The Express.
London, England, 1863-09-18 00:00:00

THE SUSPECTED MURDER OP 4 B4LNIC CLERK.

ADJOURNED INQUEST.-(THIS DAY.)

This morning Mr. John Humphreys, the Mid-
diets: coroner, resumed the inquiry at the; Dock Hotel,
Ern Smithfield, reepecsiag the death of Mr. Hugh Davin
Norris. aged 22 years, a beak clerk, residing at Haslewood-
lodge, Roupell-park, Streatham, who it was alleged had
died by foul mesas, under oircumetemoste which have been
detailed ia thin journal.
The mart was again crowded by the relatives and friends
of the deceased gentleman, and the utmost interest wee
manifested.

Mr. Alfred Morrie, the brother of the deceased, of Roe.
pell.park, Streatham, attended to watch the case on the
part of the family, and several commercial gentlemen were
present to bear the proceeding.
The jury having answered to their names,
Mr. )(orris, the brother of the deceased, said, in reply to
the Coroner, that be had been unable to obtain any farther
evidecoe, and Sergeant Hawkes, the City polios detective,
gave a similar statement.
Dr. Edmunds, of Finsbury.eircus and Spital.square, was
Wee sworn, and said that he tied, by the Corwer'sdireetion,
made a complete post-mortem examination of the body, and
death was clearly the result of submersion by drowsing.
The body had been in the water about seven days, and was
much bloated, the features of the face warmly recognisable.
There were also dark appearawee as the body and arms.
The knees ware bruised, and there wee an abrades ea
the left elbow. There was no trace of violence
as the externalpart of the head. The brain was dark and
soft from congestion. The heart was gorged with blood on
the right side, and quite empty clothe left. The lungs were
deeply congested. Had examined the neck, and could net
trace any marks of violence, and the larynx was uninjured,
but full of slimy mud, which extended through to the
smaller air tubes. The stomach and intestines were largely
worsted, but nearly empty, with the exception of a little
wise, currants, and vegesablernatter.
Tin man who found the body mid, in answer to the Co-
wes:, that he had sot searched the body.
John Christopher, corpeeter, 15, Bettler'shuildhige, Upper
East Smithfiehl, said that he was with Piaui@ when be farad
the body. It was not searched. Deceased wee pat on to the
causeway, while •memeager ran for Mr. Perry, the sum-
moning °Meer, who arrived with the shell.
William Perry, the summoning °Meer, said that be re-
ceived information from the man Plants, sad famed de-
ceased dressed with the exception of his hat. No disarrange-
meat of the drew Witness searched the pockets sad faced
a watch,chaln, a meerschaum pima eier essoNbei DO =mg-
There were several persons with witeem when he searched
the dsceued's dress.

Regis said that when be Mt maw the body it euddeoly
came up by the force of the tide and there were two
steamers paining at that moment. The body had been in
the water above a week, and when be first saw it rise to the
surface the eye was blackened.
Dr. Edmunds said, ia answer to the COMM. that the
fax wee so much dieooloured by deoompo 'Won that he
could not speak with any ortainty as to whether the ap-
pearances of injury were inflicted before death.
Conmer—What deductions do you draw from your exa-
mination _ _ .

Dr. Edmunds—l believe that bodied from drowning, and
that death took place about two bourn after be had takes
the wise, and that during the drowning so water had been
swallowed. There wee so injury to the skin at the end of
the angers, which led him to believe that be (dsowed) bad
not straggled is the water, 110 that I thick he must have
been more or lam hissesible wbea immersed.

B Mr. keels--If the dammed bad been rendered ia-
ae
before the injury, would the eyes be cloned!
Dr. Ednivade—Yes ; they would close by the mere
mechanical swelling. Total insensibility was cense by sub.
maraca in water, and bodies which Likd been in that water
would decompose more rapidly than others.
Br. Harris mid that when he Brat maw the body the
injury over the eye was darter time ally other part of the
body.
William Thames Graham, en inspector of Thames police.
mid that on the led hat there was a flood tide about half-
peat 3 o'clock to the afternoon, and it would be about half-
food at 12 o'clock at night.
By the Ooroser—At that time there would be about 12
or 14 feet of water at the bottom of the step' leading to
the river. There were urinals as each side of the bridp
steps.
The Coroner then summed up the testimony of the
several tribalism, and said there was certainly considera-
ble mystery as to the manner in which the deceased came
isle Ws water. They had exhausted the whole of the
evidesoe obtainable, and as the police and friends were
eatable to assist them further, be would recommend an open
verdict. which would leave the case open for further in-
veetngation if asythieg should transpire.
The jury concurred, and ultimately they returned an open
verdict, "That the deemed Hugh Delwin Morrie was lotted
deed in the water of the river Thames, with marks of
violence ; bat when, how, or by what means deceased became
immersed, or the said injuries warred, they bad no evi-
d rum to prove."
The napery thee terminated, but the polies were directed
to follow up their exertions.

S6IIIOIIB EPIDINIC OnerzasinA.—An outbreak
of ophthalmia bas taken place mew tee children at the
Dover Com. Caw& of 00 ewes are sow leader treat-
ment. The Board of (Nardi's@ hate tolled is to their aid
J. Wooloott, tbss oculist surgeon to the Keel Comity
Ophthalmic Hospital, sad that goadsons las takes abuse
of the patisate
Bus FIRMINCL—The royal commission appointed
to leggin bete the °cedillas of the se► Satiates of the
United llialdem will somessess the iaquiry at Culleroosta,
ea the, Nedietatiserlaad mesa ea Tuesday seat. They will
visit Newbigeria, North Beederlaad, amid Hot Weed, mid
will ties ocadiaise their }above et Uaederlasq Hartlepool,
Ball, and eget flaking &latices soatkeard.