The Express.
London, England, 1846-09-12 00:00:00

MURDER AND MUTILATION.

In the Express of yesterday, we published a
report of the inquest on the body of George Collis, whose
mutilated remains were recently found in a cesspool at
Chesterfield, as far as it was carried when our despatches left
Chesterfield. The following further evidence is the con-
tinuation of that report:—
William Roamer, labourer of Chesterfield, deposed that
he never offered a watch for sale to Platte, nor to any ono
else, in all his life. He did not know why Platte had laid it
to him, as he always had had a good character, and he sup-
posed Platte wanted to spoil it for him.
James Kirk, butcher at Chesterfield, said that his shop
was in the Shambles, about fifty yards from Platte's. Wit-
ness knew Collis well. Deceased had Joined Platte as a
butcher about six months. Witness knew that they had
had a weekly settling together. On the 7th December
1846—he was married the same day—during church time
be was sitting in his house, when his sister came running up
the steps of his house, crying out, " Jem, Jem, here's some-
body very ill in this shop; come down directly." Witness
did so, and in running hanged against the door. Witness
said, " Open the door, you little beggar; you have got
Hsnnah here." Plaits did so, and came out. I said,
" Bring her out." He said, " No, James; she was not in."
I He (witness) said, "She was in, or why did you make
this noise ?" Platte said he had been having some liquor,
and throwing up. He then went into his mother's house,
and fastened the door.
By a Juror: There were no lights, then, in the shop. The
cross-way is exceedingly dark opposite the place. At this time
there were present in the street several other persons. It wee,
perhaps, one minute and a half before the door was opened.
The door was firmly fastened, or the force with which witness
ran down would have forced it open.
Ann Plaits, mother of John Matta, was then sworn. She
deposed to the following facts: Her son is by trade •
butcher, 22 years of age. She had another son of the same
age; they were twins. The latter had not lived with her
fur some time. Three weeks since, this day, her sou, John,
gave her a pawn ticket, to get out a watch, which was
in pledge at Mr. Wileocksion's. He gave her 12e. 6d. to
redeem it, which she did ; she believed this occurred in the
morning. She had not wen it since, nor did she think she
should know it again. Upon the watch being produced,
witness said that was something like it, but she did not take
much notice of it at the time. By a Jurer Her son once
had a watch hanging up in bis house. He was not in the
habit of staying out Lite. Never saw him frightened nor in
a tremble. When her son wished her to get the watch out
of pledge he said he wanted to send it to Sheffield. Was
quite sure she never heard her son say where he got it from.
William Sharp, constable of Chesterfield, deposed that he
found a quantity of bones on Friday last among some manure
in Bunting's fields. There were one foot and six ribs: they
were human bones. Witness searched Ann Platt's house on
Saturday morning last, and found the watch under some
bricks beneath a stake filter in the pantry. The watch pro-
duced was the same. Knight's house he also searched on
Saturday last. He found one boot there (the boot was pro-
duced, it was one of the Blucher kind, considerably the
wire) for wear). He also found a waistcoat. The next
morning he went to the Rev. Wm. French's stable and found
the fellow boot. It was under some stew. Knight's wife
said they were the boots he had when he was at Platt's.
Humphrey Bellfit of Asgate, deposed : On the 17th of last
June, he had some conversation with John Plaits the pri-
soner. Platte and witness were making hay together, and
talking about Collis. This was in Mr. Parker's field. Wit-
ness asked where Collis was. Platte said, " The b— has
gone off to Manchester with a woman. I saw him there
about six weeks ago. He owed me 'about five pounds."
Witness said, " Can you never get anything of him ?" He
replied, " Hold thy noise, I have each •pain at my stomach."
He looked very ill at atee time.—By -a-juror: He had not
complained before. He seemed muck *caused at the time.
Afterwards he a ell of a tremble, and seemed not to
wish to her 's nante mentioned.
Banda Bertesford, Collts's Sweetheart, deposed that sbe
saw the watch he .had joist before he left. her home. He
pulled it out, and laid it upon the table. The time then she
perfectly recollected; it was half-past six. He said, " I have
to meet Butcher John Platt• at half-past six, and so I must
leave yen." He mid he was going to settle with Platte.
John Platts owed George Collis money. George (deceased)
said he had promised to pay him one time and the other, bat
he was determined to make him pay him that night. She
was sure of the watch ; he took it from his fob just before
they parted. The chain and the key were the same, she had
not the least doubt about it. Witaem did not remember

whether deceased wore the gaud or not that night The
hat was eo Ruch broken that the could Namely identify it
but she knew he was wearing a silk hat which he bought at
BheMeld.—A juror: The money owing to dammed was from
ea,mas trade transaction.
