The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-11 00:00:00

MURDER AT THE PORTLAND CONVICT

ESTABLISHMIINT.

An inquest was, on Tuesday, held at the Portland
convict establishment, before Mr. F. C. Stegpll, on the
body of Charles Evans, aged 39, the master shoemaker,
and • warder in the prison.
It appeared that it is usual for the convicts to eat their
meals separately in their several cells. Their dinners
are given them in a can, sod after they
are locked io, a knife, for the purpose of
enabling them to cut their meat, is placed under each of
their doors. After they have been locked up an hour their
OM and knives are collected. On Monday the one o'clock
bell was rung as usual, when Warder Evans, the deceased,
took three of the convicts to collect the cans and knives in
No. 1 Ward, E Hall. They had collected from four or
five wards when they came to that where a convict of the
name of Alfred Preedy was confined. The warder
unlocked the door, and Preedy presented himself
with his can and knife, but instead of placing
his can in the tray which two of the convicts were
taking round to receive it, he dropped it on the floor. The
third convict who was with the warder then held out his
hand for the knife, when Preedy pushed him on one side,
seized the warder by the neck with his left arm, and with
the knife in his right band cut a deep gash under the
warder's right ear, severing the jugular vein, the carotid
artery, and the great nerve of the neck. The two convicts
carrying the tray immediately seized him, and compelled him
to let go his hold of Evans and to drop the knife. They
both said that when the knife was in Evans's neck, Preedy
moved his hand as if be was twisting the knife round.
Evans, when released, ran forward several paces, and
was led down to a room in the infirmary. where he imme-
diately expired. No reason an be assigned why the act
was committed. None of the 'ransom examined had ever
heard that any dispute or altercation bad taken place
between the deceased and his murderer. Preedy, who
is twepty-ope years of age, was, we understand, formerly
a drummer in the 84th Regiment, but at Christmas,
1849, was sentenced to three years penal servitude for lar-
ceny, end had consequently only between three and four
months longer to serve. Evans, the deceased, had been •
warder at Portland eight years. sod was greatly respected,
not only by the officers of the prison, but also by the
well-cooducted convicts. He has left a widow and three
young children.
The jury, having heard the evidence, returned a verdict of
" Wilful murder " against Preedy, and the coroner issued his
warrant for his committal to Dorchester for trial.

ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER. —Yesterday evening
Mr. Leghorn held an inquest, at King's College Hospital,
on the body of Cathode* Roberts, aged 42, lately residing at
17, Short's-urdens, Drury-lase, who had lost her life under
the following circumstances:—William Collins, of 14,
Short's-gardens, deposed that on Sunday morning last, about
1 o'clock, he was in a shop in Short's-gardens, when the de.
ceased woman came in for some trilling article. She was
very much intoxicated, and used bed language to Mr.
Burke, who kept the shop; consequently he would not serve
her, but proceeded to put up the abutters and close the
shop. Demised followed him out, went behind him, and
struck him. He followed her, and struck her in return on
the head or face with his hand. She fell, and remained in-
sensible on the flagstone* until picked up by a policeman.
Police-constable 9b F proved finding deceased lying in-
sensible. Be took her to the station-hones on a stretcher,
and from thence to the hospital. Mr. Crucknell, acting
house physician, sew decreed on her admission on Sunday
morning about half-past 1. She was quite insensible. and
there au a bruise on the left temple and a cut on the left
ear. She died at noon. He had made a post mortem ex-
amination, and found the cause of death to be pressure of
blood on the brain, probably canned by a fall. The Inquiry.
atter some consultatiou, was adjourned until Monday assts
in order to obtain the presence of Mr. Burke.
Mou limn OUTRAGE& —Mr. John Rynd, of
Mellinger, land agent and J.P., received, through the
pod-office, a few days ago, a notice, threatening him
with death if be did not discharge a bailiff named Keegan,
residing on the estate of Mr. Grogan, of the musty of
Wicklow. to which Mr. Byrd is agent. The only reason
assigned for this outrage and the removal of Keegan is, that
the latter faithfully discharges his duty towards his em-
ployer, which makes him oboozious to some of the tenant,
on the property. Mr. M'Outhy O'Leary, J.P., held an in.
vestigation on Monday at Inches, relative to a malicious
attempt to injure one of the railway Maim Detouring to the
Great Southern and Western Railway. It appeared that
three large atones, weighing from two to three cwt each,
were loosened and thrown from al the railway bridge at
Lam, some time before the goods 4 delook ohms. Mein
passed on its way to Killarsey bet ferMusately the Asses
fell into such a position that the teal. paned without re-
ceiving any injury. The miscreant had not thus to Ix thins
*crow the boa, and carry out his diabolical inlientiee. As
yet no emplanes attaches to any one. —Pretneeses Journal.