The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-05 00:00:00

SOUTHIVARK.

Henry Killerby, an apprentice to Mr. Lewis, printer, of
Finch-lane, in the City, who has been out on bail, charged
on suspicion with sending threatening letters. some of them
containing poison, to several of the inhabitants of St. George's,
Southwark, appeared in discharge of his sureties to answer
the alleged offence.

It will be recollected that in the early part of last month
an application was made at this Court by the householders
of St. George's parish, Southwark, relative to several
anonymous letters, some of them containing oxalic acid,
having been received by some of the parishioners. The
letter were couched in language of the most threatening
nature. A communication of a similar tendency had been
transmitted by the same writer to the parish clerk of St.
George's Church, urging him to give utterance to certain
slanderous expressions against Miss Spriggs during
divine service, and threatening to set fire to
the edifice if he did not comply. These infamous epistles
naturally created a very considerable sensation in the parish,
and eventually the prisoner Killerby, a youth, the son of a
tradesman in -White-street, near St. George's church, was
taken into custody on suspicion of being the writer, When
brought before Mr. Cottingham on that occasion, the pri-
soner's writing was compared with that of the anonymous
letters, and although there was a similarity, still there was
no person in attendance who could speak with confidence to
the identity. In the course of the examination it trans-
pired that the accused was in the habit of attending in the
belfry, and assisting in the ringing of the bells, and that
while speaking to one of the men on the subject of the ano-
nymous letter received by the parish clerk, he (the prisoner)
gave utterance to language which would lead to the supposi-
tion that he was well acquainted with the writer, and he re-
quested the party with whom he held the conversation not to
mention the circumstance to any person. After the exami-
nation of numerous witnesses, the accused simply giving a
denial to the charge, Mr. Cottingham remanded him for a
month on bail.
When the prisoner was placed at the bar yesterday,
Mr. COTTINGIIAM, addressing Sergeant Kendall, of the A
division, asked Iv heftier any further discovery had been made ?
The sergeant replied in the ailirmitive, and said that the
foreman of the prisoner's employer was in attendance, and
that he was in a condition to distinguish his hand-writing
with tolerable accuracy.
Mr. CartiNcit.ut then directed the annonymous letters ad-
dressed to Miss Spriggs, Mr. humble, and Mr. Bowling, to be
handed to the witness, in order to ascertain if he could speak
with any degree of certainty as to the handwriting being that
of the prisoner.
The witness, whose name is Edward John Tyrrell, and who
is forenian to Mr. Lewis, of Finch-lane, printer, having
carefully examined the letters placed in his hands, stated
that to the best of his knowledge and belief they were in
the prisoner's handwriting.
Mr. COTTINGIIA3I having informed the witness of the seri-
ous nature of the charge against the accused, then questioned
Misr as to the peculiar characteristics by which he was en-
abled to speak with tolerable confidence as to the hand-
writing.
The witness then pointed out the peculiar shape of the
letters in the annonyinows letters, which bore such a striking
similarity to the copy of a song recently written out by the
prisoner, that induced witness to believe they were all
written by one and the same person.
Mr. CorrEscmut, addressing the prisoner's father, said
that the case now assumed a more serious aspect than before
against
his son, and asked him if he had engaged any profes-
mortal gentleman to appear on his behalf._ _
The father said he was so convinced of his son's innocence,,
that he did not consider it necessary.
The MAGISTRATE inquired if there was any similarity be-
tween the paper on which the anonymous letters were written
and that to which the prisoner was supposed to have access at
his employer's warehouse ?
The foreman replied in the affirmative, saying that pieces
of paper, such as that on which the letters in question were
written, were often lying about in the warehouse, to which
the prisoner had constant access.
Mr. COTTINGHA3I inquired if any more threatening letters
had been sent to the same parties in the parish ?
Sergeant Kendall replied that since the prisoner was taken
into custody no letters of the deseription had been transmitted
to any of the persons who had formerly received so many of
them. The sergeant added, that a circumstance had re-
cently come to his knowledge, namely, that for some time
money to the parishioners of St. Genres, Southwark,