Sim. Mary Thompson wowed that John Plana came to
her home while his mother was charing there, yesterday
week, and that he took away a watch, which his mother had
that morning fetched out of paws.
lone Metcalfe, of Baland, constable, deposed to going on
the 2nd of this math to Mrs. Bunting's field, where he
found a quantity of Donee, a coat, two handkerchielb, and
some part of a pair et Mowers, with bruise attached ; there
were also a pair of garters: one was red end the ether white.
The clothes are the tame is were this day identified by Ellen
Borrosford.

Mrs. Maui (Collis' mother) nailed and shown the watch,
said with much emotion—" This is my lad's watch," and as
the tears fell thickly upon it, " this," she continued to say,
" I have seen many a time." Platte had never applied to
her for money.—By a juror : What did Platt, wry when you
asked him whether he had seen your son ?—" I have seen
but it is a good bit since. I want to au hins, as there
Is a bit of settling between us."—Witness replied to Platt*,
" Yes, John; I know there is."—By another juror: WAS
you aware of any quarrel between them ? Witness:
Never, sir.
Dr. H. E. Walker, of Chesterfield, stated that on the 2nd
inst. he made a post-mortem examination of the remains
found in the soil, supposed to be those of deceased. One foot
and both hands were wanting. They were undoubtedly
bones of a human skeleton, though incomplete. There was
no daub:, from the bones of the pelvis, that the remains were
those of a male. Front the development of the teeth, he
must have been about twenty-three or twenty-four years of
age. The skull was shown to witness subsequently ; some
of the teeth were missing. The remains were in a very ad-
vanced state of decomposition. There was a fatty substance
attached to the spine, chiefly on the left side of the pelvis.
The bones were mostly disjointed, through decay and the
giving way of the ligaments. There was no fracture on any
of the long bones. The head was separated from the spine.
The soft parts were removed by decomposition, except on
the orbits and the basis of the skull. That contained
in the right orbit was of a much darker colour than
that in the other orbit, and more advanced in decomposition.
On the inner edge of the right eyebrow there was a deep
fracture of about half an inch in length, and in a direction
towards the left side. The fragments were separated full
one-eighth of an inch, and from this inner fracture there
were several washer ones diverging towards the left orbit
of the eye, and the second one passed across the
forehead towards the left orbit of the eye, and the
third paned up the forehead about five inches in
extent. The small bones forming the inside of the
eye socket were very much broken, especially on the nasal
edge of the tight orbit. The cap of the skull being removed,
the brain appeared quite in a semi-fluid state. Ou the Inner
side there was an irregular portion of flesh much depreueii
the inner plate of the skull in fact pushed in upon it. This;
extended so far as one inch and a quarter in length, by one
inch in breadth. It dropped into the lavatory while he was
cleansing the bones for examination. He produced
a small portion which had corresponded with the
fracture over the eye-brow. There was another
fracture immediately over the brain exteadiag nearly
to the base of the skull. °reit violence, very great
violence would be necessary to cause such extensive frac-
tures. The fractures were of long standing; they bad not
been recently done. From the very much discoloured state
of the matter in the scull I believe death tools place before
the fractures were inflicted. His reason was the following :
Because there was an absence of suffusion in the right eye as
compared with the left. Such a blow might be produced by
a pole-axe, or any instrument which would perforate the
skull. That kind of blow might not cause a man to die in-
stantaneously, but it would kill him ; it was quite enough to
cause death. Two of the neck bones were missing. The
hair might have been separated from its weight. The
bones of both bands, three ribs, and two of the vertebrae
had not been found. He could not say that the body had
not been cut uo ; he, however, was of opinion that it had
been thrown into the pit with the trousers upon it, and the
lining of them was smeared with a fatty substance found in
the inside of them. He should judge the person when alive
to be about the middle height. The removal of the teeth
had destroyed one chance of idenlity, but there was no pos-
sibility of arranging them now.
