The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-07 00:00:00

Mysterious Affair in Graceehurch-street.

Last evening an inquiry was hell by Mr Wm. Payne,
coroner for the City and Southwark, at Guy's Hospital,
respecting the death of a man named Joseph Hughs, aged
36 years, who was found lying in a pool of blood in
acechurch-street.

The case created considerable interest in consequence of
its being alleged that (the deceased had been brutally as-
saulted by some persons with the intention of committing
a robbery.
Joseph Dards, 69, Lower Thames-street, said that on last
Saturday week, at half-past one o'clock in the morning, ho
was coming along Fish-street-hill, when he heard a loud
outcry and a shout of " Police, stop thief I" coming from

the direction of Gracehurch-street. Witness ran into
Gracechurch_street, and near the Obelisk he saw a man in
the roadway, lying with his head in a pool of blood, Wit-
ness after a great deal of trouble got a policewan. A cab
was procured, and the deceased was lifted into it and taken
to the hospital. He was insensible, and did not speak. He
groaned occasionally.
Mrs Jane B. Hughs, 1, Boyston-place, Camberwell,
identified the deceased as her husband. He was a dyer,
employed by Mr Osborn, of Leadenhall-street. He left
home on the morning of Friday week, and he would be oc •
cupied at Mr Osbore's on that night up to 20 minutes to 11
u'olcck, Witness anxiously expected him the whole of the
night, as he was not in the habit of stopping out. Next day
she made inquiries for him at the different hospitals, for he
had been robbed and injured four years ago. At 3 o'clock
in the afternoon she found him in Guy's Hospital. He was
then somewhat sensible. She asked him " Were you
knocked down and robbed ?" He answered, " I was going
to hail a cab. I distinctly remember receiving a blow in
the mouth. I became insensible, and Ido not remember
anything more." He repeated that statement on the fol-
lowing Wednesday. Witness believed that he had not lost
any property. Witness ascertained by inquiries that after
he had left his workft he went with a shopmato to a public-
house, where they had three half-quarterns of rum in water.
Deceased left the house at a quarter to 1 o'clock, leaving his
friend behind him.

James Moore, 585 City polio., said that he was on duty
in Gracechuroh-street on the morning in question, when
he heard that a man was lying in the road. He went to the
spot and saw police- constable Crossfield holding the de-
ceased up. Before the occurrence witness saw no one in the
street. There was no cab there. It was a fine night. le
had been past the spot three minutes before, and no one
was there. When he was helping deceased into the cab
which was to convey him to the hospital witness asked
him, " Were you knocked down ?" Deceased replied, " No,
I fell out of a cab."

Mr E. Reynolds Ray, house surgeon:at Guy's Hospital,
deposed that the deceased was let into the institution on the
morning in question by the police. There were two con-
tused and lacerated wounds on the back of his head. The
bone was laid bare. The upper lip was bruised and was cut
inside. That injury was, in witness's opinion, caused by a
blow, and the injuries to the back of the head had been pro-
duced by the fall consequent on it. Deceased was under
the influence of liquor. He had been stunned. He after •
wards told witness that he had been hit; that he had a blow
in the mouth given to him which knocked him backwards.
He died last Saturday from inflammation of She brain re-
sulting from the injury.
The Coroner, in summing up, remarked upon the mys-
tery surrounding the case, and recommended that the jury
should return an open verdict.
The Jury returned a verdict "That the deceased died
from the effects of certain injuries received in Gracechurch•
street, but under what circumstances they were received
there was not sufficient evidence to show."

