The Express.
London, England, 1849-08-28 00:00:00

Friday evening, and inquired for Mr. O'Connor. Mrs.
Manning slid came at a quarter Were six o'clock. She was
let in by my sister, and wen' to Mr. O'Connor's room. Ido
not keep a servant. I was frequently in Mr. O'Connor's ,
room on that Friday before Mrs. Manning came. He could
not have returned home without my knowledge. His trunk
was then on the top of the drawers. We had no «Trim to
remove it that day. I was not attracted by its appearance or
position on that day. Mrs. Manning was there on Friday
from a qturter before six to a quarter past seven o'clock. IYo
other person entered the room daring that time. The floor-
ing of the house is carpeted throughout. Sne came down
Viand passed through the shop to me ; there was nothing
gin her visit, as I thought Mr. O'Conwee would
rotten. She made no observation when she caste
is I expected Mr. O'Connor wmild soon follow.
On leaving she passed through the shop, although 1 had for-
bidden her and Mr Manning too to come in or "o out that
"•
way witnon rc punaging sornet ni ng. I was IIIHMM( in tb
parlour ; my sister was in the shop, and she called my sister
for a kind of plum Bake, which she bought. Ste had
bon-lbt in that way before, but not lately. She seemed very
pale, and shaking all over. I did not notice anything fa
her possession. Mr. O'Connor's bed-room was over my
perlour, in which I was engaged writing; but 1 did not hew
any noise overhead. I have not missed any article from cis
bed-room. Mr. O'Connor wore a silver watch on working
days. I have nut found it in his room. I believe he had It
with him when he went out in the morning. I have sees
him with • gold watch and chain, which he used to wee: u
Sundays. The watch and chain produced here to-day are not
his. Oa Saturday morning • nonce was sent to the house trot
the docks stating he was absent, at which I wu very musk
surprised. After that I went into his bedroom. His trunk
appeared &annual. I was there when the police o .ened
That was on the following Monday. Mr. Keating sad
three other gentlemen, b sides Barnes, the poficeofticer,
were present. They found the trunk still on the drawers is
the usual way. It was locked. There were no kept and
no search made for keys, because I told them he 'l'm
took his keys with him. The trunk wag then forced ores,
and the cash-box therein was found broken open, sod the
top compartments of it empty. When they were lifted up,
there were some papers underneath. From Thursday, eke
9th, to the Monday following, no one but my sister and My-
self had access to Mr. O'Connor's apartment'. except Me.
Manning. I have not bees able to ref anything shown to
me to-day as the property of Mr. O'Connor. I never saw the
gown which was produced by the inspector of police thin
day. On the Friday Mrs. Manning said that as she did not
see Mr. O'Connor that evening she would call as Sunday;
and I said to my sister that if she celled she should ecitlag
let in. She did nit call, on Sunday, nor ever since that
Friday evening. The drawers were locked and were net
opened on Monday evening, nor until the deceased's brother
unfelt could recognise thestrangep loon who called on Mer
day morning about 10 o'clock and said be wanted to see Mr.
O'Connor. (She here identified the person.) I said testii
he did rot come home his boxes would be broken open by
the police. That person bad no access to Mr. O'Coogor'a nee.
The stranger said hesaw the deceased on 'Change on Saturday
and wanted to do business with him. I said that he had not
been home since last Thum:ley morning. •' Oh, but," said
he, "he will be home to-night." He then went away
towards the City, and I sent r, little boy after him On his
return I Paid, inquiringly, " You said you saw Mr. O'Con-
nor on Saturday. Wed you give me your name 1" He re.
plied that his name was of no use, as Mr. O'Connor did not
know him, nor he Mr. 0 Connor. 1 said, " Neverttelea,
give me your name 1" He asked what apariments he oc.
copied, and I told him. I said I feared he had absented
himself from the decks. Hs said, " What of that—Le will
be home to night." I gave him the slate to write
his name on it, and he did so, but he
rubbed it out, saying he would give me his coed
he would call again that evening before five o'clock.
