The Sun.
London, England, 1841-09-24 00:00:00

put out his hand and said, " If I had had anything in my hand
I would have shot him, but," he added, " I'll do for him ; I'll
serve him out, and have a search warrant for my property."
He then took a letter from his pocket, which he said he had
received from his wife on Monday, and which appointed him to
, meet her on Monday night at the same place they had met on
Sunday night. I spoke to him, and asked him where it was
he met her. He said it was at the bottom of Easteheap, and
saw her to the King's Head. He said he was therefore certain
she was there. He said the reason Mr. Burdon had taken a
dislike to him was because he had been unfortunate in business
at Seven Oaks. He said he had taken some boxes to a book-.
keeper at Seven Oaks, and desired him to deliver them to none
but himself, and that he could prove Burdon had been and got
three boxes away, and that was why he wanted a search war-
rant. He said, being refused his wife was enough to drive any
one mad ; but he did not appear to be at all wild or agitated.
I could not see any portion of the letter myself. He was not
excited at the time, and was perfectly sober. He asked my
advice, and I recommended him to go to the Lord Alas or, and
he would get justice done him, for that Mr. Burdon was a re-
spectable man.
Police-constable Edward Bristow, No. 569—1 met 13Iexley
on Tuesday morning in Leadenhall.market. He told me his
wife was detained from him and he wished to see her. Ile bad
seen her on Sunday night. He wanted to know if lie could
not demand her. I said yes, and referred him to Sergeant
Bradley. I said I would go with him as a witness, and I
went about seven o'clock to the King's Head in Eastcheap.
He said to Air. Burdon, " Now, James, I'm come to demand
my wife." Burdon said, " I think you had better go about your
business," and he walked into the room at the end of the bar.

He returnod, and Biexley said you know where she is, will
you tell me ? Burdon said you had better go about your busi-
ness. I told Burdon I had come as a witness, and Burdon said
I don't know the man. I asked if I was to take that as an
answer, and Burdon said, " Yes, I know nothing of hint." Blex-
ley made use of no threat, and we parted with an understand-
ing to meet at I 1 o'clock at the terminus of the Blackwall Rail-
way, but he slid not come. I saw no more of him. I heard of the
murder at 11 o'clock at night. I went to the station-house
directiy to give a description of the man. It was not taken ;
they were all so excited about the murder that they would not
listen to me. The Inspector was not there. I met him at the
corner of Philpot.lane coming from the house. 1 told him
I knew the man, and he ordered me to clear the mob away
from the door. I went to the house and got admitted, and he
said the man who murdered his master was the man who had
been with me in the morning. I was much hurt at their not
taking my description of the man at the station-house, and
know no reason for their so refusing.
Sergeant Bradley—l was at the station-house a little after
ten o'clock, when a report was brought that a man was mur-
dered. I went to the King's Head, and found one policeman
there and Dr. Smith. There were some people in the house
and I cleared it. I was not at the station when the last witness
came to make his statement. I found the knife produced
lying outside the fire. place, close to the fender. (The knife is
a common butcher's knife, such as is used for the purpose of
slaughtering.) While I was in the house writing a description
of the murderer, Mr. Owen, of the Yorkshire Greys, came in,
and said the man was in his house. I went there, and they said
he had gone. I searched the docks and all the neighbourhood,
but could not find him. I had the description from Mrs. Bur-
don. I had seen the man once before,
He
I had the conver-
sation related by the last policeman. He did not appear in the
least excited.

John Charles Davis—l live at 20, Aldgate High-street, and
am a cutler. I remember selling the knife produced at about
five minutes before one, on Tuesday, to a man. He said he
wsnted a common sort, such as was used by butchers. I
showed him a drawer Lull. He chose this one, but said that
it should be sharp at the back, for the purpose of grafting trees.
I showed him a shoe-knife, which has a square point. That,
he said, would not do, and asked if I could get that made as he
wished at the back. I went down and ground the back sharp
myself whilst he waited. I set it on a smooth stone, and told
him if it were made thinner it would not stand rough work.
I wrapped it in paper. He paid sevenpence for it, and left the
shop. I told him it was an awkward thing to carry, DA he
said it it as. The knife is a butcher's working knife, and is
used for dressing sheep. He was quite calm. He was a tall.
thick-set, dark, rather good-looking man. I think I should
know him again.
Mr. C. Smith, of Graeechurch-street. surgeon—l was
called in about ten minutes after ten on Tuesday night. I
found the deceased lying on his back ; he breathed but once
after I got there, and died almost immediately. I found a
wound on the left side of the abdomen, about an inch and a
half long, and half an inch wide, from which the bowels were
protruding. 1 attempted to return the bowels, and to give
him some brandy. I cannot tell the depth of the wound, but
it had gone quite into the cavity of the abdomen. The wound
was most likely inflicted by a double-edged knife, such as the
one produced. I should imagine the knife had been plunged
in up to the hilt. The wound was sufficient to account for his
death. I have no doubt on the subject. My own impression
is that it penetrated the main artery of the body lying close to
the back. There was a po:ieeman at the door when I came to
the house. Mr. Lowman came for me.
The CORONER said that he had prevented Mr. Smith from
examining the body until after the Jury had seen it. if he
now wished to do so ter his own satisfaction, he could do it.
The Foreman—We do not desire it.
Thomas Quinlam—l live at No. 2, Mercer's-court. I am a
Catholic.

