The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-08 00:00:00

TILE MURDER IN MARY LEBONE.

Yesterday morning Mr. John Humphreys, acting
for Mr. Wakley, commenced an inquiry at the Bed-
ford Arms, South-street, Manchester-square, touch-
ing the death of Mr. John Wincott, lately carrying
on business as a butcher in South-street. The case
excited great interest in the neighbourhood, large
groups being assembled in the street eager to hear
what decision would be come to. Mr. Beard ap-
peared on behalf of the widow of the deceased.
Thomas Allison, brother-in-law of the deceased,
identified the body, and stated that deceased was
only 36 years of age. He knew nothing of the
occurrence which led to his death. _ _

vv
Joseph Phar, 30, South-street, assistant to Mr.
Wincott, said—On Monday last I was in the shop,
while a man named Byles was packing some hones
in a cart outside. Four men were coming up the
street, and went to a greengrocer's shop, where they
broke and threw about some of the goods. They
then came up to Byles's cart, when one of them
stood on the wheel and upset a basket of bones into
the road. The others threw the bones about, and
Byles to defend himself struck one of them. They
then pursued Byles into the shop, and Mr. Wincott
came out to prevent them entering the premises.
One of the men named Quail was the first to strike
deceased, who in self-defence struck him again,
when all the others struck Wincott. One of the
men took up a chopper from the board and flourished
it round his head, and he called out " Rip the
--'s bowels open." The prisoner Quail took up a
knife from the board, with which he stabbed Mr.
Wincott in the abdomen. (The knife, a heavy but-
cher's implement, was produced and identified by
the witness.) The stab was given upwards. Quail
made then a second attempt to run the knife into
deceased, but tho latter avoided the blow. The
gang then went away, and I followed them into
East-street, where I gave them into custody. They
were apparently under the influence of liquor.
There was only one other person in the shop be-
sides myself and deceased when the gang entered,
and we were unable to render any assistance.

By Mr. Beard—l do not know that Quail's
mother had any quarrel about meat with the de-
ceased. Could not identify the man who took up
the chopper.
Wm. Byles, Bower-road, Hackney-wick, corro-
borated the statement of the last witness. When
the stab was inflicted, Quail said, "'Take that."
By Mr. Beard—After Quail took up the knife,
one of the men called out, " Give it to him." If de-
ceased had not drawn back, the knife would have
gone its whole length into him.
Wm. Spinks, an assistant at a shop two doors
from deceased's, saw the disturbance, and deposed
that Quail was the first to get upon Byles' cart.
When the men tried to get into Wincott's shop wit-
ness went to assist Wincott to keep them out, and
took up a bone, with which he struck them. Win-
cott struck them with his fists, and witness sud-
denly heard him call out. He then saw Quail rush-
ing at deceased with a large knife in his hand to
give him a second stab.
Denis Shea—On Monday last I was in South-
street at half-past 4. I saw a disturbance at a bone
cart, made by four men named Dublin, Walsh, Cox,
and Poulton. I believe Dublin is also called Quail.
When the latter stabbed deceased, he made another
attempt, but I caught hold of his arm and wrenched
the knife from him, and afterwards assisted to re
move Wincott to the parlour. The four men were
drunk, and they then went away when I took the
knife away. The knife produced is the one I took
from Quail.

After some further evidence of a similar charac-
ter, Mr. Beard applied b the coroner for an adjourn-
ment for the purpose of having the four accused
brought before the jury, so that the man who took
up the chopper might be identified.
The coroner said that it was very necessary to
have the accused identified before the verdict was
given, and he should therefore adjourn the inquiry
after hearing the medical evidence as to the cause of
death.
Mr. Finn, surgeon, of 4, Fair-street, was then
examined, and said that when he was • called in he
,found Mr. Wincott suffering from an ezt
_ _
agave cut