The Sun.
London, England, 1831-05-13 00:00:00

THE MURDER IN BEDFORDBURY.

Thomas Gallagher, aged 25, Edward Gallagher, aged 36,
Martin Moran, aged 46, and Ann Moran, aged 34, were indictee.
for the wilful murder of Jas. Dockerav, on the 24th of April List
The prisoners were defended by Messrs CLARKSON, BODKIN
and BARRY.
Mr. ADOLPHUS stated the case for the „prosecution, and
afterwards called the following witnesses :
Elizabeth White examined—l did not know the deceased ;
was on the :24th of April in Brewer's-court, Bedfordbury, when
i saw a man in a straw hat holding the deceased by the collar.
That man was Thomas Gallagher, Edward Gallagher was also
,resent; the deceased was trying to make his escape, the pri.
loners followed and struck him several times with their fists. The
deceased did not strike them again ; I then saw Thos. Gallagher
strike the deceased twice on the head with a long stick, like a
broom handle, which felled him to the ground ; I then went
away; the prisoner Thomas Gallagher then put his hat over his
'see and walked up Bedfordbury ; the parties did not appear in
liquor.
ross-examined—The prisoners did not appear to be angry ;
there were eight or nine other persons present; at the time
Thomas Gallagher was holding the deceased by the collar, he had
t the stick in his hand ; I do not know where he got it from ;
the prisoners are all natives of Ireland; that part of the town is
much frequented by the Irish.
Mary Wighton examined--I live in Brewer's-court, Bed-
fordbury. On the morning of the 24th of April I saw Thomas
Gallagher draw the deceased by the collar out of his lodgings.
When he got him out he chucked the deceased in a " spiteful"
manner on the ground. I saw no more of what afterwards took
place.
Cross-examined—At this time no one was present but Thomas
Gallagher and deceased.
Peter Gildey examined—l live in Brewer's-court. On the
24th of April 1 saw Thomas Gallagher draw the deceased out of
his lodgings and throw him down. The deceased at this time
was apparently dead. I went immediately to fetch the police;
during my absence they had been taken into the house. This
took place about nine o'clock in the morning.
Jeremiah Corcoran examined—l live in Brook's-court, Dean-
street. I know all the prisoners. On the 2lth of April I was in
the next court to Brewer's-court, when I heard a cry of murder.
I went there and saw Thomas Gallagher throw the deceased on
the stones He appeared at this time perfectly helpless. I could
not say whether he was alive or dead. I heard the prisoner say
to the deceased, " If you recover yourself, 1 will come and see
you again at night."
James Fox examined--4 live at No. 3, Brewer's-court. On
Sunday morning the 24th of April, about eight o'clock, I heard
a scream in the court. I looked out of the window and saw
Thomas Gallagher throw the deceased on the stones. I went
down stairs, and saw blood on the deceased's face. 1 then went
down the court, and the prisoner followed. He said, " Fox,
why are you not in the row ?" I told him that I did not wish.
He then said Moran and the deceased had been fighting him, and
asked me if I could think ill of him for taking his own part. The
police then came up to where the deceased had been lying. The
body had been removed to Moran's apartments. Moran said he
fetched the police to take charge of Toni Gallagher.
John Wilson (a police officer), examined-1 was sent for to
Bedfordbury on the 24th of April, about nine o'clock. When
I got to Brewer's-court, I found it full of people. I did not see
anything of the fight or quarrel. I went to No. 4, the door
was closed, and I demanded admittance. The female pri-
soner askel me what I wanted. I .said. there was a man
either dead or dying. She replied there was nothing the
matter, the man was not dead; I then pushed the dooropen, and
on entering Moran's room I saw a corpse lying across the bed ;
I saw blood on Mrs. Moran's arm, from the elbow to the wrist,
and therefore took her into custody, and sent for a surgeon to
examine the body. Martin Moran was not present, but I met
him afterwards in Bucklersbury, and took him into custody, he
had blood on his hands; he had been drinking, but I cannot say
that he was drunk; I took hold of him by the arm, when he
said that was needless, as he should not run away, After taking
him to the station.housc I went back to the prisoner's house,
and under the bed where the deceased was lying I found this
stick (a broom-handle) and two pieces of iron, On the iron was
a small quantity of hair; it appeared like hurnin hair.
Cross-examined—l know nothing of the stick, any thing more
than finding it under the deceased's bed. Human hair is some-
times used in mixing mortar.
Mr. Thomas, Superintendant of Police, examined—ln conse-
quence of information, on the 24th of April, from the last wit.
ness, I went to Brewer's-court,. I found a great number of per-
sons assembled; I entered the house No. 4, and there saw the
dead body of a man lying on the floor; I observed that his face
and neck were in a state of great discolouration ; there was
also a slight contusion on the nose • his face had the appearance
of having been recently washed. I inquired who had committed
the act ? and Ann Moran said, "Tom Gallagher." I asked where
he was, and she replied, " Oh, he is off; you won't get him." I
then secured every person in the house, and examined the apart-
ment. In one of the rooms I saw fresh blood on the walls. On
looking minutely at the body I found a contused wound on the
back of the head. (The hair found on the iron was here pro-
duced—there were only three blades.) Ann Moran's clothes were
bloody, which might have been produced by her removing the
deceased to the bed-room.

