The Sun. — 1844-09-16 (London, England)

QUEEN-SQUARE. Martha Grant, alias Boddington, Eliza Harris, Eliza Smith, William Lear, and Edward Collins, with George Boddington, who has since surrendered, the persons charged with being concerned in the late mysterious affair at 'Westminster, underwent a very lengthened examination. The circumstances under which the prisoners were apprehended were of a most suspicious character. Alfred Dark, a man described as a journeyman iifiker, but who was well known to have been connected with play men and others of a lawless character, and who had left London on the Saturday previous with George Boddington on a country excursion; was discovered on the afternoon of Monday week last lying dead in a house in Orchard-street, Westminster. As he had evidently met his death by a gun-shot wound in the arm, and as his property had been removed from the residence he occupied, at No. 3, York-terrace, Pentonville, the impression on the mind of the police was, that he had met his death unfairly, and had then been plundered by his associates. Dark had, it appeared, separated from his wife about eighteen months ago, and, although he allowed her a guinea per week for her maintenance, cohabited with a female named Eliza, and the police were much strengthened in their suspicions by the circumstance of this female having been found at the house where Dark's remains were, added to the circumstance of its having been denied to a person who made application on the subject that Dark was dead at all. These and some other points all confirmatory of strong suspicion induced the apprehension of the prisoners, who were all found at the house in Orchardstreet, and some of whom were proved to have assisted in the removal of the goods to a beer-snop, where they were discovered. On the first hearing a certificate from a coroner at Newbury, for the interment of the body of Alfred Dark, was produced, and the police having begged time to inquire into the genuineness of the document, the accused were remanded, but admitted to bail, in consequence of the defence set up, having been that they were removing property which belonged to the second Mrs. Dark, a woman who liVed with him, and the Magistrate considering the case of a slight nature against them. Mr. Humphreys attended for the prosecution ; M Wontner for the prisoners.' On the accused being placed in the dock, Mr. Humphreys observed, that at the time when the prisoners at the bar had first been captured, there was some reason to suppose that the crime of murder had been committed. The strictest investigation had taken place into the circumstances attending the death of Alfred Dark, and he felt it his duty to state that there was not the slightest pretence for such a charge, the deceased having met his death by accident, while shooting at some birds in the country. Evidence was then given as to the amount and the ownership of the goods. Mr. BURRELL ultimately said he should remand George Boddington and Lear for three weeks, but would take bail for their appearance. The others he would discharge, on their entering into their own recognizances to appear. Bail was, in the course of a quarter of an hour, put in for Boddington and Lear.