The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-20 00:00:00

TILE LATE ATTEMPTED 711URDE1? OF

A BROTHER AT ISLINGTON.

Yesterday morning Mr. Inspector Cotter of the
N Division of Police, accompanied by Sergeant
Parsons 47 N, attended before Mr. Knox, the sit-
ting magistrate, at the Clerkenwell Police Court,
and requested his attendance at St. Bartholomew's
Hospital, for the purpose of taking the depositions
of Christopher Crane, whose murder was brutally
attempted on the 7th inst. by his brother, Walter
Crane, now a prisoner in the House of Detention,
a message having been forwarded to the police by
Mr. T. S. Ellis, the house surgeon to the above hos-
pital, to the effect that the demise of the unfortu
nate man was expected within a few hours.
A difficulty arose in the compliance of the above
request, from the fact of the injured man having
been conveyed to a city hospital, over which a
metropolitan magistrate had no control. The
offence however being committed in the county of
Middlesex, the prisoner's examination took place
at the above Court, and from thence he was sent on
remand to the House of Detention. The magistrate
consequently directed Inspector Cotter to proceed at
once to the city, and request the attendance of an
alderman to perform the requisite duty, and at
the same time handed over a signed order for
the liberation of the prisoner into his custody, in
order to be present to hear the depositions
and for identification. The inspector thereupon pro-
ceeded to Guildhall, where Mr. Alderman Abbiss,
accompanied by Mr. Martin, chief clerk, and Mr.
Davy, second clerk, went to the hospital, and took
their seats in the accident ward, by the bedside of
the unfortunate and suffering man. The prisoner
was then placed between the inspector and sergeant,
in view of his injured brother, and, during the
melancholy proceedings, appeared to treat the mat-
ter with the greatest levity.
The injured man having been sworn, said—My
name is Christopher Crane. I reside at 23, Pre-
bend-street, Islington, and am a wholesale milliner.
My brother's (the prisoner's) name is Walter Crane.
I met him on the Tuesday evening prior to the
Saturday on which this affair occurred. I met him
accidentally close to Islington-green, and went with
him at his request to a coffee-shop. Previously to
that I had not seen him since I had been away to
India.

Mr. Alderman Abbiss—How long is it since you
saw him before that evening ?
Witness—About two years, I think. I have been
to Australia, India, and other places since that time.
Depositions continued—While I was in the coffee-
shop he asked me if I would lend him £2. I said I
would see, but as I was short I would not promise.
He then asked me if I would meet him on the fol-
lowing Thursday evening at seven o'clock; and, as
I had no particular engagement, I promised to meet
him at the corner of Northampton-street, Lower-
road, Islington.
Mr. Alderman Abbiss—Are you certain that the
prisoner is the person you promised to meet that
evening ?
Witness—Yes, certainly (with feeling) ; it's my
brother.

