The Sun. — 1841-04-15 (London, England)

ORSHIP-STREET.  MYSTERIOU3 CASE.—A tall athletic man, about 30 years of age, who gave the name of George Smith and who had the appearance of an excavator, was brought before Mr. Broughton, under the following circumstances :  Police constable Stennard, G 229, stated that shortly before six o'clock on that morning he was on duty in King's-square, Goswell-street, in company with Sergeant Finlay, when ha saw the prisoner, who was hurrying along with his eyes fixed on the ground, and apparently in a state of great mental excitement. He was without shoes, stockings, or shirt, and his deplorable appearance, coupled with his distracted air, induced witness to put some questions to him ; but although he repeated them several times, the prisoner walked on without turning his heed, or taking the slightest notice of him. Witness then seized him by the arm, and told him he must proceed to the station-house, upon which the prisoner began trembling violently all over, and begged to be left alone, as his mind was ill at case, and he would not trouble any one much longer. Upon being asked if he was in want of food be pulled out a morsel of dry bread and observed that it was much as be would ever require, for the sooner he was out of the world the better it would be. He was then conveyed to the station-house, and whilst the charge was being taken down it was noticed by Inspector Shekel! that his appearance exactly tallied with the description of a man who had absconded with three others under suspicion of having been guilty of the murder of Robert Hannah, of the borough of 111orpetit. The crime was committed on the 20th of Dec. las', and a reward of 1001. had been offered on the 3Pprehension of the culprits. The Police Gazette of January 11, containing an account of the murder and a description of the persons supposed to have committed it, was handed to the Magistrete. After perusng it Mr. Broughton put several questions to the prisoner, but his answers were ve-y vague and ddnifaditiorry. He first stated that he had come up direct from the north, where he had worked on different railways, and that he reached London oily the day before; but he afterwards said that he was at work at Welterhampton a fortnight ago, and that his friends residesi in Shropshire. Mrs gtiouatirtaN observed that the age, height, and caress of tire ilriJohc!t exactly corresponded with the first of the men adrettiscd, but be could not detect any Irish accent in his delivery, which was the only circum• stalk'd tit forienee with the description given. His conduct and detneanotir, however, placed it almost beyond doubt thdt he had committed some serious offence, and he thought the ptibiinAtion of the proceedings might have the effect of 11'0101311r forwarding the ends of justice. He felt it his duty in the meantime to detain the,,nrieoper in custody. Upon PhilbVeti from the bar, the prisoner earnestly besought Grove, the gaoler, to confine him in is separate eel/ buit as it, tag supposed that he contemplated suicide, Ili!' s+ieli SiNg not co:opted with. SAno time after the eiel'Y ieferpeed the Magistrate chat the prisoner, s:ece ha haci Detti 'puked up, had statech hie ifettle to he William Leke, from Moseley, in Staffoldshire, end that hie brother was b: surveyor in BirminghtitO; rind his 'Atilt a repeetable widow re;_;ding in Windmill,streeti Latribeth: He expressed himsolt extremely anxious to make a ferthet communication to the Magistrate is private.  The prisoner was accordingly ushered into a private root:!, Obi:their MrJ :Broughton proceeded, and upon returning into Court, the I,lAglstrate gave some directions to Hanley, the chief usher, relative to the ease, the particulars tit tthicli; or the nature of the presumed disclosure, did not trdnspife,