Mr. Bainbridge examined.—l am a surgeon, and was called
in to examine the body of the deceased on the 24th of
April. Ile was then quite dead, and had been so some
minutes. On the 26th of April, in company with two other
medical gentlemen, I again examined the body. Th de-
ceased was a stout, well-formed, healthy man. There was a
discolouration of the face as in cases of sudden death. There
was no appearance of violence except some small contusions on
the head. Under the scalp were several marks of discoloura• ion,
but there were no corresponding external marks. There was also
a quantity of extravasated blood on the brain. The chest
shewed symptoms of inflammation. On the whole I am of opinion
that the cause of death arose from blood on the brain, and that
such blood was produced by blows or a fall.
Two other gentlemen gave similar opinions.
This closed the case for the prosecution.
The prisoners having been called on for their defence,
• Thomas Gallaghez said that he struck the deceased in his own
defence ; he was innocent of the murder.

Edward Gallagher entered into a long defence, which he de-
livered in P. most impassioned but respectful manner. He de-
clared his entire innocence of the charge, and protested,
in the most solemn manner, that he had never seen the de.
ceased either living or dead. He therefore hoped the Court
would not suffer the life of an innocent man to be taken away on
the oaths of witnesses who were not worthy of credit.
The whole of the prisoner's address was well arranged and de-
livered with an earnestness that produced a considerable sensa-
tion in Court.

Martin Moran said that he knew nothing whatever of the tran-
saction. He left home in the morning of the 24th of Apil, at
half-past six o'clock, and on hii return was taken into custody.
He was quite innocent.
Ann Moran made a very long defence, and gave her history of
the fatal transaction. In substance it was, that the deceased, who
was her lodger, brought two women home about six.o'clock in
the morning of the 24th of April. She remonstrated with him
for so doing, but he told her that as long as he paid his rent he
had a right to bring home whom he pleased. He then insisted
upon some gin being sent for. Prisoner told him the public
houses were not open, but after some time Thomas Gal-
lagher said he would get it, and went out for that
purpose. He was gone a long time, when deceased with
an oath said, .‘ If he don't bring the gin he shall be
sorry for it." The women said, .‘ Oh, never mind," and went
away before Gallagher returned. When, however, he did come
back, deceased beg.in a quarrel, and struck him a blow. Tom
(the prisoner) returned it, and a fight took place. The prisoner
here went into the whole particulars of what she said occurred,
but with that volubility of tongue that it was impossible to On_
derstand half what she said, and notwithstanding the serious
nature of the inquiry, it was almost equally impossible to re-
frain from a smile. It was a hard task even with the
Bench to preserve its gravity. She concluded her statement
by describing how her feelings were hurt; for bless your Lord-
sfiip, she exclaimed, the poor things lived together like brothers.
When the policeman came I ran away and called murder, for I
hate the sight, my Lords, of a poiceman as I do of a thief.
Several witnesses were recalled, but their testimony was not
material.
The Counsel for the prisoners declined calling any witnesses on
their behalf.
Mr. Justice LITTLEDALE recapitulated the evidence with
great minuteness ; and the Jury, after a short consultation, re-
turned a verdict finding Thomas Gallagher guilty of manslaugh-
ter, and acquitting the other three prisoners.
The RECORDER immediately ordered the prisoner to be
brought up for judgment, and after a suitable address, sentenced
him to be transported beyond the seas for the term of his na.
tural life.
The prisoner (a young athletic Irishman), on hearing his sen-
tence, went off into violent hysterics, and was carried out of
Court by two officers.