The Sun. — 1862-03-17 (London, England)

FATAL CASE OF SIABBING IN CAN  BRIDGE.  Much commotion was caused throughout Cambridge on Friday, by the report that a man had been murdered on the East-road ; and all sorts of rumours were afloat as to the cause, and other circumstances attending the melancholy event. The assailant is a man named John Ballard, a wood carver, living on the East-road; and the victim was named Johnson, an itinerant dealer in whitening, who lived in the same neighbourhood. One of the witnesses at the inquest was George Moore, who said-1 live in Wellington-row ;I am a carpenter. I knew deceased ; he lived in Gaslane. I saw him this morning about 5 minutes before 1 talking to Ballard at his door; Ballard had hold of the door. They appeared to bo having high words. I saw Johnson take a ball of whitening from the boy's hand who stood by the side of him. Johnson carries whitening to sell ; it was deceased's own little boy. Deceased showed the ball of whitening to Ballard, who slammed the door in his face as hard as he could. I was walking slowly, and when I got as far as the Waggon and Horses I saw Ballard open the door and make a rush out, and then they apparently had a`fight. Deceased had his fists up, and Ballard had something, which I afterwards found to be a .gouge, in his hands. Johnson turned round and made across the road up to his cart, and fell flat on his face. I went back, with two or three others, to see what was the matter, Ballard having at the time a gouge about three quarters of an inch wide in his hand, and standing against his door. Ballard is a carver, and the gouge is a tool used by him in his business. Walton came up and said to Ballard "Do you know what you have done—you are liable to be taken—for you have killed the man." Ballard said, " I would stab any man if he came to interrupt me." I did not hear anything more said. Walton said to me " Come away, or he will stab you as well." By the Coroner—Did you actually see Ballard strike Johnson ?  Witness—Yes, I certainly did, sir. I did not see any blood ; I was too far off. I felt sure he must have cut him. I did not hear Johnson say anything. Several persons lifted Johnson up and carried him away.  From other evidence it appeared that the quarrel was caused by deceased expostulating with the prisoner for striking a boy, the son of the deceased. The accused (Ballard) entered into a lengthened statement descriptive of the grievance between himself and Johnson's boys on Thursday evening, and expressed his annoyance at the boys throwing stones at his door and windows. Ballard described what took place between himself and Johnson on Friday morning, and said that Johnson swore at him. Ballard told him to lie off, saying, " I want none of your abuse." Ile denied ill-using the boy, and endeavoured to reconcile Johnson. Proceeding, Ballard said, " Johnson struck at me several times, and I said, You old --I you had better be off.' I held out my gouge, the handle at first, not at all excited at the moment, not intending to hurt him. There was a scuffle between us, but I was not aware that the gouge had pierced him, as I only held it in front to keep him clear of me, but I did not expect he would run against it. Walton cautioned the people about going near me, and I told them they need not fear, as I was quite reconciled. I acknowledged to police-constable Deeks that I had used the gouge, but I said, I dor.'t think he is stabbed —I hope he is not hurt.' I also told Deeks that the gouge was on my bench; but I had no ill-feeling