The Express.
London, England, 1868-04-11 00:00:00

81vr 71`r(r j ' .Y 7 1:i7:1
THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY

SUSPECTED MURDER dT HACKNEY-
WICK.

POLICE COURTS.-(THIS DAY.)

ROW-ISTItZtr.

A shocking discovery, giving rise to a strong
suspicion that a murder baa been secretly committed, has
jest taken place in Hackney-wiek. In the immediate
vicinity of the old Hackney-wiekor Vietoris-park station
on the North London Railway, en extensive building ape-
minion was commenced some few years ago by Mr. Dobbs,
of Belvedere, Surrey, and several roads and streets have
since been formed upon the estate, which have been
gradually built upon, and are now partially te-
nanted, the main road being one turning out
on the southern side of Wick-read towards the
marshes, and called Victor's-road. The second
street on the right of this reed inns down to
the railway embankment, and is known as Mita-
plan. Some of the houses in this street have re-
mained for some time in an unfinished state, and it Nan
that in the week after Christmas last these houses were
swept out by one of Mr. Debbs'e men and left secured, the
front doors being screwed up, and • bar placed awns them,
and the back doors bolted. The windows, however, were
not fixed, leaving access pomible. It appears that Mr. I
Babes had recently determined to complete these houses,
and about half-past three o'clock on Thursday afternoon
one of his carmen, aimed Moon was instructed to leave
a load of sash weights at the house No. 21 in the street.
As soon, however, as he had opened the door, he notion
a horrible stench, and called to the foreman, Thomas
Namara, who was crossing the street at the time,
telling him of the smell, which be supposed to
arise from the caresses of dead cats or something of the
kind. The foreman went into the house with him end
looked into the various rooms, but found nothing
beyond a black kid glove in the back roam ea the
ground floor. However, on opening a cupboard beneath
the staircase on the same floor, the stench was found to
proceed from it, and • light having been obtained, they
found within it, the dead body of a man fully
drawl, with his head towards the door, sad in a
reclining position against the side of the cupboard.
Newsom immediately made his master aequainted
with the circumstance, and he instantly (*mien-
nicated with Inspector Gibbons, of the Hack-
ney sub-division of police, and with the coroner's
officer. Dr. Powell, of Gaintherongh-road, was also
called in, and inspected the body in the position in which
it was found, he giving an opinion that death must have
taken place from two to three months since. The police
authorities sent Sergeant W. Foden, N, to the spot,
who made every inquiry, but was unable to And the
slightest clue by which to identify the deceased. The
body having been wrapped, pursuant to the directions of
Dr. Tripe, the medical officer of the Hackney district, in
• sheet well soaked with Condy's disinfecting fluid, was
carried out of the house by Sergeant Foden, and conveyed
to the Hackney mortuary at the old tower in the church-
yard. On visiting the mortuary yesterday morning our
reporter found the stench from the body was still of the
moos horrible character, and the corpse presented a sicken-
ing and ghastly spectacle. The face, which was that of an
apparently intellectual man, with a broad forehead sad
finely chiselled features, was almost black, and the hair,
moustache, end beard were matted with blood, while the
eyes appeared to be completely destroyed by deoompo-
'Rion. The whole of the right aide of the heed is 'Aid
open, while over the right eyebrow is a deep depression, as
though from • fearful blow. The right hand is partially
wasted at the finger ends, and lies open, while the left ia
convulsively clenched. The hands are soft and delicate,
and apparently quite unused to manual labour, and,
coupled with the character of the face and the
dress of the deceased, point emphatically to his
having occupied a respectable position in society.
The dress would also seem to indicate that he was con-
nected with the nautical profession, as his trousers and
waistcoat are of the customary blue cloth, but of a very
fine quality, his coat being of a similar colour and evi-
' dently well made. It is a somewhat remarkable fact that on
the person of the deceased no small article was found,
such as • pocket-handkerchief, pencil, Sze., nor • scrap of
paper of any description. A billycock hat and pair of
leather slippers, which he had probably been wearing,
were found close to his head, and also a single blucher
boot and • frock coat of good make, but rery much wore.
The lappets of this moat are torn, and the arm and bark
bear numerous stains of blood. The dream of the deceased
when the body was found was disarranged, and the
braces, which are much stained with blood, appear to have
been broken in a struggle. There can be little doubt that
the deceased has been brutally murdered, and the body
secreted in the cupboard where it was found, an entrance
to the house having been obtained through the window at
the back of the house, which looks on to the marshes, as any
person entering from the front would have been observed
from the houses on the opposite aide, which are tenanted.
The blood-stained old frock-coat found by the side of the
body could not have been worn by the deceased beneath
bin pilot coat, and the single blucher boot points to the
fact that some one else besides the murdered man must
have been inside the house land had access to
the cupboard in which the body was found.
The polio° were actively engaged yesterday in
making inquiries, but no one has been miming in the
neighbourhood during the period in which the murder
must have been committed, and there is at present no
clue whatever which would seem to render a solution of
the mystery surrounding this horrible discovery as at all
probable. The greatest excitement prevails in the vial-
nity, and the public are anxiously looking forward for the
result of the inquest on the body. The age of the de-
ceased would apparently have been about 34 or 315, and
his height from a ft. 6 in. to sft 7 in. The fan is not so
much disfigured but that relatives or friends might
identify him, and as the body lies at the Hackney mor-
tuary, all who may have mined any one at all cone-
' aponding with the description of the deceased should take
the opportunity of seeing it, and giving such information
as may further the ends of justice.