I said that would not do, and I retired, and imme.lia ely
after went to the police station. Tho pinion 1 har this
conversation with is the gentleman present, who cave his
name John Bassett, and said he could give important en.
dente.
William John Reddie—l am sct'ng in/Teeter of coo us
in the London Docks. I reside at 4. Albion p'-c-, hen.
nington-lane. On Thursdev, the 9th, and Fr,.l.iv, the
10th. I was on duty at the docks. On the 9th 1 sow Mr.
O'Connor on duty. He signed the appearance sheet that
day, which is • weekly return of attendance. He as cot
been on duty since. He was a stout, tall rum, chow 13
or 14 stone, about 5 feet 10 or 11 inches. and rhout 48
years of age. He had light eyes and no whisker.. Oa
Thursday, the 9th, he had • black coat and wad.: cost, with
a black stock tied with a small bow, and small cheek
trousers.
John 13ssisett was then called. He slid, I am a clerk in
the house of Killick and Co., stock and share brokers, No.G,
Bank chambers, City. I reside at 2i, Field2ato-street,
Whitechapel. On or about the 31et of Jule, a Rectlemis
came about twelve o'clock to our office, whom I introduced
to our manager. I never saw him before. He come, be
said, rept cting the sale of some stock. and wised Is
know our terms. On Thursday, the 2nd of kunst,
he called again, about three o'clock in the after-
noon, and apologised to me for not calling the
day or two before, as he promised. He raid be
dial not wish to part with his stork for a few days.
On Saturday, the 11th of August, he called again, shout, I
should say, a little after II o'clock. He said, "I haw
brought the stock." I said, " Sir, the manager whom yea
saw before is absent en account of i Inns, but I can menage
the business for you." He produced his stock, being M
shares Eastern Counties Consolidated Stork. I asked hie
how mnch money he wanted. Ile said 120/. or 138/. I re-
plied that I could let him have 1101., and he said that would
do; that he wanted the money to pay a bill. 1 then ad-
vanced to him 1101., paying him a 1001. note, nue 5/ nett,
and 5 sovereigns. I did not take the number of e.ose totes,
but a gentleman in our office, who is present, did li' eau
as a transfer for the money, which I saw him sign.
The name he signed was Patrick O'Connor, 21, Greenwood.
street, Mile-end-road. He appeared to me to b • about 44
or 45 years of age ; a tall stout man with round festers
When I say tall, I mean about 5 feet 10 inches high. He
had small light whiskers, end a pale sallow cora, lesion. I
remarked that he appeared in excellent spirits, and was wry
talkative. From his accent I should have taken him t' es
an Englishman. I certainly do not think he was an blebs&
I saw him write his name. I cannot describe it more rims
say it was sidelong. I saw the dead body on Saturday,*
18th, and I shall never forget it. I judged it to te
that of the man for whom we sold the rail-
way shares—being the same length and build—est
I could not swear to it. I should have said that he told as
he was going off to Exeter to fish, ands id he would "ries
me up a dish of salmon trout of his own catching. Atter hi
left, a gentleman in our office asked me if I had got his gig'
nature to a memorandum of the transaction ; and holm
said that I did not, I was instructed to go to Oreeewead-
street on Monday the 13th of August, with the view of
getting Mr. O'Connor to sign the poper. I knock-. 1 at
the side door, and asked for Mr. O'Connor. Mrs Harmful&
no, and a• I left a boy followed me, and 1 returnedothen Mee
Hennes said Mr. O'Connor had not been home sineeT: wedgy,
but did not say anything about boxes being br ken ores.
John Hammond—l am a clerk in the office of Mesa
Killick and Co. About half-past eleven on Saturday mane
int, the 11th of August, Mr. Bassett brought to me free
the private-room twen shares of Eastern Counties Ur
sendated Stock, with an
transfer, signed Patrick °Tons&
I than gave to Mr. Bassett 1001 Bank of England note, Ne.
