The Sun. — 1858-12-04 (London, England)

CHARGE OF MURDER. Edward Garbett and Charles Welch was indicted for the wilful murder of John Springthorpe, at Walsall, in August last. Mr. Scotland and Mr. Holroyd prosecuted, and Mr. Motteram and Mr. S. Hill defended. It appeared from the evidence that on the evening of the 21st August the deceased was at the house of Garbett, and while there lost a watch, which he he inquired about, and imputed to Garbett that he had stolen it. After this the two prisoners went to the deceased's house, and told him to come out, for he " was going to be killed." Springthorpe went out, on which he was set upon by the prisoners and knocked down, and he died from the effect of a severe blow on the throat. His lordship told the jury that the charge of wilful murder was not sustained by the evidence, and The jury found the prisoners guilty of manslaughter. Sentence, three monthss' imprisonment.  THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 4, 1858  month ago the prisoner called upon me, and asked for payment of the prosecutors' account. I paid. him £5 155., and he gave me a receipt to the account produced. He also gave me a counterpart of a lease, instead of the lease itself. Upon my telling him that I thought this was an error, he said he would rectify it by bringing the lease on a future occasion. I believed he was authorised to receive the Lo 15s, otherwise I should not have paid it. Mr. J. Adamthwaite, clerk to the prosecutors, said that on the 31st July last he handed the prisoner £3, to enable him to pay some legacy duty at Somerset-house, in the matter of the executors of a deceased lady. The prisoner gave him the voucher produced for the £3. Mr. J. Brown, examiner of legacy duties at Somerset•house, stated that no warrant had been issued for the receipt of the £3 referred to by the last witness.  H. G. Pagden, clerk to Messrs. Webb, provision merchants, Southwark, said—On the 11th of No. vember last the prisoner called at our countinghouse with a power of attorney which had been prepared by the prosecutors for my employers. He also brought the account produced for £4 14s. I drew a cheque for the amount, and handed it to Mr. J. R. Webb, who signed it, and delivered it to prisoner in my presence, who gave a receipt for the same.  Mr. A. Ridgway was further examined, and said —The account of Messrs. Webb was made out without my authority. It was expressly contrary to his duty to receive that money on our account. He had no right to receive the £3 referred to by Mr. Adamthwaite, until I had sanctioned the gene ral residuary account, and it was ready to be passed at Somerset-house, which I had not done.  The prisoner, with a great deal of assurance,proceeded to cross-examine Mr. Ridgway, but did not elicit anything that told in his favour. The Lord Mayor, after giving the prisoner the usual caution, asked him whether he had anything to say in answer tb the charge ? Prisoner--I wish to declare solemnly that I had no intention whatever to defraud. The moneys I intended to return. I never intended in any way to retain them.  The officer inquired what he was to do with £3 16s. 9d. that he found on the prisoner. The Lord Mayor—The prosecutor will apply to the court at the trial, and will be ordered to be delivered up to him. Robert Maggess, a ticket-of-leave man, was charged with smashing. Mr. H. Hills, landlord of the Rose and Crown Inn, Lower Thames-street, said that on the preceding Saturday evening the prisoner entered his house and asked for half a quartern of spruce and water, in payment of which he tendered a counterfeit half-crown. Witness, from his manner, suspected he was an old hand at passing bad money, and forcibly detained him in the tap-room till an officer arrived.  The Lord Mayor—Did•you tell him it was a bad half-crown ?