The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-18 00:00:00

S "
AUGUST 18, 1849.

MURDER IN 11ERIVIONDSEY.

Yesterday afternoon, shortly after one o'clock, the
neighbourhood of New Weston-street, Bermondsey, was
thrown into considerable excitement in consequence of
the fresh mutilated remains of a man being discovered in
one of the houses in Minerva -place, near the new Leather
Market. The house in question is at present unoccupied,
but belongs to Mr. Coleman, a builder, residing at No. 1.
About two months ago he let it to a man named Man-
ning, a discharged railway servant, who was dismissed
by the directors of the Great Western Railway Com-
pany, some time ago, for being concerned with Night-
ingale and others in committing a series of robberies
on that line. He appeared to reside with his wire
on amicable terms in Minerva - place, and the
murdered man was frequently seen at their
house, and especially in the company of Mrs.
Manning. The name of the deceased is Patrick
O'Connor, a gauger in the Customs at the London Docks,
where he has for some years received a salary of 300/.
a year. He was supposed to be in possession of nearly
4,0001. in foreign railway bonds and securities, which was
well known to Manning and his wife, who were fre-
quently i❑ the habit of visiting him at his lodgings, No.
21, Greenwood-street, Mile-end-road. O❑ Thursday
morning, the 9th instant, he lett the latter place about
half-past seven, and at five the same afternoon ha was
met by a friend near Manning's house, where he said he
was going. He was not afterwards seen by any of his
friends; but being in the habit of leaving home tor some
hours, no notice was taken of it at the time. Not re-
turning on Saturday, however, band-bills were circulated
offering a reward of 101. for his discovery. Nothing
being heard of him for some days, Barnes, an active
officer of the K division, was employed to look after
him; and on that officer going to the deceased's ludgiags
he found that his boxes had been opened and emptied of
all their valuable contents. Ile then ascertained that
Mrs. Manning had been there alone on Sunday evening,
the 9th instant, which excited his suspicions.
Yesterday Barnes, and Burton, an active officer of the
M division, proceeded to No. 3, Minerva-place, which
had been lately occupied by Manning. Barnes had heard
that Manning had used threats towards Mr. O'Connor,
which led him to suspect that some unfair means had
been used against him, and he accordingly suggested to
Burton the necessity of digging up the garden. They
did so, but found nothing to excite their suspicion.
Barnes then looked over tho lower part of the house, and
on searching the back kitchen he thought one of the flag-
stones had been removed. On turning up this flagstone
the constables found that the earth was rather slack; and
on removing it they came to the body of the murdered
man. He was lying on his face, with his legs doubled up
and tied with a rope to the haunches.
Mr. Lockwood, a medical gentleman connected with
one of the hospitals, was passing at the time, and in-
stantly rendered assistance. Ile discovered that the de-
ceased had been brutally murdered, that ho had been
shot, as two slugs were discovered near the temple. It
was also discovered that he had false teeth, which cor-
responded with the following advertisement issued cn
Monday last :
‘t 10/. REWARD.—Missing, Mr. Patrick O'Connor, an
officer of the Customs, who left his residence, 21, Green-
wood-street, Mile End-road, on Thursday morning, the
9th inst., and was seen near Weston-street at four o'clock
on the same afternoon. Description: Fifty years of cgt.,
five feet eleven inches high, fair complexion, light hair,
stout made, and wears a false set of teeth."
Late in the afternoon a relative of the murdered man
identified the body.
Mr. Stow, the beadle, having been informed of the dis-
covery, directed the body to be taken from its grave, and
deposited in the kitchen, where it will remain until the
coroner's inquest.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.

Manning and his wife sold all their goods to a broker
in Bermondsey-street, on Tuesday last, and exhibited a
great desire to leave the neighbourhood. Mrs. Manning
was also at the murdered man's lodgings on the day he
left and the day after, when she unlocked his drawers, but
no suspicion was attached to her, as she was in the habit
of visiting them during his absence. The deceased was
possessed of near 4,0001., chiefly consisting of foreign
railway bonds and shares, besides about 300/. in cash, the
whole of which has been stolen. In fact, nothing of the
least value has been left.
LATEST PARTICULARS.

