The Sun. — 1867-05-14 (London, England)

THE DREADFUL TRAGEDY AT BUCK DURST HILL.  THE EVIDENCE OF MISS GRIPPE THIS DAY. WALTHAM ABBEY, Tuesday. • At a quarter to 11 o'clock this forenoon the magistrates took their seats upon the beach ; Mr. Do wes was chairman.  the proceedings on behalf of the accused. oßocwlerk, read aloud the charge, which 'street, London, appeared to watch stated AtjhbeasrtasF:rse hfdoierick Alexander Watkins had maliciously stabbed and wounded Matilda Gripps with a dagger, in a field at Buckhurst-hill with intent to murder her. The first witness culled was Matilda Grippe. Sho appeared to be very weak, and she was accommodated with a seat.  She was sworn, and Mr. Jessop then read over to her the depositions which she had previously made. Ho read it in the third person, and as he stated the facts that she had deposed to, she answered "yes" in a very feeble tone of voice. The depositions stated that sho had met with the accused on the night of the 24th of April near her father's house, and that he invited her to take a walk, and that she consented. When in a field near Buckhurst-hill ho charged her with speaking to other young men, and that she denied it. Ile then struck her on the head and then with a dagger on the breast. At that point she said, in a very faint voice, "And behind the blade bone." The clerk then continued reading the depositions, and said that he stabbed her several times, and that she know not what happened.  Clerk—Have you anything to aid to the depositions that you have made ? Matilda Gripps—Nothing. Mr. Abrams then said that ho should liko to put a few questions to her, and ho asked her if she had not always boon very affectionately treated by the prisoner ? Miss Gripps—He always treated mo with the greatest affection and attention. I know that his father had an estate. I made the prisoner's acquaintance at his father's house. He never complained to me of pains in his head. He never told me that watchmaking gave him pains in the head. He did say that brickmaking agreed with him bettor than watchmaking. lfe said he had bettor health. I recollect his having his ears pierced, but I do not recollect that he had it done on account of pains in his head. I walked out with him on Easter Monday. lie told me that ho had been to the stag-hunt. He did not tell me that ho was uneasy in his mind. Ido not recollect that he told mo that he could not sleep at night. 1 would not venture to swear that he did not. Ile came to my house on the Tuesday evening. Ido not think that he was in au excited state. Ile came at a quarter past eight o'clock. We left the house at half-past eight o'clock. I did not notice anything peculiar in hiemanner. I do not recollect his reply to oni said me, "Matilda, .lda, I feel unhappy in my mind." Ho havemight  da came her oe eyes, assistance. and lay back in At this stage of the examination the witness became e the Mr. Abrams said that ho would make the examination quite overcome, °lna loirdn os ath once c closed as short as possible. Miss Grippe was here assisted out of the com t.  (The case was proeuding when we went to press.)  A powder has been compounded by Mons. 'Latin, of Paris, called after its inventor Hotting, designed to make linen firo-proof without impairing its whiteness. Ihenmixed gunk is adprepared by adding a little ammonia to a solution of phosphoric acid lime, and filtering with animal carbon, then evaporating until concentrated, when five per cent. of gelatinous silicic acid is added and the whole evaporated to a crystal substance and pulverized. All inventions whic:i toad to lcsson danger from fire should have a fair trial.  " Why are orphans the happiest children in the world ?" asked a little boy of his mother, who had been just chastising him. "They aro not happy," said the mother ; " but why do you think they are ?" Because they have no mothers to spank 'ow."  TH. lit 14'4D1:11E0N N.