The Sun.
London, England, 1845-04-05 00:00:00

of the keepers. A fierce affray ensued in which either Tours and Nantes (Mackenzie), 20f. ; Paris and Lille
side sustained serious injuries. The Learned Judge, (Blunt), 501. ; Paris and Lyons (Blunt), 50f. ; Ditto
both in the course of the examination of witnesses, and in (Calon), sf. 71. 50c. ; Ditto Ganneron), 17f. 50c. 201.;
his suromirg up, directed their special atention to some Paris and Strasburg (Ganneron), 171. 50c. 201. ; Paris
remarkable and important facts which clearly inferred and St. Quentin, 10f. ; Bordeaux and Cette (Esp-lette),
(his Lordship observed) that the first" blow, or that 35f, of.
provocation, out of which all the ensuig violence must
be considered to have flowed—had beet given by one of
the party of the keepers. not of the pouters." His Lord-
ship intimated, in significant and very ittelligible terms,
that if the jury saw this point in the same light with
himself, they would, of course, by theirverdict, give the
prisoners the full benefit of so importatt a consideration.
What did the jury do? Tney threw oveboard altogether
the suggestion which the Learned Jelge had thought
it his duty so emphatically to present :o them, they re-
turned a dry and unqualified verdict cf "Guilty ;" and
the Learned Judge, having no option under this vet diet,
upon all the couets of the indictment they had to try,
sentenced the prisoners to about the highest penalty
which could be awarded against them ender the existing
law—namely, transportation for fifteen years I Now
the Game-laws, being clearly in the nature not of crimes
against the moral or Divine law, bit offences against
mere municipal and conventional laws of artificial pro-
perty, are precisely those illegal offerces to which the
accused are clearly entitled to plead—where they are in
a condition to do so—the prior and iigher law of our
common nature in their defence--vii., the law of self-
preservation. The wise and benevolent Judge saw all
the force of the fact incidentally proved that the keepers
committed the first violence. The jtry either could not
or would not recognise this all important fact in their
favour. Thanks to their verdict, the prisoners received
the same full measure of punishment as if their case had
been one of unmitigated atrocity. Did we need one ad-
ditional argument to those we have so often urged against
these iniquitous and unequal laws, we should find it in
this Chester poaching case. We now perceive that the
Game-laws, not only brutalise their victims by the des-
peration they excite, and unhumanise your preservers of
game by the premium they extend to the gratification of
tyrannic and irritable temperaments, but stultify and
obfuscate the rural solons who are called upon to admi-
nister them, whether as magistrates or jurors. When
will this moral and social nuisance be swept from the
land by the long delayed besum of public indignation ?

THE LATE MURDER IN
ST. GILES'S.

BOW-STREET.-(THIS DAY.)
EX AMINATION OF THE SUPPOSED
MURDERER.
The exterior of the Police-court in Bow-street presented
an exciting appearance this morning, for a crowd exceeding
at least two thousand persons had assembled before ten
o'clock, for the purpose of seeing the prisoner conveyed
from the station-house opposite. Their curiosity was, how-
ever, to remain unsatisfied, for with a wise foresight the au-
thorities had caused him to be taken into the Court as early
as half-past eight o'clock. The prisoner, 's ho was kept till
the opening of the Court in an adjoining room, is a thin young
man, of middle height, perhaps five feet eight inches, with
an appearance of heaviness in his features which seems to
belie the existence of strong passions, such as the murderer
of the unfortunate female may be supposed to have possessed.
His complexion is very sallow, his nose unusually large, and
the lower part of the face far from pleasing. lie was dressed
in a fustian jacket and corduroy trousers, and wore a silk
neckerchief. He seemed somewhat agitated while waiting
in the ante-room, but evidently laboured to conceal it.
His father is stated to be a respectable man, a working
silversmith in Belton-street, now Endell-street, Long-acre.

The accounts from Madrid are to the 28th ult. The
journals are chiefly occupied with particulars of the late
conspiracy, which, however, are contradictory. The
number arrested is said to be much greater than was at
first stated, and according to the Herald°, a Government
journal, the object of the parties was to bring back
ESPARTERO, and among persons of note implicated are
Senors DELGADO, PINTADO, HUERTOS, ARENAS, and
TORO.
Three per Cents., for cash 321; for account, 34. Five
per Cents., for account, 254.

The prisoner was for some time a porter in Covent-garden
Market, and has been employed latterly as a plumber's la-
bourer, in High-street, St. Giles's, where he is well known to
many persons. Suspicion was aroused, we understand, by
his absenting himself from his work, and that, conjoined
with certain information received by Superintendent Pearce
of the F division, led to his arrest on the preceding night.
At half-past ten the magistrate, Mr. Jardine, having taken
his seat upon the bench, proceeded to dispose of the night
charges.
At half-past eleven the prisoner was brought into Court,
and placed in the dock.
He WWI asked if his name was Joseph Connor, and he an-
swered in the affirmative.