ONE O'CLOCK, SATURDAY MORNING.—TIIO police
who have been sent out to make inquiries at the different
railways and steamboat piers have returned, but up to
the present hour they have been unable to gain the
slightest information respecting the road Manning and
his wife have taken, and from the long time that has
elapsed it is quite probable that they have travelled some
distance. A number of the detective police have, there-
fore, been dispatched to several provincial and seaport
towns, to endeavour to ascertain whether the murderers
have taken up their quarters there, or whether any par-
ties answering their description have taken their passage
by the foreign boats. The prevailing opinion is that
they are on their way to America or some other distant
place.
A telegraphic communication has likewise been sent
along the various lines of railway, and by this hour a
full description of the suspected murderers is posted up
in nearly every largo town in the country.
The police, who have been left in chargo of the pre-
mises, have discovered the umbrella belonging to the
deceased concealed up the chimney, and a cheque be-
longing to him was found in the dust heap, in the yard.
From a minute inspection of the place there is not the
least doubt but that the ill-fated gentleman, before he
was shot, was drugged, and thereby rendered insensi-
ble. Vomiting found on the floor justifies such a sup-
position.

[PRICE --SD.

INDEPENDENCE OF
HUNGARY.

THE GREAT WESTMINSTER MEETING.

A. public meeting of the inhabitants of Westminster
w•as held on Thursday evening at the Hanover-quare
Rooms, for the purpose, as stated in the advertisement,
"of affording in opportunity for the expression of public
?pinion on the present position of the Hungarian people
in their righteous struggle for independence."
Charles Lushington, Esq., M.P., was unanimously
elected to take the chair.

The elegant and commodious room was crowded in
every part, and a considerable number of ladies were
preeent in the neighbourhood of the platform. The
arms of Hungary, and the phoenix rising from its ashes,
were Stlspended in the room. There were also small
banners, bearing the following in large characters:—
" Born the Invincible;" " liossuth and Independence;"
" Batthyany and Freedom;" " Dembinski and Victory;"
while two others were suspendA from the chandelier
at either side. bearing the names" Paskiewitch " and
" Jellachich" inverted.
The CHAIRMAN said—Gentlemen, though scarcely re-
covered from the exultation and delight that I experi-
enced at witnessing the unanimous approbation and en-
thusiastic applause which prevailed at the meeting of
the National Reform Association at Drury-lane, on
Monday evening, yet I am called upon to attend another
al a
na ter oinsg el
irk
efel
ye I i
tnog
pt hrca.vna
ih t
(wchhiecehr
meeting at which, if I am not mistaken, even
bs.) AisttedD7ut rny-lane,
our purpose was of a specific nature, but some daring
spirits ventured certainly not blameably —to
shout forth occasionally the name of Hungary.—
(Cheers.) And though the chairman deeply
sympathised in the object of the Hungarian
cause, yet he found it his duty to suppress the shouts and
plaudits which that call elicited. On the present occa-
sion you will be under no such restrictions; it is only
necessary that decorum—,uitable and reasonable de-
corum—should be observed, and that you should
do me the favour to follow the order of proce-
dure which has been laid down by the committee.
Gentlemen, we are called upon this evening to manifest
our sympathy with the struggle of the great andnoble
nation of Hungarians.—(Loud cheers.) ThaneLs be to
Heaven, we can do that unretrictcdly, without fear
of false law or the impotent threats and menaces
of tyrants.—(Cheers.) Englishmen can speak forth
now•a-days freely and nobly, without the slightest
dread of being misrepresented, or of being subject to
punishment.—(Cheers.) And that alone, I think, is a
good reason why we should speak out in favour of the
Hungarians.—(Hear, hear.) lam not very well versed
in the historical portion of this subject—that I will leave
to those who have studied the question deeply, and who
will follow me; but I say that no man can read the
public prints—no man can look at the usual sources of
intelligence—without being delight( d at the narratives
given of the noble struggle now going on in Hungary.—
(Cheers.) The Constitution of the Hungarians is nearly
similar to our own, and we should, therefore, sup-
port them in the assertion of their rights—(Loud
cheers.) They have made most noble and
glorious exertions to repel their aggressors; and the
exploits in which they have been engaged are unequalled
in the annals of those ancient nations which we are ac-
customed to applaud, and perhaps no exhibition of
modern prowess will ever excel them.—(Cheers.) It
was only the other day that I saw a paragraph in
the newspapers which is indicative of the devotion
of the Hungarians. It is so very short that I am sure
you will not manifest any impatience if I quote it.
(The lion. Gentleman then read an extract, to the effect
that certain Russian regiments attacked two Hungarian
regiments, who resisted until they were utterly broken
RD; that 200 prisoners were all that remained at the
close of the contest, and of these 130 were old grey-
headed men, and eight were mere boys.)—(Loud cheers.)
This, then, is no vain appeal to your sympathies, for the
hole nation has already, as one man, risen up for the
purpose of stimulating and encouraging the Hun-
garians. I remember, when I was a boy, a
song, or rather an ode, which was composed by
Hardy—a man who nearly escaped being exe-
cuted because he advocated simply those plain
and undeniable rights of the people which we now
exercise day atter day. I cannot repeat it at full length,
but I remember one stirring stanza, which I think the
Hungarians might adopt, and introduce into one of their
patriotic and soul-stirring appeals to the people—
" Plant, plant the tree—lair freedom's tree—
'Midst dangers, wounds, and slaughter;
Each patriot's breast its soil shall be,
And tyrant's blood its water."—(Applause.).
_ _

