The Sun. — 1866-01-20 (London, England)

THAMES.  CHARGE OF STABBING IN A WORKHOUSE. —An Indian lad, named Louis Murphy, alias Kirwan, aged 16, was brought before Mr. Partridge, charged with cutting and wounding William Triplett, in the Stepney Union Workhouse, at Bromley, in Middlesex, of which they were both inmates.  It appeared from the evidence of the complainant that on Monday last the prisoner was disputing with another ii.oy about a cap he had taken. Triplett took the cap from the prisoner, who said he had no right to it. Triplett said he had a right to it, and the prisoner took a knife from a wooden horse and cut his right arm with it very severely. He lost a good deal of blood. Ho never quarrelled with the prisoner before. The boy, who spoke English tolerably well, here said— What you told me in morning. You say who is in the galley (a ship's cookhouse), and you say the black cook stealing the fat. Triplett—Yes, I said that.  The Prisoner—You say that people dying in the East Indies. You put them by the side of the river, and tide comes up and floats them away. You shoved me.  Triplett admitted that he shoved the prisoner, and that he fell over some wood.  Thomas Moore, a pauper inmate of the Stepney Union, said the prisoner was singing, and the prosecutor told him to desist. Instead of doing so the boy sung louder. The prosecutor got up and struck tha prisoner. The prisoner said "If you strike me again I will stab you." They sat down and were quiet. Soon afterwards the prisoner commenced singing again. The prosecutor used very offensive language towards him. The prisoner took up a chopper and two knives and said he would use them, and that in his country knives were used in self-defence. The prisoner wanted a piece of food from Triplett, who took the boy's cap and would not give it up. Ho left them struggling together and called the master.  Mr. Parker, the master of the Stepney Union, who seemed to take great interest in the boy, said he had been sent to the house by the authorities of the Strangers' Home for Asiatic Seamen in Limebouse, and had recently arrived in England. The Guardians were in negotiation with the India Board to send the boy back to the East Indies. Triplett had been put forward as the scapegoat to tease the boy about Suttees, the Indian mutiny, and the disposal of the dead on the Ganges. He consulted the Board of Guardians at their meeting, and they had directed this prosecution. He told the boy it was a very dreadful and wicked thing to use a knife, and he said in my country they use a knife. He told him it was a case in which he would meet with punishment. He was informed that Triplett told the boy he had lost caste, which irritated him very much. Triplett was semi-idiotic, and had twice tried to strangle his wife, and once attempted suicide. Mr. Partridge was obliged to the master for his information. Everything would be taken into consideration in the prisoner's favour upon the trial. He then gave the prisoner the usual caution, and asked for his defence. Mr. Parker advised the prisoner not to say anything at present.  Mr. Partridge said it was desirable ono of the lads mentioned as having been present at the occurrence should bo present at the sessions. He committed the prisoner for trial.