The Sun. — 1863-09-28 (London, England)

THE MURDER AT TEIGNBRIDGE.  At the Town Hall, Newton Abbott, on Friday, before W. J. Watts, Esq., county magistrate, Jas. Stevens was brought up, charged with having murdered Jobn Meers, at Teignbridge, on the night of Friday, the 14th August last. The prisoner, who is a very powerful man, and about 50 years of age, is a mulatto, and has lost the sight of his right eye. He is well known in connection with sparringbooths and shows at the different fairs, racecourses, and regattas, and was apprehended at Exeter on Wednesday evening last. Long before the hour appointed for the hearing of the case the Town Hall was surrounded by a very large number of persons anxious to gain admittance. In this they were disappointed, as no persons but the witnesses and the representatives of the press were allowed to enter. About half-past 10 o'clock Mr. Watts took his seat on the bench, and, addressing the reporters, said that as the hearing was strictly of a private character, and that the ends of justice might not be defeated, he had to request that the details of the proceedings be not made public. The prisoner was then brought into the hall, and the charge having been read over to him by the clerk, he pleaded not guilty in a firm tone of voice. The same evidence was taken as was given at the inquest. George Pike, a lad about 13 years old, was then sworn, and, after being duly cautioned by the magistrate, detailed the whole of the circumstances kllcged to have taken place on the night in question, which, for reasons stated above, we do not publish. Witness was cross-examined at some length by prisoner, at the end of which Prisoner rc Linested that 111 r. George Gepson, of Plymouth, the p:oprietor of the tioxing booth, should be comnaunica.!‘4 with to ascertain the time ho (prisoner) was at the 'uooth on the night in question. The Bench consented, and the prisoner was then removed to the cells. Simon Finightv, a man about 2G years of ege, who is also well known as being connected with sparring booths, and who had been apprehended at Exeter the previous night by police-constable Algernon, and conveyed to Newton the same morning by the mail train, was then placed in the box, charged with being an accomplice in th© murder. The prisoner denied hie being at the Newton Races, and stated that he was at the time in the tmploy of Mr. Petherick, of the Market Inn, Holswol!by. He then detailed a conversation he had 0 placewith aatptahretywaetwßtoanrnitaesple relative to what took which, no doubt, will c emus give the police an additional clue to this myst •  affair. The prisoners were remanded until ten o'clock today, by which time it is thought the police, apprehended are actively engaged in prosecuting their inquiries, wiollnbeFriindpa some additional police. I facts, constable M"fernan, of Exeter. The another man by the name of Banks, alias the county police, Williams, who is supposed to be an accomplice in the murder. He was ;8: f st es ri ro on, apprehended at Hollin crsprieoner, who is a middle-aged 'slap, between 30 worth's lodging-house, Edmund street, and 40 years of the taken to the head-quarters, Paris-street, and charge entered against him. He at first gave hie name as Banks, but afterwards said he was called William. s. It is stated that Banks, like Ole other prisoners, is well known in „mesetion with qparriorbootlis. .He appeared to be very much excited Ihe was handcuff followed by a mob of people, and taken to St. Thomas's station, from thence to Newt C-n Abbots,..., IVestern Morning News.