The Sun.
London, England, 1838-08-25 00:00:00

_THE LATE FATAL 1113 ON

WIMBLEDON COMMON.

CORONER'S INQUEST ON THE UNFORTUNATE
MIL MIRFIN —(TillS DAY.)
Tles morning, at half-past Eleven o'CloLk, an inquest was held at
the " Tankard Tavern," 8r..0k-strei t, West-square, Lambeth, before
Mr. Carttar, Corcncr for Sul rey, and a most respectable jury, on view
of the body of Charles Flower Mirfin, Esq., aged 32, the unfortunate
gentleman who was killed its a duel o❑ Waribledon Common o❑
Wciltie,day evening last.
Since the fatal occurrercc the deceased's antagonist, a Mr. Eliot (said
to be the son of a general officer) has absconded.
The inquiry created a very intense and painful interest from the
high respectability of the deceased ; also from the unhappy consequences
which ted to the fatal result, and during the proceedings the inquest
room was crowded.
After the jury laud viewed the body, the following evidence was
adduced :
William Lawson deposed, that he had been in the service of the de-
ceased a few months ; he was a gentleman of independent fortune and
resided at No. 2, Pleasant place, West-square; he came home between
four and five o'clock on Wednesday morning last, when he was
in a state of intoxication. No particular conversation took
place between witness and the deceased at the time ; at two
o'clock in the afternoon, witness took hint his breakfast at his
bed.side. Shortly afterwards he came down stairs, and having de-
sired his horse and gie, to be fetched, drove off; between eight and
nine o'clock in the evening his unfortunate master was brought, home
dead in a cab. Mr. Scott, a Surgeon, of No. 22, Rockingham.row,
New Kent-road, accompanied the corpse ; witness assisted Mr. Scott in
removing the body into the parlour, and placing it on the carpet. Mr.
Scott went for Mr. Smith, another medical gentleman, after which the
deceased's clothes were taken off, when witness discovered a gunshot
wound on the right side under the arm; a quantity of blood flowed
from the wound.
By the CORONER--I did not observe any other marks of violence on
the body of the deceased independent of the gun or pistol-shot wound
I have descril:ed. When the deceased left home he did not tell me
where he was going. He did not take any parcel into the gig with him.
By the Jury—l did not observe any particular alteration in the man-
ner of the deceased on the Wednesday before he left home.
At this stage of the proceedings the beadle brought into the room the
coat and waistcoat worn by the deceased on the day of the fatal occur-
rence, which was identified by the witness. They were both perforated
by the bullet, and stained with a considerable quantity of blood.
Job Crouch, a cow-keeper, living at Wimbledon, deposed that he did
not know the deceased. Between seven and eight o'clock on Wednes-
day evening last, witness was crossing over Wimbledon Common, when,
near a bog or hollow at the distance of about 200 yards, he observed an
open carriage with two horses. A short way from them were three or four
other carriages and one cabriolet. On passing on a little further, he saw
five gentlemen near the hollow conversing together, and a little further
on two younger gentlemen. Witness, and two lads in his employ, who
were on the common attending some cows, stood watching the parties.
Witness saw three of the gentlsmen walk off in separate directions, and
at length stand still ; the other two gentlemen separated to the space, as
far as witness could discern, of about twelve paces, and then faced, stand-
ing opposite each other, they then fired with pistols, but neither fell; two
of the other parties, who appeared to act as seconds, then went to the
gentlemen who had flred,and, after speaking a few words, again retired,
when the hostile parties again fired, and immediately one of the gentlemen
fell. The second and a third person, who witness afterwards ascertained
to be the surgeon, ran to the wounded gentleman and lifted him up, but
he (deceased) wes powerless, and they then laid him on his back on the
ground. Witness made to the spot as fast as possible, and found
the deceased was dead. The surgeon was endeavouring to
staunch the blood which flowed from a wound on the right
side below the arm ; witness assisted in taking the deceased's coat and
waistcoat off; a pistol was on the ground near where the deceased lay ;
witness knew none of the parties, and did not observe what became of the
deceased's opponent ; witness assisted in putting the body of the deceased
into the cab, after which the surgeon got in, and the cab drove off.
The witness then went to see the body, and on his return said that
the one shown him was that of which he had been speaking. He knew
the common very well, and believed that all the parties were in the pa-
rish of Putney. The surgeon was one of the five of whom he had spoken.
He conversed with them, and seemed to be countenancing them by his
presence. The two who were sitting apart took no part in the affair,
only one came down, and he merely asked a question, and said, " Poor
fellow," and immediately retired. Witness did not think he could
identify any of the parties, except the surgeon. When they put the
body in the cab, no trace whatever of the other parties were found.
By a Juryman—The parties did not move from their first ground until
after the second fire. No conversation appeared to take place, they might
have asked whether they were satisfied, but there was very little time—
the firing was almost instantaneous.
Thomas Hunt Dunn a Miller, saw the transaction on Wed-
nesday night. He was at about the distance of 30 yards from the
parties. The spot on which it took place was in Wimbledon Parish. He
was sure of this, though there had been much dispute about the bounds.
His attention was first attracted to the matter by seeing four carriages
draw up near to his house. He saw seven persons alight and go down
to the hollow. From what he had seen before he thought the
parties were engaged in a duel, and he followed them down. He
saw a bag produced and a box taken from it. From that box the pis.
tols were taken. While the pistols were being loaded the gentleman
who shot the other came up to him, and after the usual civilities
witness said, "It seems that some of these gentlemen have
got some little differences to settle." The gentleman said, " Oh,
damned nonsense; its only a bet for a hundred pounds." Witness
said he did not believe it. He then passed on whistling, and returned
in a minute. Witness said it was a pity gentlemen could not otherwise
settle their differences, to which he answered, " Oh, d—d nonsense,
I am ten much used or practised in it; I am one of the gentlemen who
are going to fight." There was a gentleman walking about two hundred
yards from him ou the left, but did not come near him; he was the
other party who shot. The other parties were then loading the pistols
and measuring the ground ; they stepped thirty-seven feet. The gentle-
menwho stepped the ground then tossed for some purpose. The gentlemen
again passed, and sail something to him, he could not remember what, but
witness said," he wished them both luck." The two gentlemen were then
beckoned to, and were placed on the measured ground. The one who
planed the gentleman who shot the other said to him, " It's all right—
you have nothing to fear." The signal was to be, " Now, gentlemen, are
you ready ?" and something else he did not hear.
SECOND EDITION.