Mr. C. Cottrell, inspecter of police, being sworn, stated
that last week when the inquest was adjourned, Platte asked
him on the road if he (witness) knew how they had brought
it in ? Witness told him it was adjourned for further evi-
dence. Witness then said, "John, when was the last time
you saw Celli.? " He said, "On the oth of December, that
was Saturday in the afternoon. He came to my stall and
asked me to lit him have 21: 10s. I let Lim have it. He after-
wards come again and I let him have 2lbsof steak which I had,
and he invited me to go that night with him to have some ; and
we agreed to meet at Franks's on the Sunday night to have a
settling." I said, " Did you go ?" and ho replied, " Yes, 1
did, at six o'clock, and staid until 11 o'clock with the ringers
upstairs." Witness then asked him if Collis met him
there ; and he said, " No, I never saw him." I said, "It
you had met him, and settled accounts, how would the
balance have been ? Would you have to receive from him,
or he from you ?" He said, " I should have to receive from
him : he owes me 91." Mr. Wileockoon was present all the
time on the road, and he then said, " But how came you to
lend Collis 21. 10s. if he owed you 91. ?" Platte said " I
thought he was honest, and he would pay me again." Wit-
ness then said, " If he were living now, how much would
he owe you ? " He said, " Take 21. 103. from 91, and
what will remain ? " Mr. Wilcockson said, " 61. 103."
Then he (Platts) said, " That's what he owes me now,"
He was apprehended the next morning by witness. On Mon-
day he searched Platte' boxes, and feund a pledge ticket
in a purse. Witness was told this was his (Platts') bro-
ther's ; indeed, I'latts' mother had told him (,the inspector)
that she had given the brother the purse with the pawn-
ticket tor the watch in it. It was pledge.' for 11s. Witness
searched again on the Friday morning, when the purse was
gone. It was admitted that the mother had given it, the
morning before, to the brother to redeem the watch.
Richard Parsons, blacksmith, of Chesterfield, stated that,
about the latter end of last year, he was in Terry's public-
house, when Harvey came in, and named what he had seen
in the shamble* near to Platte' house. He said that there
was a strange noise in Platte' house. Platte saw him the next
morning; be brought some door-keys to be repaired. The
first conversation we had war this. I said, " Jack, there is a
strong suspicion you murdered some one last night." He said,
" Who told you so ?" 1 said, "Tom Harvey. Hesaid, "1
had a little meat in the shop, and I was going to let
down the shutter when it overbalanced me suel I fell down
al.d cut my hand on a !anthem. 1 hod three pennyworth
of rum at the old Angel, and it made me rather sick, and I
made some sort of noise that caused them to suspect such to
be the case.—By a Juror: lie appeared much excited at the
time—By another Juror: The prisoner blushed ex-
ceedingly when the matter was named ; but of this witnce
took no notice, as he thought if prisoner was innocent he
might do the same.
This being the whole of the evidence, the coroner was
proceeding to sum up, but was soon stopped by the foreman
of the Jury ea> ing, that himself and his brother jurors con-
sidered that course unnecessary. They remembered the
chief facts of the case, and, therefore, at once requested to
retire. The inquest room was accordingly cleared, the
sitting having lasted about ten hours. In about half an
hour the jury had returned a verdict of " Wilful murder
against John Nitta," who was conveyed to Derby gaol.

IRELAND.
DUBLIN, SEPT. 10.
EvecrtoN NEWS (IneLaND).—l have ascertained that
Tipperary will at the next election be contested with despe-
rate energy by the Conservative*. They have not yet
decided whether or not two candidates will be started on that
interest, but one is already in the field in the person of
Viscount Suirdale, the eldest son of Earl Donoughmore, Lord
Lieutenant of Tipperary. Your readers will easily under-
stand what 'influences the noble earl will be able to bring to
bear upon the constituency but I need not remind you that
the constituency of Tipperary have seldom submitted to
those influences. I doubt whether they will be successful
now, but I have no doubt there will be a contest. Mr.
Nicholas Maher, M.P., lett town this morning in consequence
of this intelligence.
Co. or KERRY. The Limerick Chronicler announces
Mr. Herber, of Mocker's Abbey, Killarney, as a candidate
for this county, in the room of Mr. X. J. 0 Connell, should
the latter obtain the poet of Poor-law Commissioner. Mr.
Herbert is a Conservative Whig, and is not unlikely to suc-
ceed. It is not improbable, however, that the Repealer,
will start Mr. Keane Mahony or Mr. Shine Lawlor in oppo-
sition to Mr. Herbert ; and, as both gentlemen are person-
ally popular, the contest with either would be severe.
LORD BUROROUGH AT TRI TREATRE.—Iiia Excellency
Earl Besborough save a Command at the Theatre Royal,
Hawkins-street, last night. His Excellency arrived at half-
put 8 o'clock at the door of the theatre, accompanied by hie
family, the officers of his household, and attended by • mili-
tary wort. A band stationed in the vestibule played during
his passage to his box the orai-inal anthem. His reception,
by one of the most crowded houses I have ever known,
was enthusiastic. The cheers literally shook the house.