The first witness called was Bridget Honan, better known
as " Irish Biddy." I know the prisoner, and saw him at
half-past nine o'clock on Monday night last. I have been
in the habit of seeing him once a week, and I saw him on the
Saturday night before that in George-street. I asked him
how he was, and he said, " I'm a good deal better." He said
he did not wish his father or any of his friends to know
that there was anything the matter with him.
Mr. JARDINE—WeII, there is nothing particular in that.
Go on, and tell when you saw him again.
Witness—l saw him again on Monday night, at half-put
nine, and he said he had been seeing the old b—, and blowing
her up, and then he pointed out the woman that was after-
wards murdered. I have not seen her since, but she was Mrs.
Tape. He then said " She will know me in these clothes ;
I'll go home and take off my hat and jacket, and put on my
cap and coat." He then left. He said he would serve her
out for giving Lim an infectious disease. He came back again
in ten minutes to the same piece, and said, putting his face
close to me, " Do you think that she would know me now ?"
I said, certainly she will know you, for you have been speak-
to her before. He said, " I've got someth ng at home that
will pepper her." A person was coming by that I knew, and
I went away. I was away about three-quarters of an hour,
and came back again, when I saw a crowd in George-street.
Mr. JARDLNE—Was he there ? Witness—No, he was not
there.

The Paris journals announce painful intelligence
from Switzerland. Contrary to general expectation
the volunteers against Lucerne have mustered in con-
siderable force in several cantons, in opposition to the
Executive, and made every preparation to join a body of
about 4,000 men from Argau, consisting of volunteers
and refugees, who left that canton on the Ist inst. to
invade Lucerne. Civil war, in fact, has commenced,
and unless the Jesuits and the Government of Lucerne
surrender at discretion, the result cannot fail to be of a
most serious character. All the neighbouring powers
are fully determined to interfere by armed force,
ant
crush the civil war. The following is the latest particu-
lars furnished by the Journal des Debats of the 3d
inst.:—" We have received intelligence that on the Ist
inst. the free corps of Argau, reinforced by volunteers
from the Radical cantons, and the refugees from
Lucerne, amounting together to four thousend men,
had entered the canton of Lucerne. They had
advanced beyond Surzee, a small toe n five
leagues from Lucerne, near Lake Sempacher,
and probably had gained possession of the city itself,
which had only 2,000 men to defend it. At Bale, all
the men from 18 to 25
years of age had entered the
Burgher Guard, for the maintenance of order and the
protection of the city ; but at Berne, the proclamation
against the free corps, instead of arresting the movement,
had only excited the people the more. The agitation
began to extend to all parts of the canton. At Nidau
two cannon had been seized. In the canton of Soleure
the same effervescence prevailed. According to the ac-
counts we had previously received, Lucerne was but in-
sufficiently prepared to resist invasion ; but it was ex-
pected that the smaller cantons of Schwytz, Uri, and
Unterwalden would come to her aid, and thus render the
success of the Radicals at least doubtful. A letter of the
30th ult. from Argau says :---‘ The Government of Lu-
cerne, instead of endeavouring to conciliate parties in its
cantor, has redoubled its prosecutions. Fresh warrants
of arrest are daily issued, and consequently we have daily
arriving in this canton hundreds of fugitives, almost all
armed. Two days ago the number of these fugitives
amounted to nearly 2,000, of whom 1,500 at least are
armed, and a great many have uniforms. The news
they bring can only increase the irritation of the neigh-
bouring cantons, which are overburdened already with
emigrants. The different governments have taken all
the measures dictated by the conclusum of the Diet ;
but they already find themselves inundated, and the
Council of State of Argau would have been overthrown
had it ventured upon energetic measures; for these could
have ended in nothing, since the soldiery would have re •
fused to act. In this state of things it convoked the
Grand Council, which has this day sent to the Vorort a
request that the Diet may be immediately convoked.
This convocation, it is feared, will come too late. As
soon as the news of the Government having put impedi-
ments in the way of the projects of the Lucerne refugees
was spread abroad, free corps were at once formed at every
point, and set out on the march. Even the more distant
cantons have taken part in the movement. To-day nearly
fifty men have arrived from Schaffhausen, in post or
private carriages ; there are some also from St. Gall, the
Grisons, and Glaris ; others are coming from Zurich
and Berne ; Bille country is corning en masse; and in
Argau and Soleure there is not a village that does not
send out at least ten fighting men. This evening ail the
free corps will be united at Zefingue and its environs.
They will, no doubt, commence their operations in the
will,
ahleler cantoes should come forward will meet with any resistance,
night, and to•niorrow morning, or at least by mid-day,
y
in all probability, be at the gates of Lucerne. I,
iusn
lne not expectedindeed, theth astmt
In fact, they cannot sustain the asseult ; but still
blood will be shed. If, on the contrary, the smAll eantorie
do not come to the assistance of the Government or
Lucerne, it is to be presumed that all will be brought to
an end on Wednesday.' "
The Constituronnel also gives important information
to the effect that a number of officers and soldiers, called
under arms by the Government of Lucerne, had refused
to obey the call, and some who had j.tined had deserted
to the free corps. The majority of the initab.tants were
greatly ieceesed against the Executive.
Since the previous account was in type, we regret to
state that intelligence of a still more distressing nature
has been received from Paris by express. The following
appears in a second edition of the Morning Herald:—

