The Express.
London, England, 1857-09-23 00:00:00

HOMICIDE BY A BRITISH OFFICER IN
MONTREAL.

The Montreal Argus publishes the following
account of an event which ham been more briefly reported by
" On Thursday evening an &ff.& took place in the St. Ames
Suburbs, which terminated in the death of a man named
Dempsey. It seems that, for some time, a Onset of two or
three others has nightly gone the rounds of that ward with
police, in search of soldiers absent from roll-call in the
evening. On Thursday evening Lieutenant Tryan was de-
spatched on that duty, and applied to the chief of police,
Grain Hays, to supply him with a few men to enable him
to march such holism's be might believe harboured deserters
horn the regiment. This Captain Hays did not feel au-
thorised to grant, and Lieutenant Tryan then wished him
good night, and said he would go by himself. While in
Origintown be sew come out of a tavern two men, each car-
eying a bundle, whom he overheard speakthe;of going to the
United States. Lieutenant Tryan accosted than, and charged
them with being derertere. This brought on disturlisneri."4Td
e
neon struck Lieutenant Tura', who declared himself an
losses duty, and armed, threatening that If attacked he
would Ile in self-defence. To allow himself in earnest, he
fired tee barrel of a revolver in the air declaring that the
piece was leaded. Being attacked and struck down, he tired
twine, and the balls passed through the body of Dempsey,
one of his esseflante, a man aged about 24 years,
who died in • very short time after receiving the wouns.
The police eats up to the arms of conflict, and rived Lieu-
tenant Turn from inevitable dertruction, as the crowd wee
both numerous and furious. He surrendered himself to the
police, by whom he was taken into custody, and is so re-
tained awaiting the verdict of the coroner's jury, which
assembled yesterday afternoon at the New Court-hone,
Such, so far as we have been able to gather them, are the
particulars of an affray which has created much regret
throughout the city. In the peesent state of the inquiry vs
forbear all comment on the ease.'

An inquest on the body of Dempsey wee proceeding at the
date of the Meitner'', departure. From the evidence already
taker, we take that of two of the meet important winterises :
" Mary Parkyn, wife of Robert Bishop, sworn—l reside in
Murray-etreet, Oriffintown. I have resided in Montreal
about 28 years. On Thursday night I heard some people
ttatitz loudly about two streets from where I live. It aps
tO 001700 from the far and of Oabriel.ttnet. I thought
the mum of the loud talking won that • man who keeps
a tavern there had put out a person who was unwilling to go.
Who I heard the noise, I was standing on the gallery at the
beck of my bowie. I saw the flesh of r pistol and beard the
report. Immediately after I beard a great hallooing, talking
loudly, and a great rushing at the end of Mr. Larkin's wood-
?&II if persona were running after the report of the
. I heard a person ray, 'Go away: three those.
Rieke louder every time, and I thought the person
who spoke was an educated one. I said so to
my daughter at the time. I abut my back door and
went to the front door, and looked up towards Mr. Larkin's
corner. I saw three or four men running. I never saw any
run so feet. They were Milling towards my beim& One
man, and be was the first, was three or four yard. in front
of another. I dosed my door just as be passed, and I did not
reoogniee how he waa dressed. I went to the window and
sew the rest of the own pass. I did not recognise any of
them. Did not hear one word from them aa they weed.
Remained at the window for .arse time. After they
my home, I heard some of them say Kill him.' lhhn.•
Did not see any weapons in their hands, or see them throw
any stows. I then heard two shots fired immediately
after each other. The man that was shot just walked post
the step of my door. He laid down there on hie
eds. I opened the door a little, and heard him say
• I'm done' several times. Saw a number of persona
rather round him, raise him up, and take him to the next
lot to me, and lay him there. The party I sew running
first down the street appeared as if running for hie life. This
oceurreoce took place between 11 end 12 o'clock at night.
" John Bailey—Am foreman on theVictorimbridge. Reside
In Murray-street, Griffintown have resided then for the
lest sixteen years. I was at home on Thielrelay night, *et
3rd instant. About half-past 12 o'clock thataight I bald •
noise ; I thought about the comer of Eleanor sad WNW •
streets. I beard a perinea ins commanding voice demand kie
cap. He appeared to be an educated person above the ones
mon persona of that neighbourhood. I heard the other peep
say, 'Go on about yaw own business ; that will do—that
will do.' After that I heard a noire as of persons =mime
towards Mturay-strest. I board very loudtalking, and I
celled to my wife to throw me my trousers, as I thought
there was going to he a row in the street. While I was
Ktilir my trousers on, the door being partly open, I
a atone strike ageing my own fence. Immediately
alter I beard two pistol shots, and on looking out then I
maw a man rise and fall three times on the aide walk as be
was advancing. I saw a man who I thought had fired the
shots inn woes the street under a gallery, and continue
back again to Gebriel-stroet. The person I ea. fall I re-
cogoieed to be John Dempsey, the deceased. The
who ran after the road I baud say to the party w1,70:1
him, an Don't make attack on me.' This wee
Uordfir on
the stone was thrown. There were four or five pa,
sew pressing him, crying out, 'Go into him; • Pin Men,'
as I understood it. I could not recognise the party who
fired the abuts, en I did not look at biro particularly. I
could not swear to the Identity of the parties pursu-
ing. I went up to the deceased and opened his clothes
to we if be wee blesdnig ; finding no blood I turned him
over to gee if the ball had posed out behind. I did not hear
the deceased speak, and did not follow him after the noted
of the doctor. I knew Dempsey about twelve months ego MI
a teamster In the employ of the Grand Trunk Railway con-
tractors. Be appeared to me to be n quiet man.
" By a Juror—The person who wee shot wee among the
pollee who wen pursitung the tun who fired. They were
all near to the lean who fired the pistol. The person who was
pawned told them ' not to attack Lim, as be bad tbemesue of
defending himself, end would use them.' The cause of the
firing I have no doubt was on account of the stone being
thrown at him. Were it done to me I would have acted in
the name manner. I was standing on my gallery when the
two shots were fired, about three or four yards from the per-
son firing. The two shots I heard fired were in the direction
of tarissailiata."