Elltilizinnierr Aim /0101117.
Themes Maass,, a porter in the employment of Messrs.
Bunsen and Co., the well-known mum and *Me mama-
fitotallee of the &read. we. charged with gembesslsemet.
Mr. Ahirmas. who conducted the pragmatism, staged that
the primer had been some time In the service of Mr.
Burgess, and was frequently sent to deliver goods to
eustosers. A few days ago he was seat with thre
of anchovies to Mr. Walker, a grocer. According to sushi..
he was provided with a form of receipt for the geode, to be
signed by the person accoepting the delivery in the 'ventral
the amount not being paid at the time, but if the
e:sEt no such acknowledgemest would be rag=
The r delivered the anchovies to Mr. Hermosa
an militant at Mr. Walker's, who at cam paid
for them. The prisoner had, therefore, no excuse for ask-
ing him to sign the acknowledgment of delivery of the
Ho, however, instead of Cpa the money over*, detployer, said it had not been and produced the
receipt for the goods, to which he himself attached
the signature " Hopp." It was afterwards discovered
that this was a fietitlecie signature_ no person of that sense
being known at Mr. Walker's When taken in custody by
Sergeant Bixby, of the F division, the -prisoner mid be paid
the Eimer in She snit day. After he received it he nest
with a friend, whom he bad not men for some peen.
Having a few coppers of his own, be asked his Mend to
drink with him, and after spending his own money, was
induced to speed a shilling of his master's money. He
did 'unlike to pay in the two and therefore kepti
it back till the following day when be paid in the Is. It
did not appear, however, that he had really paid the
money at any time. Small as the amount was in this ease,
Mr. Burrs had felt himself bound topromed, because when
I defalcations took place, though the particular fraud might
a Dot be detected, yet deficiency would be discovered, and
suspicion often NI on innocent persons.
Evidence having been given of the fame, the
remanded for inquiry, ohidy as to whether he hd prisonerbow:
guilty of any former dishonesty.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.
LIBILIZLZIMPIT.
()firer Morgan, a respestable-looking young man, in the
employ of Mr. Thomas Bateman, groper, of No. 3, Charles-
street, Middlesex Hospital, was charged before Mr. Benson
with embezzling amend some of money received on account
of his employer.
From the evidence it appeared that the prisoner was
employed by the prosecutor to call on publicans and con-
fectioners for orders for " foots" sad tea, and that be
received several sums of money from the customers and
failed to hand them over to the prosecutor.
Francis Bellantoni, E division, said that on taking the
prisoner into custody he did not deny the charge, but said
he was very sorry and asked for mercy.
The prisoner said that he bad in the course of his busi-
ness to call on several publicans, and he had given way to
drink, and had got madly intoxicated.He had been in
the prosecutor's employ on a previous oceseion.
Mr. Bateman said that was the case, and that the pri-
soner was not at that time guilty of any act of dishonesty.
Mr. Benson said be should remand the prisoner for a
week, and if be thought proper be could have a solicitor in
attendance on his behalf.

Yr. Bateman said that be wished to recommend the
primmer to mercy, for prisoner beloeged to • respectable
family, and be (Yr. Baseman) bad no doubt had been led
to do what he had done through giving way to drink.
Mr. Benson said that the ease was one of a oleos a ma-
gistrate had no power to deal with, and recommend.
ation most be made elsewhere. The prim/nor would be
remanded.

DISTRESt3ING BOAT ACCIDENT.

