The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-16 00:00:00

MURDER AT CARDIFF.

On Sunday morning last the town of Cardiff, in
Glamorganshire, South Wales, was thrown into a
state of great excitement by the death of a Welsh-
man, named Thomas Lewis, who was murdered in a
most brutal manner by an Irishman, bearing the
name of John Conners. A feeling of jealousy has
existed for a long time past between the Welsh
labourers upon the docks and the line of the South
Wales Railway against the Irish, who have engaged
to work at less rate of wages than the natives, and
have consequently deprived many of employment and
driven them to the union workhouse. On every oc-
casion that an opportunity is afforded this feeling
breaks out with great violence, and demands the in-
terference of the civil authorities to quell it. It ap •
pears that on Saturday evening, about twelve o'clock,
Lewis, accompanied by two friends and .his wife,
was proceeding along Mary Ann-street towards his
home, when, hearing a noise at the bottom of the
street, he ran to see what was the matter, followed
by the the two men who were with him. On reaching
Whitmore-lane, which passes the lower end of Mary
Ann-street, he met with the man Conners, of whom he
inquired what was the matter. Conners angrily
answered, " What's that to you ? Go on ; " and
Lewis replied, " Don't be so saucy ; you had better
make the best of your way home." Upon which the
Irishman said he should not go until he liked, as he
could stand there as long as he pleased. Lewis then
walked on with his party to the corner of David-
street, where he lived, and while standing talking to
his friends, Conners threw a stone at him, which hit
him upon the leg. He then ran up Stanley-street,
followed by Lewis, and when about twenty yards
from the bottom, Conners, overtaken, made several
thrusts at Lewis with a knife. He then ran away,
and Lewis staggered, but was caught by a sailor
named Stewart, who took hold of him by the arm,
and asked him if he was hurt. He made no reply,
but fell with his face to the ground. At this time
his two friends came up, and conveyed him home.
A medical gentleman, named Evans, was called in,
but he pronounced life to have been extinct
some time. On examining the body, four wounds
were discovered upon it, one extending from the ear
on the left side down to the chin, another upon the
front part of the left shoulder, one upon the left
breast, and one upon the right breast, which pene-
trated to the principal artery of the chest, and by
causing the blood to flow into its cavities from the
heart produced almost instantaneous death. Oa
Monday morning, about twelve o'clock, the district
coroner, Mr. R. L. Reece, opened an inquest upon
#k. hrwl, et tribe Town-hall, which after sitting for six
hours was ajourned until 1 flUrsuay avcaar.ao _
time for the apprehension of the murderer. Five
witnesses were examined, but their evidence only
went to substantiate the above facts. On Monday
evening the excited and exasperated populace attacked
the dwellings of the Irish, broke their windows, burst
open their doors, and burnt some of their furniture,
and had it not been for the interference of the police,
a serious riot would have been the consequence.
They also attacked the Catholic chapel, demolished
the windows, and did considerable damage to the
priest's house.