The Commander of the Forces and the Lord Mayor of Dublin
were present with their respective suites. The Ladies Pon-
sonby (three), who entered the theatre after their noble father,
were also loudly applauded, and the more so as they rose in
their places and gracefully acknowledged the compliment.
There were, it is asserted, loud and enthusiastic cheers given
during the night for Smith O'Brien, and but feeble applause
for O'Connell and Repeal. The performances were excel-
lent, and the Lord Lieutenant retired at their conclusion
amid great applause.
OUTRAGES.—The Ker. Mr. Waller, • clergyman of the
county of Limerick, and a gentleman of large property, has
been threatened with injury, for unkindness to the poor.
On Sunday last, some stands of arma were forcibly taken
from various houses in the neighbourhood of Bonne, county
of Limerick.—The country people in the neighbourhood of
Coonagh. near the city of Limerick, have cut the road across,
as an indication, my* the Limerick Chronicle, that if they do
not obtain employment, they will do mischief.
A/MAI:LT.—The Freeman's Journal of this radrisiag con-
tains an account of a sturtlesone amok on a *iceman at
Kingstown. The assailant is not known. The eosurrence
took place at a fight where many were engaged.
latex Waraxx.--The &enllmiem of Cork are in full ac-
tivity, and their stock. are going off at a rise of 4d. per gal-
lon. This increase is not caused by any dread of • prohibi-
tion of distillation from grain, but from an increased con-
sumption, it is supposed in consequence of the many thou.
sands earning large money wages on railways.
ImixoTxuaicr or luaLurn.—Ameng the improvetnenes
on the waste lands of Ireland contemplated at the present
moment is one to encloses portion of the comet at Dungarran,
now waste ; it is 1,500 acres extent, and the cost of the en-
closure would be 17,0001.
A MILD Au roan.—Thera apple Item in bloom as

the present moment in more than one part of the county of
Waterford.
PREPARATION Or INDIAN MEAL. Mr. CORElisSarr.
General Hewatson ku issued instructions for the prepare
tion of Indian meal ma food.
RESULTS or Disranos.—There was never before this
present time such a vast quantity of bakers' bread made up
for sale in Limerick. The journeymen are at work day and
night to meet the Missend, and the families of operatives are
now constrained to be dependent, in lieu of potatoes, upon
what was heretofore deemed a luxury upon Sabbath or holi-
day. India corn meal hes advanced 20.. a ton in the local
market, and first flour 2s. to 34. a bag. Quantity of potatoes
to market in the last week, 628 carloads, being 186 lee than
the week before, and the diocese is fully developed in two-
thirds of each load. Average price, 3d. to sd. per stone.
The price of wheat in Limerick has risen within the put
week threrehalfpnwe per stone.
MoVENLINT AMONGST TR Z PEOPLE.—The following no-
tice appear in the last number of the Limerick Chronicle.
It will show how neenery, as well as wise and humane,
have been the issue of thou proclamations of the Lord Lieu-
tenant, which, convenirtg greetings for the relief of the dim-
tress, have ppresented the butultury proceedings in which
smakhm,~saeablyes u that astimplased by this notice would
p~sae
The litF'melee um pried am thous. of all the Roman
esthetic Carp& the diarists of Ankeston. kildnact, and NR.B-
biotin limilq—lbepribile on hereby iniNsord that a meeting
will heed Cesigill. ONIONNiest to New Latham, on 'Thursday
next, at the hoerllt Abet, eseipneed of the inhabitants of limey,
and its adjuiniag and labourcraindiscrinithately, fur
the purpose of es !advisable coarse to odes to pro-
cure imakedble Tad tknwsk So usury of s humane anii bemtiful
Ooveyment, mid As te dennester the most prompt mode of thru-
m with the dellintml sweets and landlords on the extreme
amour speedy esesperetien. surely it must to universally ad.
tinned that an - saminaratioas ought to be particularly its.
mtareed when a with the condition of a people threatened
with en awful impending Isinine. It is confidently hoped the local
gentry will afford the bent& af their pretence on this occasion: and
for the inlbenation of others more immediately concerned, it may be
truly stated that they will be absolutely limbed upon as enemies to the
came, mho Id they, through any pretext, however urgent, decline to
attend. At the present crisis, it is of the greatest importance that
the entire of the corn now In the country, should be carefully pre-
served by the occupying tenants—at all event. until there n ample
province proewyd otherwise.
Dated Sept. 4, 1846. Signed far "The Pariah of White Forge."