The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-08-30 00:00:00

Al/GUST 28.

Parr Morgan was indicted for wilful murder fin cancer
with Francis Johuson, who has absconded) of Samson Phillips
at Macclesfield, by striking him with a red hot poker on the sth
April last.
Joseph Gregory deposed, that he kept a public-house at Mac-
clesfield. On the day in question, he heard a noise in the street,
and saw two men fighting. Soon after he saw the prisoner and the
deceased come out of a house fighting, and he also saw Francis
Johnson, who has absconded, in the crowd. Ile then returned to
his bre vt.house corner, and saw Johnson run up the entry to the
house a here he and the prisoner lodged. Johnson knocked rick
lently at the door, and threatened to break it down unless it were
opened. The door was opened, and Johnson ran in ; he soon after
came out with a red-hot poker in his hand, and ran with it among
the crowd, where the prisoner and the deceased were lighting.
In his cross-examination lie said there was great noise and con..
fusion. Redid not lei:Johnson give the poker to the prisoner. lie
charged Johnson as being the man who killed Philips, and John.
*on absconded the next day. Johnson was like the prisoner in size,
complexion, and voice, but not in face.
John Martin—Did not know the prisoner before the murder.
though he lived within lOU yards of his lodgings, and recognized
him now only by his whaikers. Did nut see hiru fighting with the
deceased, but saw two other men lighting. Saw Phillips on the
ground. Witco's laid hold of a poker, with which Phillips was
struck by some person. The prisoner was the man, he believed,
from whom he took the poker. Prisoner was stooping, and appeared
to have been pushing the poker upwards in the body of the de-
ceased. The poker was so hot that he burnt his hand,' with it. Ile
had no doubt that the prisoner was the man who had the poker.
There were fifty persons present, but no one attempted to take the
poker but the witness.
('rocs-examined—He took no notice of the man's features, but
knew him again by his whiskers. The deceased was on the ground, li
and the mischief dune before he saw him. The prisoner had not
altered his whiskers since.
George Wheeler on the night of the sth of April saw Morgan
and a stranger lighting. Prisoner came up to him, and said let
the men have fair play, whether they be Irish or English. Prisoner
was much irritated, and challenged him to fight. While he ids
speaking, the deceased came up and said something to Morgan,
and at the same moment Johnson flew at Philips and struck him.
Witness then lost sight of them. Morgan remained with witness
fob a few minutes, and then ran into the crowd again towards that
part where Johnson and the deceased went. Soon after saw the de.
ceased on his back, and the prisoner making attempts to stab him
with something which looked like a poker. Saw the last witness
attempt to take the weapon away front him, and let it go, saying
it was hot. Martin, the last witness, accused the prisoner of
having a hot poker, but lie deniedhaving any weapon. Johnson
was standing near witness while the prisoner was striking the de-
ceased.
Cross-examined—The riot lasted more than an hour. lie did
not
used
in it. Did not say before the coroner that the prisoner
a poker. Witness felt an unpleasant smell, such as the smell
of burnt flesh.
Mr. Fleet, a surgeon, at Macclesfield, was called in to the de-
ceased
on the 6th of April, and attended him daily to the 21st of
May, when he died. Deceased was wounded in the scrotum.
The wound was an inch deep and an inch in circumference. It
was surrounded by a whitish appearance, originating from the
instrument with which it was inflicted. t must have been made
by a burning instrument. The wound was the cause of the man's
death.

John Upton, a constable, who apprehended the prisoner, de.
posed that he took him, by the Slag6trate's order, to tie bed-side
tof the deceased, and asked him, in presence of the prisoner, whether
that was the man who wounded hint. The deceased said no ; and
added, the prisoner was the man with whom he had been tight-
ing. Prisoner had afterwards the opportunity of absconding, but
did not avail himself of it.
For the defence:— _

Joseph Weldon--On the night in question he saw Johnson. with
a poker in his hand, run at the deceased and stab him. The prisoner
was lying on the ground some yards from hint.
Allred Lubbo,-k—Saw Johnson run into the crowd with the hot
poker, but did not s-e what use he made of it. The prisoner was
on the ground. He had been stripped, and lighting, and was
knocked down.
The Jury, on the recommendation of the Catf Justice (Jervis),
aceritted the prisoner.