They then fired, and there being no result, the second went up and
gave them each another pistol. The parties kept their places, and there
appeared to be no conference between any of the parties. After the
second shot, the gentleman who shot the other, carne up to him, and
said, whether intended for him or ❑ot he could not say, but
the expres•ion was, " I have done for the ." Witness
said he was sorry for it, and asked if he was hurt, the answer
was" No." Witness looked then, and saw the other gentleman falling,
and the gentleman who spoke to him went on towards the carriages,
and n itness went to the other and saw .the wound. The man
was dead. His attention was directed to the wounded man,
and he did not see what became of the others. The
gentleman he found with the body appeared to be countenancing
the transaction Zand waiting the result. He asked witness to take the
pistols to the party as they were no use there Witness took them up
to his own house, but the carriages had then been driven away, and he
still retained the pistols, which he produced. They were very long rifle
pistols, with hair triggers and percussion caps. Witness knew none of the
parties ; but he did not think he could identify any of them. From all
he saw, there was nothing unfair in the transaction. He also identified
the body.
The pistols were stated to be of that kind used for practising in rifle
galleries, and of a murderous nature.
After some further evidence, of little importance, the Inquest was
adjourned till Wednesday next.

THE FUNDS.-CLOSING PRICES.

BRITISH FUNDS.

Bank Stock •?0?:34 India Stork 0641,:i
3 per Cent. Red v, Ditto Bends 74
3 per Cent. Cons 91% Ditto Old Annuities -
:3,.', per Cent Ditto Sew Annuities
:Pca per Cent. Red 10214 Ex. Bills, 1,000/ 21.......71 pm
New 3lz per Cent 101.'4 Ditto 5:1 / 74 pir
Long Annuities to expire : Ditto 500/ 74 prr .
Jan. ISO,
Oct. ISSO
Jan. 1860 - IConsal, for Act. 94!.,,,
7. ___ .. . ...... .. ~