The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-24 00:00:00

SUSPECTED MURDER IN SEIADWELL.

At the Thames police-court, yesterday, Jeremiah
Duggan, aged 29 years, and Timothy Donovan, 25, Irish
labourers, were brought before Mr. Benson charged with
the wilful murder of Francis Brown, a glass cutter, aged
21 years, by throwing him into the London Dock and
drowning him. The prisoners ars very rough fellows, who
have been in custody before for violent &multi. They
are charged with drowning a man. It is • singular fact,
that while searching for the body of the deceased Brown,
the body of a young woman, named Elizabeth Moore, bite
of 44, Devonshire-street, was taken out of the water. She
wee the wife of • sailor. She had been missing since
Thursday night last, and it is supposed, from some expres.
'ions she was heard to utter, that she has committed suicide,
Mr. Robert Wagstaff, • aidesman, of Noe. 10 and 11,
Spitalfields-market, stated that at • quarter past 1 o'clock
on Sunday morning he was coming up New Gravel-lane,
Shadwell, and just before he reached the swivel bridge of
the London Dock which passes over the lock, and
isle, continuation of the main thoroughfare, he heard
a cry of ''Help, help" proceeding from • man
about the centre of the bridge. He looked for-
ward in that direction, and saw two or three men
standing on the bridge about 10 or 12 yards in advance of
him. It was very dark, and be had some difficulty in
making out how many persons were on the bridge. He
rushed towards the men and saw the prisoners leaning
over the railings, and a man in the water just under them,
and drowning. He said to Donovan, " Who put that
man in the water ?" to which be replied, " How do we
know who put him over ?" He asked Donovan to whom
the man belonged. Donovan said, " How do we know to
whom he belongs?" and asked Duggan, jeeringly, " Who is
he ? Duggan said, " I don't know who the —he is."
Witness said, " Why did you not try to save the man ?
Have you called for any assistance?" Duggan made
answer, "Go to —,"and treated the affair in • coarse
and brutal manner. Duggan also said, "Try and save
him yourself." He called out murder and police as loudly
as possible, and a poliee-oonstable inside the dock answered
him.

Mr. Beason—What is the name of that constable!
Freestoo, a police sergeant, No. M K. answered this
question by stating that the constables inside the dock
were not known to those outside.

Mr.lVagstaif—The men inside the dock called oat" Who
is it, whatis the nutter?" Isaid "Thereiaamanoverboard."
I understood the constable inside the dock to say " I am
coming." He had to come 40 yards. A polio, constable,
96 /I, on duty outaide the dock came np, and at that
moment the man in the water mink tor the last time, sad

Thomas Gicks, a police constable, No. 396 X, said that
on Sunday morning, at a quarter past one o'clock, he was
on duty in a place called the Milk-yard, the entrance to
which is close to the foot of the bridge in question, and
beard a cry of murder and police. He quickened his pace,
and when he got upon the steps leading on to the road-
way, which is on a level with the bridge, he heard the cry
of a man overboard, " Murder, police." He ran on to the
bridge and saw the last whines and the two prisoners
there. Mr. Wagstaff said there was a man overboard and
struggling in the water. The man went down before
assistance could reach him, and was drowned. He said to
Mr. Wagstaff and the prisoners, " Do you know how he
came into the water ? " and told them he should require
their attendance at the polies-station, and their names and
addresses. Duggan said, " I tell you what its, master ;"
on which Donovan interrupted him and said, . Don't
criminate yourself."
Both prisoners said they knew nothing about it.
Donovan, on being asked if be had any questions to put
to the witness, said, "All he has stated is true enough
except one thing. I did not use the word criminate,' I
don't know what it means, I told him to bold his tongue."
Duggan—Criminate--I don't understand the word
Francis Brown, of No. 5, Sun-court, Lower Cornwall-
street, St. Cleorge-in-the-Eut, said—l am a sail-maker by
trade. I have lean the body of my son this morning in the
dead-house in Sandwell Churchyard. I last saw him alive
at half-peat 12 o'clock on Saturday night. He was then
half drunk--eertainly the worse for liquor—but he knew
well what he was saying and where be was going. He
wanted to come and live with me, and I refused to allow
him to do so. He struck me on the face. It was the
first time he had ever done so. I went for a police con-
stable, and on my return he weal gone. I never saw the
prisoners before. My son was a cutter, and in the
last year of his apprenticeship. e was in very low spirits
on Saturday night, and knew he bad acted wrong. He
lodged with a man named Wilcox, He was weeping on
Saturday night when I raw him.
Robert Stroud, police constable No. 270 K, said the
body of the deceased was taken out of the water at ball.
past 2 o'clock on Sunday morning.
Inspector White said he had no more evidence to offer
at present ; and Mr. Benson remanded the prisoners until
Tuesday next.