The Sun. — 1841-04-15 (London, England)

WORSHIP-STREET. MYSTERIOUS CASE.--A tall athletic man, about 80 years of age, who gave the name of George Smith and who had the appearance of an excavator, was brought before Mr. Broughton, under the following circumstances :  Police constable Stennard, G 229, stated that shortly before six o'clock on that morning he was on duty in King's-square, Gostvell-street, in company with Sergeant Finlay, when he saw the prisoner, who war, hurrying along with his eyes fixed on the ground, and apparently in a state of great mental excitement. lie was without shoes, stockings, or shirt, and his deplorable appearance, coupled with his distracted air, induced witness to put some questions to him ; but although he repeated them several times, tho prisoner walked on without turning his head, or taking the slightest notice of him. Witness then seized him by the arm, and told him he must pvoceed to the station-house, upon which the prisoner began trembling violently all over, and bogged to be left alone, as his mind was ill at ease, and he would not trouble any one much longer. Upon being asked if he was in want of food he pulled out a morsel of dry broad and observed that it was much as he would over require, for the sooner he was out of tho world the better it would be. He was then conveyed to tiro station-house, and whilst the charge was being taken down it was noticed by Inspector Shackell that his appearance exactly tidied 'with the description of a man who had absconded with three others under ialsniclon of having been guilty of the tr.erder of Itolaert I-lannah, of the borough of MorNth. The crime was committed on the 26th of Dec.. List, and a reward of 1001. had been offered on the apprehension of the culprits. The Police Gazette of January 11, containing an a.7.count of the murder and a description of the persons supposed to hove committed it, was handed to the MagiSt rate.  After perusjng it Mr. Broughton put several questions to the prisoner, but his answers were very vague and contradictory. lie first stated that he had come up direct from the north, where he had worked on different ralways, and that he reached London only tl;e day before ; but he afterwards said that be was at work at Wolverhampton a fortnight ago, and that his friends resided in Shropshire. Mr. Bitonwrate observed that the age, height, and ,tress of the prisoner exactly corresponded with the first of the men adreitisecl, but he could not detect any Irish accent in his delivery, which was the only circumstance at variance with the description given. His conduct and demeanour, however, placed it almost beyond doubt that he had committed some serious offence, and he thought the publication of the prOceedings might have the effect of materially forwarding the ends cf justice, He felt it his duty in the meantime to detain the prisoner in custody. Upon being removed from the bar, the prisoner earnestly besought Grove, the gaoler, to confine him in a• separate cell, but as it was supposed that he contemplated anionic, his wish was not complied with. Some time alter the gaoler informed the Magistrate that the prisoner, sloe° he bad been locked up, had stated his name to be William Lake, from Broseley, in Staffoßishire, and that his brother was a surveyor in Birmingham, and his aunt a respectable widow residing in Windmill-street, Lambeth. He expressed himself extremely anxious to make a further communication to the Magistrate in private. The primer was accordingly ushered into a private room, whither Mr. Broughton proceeded, and upon returning into Court, the Magistrate gave some directions to Hanley, the chief usher, relative to the case, the particulars of which, or the nature of the presumed disclosure, did not transpire. The prisoner was remanded until Monday next.