The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-18 00:00:00

THE MURDER IN BEDFORD ROW.

LATEST PARTICULARS.

It was confidently expected that the proceedings at
the coroner's inquest would at once throw light upon
the circumstances which, in the light of day and in the
open streets of London, have led to the perpetration of
so horrid a tragedy. We gather that both the victim
and his assassin are natives of Somersetshire ; that the
father of the latter committed suicide some four years
ago while in an unsound state of mind ; and that he
left behind him some property, which was divided be-
tween the prisoner and his brother. Mr. Waugh was
solicitor to the father, and at his death continued to act
in that capacity for the sons. It is also stated that the
prisoner has been several times in confinement for in-
sane acts, and that the impression under which
he laboured, that the deceased bad acted un-
justly towards him, is declared by his brother to
he utterly without foundation. He is said to have
had so many disputes with Mr. Waugh, and to have in-
suited him so grossly on different occasions, that the
latter gave up his business, and was obliged on one oc-
casion to have him bound over to keep the peace before
Mr. Corrio, the magistrate. The deceased leaves a
widow, two daughters, and a son, who holds an ensigncy
in the 2d Surrey Militia, to deplore his melancholy
death. Westron appears to have been watching for some
time an opportunity to fall upon his victim, for on Tuesi-
day morning Mr. 'Waugh told his chief clerk that the
prisoner had been dogging his steps when out with his
daughter in the neighbourhood of his residence, at Not-
ting•hill. As was to have been expected, the event has
caused a most painful sensation in the neighbourhood,
and during yesterday groups of people were collected in
front of the deceased gentleman's house and on the
spot where he was shot.

THE INQUEST—(This Day).
This morning, shortly after eleven o'clock, an inquest
was held upon the body of the deceased gentleman, be-
fore Mr. Wakely, at the Queen's Head Tavern, Theo-
bald's-road, but on the opening of the proceedings, the
room, an extremely small one, became so crowded that
it was found absolutely necessary to aejourn the pro.
ceedings to the board room of the St. Andrew's work.
house, Gray's-inn-lane.
The first witness called was Mr. Wm. Fisher, of
Doughty-street, Mecklenburg-square, who stated that
he had seen the body of Mr. Waugh, at 5, Great James-
street. He formerly bad been a partner with him, and
was one of deceased's executors. He knew nothing rela-
tive to the death of deceased save from report.
The Coroner asked if any gentleman wished to ask Mr.
Fisher any questions, and none having been put,
Mr. Erasmus Wren, surgeon, stated that on Wed-
nesday morning, about a quarter past ten, he was called
to the deceased and found him dead. The body was on
the pavement in Bedford-street. The shirt and waiscoat
of deceased were covered with blood. He had at first
some doubts as to whether the gentleman was dead, but
he shortly found he was so, and then a shutter was pro-
cured, and the body was taken to his residence in Great
James-street. He had examined the body. Externally he
noticed a circular wound near the chest, six inches be-
low the sternum. It was exactly six inches. The
wound was a circular orifice sufficiently large to admit
the fourth finger. A probe introduced passed down the
wound to the depth of four or fire inches. The body
internally presented the usual appearance of a pistol shot.
Blood was extravasated between the skin and breast-bone.
Upon elevating the breast bone and ribs blood was
found between the breast bone of the lungs and an open-
ing was traced through the left side of the right ventri-
cle, right side of the left auricle, and again through the
pericardium, but the course was lost in the cellular tissue
behind the heart. The wound entered the plural cavity
at this point. Some hours elapsed before the further pro-
gress of the wound and the ball was discovered in the right
groin. The rest of the viscera presented a healthy ap-
pearance. He was assisted by Robert Cuff, surgeon,
Great James-street, also by Dr. Gibson, physician at the
London Hospital. He had not the slightest doubt but
that the wound through the heart caused by the bullet
(produced) caused the death of Mr. Waugh.
The Coroner said he now wanted some witness who
saw the shot fired.
The officer of the court then called
Mr. Thomas Kent Whitefield, clerk to a solicitor re-
siding in Featherstone-buildings, Holborn, who stated
that about half-past 10 a.m. he was walking through
Bedford-street, on the south side, going eastward, and
observed Mr. Waugh at the end of Gray's-inn-passage,
on the opposite side of the street. He was going in the
same direction, and about the same time Westron emerged
from Hand-court, and, crossing towards Bedford-row,
stopped by the railings, and, turning his face towards
them, fumbled in the right-hand pocket of his coat.
He stooped a little in doing this, withdrew something
from his pocket, and appeared as if desirous of being
unobserved in what he was doing. He concealed
something, on withdrawing his hand from the pocket,
in the right sleeve of his coat. He then walked to-
wards Mr. Waugh, who by this time had reached half
way down Bedford-street, and accosting him when
within three yards of him, said, "You villain, you've
ruined me. Why did you rob sue of my property ?" He
did n•t wait for a reply, but immediately discharged
the pistol at Mr. Waugh, who uttered loud shrieks, and
exclaimed to witness, who rushed up on seeing
what had occurred, " Seize him —collar him- hold him ;
he has murdered me !" Witness put his hand on
the assassin's shoulder to secure him, when he drew
and cocked another pistol. Up to this tine Mr.
Waugh still stood on his legs. On seeing the pistol
witness, having regard for his personal safety,
and fearing he might share a similar fate to that of the
unfortunate gentleman, drew back. All this occurred
in the space of two or three minutes, and the assassin
appeared quite cool and collected. When he crossed
the street from Hand-court he walked quite calmly
until he had reached his victim. Witness asked
him, after he had discharged the pistol, and before any
one came up, how he could shoot the poor man. The
prisoner replied, "He has robbed me of my property
and ruined me." Witness told him he had now
ruined himself, when he said he didn't care—she had
done it. He did not attempt to move from the place,
but looked at Mr. Waugh calmly as he expired. No
policeman was within hail, and witness gave
the prisoner into the custody of Hutchins, the Bedford-
row street-keeper. The deformity of his person attracted
witness's notice, and hie eyes involuntarily fol-
lowed his movements, which will account for his ob-
serving so particularly what occurred ; but there was no
time, even had the informant 'been aware of his inten-
tion, to prevent the perpetration of the crime.
The Coroner—Do you know the name of the man who
fired the shot ?
Witness—No. He had a hump on his back.
The Coroner—lnspector Checkley, who is the man
with a hump on his back
Inspector Checkle)—Oh, that is the prisoner.
The Coroner—Have you got him in attendance ?
Inspector Checkley—No.
The Coroner—Where is he ?
Inspector Checkley—ln the House of Detention.
The Coroner to witness—Would you know the man if
you saw him again ?
Mr. Whitefield—Decidedly so.
The coroner stated that he had anticipated that the
prisoner would not be in attendance, and he had written
late last night to the official authorities that the prisoner
might be in attendance in charge of an officer, and gua-
ranteeing that ho should be returned to the House of
Detention at tbree o'clock in the afternoon.
A juryman said he did not think that they could pro-
ceed any further without the accused being in atten-
dance.

A Juryman—This evidence has not been given be-
fore the magistrate at the police•court, and he thought
it was but just he should be present, as it was most
material that he should hear all the evidence against
him.