The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1840-06-02 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MURDER OF LORD WILLIAM RUSSELL.-COM MITTAL OF COURVOISIER.  • Francois Benjamin Conrvoisier, who, it will be remembered, was remanded on Wednesday last, in order to give the magistrate an opportunity of satisfying himself with regard to certain facts which had come to his knowledge connected with the atrocious crime with which the prisoner stands charged, was on Friday again brought up to Bow-street, for re-examination. He appeared in excellent health and spirits, and had a smile on his countenance as he took his station at the bar. Mr. Hall said, having obtained the information which I desired, there is no longer any reason why I should delay signing your committal. You will, therefore, be taken to Newgate to await your trial, when any further evidence which may in the mean time be brought to light may be brought forward against yon, and when you will have an opportunity of producing any evidence you may think proper in your defence. You can now, if you choose, make any statement or observations you think proper on the facts alleged against you, but it is my duty to caution you that whatever statement you may choose to make will be taken down in writing, and may hereafter be made use of against you.  The prisoner having consulted with his solicitor, Mr. Flower said the prisoner declines saying anything at present, except that he is entirely innocent of the crime la►d to his charge. There is an observation I wish to make, sir, with regard to the impression of the seal which the prisoner handed to the officer. When the officer was inquiring for a description of the missing property, the prisoner was not able to give a particular description of the seal, but he went into a lower room where Mr. Russell then was, for the purpose of inquiring.the particulars of him. Mr. Russell then gave the prisoner the impression from his pocket, and that was the manner in which he became possessed of the impression which he handed to the officer. I have therefore to request that Mr. Russell may be asked the question. Mr. Hobler.—lf Mr. Russell did any act of the kind, Mr. Flower has it in his power to produce it in evidence. Mr. Flower (with some warmth).—l consider it veryunfair to be calling upon the prisoner to produce evidence which is in the power of the prosecutor—it is very hard upon him. I know Mr. Hobler's object very well—calling upon us to produce evidence.  Mr. Hall did not consider it as his duty to point out to the professional gentlemen who were engaged in conducting the prosecution the manner in which they were to carry on their case. It was not for him to tell theta what evidence they were to call, and what evidence they were to leave uncalled ; and he therefore thought he had no right to tell them to call the evidence in vestion. Mr. Flower Thought it his duty to make this statement, and if Mr. Hobler refused to call Mr. Russell, it would have its effect.  Mr. Hobler said it was a fact unknown to him until this moment. Mr. Flower had stated that he had an object in view. 'He begged to say that he had none whatever. Mr. Hall said it was not his duty to call upon the prosecution to produce evidence 113 to everything that the prisoner himself or his solicitor might surmise. Mr. Flower had stated it as a matter of fact. Mr. Hobler would repeat he was not aware of the fact. It rested upon the prisoner's assertion, and he should not place Mr. Russell before the court until he had had an investigation into the real state of the case. Mr. Flower—Will you then ? Mr. Hobler.—l shall pledge myself to nothing. Mr. Flower must not go away with the idea that because the prisoner is now committed, if between this and the time of his trial any fresh evidence should transpire, 1 shall not bring it forward. I shall consider it my duty to bring forward every evidence in my possession, and it does not follow that because I have produced evidence enough to warrant a committal, I should be precluded from bringing forward other evidence, should any such transpire. The prisoner was then removed from the bar, and shortly afterwards was conveyed to Newgate in the prison van, having been fully committed to take his trial at the next sessions of the Central Criminal Court for the murder.  A