The Sun. — 1852-05-19 (London, England)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE. CLERKENWELL. James Stockbridge and John Darvell, stout young men, dressed as agricultural labourers, were placed at the bar before Mr. Tyr whitt, charged with having attempted to murder James Cole, a labouring man, residing in Hem raing's-buildings, Chapel-street, Clerkenwell. The prosecutor, who appeared in the witness-box with his throat cut and plastered, having been sworn, said that on Monday night last he had been drinking with the prisoners at a public-house in the neighbourhood of Islington, when he left them to return home. At about one o'clock in the morning, while he was with his sister and some other persons, the prisoners came to the house and wished to be let in; but, not wishing to admit them at such an unseasonable hour, he told his sister to inform them that he was not at home. They would not believe it, and endeavoured to force their way in, but she resisted them, on which they pulled out their knives and threatened to murder her, and her cries for Help" and of 't Murder" induced him to go out for her protection, when he saw both prisoners armed with knives. Oa making his appearance they swore they would murder him, whea S.ockbridge made a stab at him, and a struggle ensued, in which both of them fell down, he (witness) being undermost; and while on the ground the prisoner Stockbridge cut his throat, ii.fiicting a deep wound with his knife. On getting up he was at tempting to escape, when the prisoner Darvell attacked him and stabbed him twice in the arm and back with his knife. They threatened that they would murder everybody in the house, which there was no doubt they would have done had it not been for the timely arrival aa,:a h heo was taken to w of the police. The witness added, th a surgeon, who dressed his wounds,as now in a very weakly condition through the loss of blood. Mr. TIMITFEITT Lqu eau ired as to the of all this extraordinary violence, and whether the pszeisoners were Answer—They were drunk at the time of the outrage? Awer not drunk, and no cause could be assigned for their conduet, except their having been refused admission into the house. Esther Cole, sister of the prosecutor, corroborated his evidence. She was going on an errand, prisoners came and asked her afterfohleirbrothwehr.en Shethe said he was not at home. They andoweclto her with their knives, threatening to murder her, rushed after her into the house. Her brothier, theyher protection, when he was stabbed and thrown': down.eame She distinctly saw Stockbridge cut her brother's throat with a knife; she also saw him stab a woman who came to their assistance, who was seriously injured, and unable to attend. She also saw Darvell stab her brother in the hand and back.  Henry Beck, of Ilemming's-buiidings, was alarmed by the cries of "Police" and " Murder." He went out, and saw the prisoners brandishing their knives; they pushed witness, and would no doubt have murdered him, had he not made his escape into a neighbour's house. The police arrived, and took the prisoners into custody, when they were locked up. Numerous policemen were in attendance to confirm the above evide,'.oe.  Mr. TYRWHITT asked the prisoners what they had to say to such a daring and lawless outrage. It was a wholesale attempt at slaughter. Stockbridge said, they were all together at a public-house, where they rema'ned until two o'clock in the morning, when the prosecutor left them, c,nd did not return again. He (Stockbridge) and Darvell went after him, and in passing by the house is Hemming's-buildings they heard some persons in the hoase. They 'knocked at the door, but they would not let them in. They inquired for the prosecutor, when the sister told them that he will not at home.  An officer said that the knife belonging to Stockbridge was found near the house in Hemming 's-buildings. Stockbridge denied having a knife. Darnll, with equal indifference, made a similar defence. Mr. TYRIfIIITT said he would remand both prisoners for a week. Other persons had been seriously injured by them, and it w,s necessary to ascertai❑ th© extent of the injuries and the fate that swzized them. Instructions were given for their attendance, and also that of the surgeon. The prisoners were then conveyed to prison.