A Magistrate.—Did you ever carry any load for Bishop or May before?
Shields.—No, your honour, never.
Mr. Burnaby, the clerk.—You know, Shields, you have carried bodies repeatedly to the hospitals. You should remember you are now on your oath.
Shields.—I mean to say, that I did not know what the hamper contained that May and Bishop hired me to carry.
Mr. Minshull.—Have you heard any conversation pass between the prisoners relating to this murder, during any time you may have passed in their company since they and you were apprehended?
Shields.—None whatever, your worship, except that I heard Bishop say he got the body from the ground.
Mr. Corder.—It is quite clear that this man cannot be believed on his oath, and therefore it would be useless to make a witness of him.
Mr. Minshull said, he certainly should not allow him to give evidence; for every word which he had as yet spoken went for nothing. If he discharged him now, it would be on the condition of his undertaking to communicate to Mr. Thomas where he went to live, in the event of his removing from his present residence.
Mr. Corder submitted, that Shields ought to be detained, at least for the present.
Mr. Minshull then told Shields, that as there might be a charge of another description against him, he certainly should not now consent to his discharge. He would take time to consider how he ought to be disposed of.