My Noble Friend, Lord Dudley Stuart-(Loud and
prolonged cheering)—would like to translate that into
Polish—(Laughter)—but I shall be perfectly satisfied if he
will render it into the Hungarian language. It would
be needless for me to advert to the many years' exertions
of Lord Dudley Stuart on behalf of the distressed Poles
—his benevolence, his kindness, his generosity to them
are notorious and flagrant, for they have permeated to
every corner of the civilized world.—(Loud cheers.)
Though you are perfectly well acquainted
with the patriotic qualities of my Noble Friend,
Lord Nugent—(Loud cheers)—perhaps you are not
aware that when a small body of Hungarian hussars
arrived at Dover, in a state of poverty and desolation,
attention to their misery was first called by Lord Nu-
gent.—(Cheery.) tie it was that stimulated the sluggish
liberality of the House of Commons, and induced several
Members, to join in a subscription, which enabled
the Hungarian hussars to leave England comfortably
equipped, in order to return to their own country.
A GENTLEMAN (on the platform)—l trust safely?
The CHAIRMAN—I trust safely ; but we have not I
heard that yet. I feel that my office, gentlemen,
to-night is only introductory.—(Hear, hear. When
I see how I am supported—when I know that two
Noble Friends are behind me, and a host of gentlemen
besides, of every grade and of every rank, when I see
before me the encouraging spectacle of hundreds
of persons exulting in the object of this assembly,
I say, then, that you want no prologue from me, but
only an assurance of my devotedness to the cause.
In the hands of those gentlemen to whom I have alluded
will I leave the more detailed exposition of the question.
I do not wish to be despotic, but I hope you will respect
my authority this eeening. It is not Austrian authority
remember; it a a mixture of British and Hun-
garian authority.—(Cheers and laughter.) Gentle-
men, there is on© point which it behoves me
to touch upon, and one upon which it is very possible we
may not be quite unanimous. It is impossible, accord-
ing to my judgment, according to my conviction, and
according to my real and genuine feelings, to carry our
sympathy for Hungary too far.—(Hear hear.) But
I have observed in one or tiro meetings
of this description that the people have been
carried away by enthusiasm—nay, I will almost say by
delirium—to express themselves in favour of going to
war.—(Loud and reiterated cheering.) Does that mean
that you want to go to? war ?—(Cries of " Yes," laugh-
ter, and cheers.) lira, lam sure you will make
allowances for the opinions I possess on the subject ;
you may entertain any opinions you please, but I want
you to allow me the same latitude.—(Cheers.) You
may interfere in the affairs of Hungary by the utmost
exercise of your sympathy ; you may urge the
Ministry to remonstrate with Austria and liusosiwa
upon the atrocious conduct of which they are now
guilty; but I doubt whether we can consistentlyoes.”)
that we will go to war.—(Hear, hear, and cries
I. r Zia
