The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-05-20 00:00:00

ATTEMPTING TO DROWN A MAN IN
A WINE VAT.

At the Thames Police-court, In London, Robert M.Comble,
a young man, who was formerly a labpurer at the London
end Continental steam wharf, and who hal been In custody
ever since the let of April on a charge of attempting to
171111,ier James Geddes, vault-keeper at the wharf, was last
week brought up for the seventh time, charged with attempt-
ing to throw Mr Geddes into a vat containing 14C0 gallons of
port wine, on the let of April.
Mr. Charles Young, solicitor, conducted the prose-
cution. On a former investigation he said that Mr.
Geddes was not expected to live, and that if he died
he should charge the prisoner with wilful murder. He
proposed that his worship should proceed to the house
of the wounded man and receive hen deposition.
• • • ••

The magistrate immediately proceeded to the dwell-
ing of Mr. Geddes, and accompanied by Mr. Thomas,
the junior clerk, Mr. Odell, chief usher, and Mr.
Joseph Smith, solicitor for the prisoner. Mr. Geddes
was lying on a bed, very ill, and with two ribs fractured.
ne W. @Warn, and dep wed that he WU a vault•keecer
at the London and Continental Steam Wharf, Wap.
ping, on the let of April last. At a quarter to five
o'clock on that day the prisoner and another man
named Taylor, who had been discharged a few days
before, came and asked to see Mr. Curdat about
their being dismissed. He replied, "You know
Mr. Cordat can send his messenger if he wants
me." M'Combie said, "What am I to do?" He
said, "It's no use my going up to Mr. Cordat ; I
reasoned with him before you left. If you can get
a job I will myself give you a character as an honest
and industrious mall. I cannot do more." He then
walked across towards the man. hole over the wine vat,
and V/1611 standing close alongside of it, when the
prisoner caught him by the back of the neck
and took him off hie legs. He struggled with the
prisoner until he was forced down the man-hole of the
wine vat—at leset, hie head, his shoulders, and one of
Ins arms were down. He cried out "Murder" and
" and the witness Brown took him up and
dragged him out. He was maddened with pain and
rage, and said "Let me get at the fellow." He fell
fell over an iron bar and struck his right side, and was
much bust. The man Taylor stood between him and
the primmer. Ile stepped past Taylor towards the
prisoner, who again seized him and got him
by the throat. He saw a wooden instrurueut called
a slogger on the floor, used for knocking bungs in
and out of clanks, and said, "I will hit him."
He was unable to do so, dropped the slogger, and fell
down exhausted. When he recovered he went down-
stairs and followed the prisoner to Commercia%street,
Whitechapel. M'Combie said" I lave yon had enough,"
He said he had had quite enough, and that he should
take out a warrant against the prisoner, who then said
"I'll kill you," and threw him into the road among the
carts and horses. The prisoner was about to attack
him again, but the man with him said he should not,
and the prisoner left him. He had nothing to do with
the dl, charge of the prisoner from the wharf. Two of
his ribs were fractured and he received other injuries.
The wounded man was cross-examined by Mr. Smith,
but nothing material was elicited. He believed the
prisoner's intention was to push him into the vat, and
drown him in the wine.
-

After the reading of Mr. Geddes' deposition. Mr.
Young said the man was still lingerirg, and that if he
did recover, which was net very probable, it would be
bele time before he could attend the court. lie asked
for another remand.
• -

The magistrate acceded to the request, and remanded
the prisoner for another week.