The Sun. — 1827-12-10 (London, England)

JAMES WIN. TERS, FOR MURDER. REUREN MARTIN alias JAMES WINTERS,, was indicted for the wilful murder of Mr. Thomas Patrick, on the 25th of November last, in the Parish of St. Giles's, in the Borough of Colchester. The prisoner was also charged upon the Coroner's Inquisition. - The trial was appointed to come on the first thing in the morning, and such was the interest excited by the dreadful 'affair, that long before the arrival of the Judge (Mr. Baron. Vaughan), the Court, and every avenue leading to it was crowded in the extreme. The galleries and the seats usually appropriated for Cciunsel, were filled chiefly by elegantly dressed females. About half-past eight o'clock the prisoner was brought into Court, and placed at the Bar, and exactly ,at nine o'clock Mr. Baron Vaughan took his seat upon the Bench. Mr. "li.Nox conducted the case for the proseciition, and rslr. RYLANDS the .defence. . Mr. KNox .stated the case, after which the following witnesses were examined : Isaac Parsons, of Colchester, a dealer in bones.—t attenifed a sale of wearing apparel at the Yorkshire Grey public-house, it was kept by the deceased Thomas Patrick. I purchased it coat at the gale, -about half-past 11 o'clock, The.tls.ccail'A wife came iuto the sale-room, and desiredus to break tsp.-for it was time to go, and me and my wife. (at least the woman who goes as my wife) took the 'coat and went towards .home. On my way home in Water-lane, I met a person who is called Big Jem ; the prisoner at the bar, is the peMon who made a tug at the coat which was lying on my wife's arm, saying, "my dear, what have you got there ?" I desired him to desist, when he made a push at me, got me down, and attempted to rob me. My wife then ran away ; Osborne came up and said, there's nothing there, that is Isaac. Sergeant and Bush hearing my cries came up to my assistance and extricated me; being incensed at the prisoner's: conduct, I took off my smock frock, and challenged him to fight, and had about six rounds, when some persons called out " For God's sake take that man off Isaac, or he will kill him," which they did. During the first part of the fight I heard voices crying "Go it, Jern—go it." The prisoner then said that, if lie had a knife, he would rip my belly up. Cross-examined.—Had you been drinking with the prisoner ? No, I had not seen him that night ; I had a tobacco box in my pocket, which might have been mistaken for a watch by the prisoner ; we had altogether about nine pots of porter at the Yorkshire Grey, but I was perfectly sober. How many were there came up when you was illused? I don't know ; how could I tell, when I was on the ground.. You can tell, sir, whether they were two or ten? No, I can't ; there might have been eight or ten, but I do not know. After getting away from the prisoner, I went home to bed, and shortly afterwards I was awoke by a man who told me that Mr. Patrick was murdered ; and that is all I know of the matter. Jeremiah Boyle—l am a constable; I was called up by the deceased, it was nearly half-past twelve- o'clock in the morning, who told me there was a row, and I must come and quell it. I saw several persons in the highway. amongst whom was the prisoner at the bar. The deceased said to me, pointing to the prisoner, that is the man, you take him into custody. I immediately seized the prisoner, and charged some person in the King's name to aid and assist me, which they immediately did, but the prisoner being a strong man, hurled both of us away, and escaped ; I soon after took him again, and he struck me a tremendous blow upon the side of the head, which felled the to the ground. Crooks, the man who assisted me and the deceased, was struck by a man named Johnson, and Crooks; in consequence, gave him in charge, and, as was taking him to the cage, Osborne met us, ,and said to Johnson, you shan't go without you choose, but Johnson replied, that he would go quietly, and he did, I then asked for Mr. Patrick, who exclaimed, here I am, and Osborne shall go too; but Oshorkie' was not taken ; I left him and ethers, near the Red Cron, 04 ;:cht slung to the cage 'with Johnson. nutaty minutes had elapsed, between my parting with Patrick, and agr;(11 treiirning. Cross-examined by Mr.