TWO YOUNG GENTLEMEN DROWNED.

Yesterday afternoon an accident occurred on
the Mersey, by which two young men lost their lives
and two others were placed in jeopardy. About
half-past 11, two boats belonging to the Athletic Rowing
Club left their station at Rock Ferry for a trip up the
river towards RUIIOOI7I. The boats were two out-
riggers, sad were manned, one by three young
men, and the other, being a single-oared boat,
pulled by one man. The tide was ebbing very strong,
and, in order to avoid the force of the current, the
two skiffs kept pretty does to the Lancashire
slime. When opposite Hale the boat which was rowed
by one man was caught in a sudden squall, and
the force of the wind sad the tide capsized her.
The occupant war thrown into the water, but
managed to get hold of the boat, which he clung
to, and shouted to hie companions who were in
the other boat to come to his asaistance. They immedi-
ately rowed to the place where the man was straggling in
the water, and pulled him on board their skiff. The addi-
tional weight thus caused was too much for so frail a boat
and the result was that the second skiff was overturned,
and the fourmenleftstruggling in the water. Some of them
clung to the bulwarks of the boat, and one got upon tho
keeL With the view of getting eastitenoe from any passing
boats or Temkin the neighbourhood,they shouted and waved
their hands. They seem, however, to have remained in their
perilous position for some time without attracting attention,
and two of their number becoming exhausted let go their
hold and were drowned, just Is help was at hand. About
half-past 4 o'closk • boat containing five young men
was proceeding down the river, when their atten-
tion was attracted by the cries of the men who
were still clinging to the beat. They at oaoe rowed to
their aid, and with considerable difficulty got them on
board their beat. The names of the two unfortunate
young men who perished were Grandy and Hamilton, and
they are said to have been residents of Liverpool.

THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE BRONLITY STEEPLE-
CHASM—OH Thursday an inquest was held at South.
borough, Bromley, touching the death of Mr. Edward
Clifford, aged 19 years, who was killed at the Broadey
Steeplechases on Tuesday last. Mr. N. A. Clifford
said the deceased was a gentleman jockey, and was the
son of Hr. Thomas Clifford, of the Prebendal, Theme,
Oxfordshire. He was much addicted to field sports,
especially hunting, and for three years past he frequently
rode his father's horses at steeplechases. He rode at
' the Bromley Races on Monday last, and proved the
winner. On Tuesday he rode again, being mounted oa
Vindicator. Witome viewed the race from the Grand
Stand. It was run at 4.90 p.m. Vindicator cleared all
the obstacles sameintully until he aims to the last
hurdle, and he was the first horse in the rasa When
he came to the last hurdle he jumped falsely, and ;his
hind legs caught in the hurdle. The ground en the
farther side being a little hard his fore feet " slid,"
and he tumbled. The deceased fell from the meddle,
and the orowd rushed forward. Two doctors wbo ware
on the ground also ran to thing, but they found that be
was dead. His neck was broken, and he had received
also severe internal injuries. He was a perfectly
competent jockey. He rode for plesure and not far
gain. John lass, a labourer, said that he was neer
the last hurdles when the accident took pleas. Vindi-
catoes bind legs caught in the hedge, and deceased was
pitched head-foremost out of the saddle. The bergs foil
upon him, but jumped up instantly, and was off in ad-
vance of the other horses. The foam was cleared by the
other horses without accident, and they cams over so
quickly after the accident that they would have ithAteed
on Vindicator if he bad not been up and off so qolt.
No one did anything to Medea Vindicator, or make
bias miss he jump. It wee a fair attempt, and a
failure. The maw said that the evidence showed that
the occurrence was entirely socadeatth There was a me-
tals amount of Irma steregisehealag, but
it did not appeareaTA:= "I.Bresaley races the obelisk
were In any way The jury re-
tureed a verdict that at d'afis IrsimeddulTrora the effectsof
injuries accidentally received through the fall of the he.,
Vindicator, while j=ming a feoceillaring the
Bromley. The ram in wkish the damaged
his death was for the Itheepleshess Plate id 4* sera, the
emcee being two miles. Ave homes as., sad althea*
Ned of the • •come in Stet after the calesleophs to
Vindicator, the race was declared void, owingto the feet
that at least three of the harms had taken the wrang side