The CORONER—Do you believe the oath to be binding as
you have taken it ?__

Witness—l do lam a private watchman. At ten minutes
before ten I went into the Cow and Calf Tavern in East-
cheap, on Tuesday night, and there I saw the husband of Mr.
Burden's sister-in-law sitting on a hamper. He had a glass of
liquor opposite him. No one was near him. I left the house,
and about five minutes after I saw the same man come out of
the house. He had he'll his hands in his pockets, and he said
to me it was a fine night. The clock then struck ten. I went
and called the hour twice, and on my return I found bim standing
on the same spot. It is about twenty-seven yards from Mr.
Burden's. He said to me, " Watchman, you will be here
again in five or six minutes' time ?" I said, " Please God, I
expect I will." I continued calling the hour, and when I got
to the end of Rood-lane I met the pot-boy calling " Police-
man, watchman, you are wanted at the King's Head." A
policeman was coming down Rood-lane, and he and I ran on
together to the King's Head, and when I got there I saw what
had happened. This, I should say, was not more than three
minutes after ten.

James Raw, pot•boy at the King's Head-1 was:in the tap-
room at supper on Tuesday night, when I heard a scream. I
ran into the bar, and saw Mr. Blexley run out of the street-
door. He came in again, and tossed the knife down in front
of the bar. The servant afterwards picked it up. It seemed
a large knife like the one produced. I went and fetched the
doctor. I did not run after the man, nor do I know which
way he turned. When I came back I found another doctor
there. lam sure it was Mr. Blexley I saw running out. I had
known him before.

William Boulter, police-constable 542—0 n Tuesday morn-
ing, about half-past nine, I saw Blexley in Leadenhall-market.
He told me he had been to demand his wife, and the
landlord had ordered hm out. He pointed to a knife lying on
a butcher's block, and said, " If I had had that in my hand, I
think I should have used it." I said, " Nonsense." He said,
" By God, I think I shoule," and then the conversation drop-
ped. He did not seem at all wild or irrational at the time. He
said he had not been in bed all the night. About six o'clock
in the evening I met him in Gracechurch-street, and he said
he had got nu money, and asked me to stand some porter. We
had a pot of porter, and he said 'I am going to see my old
woman by and by, and I will make it right with you in the
morning, for I shall get some money frpm her. He continued
with me until eight o'clock. He was sober and cheerful. We
had a pot of porter and a quartern of gin between three of us.
I knew he meant his wife by his old woman. He has been a
little excited occasionally, but he always appeared rational.
He frequently complained of the hardship of his wife being
kept from him, and his property taken by his brother-in-law.
He has been about Gracechurch•street constantly for about
four weeks pa,t, since which time only I have known him.
Several of the Jury expressed a wish to examine Mr. Brake,
the Inspector of Police, as to the conduct of the police, but the
Coroner suggested that the evidence of Mr. Brake could throw
no light on the subject of the inquiry, and that if any inquiry
were to be had into the conduct of the police, it had better be
conducted elsewhere. He was glad to see the Commissioner
present, and he would doubtless do all that was requisite.
Several Jurymen expressed themselves as of opinion that
the beats of the policemen were too long, and that it was owing
to that circumstance that the murderer had escaped.
The CORONER. said he was willing to go into the inquiry
still further, if the Jury desired it. He was entirely in their
hands.

The policeman on duty iu Eastcheap was then examined, and
said his beat was Easteheap, Botolph-lane, and Pudding-lane.
He went down the right side of Eastcheap, and up the left, and
then down Botolph-lane and up Pudding-lane. He passed the
King's Head every quarter of an hour. He was coming up
Pudding-lane about ten o'clock, and beard cries of 66 Stop."
He ran up the lane, and a woman said, " He has run up Grace-
church-street." Witness ran up Gracechurch-street, but
could see nobody. He met another policeman, who said he
had seen a man running up towards the Bank, and desired him
to pursue him, and he did so, but saw nothing of him.
The CORONER. then addressed the Jury, and stated it as his
opinion that no blame whatever attached to the police; and the
Jury returned a verdict of " Wilful Murder against Robert
Blealey." _

At the conclusion of the inquest a gentleman applied to the
Coroner on behalf of the family of the deceased, to request in-
formation as to the steps necessary to be adopted in order to
apply to the Government to offer a reward for the apprehension
of the murderer, as the family were too poor to offer a reward.
The CORONER said he should imagine that in such a case the
Government would offer a reward.
Mr. Commissioner Harvey undertook to make the requisite
application to the authorities for that purpose, and the Jury
particularly requested that the Commissioner would state to the
Home Secretary the inability of the family of the murdered man
to offer any reward.
Tho CORONER then issued his warrant for the apprehension
of Blexley, and having thanked the Jury for their attendance,
dismissed them.

Robert Blesley, the man charged with the murder, is five
feet eight and a half inches high, about thirty years of age, ra-
ther stout, with dark hair, large (lark whiskers, dark eyes, dark
complexion, prominent nose, somewhat turned up, speaks ra-
ther quickly, was dressed in an invisible green coat,Newmarket
cut, a black silk waistcoat with light coloured sprig, and drab
kerseymere trowsers tightly made, Wellington boots, and silk
neckerchief.

It is rumoured that the body of a man answering the descrip-
tion of 131exley has been picked up off Cuckold's Point by one
of the river steamers, but as yet the rumour has not been
confirmed.