Depositions continued—l met him on the Thurs-
day, and he asked me to walk a little way and he
would tell me what he wanted me for. I walked
with him down the Lower-road and back. He said
what he wanted me for was not convenient that night
—it was to meet a friend of bisfin the Green-lanes
on business. He asked me if 1 was engaged the
following night at the same time. I agreed to go,
but I did not, as I had a long way to go the next
day. I did not get home till past. eight o'clock on
the Friday evening. I went to King's cross on
Saturday morning (the 7th) between nine and ten.
I saw the prisoner at the corner of Caledonian-road
and King's-cross. That was an accidental meeting.
He said, " I met a friend of mine who told me that
you came this way on Saturday." He then said,
" You did not meet me last night." I said, " No, I
did not get home in tin: e, or I should have done so."
He said, "Never mind, meet me this evening at the
same place at the same time, at the corner of North-
ampton-street." I got there at a quarter-past
seven. The prisoner, my brother, was there. He
had a parcel with him. No one was with him. He
said, " I should like to leave this parcel. I know a
coffee-shop in the Balls-pond-road." He then walked
sharply up Northampton-street, and I went with
him. We proceeded as far as the Islington and
Ball's-pond Railway Station, or close to it. We
turned to the right, and went down a turning which
took us into the Ball's-pond-road. There was a
coffee shop just facing this turning. He said,
" Wait a minute, I'll run over with this parcel."
This was the last he said. He went into the coffee-
shop and returned to me directly. He said, " Come
on—it's all right." We then walked straight along
Paul's-terrace. I then said to him, "If you want
to go to the Green-lanes; what do you want to go
all this roundabout way for ?" He said, "I have
particular reasons ; I am well known about here."
I said, " It don't matter to me, of course, which way
I go, if I can oblige you." We then proceeded over
the New River-bridge, and walked towards the
Cock, at Highbury. We then turned up Highbury
New Park till we came to the New River. He said,
"We'll go up this side of the water." I said, "Why
not cross the bridge, and go by the footpath ; it is
not so muddy as here." He said, "06, never
mind a little mud, you can soon wash that off." I
said, "Oh, very well, you walk on first; you can
see better, perhaps, than me." At this time it
was about eight o'clock, and cicrk. I walked on
first, and as I went on the clock struck eight.
Prisoner said, " Make haste ; is that a man and a
woman standieg there ?" / said, " No." He said,
" Walk a little more in that direction," pointing
from the water; "it is not so muddy." We got about
three parts up the road, by the side of the river, and
all at once I found a hard knock or blow on the
head. I turned half round, when he (prisoner)
struck me three or four more blows. I saw a life-
preserver in his hand. I then fell down. I halloacd
out several times for mercy, and asked him what he
was doing it for. He made no reply, but laid hold
of me by the collar of my coat and waistcoat with
one hand--the lite-preserver being in the other—
and endeavoured to drive me into the water, tearing
my waistcoat right away from me. I man .ged to
get away again, and sat down by the side of the
bank of the river. I was very much excited. I said,
"Do let me alone." Ido not think he replied. He
began beating me over the head a second time with
the life-preserver. He then laid the life preserver
down, and caught hold of me by the scarf which I
was wearing round my neck, and tried to pull me
towards the m jeer, but it being woollen it broke with
the strain. He then looked after the life-preserver,
and having picked it up began hitting me over the
head and face with it again. My hat was off, it
had been knocked off with the first blow. At this

time I pulled the life-preserver from his hand and
threw it from me. I then fell on my side from
exhaustion. He then caught hold of me by the tails
of my coat and nearly pulled them off. I felt it was
nothing but a desperate effort that would save my
life, and so I slid down the embankment, and made
my way, walking and running as well as I could, to
the first light I saw. The prisoner said " Don't go
down there. Come along with me, and I will see
you home," I kept running and walking, and he
ran past me. I still followed on the same road as he
went. I knew I could go no other—it was the
nearest to the light. I saw him go towards some
bricks, and take one or two in his hand. I thought
he was going to strike me with them, but he did
not, I ran as fast as I could to get from him, and
fell into a pit. I did not see the pit till I fell
into it. As I had got into it, I thought I would
make the best use of it, and laid down, thinking he
would miss me. He came to the mouth of the pit,
and said, " Come out, what do you want down there
for ?" I said, " You wicked villain, to get away
from you; I know you mean to murder me, but it
is too late now." I immediately rushed up the
pit and saw a house, which was empty, at a short
distance. It had a wall to it. I got to the wall, and
was climbing over, when the prisoner caught hold
of the tails of my coat and tried to pull me off the
wall. I made a very desperate struggle and fell
over the other side of the wall. I got on my feet
again, and saw over the next wall the light I
wanted. I climbed the second wall and got into the
garden or yard. I got into the area, but cannot tell I
whether I tumbled or not. I began knocking at the
window, crying out " Murder." The prisoner was
gone at that time. Other voices I also distinctly
heard crying out " Murder." A middle-aged man
came to my assistance. He appeared like a brick-
layer or builder. He helped me out of the area and
took me towards the gate, when I saw a policeman
running towards me. I asked him to take me to
the nearest doctor, as I was very bad. He took me
to a neighbouring doctor's, and afterwards to the
hospital."
Mr. Alderman Abbiss—You see this man before
you, are you quite certain that he is the man ?
Witnees—l see the prisoner before me. He is
the man lam positive. He is the man who struck
me with the life-preserver.
Mr. Alderman Abbiss—Have you had any words,
any quarrelling with him at any time ?
Witness—No, Sir, never. I have not had any
words with him for years. We were talking quite
friendly.
Mr. Alderman Abbiss—Was he quite sober at
the time ?

