The Sun. — 1861-10-09 (London, England)

THE NEWCAS2LE MURDER.  EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONER. NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, OCt. 8. George Clark, the man who so barbarously murdered Mr. Frater, in Blackett-street, in this town, last Tuesday morning, was this morning brought up at the police-court, on remand, charged with that crime. Very little additional evidence has• been obtained since the coroner's inquest was held on Mr. Frater's body on Wednesday evening. The facts of the case are indeed so conclusive and so palpable that the only question now to be decided is the sanity of the prisoner at the time he committed the deed. When first apprehended his demeanour betokened an imperturbable coolness rather than anything else, and there seemed at that time to be no reason whatever for susa&ting his perfect sanity. Since his apprehension, however, he has conducted himself in such a manner as to prove that he is either a madman, or desires to be supposed so. His conduct during the whole of Tuesday was characterised by an excessive levity, and he seemed quite unable to realise the position in which he was placed. At the inquest, on Wednesday evening, as has been already reported, he became exceedingly impertinent. His manner was quite calm, and he listened to everything that went on with great attention, but he uttered the most absurd remarks during the course of the inquiry, and at the very moment that a former lellow-shopman was was giving most important evidence, in reference to the sharpening of the knife, and his previous threats on Mr. Frater's life, he took occasion to remark that the coroner was " nothing but an old wife," and to tell his old mate, in the kindest pcar,ible tone, to sit down, and not trouble himself any more about the mutter, being evidently unconscious that the man was at the time offering fatal evidence against him. With regard to his previous habits it appears that be has often threatened the lives of persons before, for fancied wrongs, and some of those who were thus threatened have no hesitation in expressing their decided conviction that the prisoner is insane, and in corroboration of this, that ho is always worse when the moon changes—this proving him to be a lunatic in the literal sense of the word. With reference to his threats on Mr. Frater's life, it seems that whenever he alluded to that gentleman, in the presence of his fellow-workmen, he informed them that the Queen had been communicated with on the subject, and that she heal said that he would be quite right to kill his victim. They, however, paid no attention to this talk, as they considered nothing more than a harmless imbecile. There; are other circumstances which will be brought forward at his trial, and which show, to say the least, a diseased state of mind in the prisoner. This morning the police-court at the Manors was crammed to excess, and all the leading thoroughfares were crowded by persons anxious to catch a glimpse of the prisoner's appearance. The sitting magistrates were the Mayor, I. Blackwell, R. Dodds, J. L. Bell, G. C. Atkinson, and C. F. Hamond, Esqrs. The prisoner was brought up as soon as the business of the court commenced. Mr. Frater's remains were interred on Friday at Jcsmond Cemetery, Newcastle. A considerable number of the friends of the deceased attended, to pay a last tribute of respect to his memory. Many of the spectators appeared to be deeply affected by the impressive scene. The Rev. J. A. Charlton,