LATEST PARTICULARE—(THIS DAY.)
The investigation into the circumstances connected with
this extraordinary case has been carried on actively by the
police, and at 1 o'clock to-day some advance was made
towards the identification of the deceased man, although
the mystery surrounding this supposed murder is, if pos-
sible, greater than ever. Upon making • minute examine.
tion of the dress of the deceased there was found
written inside the lisp of one of the slippers
that he wore the name "B. Heaseman." On
the flannel shirt the same name was found. It is, how-
ever, premature to ammo that Hussman was the real
name of the deceased. Just after this important discovery
was made an elderly ladyand a gentleman arrived in Hook-
ney and showed ► photograph which bore • striking ream.
blance to the features of the man lying dead in the
mortuary. In feet, it was difficult for any per.
son who had seen the body not to admit that the photo-
graph Ins that of its features. The lady and gentleman,
however, were deterred from viewing the body on 'amount
of the dreadful exhalations which were emanating from it.
The gentleman stated that the peaty whose photograph he
was pommeled of ran away from his wife and family acme
18 months ego. He took 2,0001. in money with him, but
no clothes. He left all his clothes at ►is residence. It
was supposed that he was living somewhere with • mis-
tress, but he so effectually concealed his whereabouts that
his family were unable to discover any tram of him. It
is regarded as certain that he changed his name, and if so,
the name " Reissman" written on the slipper and the

flannel sreatcoat would be accounted for.
It is a circumstance to be noted that the factures of the
demised, which are strongly marked and regular, beer
en air of refinement quite out of keeping with the
appearance of the clothes which he wore. The clothes
are, as has been stated, of good cloth, but t►ey are
strong rather than has in texture, and the calico
skirt is quits coarse and ill made. The slippers which
he wore ars made of bleak leather, and they are
good. They are covered with mud, apparently gathered
is a walk in the neighbouring marshes, but the filet that
Ike were slippers is regarded as • proof that he had not
lame from any great distance. And it is therefore is•
toned that he must have been a person living is. Hackney,
and that the reason be was not missed was that he was
living then quite privately, and concealed the fact from
all his friends.

of • flag. JL
THZ MITRDIR AT FORMT•HILL. —The body of
Alfred Cartwright, who was recontly murdered at Poesell-
hill, was buried yesterday at Bros isle Comeseery,
the same neighbourhood. The deceased was a tnewbes
the Ancient Order of Foreshow, a ember
their insignia of Aloe, took park ia Ha formal
their band piffling the " Dead Mareh in ae
of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood alas fellswed. es
• mark of respect te Use deceased.
CIMISZRLAND AND WHITITOHILAID WkalaefiDla
Socuter.— The gathering in the Agricultural- roam-
day, though numerioaDy not quite equal to theme de
previous anniverearleo, had the advantage et owe Nobs
proceeding and were orderly mans=miths sec*
amphitheatre. arranged ea a circus,
von tiers of reserved soots said gellohlati
admirable arena for divlaying the prow d ath-
letes, and while the bWdin‘ itself, dm. said wieogh
in ordinury, kept out the chilling wind' Oat prevailed in
the rates air, the glen roof gave the pleas Ward the light-
._ _

How the dammed ovoid have been got into the hoses' i fe--22"_f; ~- v---;,, ,
_---,,.„ -- .....
_.
where his bay wee found appears at present altogether I lere.ber :Tele% /ma:44 of rn bel=elar'elthralatlela
issesplicsble. The doors wen not only bolted on the la- inn for the most wt,, the is., at
sde, bus were screwed up. The only window through Ilimiumbeland, or Artkinaledeahlt Who have
1
.whisk somas mold have been obtained is seven/ 1.0 leadb____,..." 'blamable
the
alai so rasa &
, hem the ground. One theory alerted is that an =te.'fil„Me7tlPlP_l sbm Imre of •021Agg_tkrin or
' deceased wee merdessid . ilis the metal by Hohir ;;;:elee-eTeeTietLeTy wida vitasdpaßr
aai,:naar twee 0,..2.
on the bead, and that his body was then castled to, she .Li names M the geom., the thm Ors-
' "Soh of the, hones and lifted up by at least two isulis, the TM* and the Swim*, yin the
ash ,vssehesl, in through the window. The tine 'l' la label& that Eat Mew tau den tilioaled
which the body was found in the cupboard or coal cellar =fo.'s at
ow tgetdentat
°fat:tab' all
egraph boarded ablest
cettepoathe.
underseath the stairs is just each as would indicate that I Lig card'', were able to gain a mush clearer idea than ever
it had been leas in there bead foremost, the feet being they mull before of the actual fortunes and miafortones
towards the dareof the contesting youths.