The Sun. — 1854-01-16 (London, England)

THE ACTON MURDER.  On Saturday Mr. Wildbore, who bad been charged with being concerned in the abduction of the boy supposed to have been murdered, was again placed at :he bar of Clerkenwell Police-court.  The lad, Jackson, was recalled ; and, in answer to Mr. Hawkins, the barrister, said he would not smar that he had or had not pointed out another man as :he person who had taken the murdered boy away in a gig or chaise.  Sergeant Earthy, 19 T, stated that he was with another officer investigating the circumstances of the horrid murder. The latter was in uniform, and witness was in private clothes. On Jackson seeing him (witness) he accused him of being the individual that decoyed the deceased from Old-street.  Wm. Patten, a lad residing with his father, at 4, Riding House-lane, Portland-place, was now sworn, and said, that on the Monday or Tuesday at the end of October last, he ran away from his father's honse, and when going to his uncle's in Golden-lane, the prisoner, whom he recognised in the House of Detention, asked him to take charge of his horse and cart in Old-street. It was at seven o'clock in the evening. The prisoner came back in ten minutes with two boys, one of whom got into the cart, and was driven away by the prisoner, and the other went away.  The witness here gave his description of the prisoner at the time, and likewise of the horse, cart, and harness. Mr. Hawkins severely cross-examined the witness, who contradicted himself and the other lad over and over again.  Sergeant Gunn, G-, stated that the last witness picked out one set -of harness from several on the prisoner's premises on Friday.  Mr. Daniel Griffin, of Golden-lane, harness maker, uncle of the witness Patten, said that his nephew had run away ten times, at the least, in the last twelve months, and come to him. He could not say when was the last time.  Mr. Peter Patten, father of the witness, stated that he was positive his son, who is very unsteady, ran away from him on a Saturday in October last. He was quite certain he was away on Sunday. He came back insix days.  Sergeant Earthy was again called into the witnessbox, and in answer to questions, said he saw the body of the deceased an hour after ,it had been discovered, and he judged that death had taken place within 24 hours previously. It presented a fearful spectacle—the right eye was black partially down the cheek, and the bones were almost protruding through the skin. Mr. Hawkins called several witnesses, who clearly showed that Mr. Wildbore was not in town on the 31st of October with his horse and chaise ; that he came to London on that day by rail, and returned by the same conveyance at 20 minutes to 6, after dining with Mr. Frederick Sewell, veterinary surgeon, at Waltham-cross, and that he then took tea with two nieces and a nephew, and did not leave home afterwards on that night. At the conclusion of this evidence he (Mr. Hawkins) sincerely trusted that the prejudice against his client would be dispelled, and that his friends would feel satisfied that he had been more sinned against than sinning, at the same time he must say that Superintendent Martin and the other excellent officers had done no more than the circumstances of so horrible a case fully warranted.  Mr. Corrie fully concurred with the learned counsel, for he had not the slightest hesitation in declaring there was no evidence whatever against Mr. Wildbore, and further, that he disbelieved altogether the testimony of Patten. Even if the evidence for the defence had not been given to-day, he should have discharged the prisoner, believing him to be an innocent man. When the prisoner was set at liberty, he was warmly and heartily cheered by his friends.