The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-21 00:00:00

THE FENIA2V OUTRAGE AT MANCHESTER.

The inquest on Sergeant Brett was opened yesterday, at
the Coroner's Court, before Mr. Edward Herford, city
coroner._ . . _ _ . _

The Coroner said it was better for him to state for
the convenience of those present that he did not
intend to prooeed with the examination of witnesses
until the inquiry before the magistrates was con-
cluded. This was s new arrangement, as to tho ad-
vantages of which he would mot speak. It was,
however, obviously better not to have any clashing or in-
terfering between the two inquiries. It was also better,
for the sake of the accused, that they should not be preju-
diced by an inquiry which was taking place behind their
backs. He should adjourn for three weeks, because when
the case bad gone before another tribunal, there would no
question arise, and the matter would be simplified. They
would see that there were strong reasons, under the pecu.
liar and painful circumstances of the case, why that course
should be adopted. He then took the evidence of de-
ceased's brother, who said that Sergeant Brett was 112 years
of age, and had a wife and three children. Police-constable
Shaw then gave similar evidence to that already reported.
He said the occurrence took place just tbrongli the railway
arch. He saw O'Meara Allen before the van was stopped..
Ha was the first man he saw standing upon the footpath
with a revolver. Witness did not know that the deceased
was inside the arch, but he knew he was in the van. He did
not see him till he saw him lying on the ground. He saw
Allen discharge his revolver more than once. Hi fired
at witness several times, and shot Prowsen in the foot. Ile
saw him fire • shot against the door of the van, which he
supposed went through it. He saw him put a pistol deli-
berately to the van. It was either at the keyhole or the
airhole above, hut he thought it was the keyhole, and dis-
charged the revolver. Directly after the shot was fired
some one from the inside cried out, "He is killed !" The
door was not open then. They were then driven away,
and when be came back he saw the deceased lying on the
ground. The hat of the deceased was now produced, and
witness seemed overcome at the sight of it, and gave the
remainder of his evidence under strong emotion. In
answer to questions by the jury, he said be was sure that
Allen knew Brett was inside the van, because some of the
crowd shouted, "Ho is inside the van." They did not
always go inside the van, but sometimes they did just to
hear what was said.
Mr. J. K. Woodcock was examined. He said he was the
house surgeon of the infirmary. lie saw the deceased
about 4.30. He was out when be first came, but he saw
him shortly afterwards. Deceased was in an unconscious
and dying state, and he saw what appeared to be gunshot
wounds in the right eye. He died at 5.25. He never
spoke or was conscious. Witness had made a post-
mortem examination. He found • fracture in the
roof of the right orbit, where the ball had entered the
cavity of the skull, and there was a second fracture on the
right side of the crown of the head, where the ball hail
pressed out of the skull, with an extensive laceration of the
brain between the two fractures.. He had seen the hat,
and the position of the hole in the bat corresponded with
the wound on the head. In his opinion, death was caused
by injury to the brain on account of the passage of the
bidlet. There was nothing in the other organs to account
for death. The other half of the brain was healthy. The
deceased was a tall man. . . .

The Jury—lf the deceased was standing upright what
direction would the bullet have taken?
Witness—ls must have passed upwards, at an angle of
45 degrees.
No other evidence was taken, and the inquiry was ad.
journed to that d►y these weeks.