- -
" BATTLE ITT SWITZERLAND.--GREAT
LOSS OF LIFE.
PARIS, FRIDAY.
" The Debats published th's morning the following
most serious intelligence:—
* From the accounts we have received, which are
somewhat confused, we collect that the free corps pre-
sented themselves before Lucerne upon the morning of
the Ist, and were received by a fire of musketry, and two
attempts to enter the town were repulsed. It is added
that the besiegers, believing in a capitulation, retired to
the Faubourgs, where they were received by a fire of
grape-shot so terrible, that from 800 to 1,000 were
killed. Notwithstanding this terrible loss, the free corps
mastered the town. On hearing of this loss, the Radicals
of the other cantons put themselves in movement against
Lucerne. Those of Bale Campagne left on the Ist. On
Bale Ville there was the greatest alarm, and at Bale
several incendiary attempts were made. On the other
hand, the Catholic party of Argovia had risen to go to
the aid of Lucerne, and the tocsin sounded throughout
the canton. The Vorort had convoked 17 battalions
and Berne 7; but it is not likely they can put down a
struggle began in a manner so bloody.'"
The domestic intelligence in the Paris papers is of
little interest. The Opposition journals, with the excep
tion of the Constttiaionnel, have articles on the discus-
sions in the Committees on the grant for fulling the
fortifications of Paris, but we find no new arguments,
though much violence, against the measure. M. Du
LAMARTINE said the Chamber of Deputies must cease
to exist the moment they had to deliberate under two
thousand pieces of cannon. M. ARAGO and M. PARROT
could not say much, for the latter had voted in favour of
the fortifications, and also the former under certain re-
strictions. General PanwaNs, for the consolation, or
rather in ridicule of the Parisians, assured them bat the
two thousand guns with which they were to be presented,
would not be more troublesome than the guns of Lille,
Strasburg, and Metz were to the inhabitants of those
towns.
The Three per Cents, closed on the Paris Bourse on
Thursday at 85f. 80c.; the Five per Cents. at 117 f. 80c ;
Orleans shares, 1,303 f. 75c.; Rouen, 1,162 f. 50e,. ; Havre,
9721. 50c.; Avignon, 1,130 f.; Basle, 341 f. 25e.; Belgian
Two-and-a-Half per Cents., 62f. 50c. ; Spanish Actives,
40i ; Ditty Three per Cents., 41; ; Ditto Passives, 7i.

