The Sun. — 1859-03-28 (London, England)

SOUTH WALES CIRCUIT.—BREcoN, March 24. (Before Mr. Justice Hill.) David Morgan, haulier, 18, was indicted for the wilful murder of John Davies, by stabbing him with a knife, at Ystradgan:ais, on the 26th of February last. He was also charged with the like offence upon the coroner's inquisition. The prisoner, who had a very boyish appearance, seemed much affected, and sobbed convulsively during the trial, the audience in the denselycrowded court evidently compassionating him. Mr. Giffard and Mr. Rees appeared for the prosecution ; Mr. T. Allen for the defence. Mr. Giffard proposed to put in a deposition made by the deceased before his death. Mr. Allen objected to its being read, because it was not taken upon oath. The Judge, after some discussion, ruled the deposition admissible as evidence, and it was read as evidence : " On Saturday night last, the 26th of February, I was sitting at supper in my house, in the parish of Ystradganlais, in the county of Brecon, when the prisoner, David Morgan, who stands before me now, came to the door and asked me to give him a light for his pipe. I told him he should not come in, but I would give him a light if he wanted one. I then went out of my house and latched the door, and went into the adjoining house, occupied by a widow named Rebecca Phillips, who was there then. The prisoner followed me, and began blackguarding me. I told him to go home peaceably, and Mrs. Phillips also told him to go out, and he told her to hold her tongue, or he would strike her. She then caught hold of him, and pushed him out. I then came to the house where I lodged, and am now. When I got into the yard in front of the house the prisoner said to me, have hold of you again when you are by yourself, and in company with me.' Elizabeth Griffiths, who was present, said to me, How can you suffer such language from a boy ?' I then went after David Morgan to send him away. I told him to go home quietly, and I went down by the stile just under Job Griffiths's window. Before I got quite down to the stile the prisoner returned and struck me in the lower part of the bowels. I felt as if a knife had pierced me. The instrument with which I was stabbed was not very sharp, and seemed to rip me. I turned into Job Griffiths's house, and the prisoner followed me ; as I turned into the house I observed another person, whom I did not know, as it was dark, and I couldnot see his features. Boththeso persons followed me to Griffiths's house door, and as I was going in there I received a cut with a cutting instrument over the left eye and temple. I then went into the house and Mrs. Griffiths closed the door ; the shirt, trousers, and vest now produced are those I wore when I was stabbed ; and the holes in them are those made by the instrument with which I was stabbed. I heard Job Griffiths's wife call out to open the door, as they had knives. I swear that David Morgan is the man who stabbed me, because he was alone when I received the first stab. I knew him by his voice and his dress, and I distinctly saw his face by the light of the candle in Rebecca Phillips's house, when he went there fora light. I had the same feelings, when I was stilbed in the eye, and temples, and bowels. My aunt (Elizabeth Rees) told me that night not to let the prisoner in. Job Griffiths's wife was outside hQr door, which was closed, when I was stabbed. Upon examination I found I was stabbed in the bowels, eye, temples, and shoulder. Cross-examined by the prisoner—Now, John, did I do anything to you before you touched me ? Answer —I did not touch you." Corroborative evidence was called, and a large number of witnesses proved that the prisoner was there with a knife in his hand, and that he was the first to rush upon the deceased. Mr. Price, surgeon, deposed—l was called to the deceased on the night of the 26th February, and found him lying on his back with his clothes open. His bowels were protruding from the lower part of his stomach from a wound about an inch and a-half in length, produced by some cutting instrument, such as the knife produced. There were two other similar wounds on the abdomen, but of a slighter character. I observed two wounds on the left