The reading of the depositions was then resumed, and having been concluded,
Mr. Corder then read the statements made by the prisoners before the Coroner, and which had been committed to writing by order of the Coroner.
Mr. Halls asked if it was in evidence that the body which was offered at the King's College was the same upon which the inquest was subsequently held.
Mr. Hill, of the King's College, who received the body there, and Mr. Thomas, to whom it was afterwards delivered at the station-house, proved that fact.
Mr. Corder said, that the whole of the evidence was now gone through, as applying to the prisoners Bishop, Williams, and May. With regard to the prisoner Shields, it was not intended to offer any evidence against him.
Mr. Minshull then directed that the prisoner Shields should be removed from the bar, and brought round in front of the bench. The magistrate told him he was discharged from this offence, but that he meant to swear him as a witness. The oath having been administered to him, he went into a long statement as to the manner in which he met Bishop, who told him that he wanted him to do a little job on the Saturday morning. He agreed, and went to Guy's Hospital, Bishop having previously procured a hamper, for the purpose of conveying the body from that place to the King's College. He accordingly carried it from Guy's Hospital to the latter place on the Saturday, but knew nothing whatever of what the hamper contained. Bishop was to have given him half-a-crown for the job, but he had not 'as yet' received the money.
Mr. Corder observed, that the statement of Shields differed in several points from the account which he gave before the Coroner.
Mr. Minshull.—You say you were not aware of what the hamper contained; do you still persist in saying so?
Shields.—Upon my word, your worship, I knew nothing of what the hamper contained. I carried it as I would any other job.