I'li
ICE ......
Sll'ED

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

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READING STEEPLECHASES.
The Berkshire gathering, which was f..voured with de-
lightful weather, met with a large share of support both
from speculators and the general public who appreciate 1 eld
sports. Although only lour races appeared on the card, and
those, too, with not very large entries, the fields which
contested were quite up to the average of such meetings.
The Rogue, whose running at Croydon called attention to
his chance in the Whitley Stakes, the chief event of the
day, won easily. The other chases produced good contests,
and although falls were frequent, we are happy to say that
nothing serious occurred to either man or horse, The sport
was concluded at four o'clock as follows :
The Selling Steeplechase of 3 soya each, with 25 soya added
for 3-yr-olds and upwards; selling allowances. About
two miles. 9 subs.
Mr Picket's Piggy Wiggy, aged (£5O), 125 t.... (Owner) 1
Mr W. 131encowo'a Caricature, aged (£3O), 128 t
(Mr Mumford) 2
Mr B. Land's, jun., Surbiton, 5 yrs (£5O), 12st 21b
(Owner) 3
The following also ran :—Newtown, Chance, Brave, and
The Idea,
Betting-2 to 1 agst Surbiton-4 to 1 each egst Caries •
ture and Piggy Wiggy-10 to 1 (at first 5 to 2) eget Bravo.
Caricature took a long lead at starting, followed alter-
nately by Chance, Surbiton, and Piggy Wiggy for a mile and
a quarter, alter The Idea fell, and subsequently Chance
came to grief, but in neither instance was any injury done
to horse or rider. Half a mile from home the result was re-
duced to a certainty between Caricature and PiggyWiggy,
the latter of whom, after taking "a feeler," waited upon
Caricature until over the last fence, a stiffish jump, when he
cania-ont_arsd..wou.asulily by three lengths.-- Starbiteareasse
terirg a couple of lengths in front of Bravo, was beaten 50
lengths from Caricature. Newton came down three fences
from home, but received no injury. The winner was bought
in for 100 guineas.
The Whitley Stakes (Free Handicap), of 5 soya each, with
30 added ; winners extra. About three miles.
Mr C. Smith's The Rogue, aged, lOst .. (Mr J. Spence) 1
Capt Vivart's Übique, aged, lOst 101 b .. (Mr Thomson) 2
Jacob, The Don, Pandy, and Fitz-Ruyter also ran.
Betting-7 to 4 eget The Rogue, 4to 1 each eget The Don
and Übique, 6 to 1 agst Jacob.
Übique was first off, but after taking the first fence, gave
place to The Rogue, who, however, played second fiddle
over the second jump. At the fence out of the farm-yard,
half a mile from the start, the lot, with the exception of
Übique and The Rogue, refused, and The Don, whipped
over, atter several refusals, jumped the succeeding fence,
the artificial brook at the bottom of the hill, on the wrong
side of the it,g, and was pulled up. Of the only other horses
who passed the judge the first was Pandy (who took up Iho
running at the artificial brook), and Übique, some 300 yards
in the rear. Although l'andy continued following another
mile and a half, ho never was in the race, which was inte-
restingly confined to Tho Rogue and Unique, the:former of
whom, alter going the wrong side of a fl ig and losing con-
siderable ground, won easily by four lengths ; nothing else
passed the post.
The Fox llill Hunt Cup, value 50 guineas, added to a
S we. pstakes of 3 soya each, for local hunters, 13st 71b each,
with selling allowances ; gentleman riders ; professionals
71b extra. About two miles and a half. 7 subs.
Mr James Shrubb na Dunaton, £5O, 12st (Mr Ellison) 1
Mr R. Tompkins's Wild Rose, 12st 71b, inc 7lb cx
(B. Land, jun) 2
Mr H. C. Richards's,Spring Gun, £3O, 125 t.... (Owner) 3
Mignionette, and Cornet also ran.
Butting-11 to b agst 'Wild Rose, 4to 1 agst Mignionotte,
5 to 1 each agst Dunaton and Crick.
Wild Rose made play for a mile and a half, when Dun-
ston took up the running, was neves afterwards headed,
and won by six lengths. Mignionette refused at the brook
the second time, where Crick fell; after refusing and dis •
mounting their jockeys, both Spring Gun and Crick wont
the course, the former, after heading Wild Rose a quarter
of a mile from house, was beaten six lengths from the
second. Crick, who cantered in some time afterwards, was
the only horse who passed the post. An objection on the
ground of being a winner, and entitled to carry 71b extra
was overruled. The winner was bought by John Land for
80 guineas.
The Military Steeplechase of 5 soya each, with 30 added,
fur horses iota file the property of officers on full or half
pay, 12st each; winners extra , to be ridden by officers.
About three miles. 6 subs.
Mr Farfield's Wedding Ring, 12st (Capt. Harford) 1
M.r Griffiths's (Royal Dragoons) Bantam, 12st (Owner) 2
The following also ran :—Duke of Magenta, Kitty, and
Kate.

Betting-5 to 4 agst Duke of Magenta, 2to 1 agst Ban-
tam, and 4 to 1 agst any other.
Duke of Magenta was first off and took a clear lead, but
ran out of the course at the first fence, and bolting down
bill was not stopped till coming to the brook—he was not
further persevered with,and Wedding Ring wont on with a
clear lead, followed by Kitty and Bantam, wbo alternately
held second and third place till within half a mile from home
where Kitty was tailed off and Bantam closed up with
Wedding Ring. The pair went on together and cleared the
brook at the same moment, and from this point a good race
ensued, but Wedding Ring always having the best of it,
won by two lengths. Nothing else passed the post.

RACING FIXTURES FOR 1865.
JANUARY.

Blanchester 2
F➢BRVARY.
Lincoln Spring

MARCH.

Derby Spring . 2
Liverpool Spring .. 7
Shrewsbury Spring .... 9

Northampton 4
Croaton Park 7
Durham
Newmarket Craven

Newmarket let Spring.. 1
Chester
York Spring

Doncaster Spring l4
Warwick Spring
Chelmsford Spring
IL,
Catterick Bridge
Thirsk 2l
Epsom Spring

Salisbury
Bath 2 3
Epsom Summer 3O

Epsom Summer (con.).. 1
Manchester .. 7

Hampton
Nowton

Ascot
Alexandra Park 2O

Newcastle
Worcester Summer

Newmarket July
Carlisle
Pontefract

Nottingham Summer .. 18
Chesterfield
Goodwood

AUG

Huntingdon
Reading
Egham
Oxford
York August

Plymouth .. 24
Licht:le:el
Devon and Exeter 29
Derby Summer
Weymouth