15,043, dated sth Jane, 1849; a 51. note, No. 20,051, dated
July 13,1849.
ne Coroner—That note is found in the possession of
Mrs. Manning.
Witness—l also saw the dead body when Mr. Bassett ere
it, and my impression was that it was the body of the mat
to whom, on the previous Saturday, we paid the 1101 I
letter of Mr. O'Connor was here shown to witness, aeries
was asked if the signature of the person to whom they paid
drill 1. resembled it, and heeaid not, thatit was ton free. ii
was then shown some writing of Manning's without being
told whose it was, and he said the signature was of that
style, but not quite so upright. Witness continued—l 1101
to the Bank of England on Monday, the 20th, to mop the
1001. note, end found it was changed, and that anwegst
tY
notes given in exchange were five of the 101. notes found it
Mrs. Manning's posuitseon. If the man is alive to wheal
saw the 110/. paid I think I would know him again.
Mr. Bassett was recalled and questioned upon that peat,
and be said that if the man were alive, and if his impreanes
about the dead body was incorrect, he thought he *add
know him amongst a thousand.
Charles Bainbridge (after a reprimand from the comae
for not having attended earlier in the day) ssid—l ass
furniture-dealer, living at 14, Bermondsey.equare. I knew
the Manning.. I only knew them about seven weeb
from this time, when I was desired to call and
lo at
ia n t
thimemmeornfuirnitn?uwrehentlie;tr.hamdinfnoirngsamlei.d
be
lef 9
callug,
sold them ; but desired me to call again. I did so, and srw
asked Iti
ftdornthMe fulnenniintug;e7hol o
again and saw Mr. Manning, who offered them for 131. lea!
but I refused to give more than 13i. He then told me he hid
I a respectable young man in the housee, who wanted to nes
tookffere offered 131.,
13 over
and
de
went house
away.
anday
101. on his medical certificates ; but I refused to lend it widt'
out inquiring as to their value. I did purchase the (units!'
for 131., and hked me to remove it at 5 &cock
ate morning. Is aid it would look bad to Ifs!!
It so early, and I sent the man at ten o'clock on Tueeley:
the
next morning. There was nothing but household VW id
what I purchased, excepting a few trifling articles of eleoter
amongst which was the coat of a railway guard. If
Ce
me a bundle of linen, 28 pieces towelling, &c.,
quested me to take charge of for him. When 1 scent
Wednesday I could not get admittance, and having Ices
formed that two pfficomen had been there, I went to 7,
police station, and told all that had passed hetwem
When the pollee broke into the house they allowed ms
hi 'h
take away the remainder of the things, amongst. w
a shovel. (A shovel was here produced.) I beleve OM
be the ghoul I found at 3, Minver- place. tes'imdf
Mrs. Bainbridge, wife of the last witnesa, gave
01,
to the same effect. She identified the shovel as one.. the
articles removed. Amongst them were two fen, dry"'
and a pair of stockings, which she gave into th
of one of the police-officers. One of them lacing WI
she said it had the appearance of being hastily erd.he',....
dried before the fire. She knew Mrs. Manning, to wee.". 7.1
which t,
she was net acquainted with her, nor had ever a,
ot.:
deem upon her. There were some stains upon it.,h
could not undertake to say what they were caused b.. pg.
the 13,11, se-
' Manning went to her house on Monday, too
I left at a quarter before 7 on Wednesday morning.
in a cab. On Monday evening he drank one glass I
after another in his tea until he got quite tipsy. she_ab,
him why he did not go to sleep in his own home. mate
said he would not take 201. all nd do go.
Mr. Lockwood, on being shown the shovel, A
meWre.lyCiadheintlt,iai.dn
to
ehm
the
soyeo.yment of the furniture
oid broil'
there was human hair attached to it, but ttiotA,
had not been the instrument or one of the instrumel
which the injuries ware inflicted on the deceased.