Witness—We were both quite sober. I never
drink, nor he, to my knowledge, to any extent.
The depositions were then ordered to be lead
over to the prisoner, who sullenly said he had
heard what had been said.

Mr. Alderman Abbiss (to the prisoner)—Have
you anything to say with respect to the statement
which has been read to you and taken in your
presence
Prisoner—No, nothing, His evidence is not en-

tirely correct, but I shall leave my defersv- Until my
•..
trial. I shall say nothing now.
The injured man was then raised in bed and signed
his statement, the prisoner in the meantime being
handcuffed by the inspector, preparatory to his re-
turn to the House of Detention.
It may be here stated that the parcel alluded to
as having been left by the prisoner at the coffeeshop
in the Ball's Pond-road, on exAmination by the
police,was found to contain a number of stones and
a quantity of wadding. The prisoner also was an
associate of thieves of the worst description, and
had been previously convicted of felony.

PREP4RA7IONS FOR WAR.

(From the Shipping and Mercantile Gazette)

A very few days now will bring a reply to the demands
of the British Government, and place the question of
peace or war beyond the possibility of doubt. Bu; in the
interval which must elapse before this great question is de-
cided, it is the duty of those who direct affairs, or who in-
fluence public opinion in this country, to urge the expediency
of not relaxing for one hour those preparations which are
being made as if with the expectation that war is inevitable.
Her Majesty's Government have displayed of late a com-
mendable activity in strengthening our North American and
West India squadrons and in despatching troops to Canada.
A correspondent, whose acquaintance with our North Ame-
rican provinces entitles his opinions to respect, entirely
supports the view we recently took of the feasibility of land-
ing troops either on the northern or southern shore of the
St. Lawrence, and within railway distance of Quebec and
Montreal. The apprehension therefore that the Canadians,
in the event of an attack from the States, will be left
without reinforcements of men and supplies of ammuni-
tion, or that our troops, in marching to their aid will be
exposed to a renewal of the hardships which they endured
in 1812, 1837, and 1843, is dispelled. The force on the
North American and West India !gallons, and in the
Gulf of Mexico, under the flags of Sir Alexander Milne
and Admiral Dacres, will shortly number 1,000 guns, and
will include some of the fastest and most efficient ships in
the fleet; and the Government have given directions that
the vessels carrying the Cape mails shall be armed—an
order which will, no doubt, be extended to the ships of
all our mail services in the Atlantic, the treaty of 1848 to
the contrary notwithstanding. All these precautions are
fully justified by the present aspect of affairs. The mari-
time commerce of this country cannot bo left to the chances
of loss or interruption to which a want of forethought on
the part of the Government would infallibly expose it. The
standing navy at the disposal of the Federal Government is
not a formidable armament, and, compared with the force
which this country could in one month send to sea, is in-
significant ; but the reliance of America hitherto in a mari-
time war has been on her privateers, and there are abun-
dant indications that the Federal Government has not
abandoned that reliance. It has come to our knowledge that
an agent of the outhern Confederation, at present in this
country, has in his possession letters of marque from the
Southern President for distribution to the commanders of
vesse sin the Southern interest. Who shall say that the
American Minister here is not similarly provided by the
Government he represents ? We know that President Lin-
coln has very recently announced his intention of issuing
letters of marque and reprisal, and it is but rational to sup-
pose that those documents will be de distributed everywhere
to the best advantage. It need not be concealed that in the
event of war—though we do not expect to see the American
privateering successes of 1812 repeated—a serious danger
awaits our ccmmerce from the private armed vessels of the
Federal States ; against this danger we must be prepared,
and with that object our merchantmen must be armed, or
a large number of our frigates, sloops of war, and gunboats
must be told off for convoy. The latter is obviously the
better precaution. Most of the required ships are in com-
missio.,, and the Admiralty—thanks to the success of the
Naval Reserve, had never so many men at their disposal as
at the present time.

COUN2BY MARKL:L

MANCHESTER-DEC. 19.

At our market to-day there was not an extensive busi-
ness in either home or foreign wheat. English was at fully
former rates, and foreign held at about 25 per cent. higher.
Flour a moderate sale at extreme rates Indian corn is
dearer. For beans, oats, and oatmeal quotations nominally
unaltered.