Mr. JARDINE—It was in reference to this disease then that
you asked in the first place how he was ? Witness—Yes, sir.
Mr. JARDINE—Did he tell you his object in peppering this
woman, as you cr 11 it? Witness—He said it was because she
had given him an infectious disease.
Mr. JARDINE—Did he tell you before this Saturday that
she had given him this disease ? Witness—Yes, sir.
Mr. Burnaby— Did you know that the prisoner was at the
hospital ? Witness—Yes, he told me so himself.
Mr. Burnaby—Who did he say had given it to him ?
Witness—Mrs. Tape. He said he would serve her out for
giving him an infectious disease.
Prisoner to the witness—l wish you would speak out, I
can't hear what you were saying.
Witness's examination continued—l was away about three-
quarters of an hour, and when I came back I saw a crowd
about No. 11, in George-street. He was not there. I heard
that a woman had been murdered in the house.
The prisoner then questioned the witness—Did you say
that I had something at home to pepper her with ? Wit"
ness—Yes, you said so.
Prisoner—lt is quite false. I never said so. He had no
other question to ask.
Elizabeth Hall examined—l saw the prisoner on Monday,
evening in George-street and he asked how I was. I asked
him hew he was ? II said, " Very queer. I have got the
-- from that old b— that walks in George-street and
Charlotte-street." I forgot to say that I saw him speaking
some time before that to the woman herself in Charlotte-
street. I heard her say, "I didn't give it to you ;" but what
it was about I don't know.
Witness, in answer to Mr. JARDINE—I know the prisoner,
and have seen him before. The first time I saw him on the
Monday night was at quarter past nine. That was close to
the chapel in Charlotte-street. I did not speak to him then,
and he went up and spoke to Mrs. Tape, the woman who was
murdered. He spoke to her but a very short time. He was
speaking angrily, and I heard her say, "I didn't." He had
a hat on him then. I saw him again in about a quarter of an hour,
at the corner of Vine-street. He then said to me, " Well,
old girl, how are you ?" I said, " Very well, I thank you,
how are you ?" He replied, " Rather queer ; the old woman
that walks in Charlotte-street has given me the —." I
understood that he meant by the old woman, Mrs. Tape. He
also said, " I've been home to put my cap on. I had a hat
on when you first saw me." I then asked him for half a pint
of beer, and he put twopence into my hand. Then we sepa-
rated, and afterwards, in ten minutes, I met him at the
corner of the new street (New Oxford street), near the
chapel. He had on a dark velveteen coat at the time and a
cap. I saw no more of him. It might be half an hour after
he went away that I heard Mrs. Tape was murdered. He
did not say at any part of the evening why he changed his
dress. I saw the people round the door of No. 11, George-
street, and I was told a woman was murdered.
The prisoner did not question the witness. He said, "It
is quite correct what she says."
Mary Palmer sworn—l work for Mrs. Hall, No. 11, George-
street. On Monday night last, about a quarter to eleven
o'clock, a man came to the door with a woman, and they
asked for a threepenny room. I gave the woman a candle
in the passage. The man was dressed in a velveteen coat,
and he had a cap on. The woman I think asked for the
room. I know that they called the woman by the name of
Mrs. Tape. Ido not know what her right name is. They
went into the middle room from the passage. I sat
down on the stairs, and in about five minutes I heard
the cry of " murder" from the room. The woman it was who
cried out " murder." I got up and knocked at the door but
I got no answer. I knocked a second time and still rece.vt.d
no answer. Then I turned my back to the door and forced it
open. On entering I saw the woman sitting on the bedstead,
and the man was standing over her with his right arm up as
if in the act of striking her. I said, " For God's sake don't
beat the woman." With that he turned round and ran out
of the room. I caught him by the pocket, but he loosed my
hand, and pushed me over to the fire-place. He swung me
round the body. The place where he caught me and my
shawl was all bloody, so that his hands must have
been all over blood. Before I could get down to the
door to call Mrs. Hall, the woman got up from the
bed, and came up close to the fire-place where I was. I
saw her smothered with blood, all covered with it, and it
was flowing from her. She never spoke, and when she came
to the fireplace she gave a bit of a stagger, and fell against the
fire •place. I ran out into the passage first, and the man was
then running out of the door. I called to Mrs. Hall, "for
God's sake stop that man; I think he has committed mur-
der." She got hold of him, but she is a little person, and
he forced himself from her and got away. I went back into
the room, and she was lying in the same place where she
fell. I knew her to be Mrs. Tape. I think she was dead
then. I saw the knife sticking in the back of her neck.
It was a large carving knife. Several persons came
into the room soon after the man left. They were
all women lodgers. Mrs. Hall was there also. At that
time, and before the police came, I saw the knife. I think
she was dead. I went out afterwards and called a police-
man. I did not take much notice of the man.
Mr. Barnaby (to prisoner)—Put on your cap. The pri-
soner did so.
Mr. JARDINE—Now look at the prisoner—is he the man?
Witness—The prisoner is like him, but I am not sure that
he is the man.

Mr. JARDINE (to prisoner)—Do you wish to ask any
question of this witness ? Prisoner—l know nothing about it.
Mary Hall sworn—My husband keeps the house No. 11,
George-street, and I live there. On the Monday night,
about eleven o'clock, I was in the parlour, and heard Mrs.
Palmer call out Mistress, mistress, there's murder." I ran
to her assistance, and the man rushed by me in the passage,
and pushed me on one side. I got hold of his coat, and said,
"For God's sake, what have you been doing of ?" He made
me no answer, but be ran out of the front door into the
street. I ran to Mrs. Palmer's assistance in the middle room.
1 saw the poor woman lying by the fire-place, with the
knife sticking in the back of her neck. I did not examine
her, I was so frightened. There was a great deal
of blood about, and she was covered with it. I then sent
Mrs. Palmer for the police, and they came immediately. I
have seen the woman before. She lodged with me six
month ago, and she was always called by the name of Tape.
When the man brushed past me I had no light. The coat
felt like velveteen. I could not see the man's face.
The prisoner declined to ask any questions, and, as before,
he said, " I don't know anything about it, Sir."
John Allen, 159 E—l was on the evening of Monday last
on duty at the station in George-street. I was at the en-
trance to the police-station, just three doors below No. 11.
At a quarter to eleven Palmer came to me and said that a
woman was struck in No. 11, and in company with another
constable I went there. I found some women standing out-
side the door, and on entering the room I saw the woman
lying on her against the fire-place. I saw the knife in