to
FranceWh y'
y tohue sent
other
taentteoAdlemwhbeatrsisofo,arliaerdia a
Peace
oefonshgeresbsu.
expended eleven hundred millions in
1688 to 1815, R'©
;ilearr'taiXeaatril, lanodu daroe3a'ol"U'alLsorthpalat from
den o
of war.—(Hear, hear.) It is perfectly
iniwtheluxuy
competencer of this meeting to come to what reso-
lution it pleases, but I don't think that I can, whatever
may be that resolution, be justly accused of any want of
liberality in my present address.—(Loud cheers.) I
claim for myself the exercise of that latitude
of opinion which is granted to every individual
here, and I will only say, prophetically, that,
it you succeed in urging the Ministry or the
Government to go to war, England will rue it for cen-
turies to come.—(Cries of " No, no," and cheers.)
Lord NUGENT then came forward, and was re-
ceived with great applause. He said—l have to
propose the following resolution :—" That this meet.
ing n etches with intense interest the progress of
the present struggle of the Hungarian people
for the right of self-government, which they have long
and wisely exercised, a right to which they are entitled
by the constitution of their country, and which they
have proved themselves eminently qualified to enjoy by
the possession of moral, social, and political virtues,
unexcelled by any other country in continental Europe."
The Noble Lord said—l confess, Mr. Chairman, that
I have a difficulty in recommending this resolution
to the acceptance of the meeting. It is this difficulty
only—that it sufficiently recommends itself—that it
comes abundantly recommended by the simple pro-
positions contained within it—that it comes feelings,abund-
antly
recommended by the spirit snci
and convictions which have brought us ell
in the very heart
to-
night. And how can it be otherwise, in
impulro
of
which
this spirit bag run, and kfitzitd
of an empire, in every articulationand throbbed to an in-
tensity
neverwhich
have
thoseho
pwedhoto' see.led and
Tmt hwearEmnlygliisnh tpheore, cause
l
fully shown, sympathise entirely with
think it has Hungarians in a cause of which I
this—thatri o been
fI. the
t au fsreo
thatm my w soulfind
bhealsi ebveeeni t tor
struggled b e the
grastu oa
Stuart)
t )maondde modern ivs: ohrLi
Insodtp:sillytg
age struggle
for t
my range
Nhroobulgehlo'ruihtconditeh(seLcovirchlollleudley
opportunities of witnessing the extent of this enthusi-
asm—we observed it at the first great meeting in the
city of London—we saw it at another meeting where the
spirit that prevailed seemed to burst forth far beyond
the walls which were intends d to confine it—(Cheers)—
we saw it, I say, in one of the largest edifices of this
empire—at Drury-lane: Theatre the night before last.—
(Cheers.) The meeting to be sure was convened for
another, but yet for a kindred, purpose—we saw it their
—we saw thousands there assembled from the area up
to the thronged galleries —we saw every
human soul `l., ithin it raise a simultaneous
and enthusiastic cry on the very mention of
the name of Hungary. (Loud cheers.) We