the pistol.
It was fired so close to my ear that I was deaf
for three hours afterwards. I seized held of the pri-
soner, and with Murrell conveyed him to the station
house. rsearched the prisoner t here, and found a large
bowie knife (a most muederous looking weapon), four
round pebbles which fitted the pistols, 45 small shots
loose in his pockets, II copper caps, and a ramrod. He
made no answer to the charge when it was read over to
him.
William' Murrell, 80 C, said about half-past two
o'clock on Saturday morning, the 6th instant, he was
fetched from the station to go to the Haymarket to
see Sergeant Crocker. I met the sergeant, and he said
" I think the man is near who we want for the burglary."
The first time I saw the prisoner was at the corner of
James-street, in company with another man. As soon as
he saw us he tan .up James-street towards Leicester,-
square. Eergeant Crocker ran up Oxenden-street in pur-
suit. I told Sergeant Crocker that that was the man
we wanted, and I told him to lay hold of him. I
took hold of his right wrist. Crocker asked me which
way the little one went, but I could not tell, and Crocker
then left me with the prisoner in the Haymarket. As
Soon as the sergeant was gone the prisoner said to me,
" What does the sergeant want me for ?" and I said
" You bad better ask him." He then deliberately
drew his left band from his coat pocket, and shot
me in the mouth. I was very much hurt, but I
kept hold of him notwitbsanding the shock I bad re-
ceived. I called for Assistance, and sergeant Crocker.