The Commonwealth. — 1867-06-22 (London, England)

JUNE 2 2, 1867.  Well, when he said he should risk it, what did he do? (No answer; the witness evidently unable to answer.) What did he do when he said he would risk it? (In a faint whi.per): He shot him. (The witness was again almost overcome.) After he had shot him, what did you both do? (No answer.)  You ran away? Yes. Which way did you run? Through the alley into Pea Croft.  Where did you separate, if you did separate? At Crooke' (nearly two miles off.) Where did Crookes go to? _ I do not know.  Where did you go to-? To Whaier-b-o-t—to--mWell, now, when did you next see Crookes? The following morning. I saw him by agreement in Wiley's, in the Haymarket, and got a sovereign from him. 1 did not see Broadhead for some days. What did he say to you? He told me I had better not go there too much. Did he say anything else besides that? No. Did he say anything about your having shot Linley, and whether it was right or wrong ? No.  Well, now, have you ever had any conversation with Broadhead about Linley being shot since then? No.  Have you received any money from Broadhead since Linley was shot? No. What did yoa get for shooting Linley? 71.105. Who 41. 10s paid you the money? Crookes gave me .  And who gave you the 31.? Broadhead. Did Broadhead give you the 3/. after Linley was shot, or before he was_shot ? Before.  Now, I believe Linley lived a good while, did he not, after he was shot—several months, did he not? Yes ; when he died there was an inquest, and the jury found a verdict of murder against some person unknown. I saw Crookes frequently after the inquest. Did he say anything to you about the verdict? Only a few passing words. Did you pledge yourselves to keep it secret, or anything of that kind? Did you bind yourselves by any oath, or anything of that kind? No. At that time I did not think we should need it.  The witness was then examined as to why he had refused to give up Crookes's name on a former occasion.  Samuel Crookes, who had been sent for by a policeman, was brought into the court, and sworn by Mr. Overend. He appeared to be very calm and self-possessed. Immediately after he was sworn, Mr. Broadhead shouted out to him, "Tell the truth, Sam, everything." Before his examination was commenced, Mr. Overend intimated to him the nature of the evin •vvh'c't had ben given by Hallam. He says that you and he met together, that you had an air gun; that you went tbllowing him about for a long time from place to place—for nearly five or six weeks, having been promised 20/. by Broadhead to do the deed; that you then, having followed him into a public-house in Scotland Street, you with your air gun shot Linley in the head. Ido not know whether you have heard the statement ? Witness: No, I never have.  But that is what he says. If you make a clean breast of it, and give a full and candid disclosure of all you know, we have the power to grant you a certificate which will protect you from such a deed as that; and that is the only protection you have for your life. Now, then, it is for you to say if you did that deed or not. The witness, after a slight pause, said in a firm and quick voice, and with perfect composure; Yes. I did. (Tremendous sensation in court.) You aid shoot Linley ? (With the same quiet self-possession) Yes. The witness admitted that he never knew Lin. ley before. He did not intend to kill him, but he could not help hitting him on the head, from the position in which Linley was sitting. His motive tor shooting him wits mat tie 11,45 Ovtase. great injury to the trade. He could not say whether Broadhead suggested the murder, but he paid for it. After some hesitation, the witnesa admitted that Broadhead paid after the murder was committed. It was he that bought the re.. volver, but Hallam paid him either 50s. or 31.. for it.  At the close of the evidence of Crooke s the Court adjourned.