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

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 tVjourn 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 had 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 bad 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 tea body was taken to his residence in Great
-Tames-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 five 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 farther 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 bad 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
]land-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, whc 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 me of my property ?" He
did not 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 bad 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 toy property
and ruined me." Witness told him he had now
ruined himself, when be said be didn't care—he had
done it. He did not attempt to move from the place,
bnt 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 his eyes involuntarily fol-
lowed his movements, which will account for his ob-
serving so particular;y 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. lie had a hump on his back.
The Coroner—lnspector Checkley, who is the man
with a hump on his back ?
Inspector Checkley—Oh, that is the prisoner.
The Coroner—Save 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 he should be returned to the House of
Detention at three 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 hoar all the evidence against
him.

Inspector Checkley said he thought the letter must
have miscarried, or the prisoner would have been in at-
tendance. He had received no notice from the official
authorities relative to the attendance of the prisoner to-
day up to eleven o'clock last night. But he begged to
inform the coroner and the jury that a perfectly clear
case had been made out against the man Westron. He
had been virtually committed for trial, although he
would be brought up again at the Clerken well Police-
court on Wednesday, as a matter of form.

The Coroner—Well, gentlemen, I shall leave it en-
tirely to you whether this inquiry be adjourned or not.
A Juryman--I think it absDlutely necessary that
the present inquiry be adjourned, in order that the
accused be in attendance.

The rest of the jury being of a similar opinion,
The Coroner then ordered the inquiry to be adjourned
tilt Monday next, at the same time and place.
Just as the Coroner was preparing to leave, a gentle.
man applied to him to make a statement, as a false
impression had been created abroad by some statements
that had appaared in the public newspapers.
The Coroner said the application was irregular, but
he had no doubt that if any statement was made it
would be noticed by the gentlemen of the press present.

lie might, however, hand in the document.
Another gentleman here stated that he ootild gua•

. - •

LL

rantee the truth of the statement about to be given by
%Ir. Mitchell.
The statement was thku handed to Mr, Wakley, and
was as follows :

"1, Henry Sadler Mitchell, of 5, Great Prescott-streeto
Goodman's fields, vestry clerk of the parish of St. Mary,
Whitechapel, state that I was on terms of very great
intimacy with the late Mr. Waugh, with whom I was
partner for seven years, expiring in March last. That
vas on terms of great intimacy with his family, and iVn
during the partnership a constant visitor at his bon"
occasionally so since the partnership. That I was wel
acquainted with the transactions between the deceased
and the prisoner. That the deceased, as the solici-
tor, and his family, some two or three years 'LP
instituted a suit in Chancery, and by his ability
and perseverance gained for them an estate
worth several thousands of pounds. That attempts were
made to sell the property, which were greatly frustrated
by the extraordinary conduct of the prisoner, much to
the annoyance of some if not of all the rest of the pr!'
soner's family. That at length the prisoner was induced
to consent to sell his share of the property to some of
thest of his family, and Monday last was appointed
for the completion of the transaction, but again owing
to the extraordinary conduct of the prisoner, 31.
though the money furnished to Mr. Waugh eres
ready before, it could not then be settled. That
the deceased had advanced the prisoner moneys on
account of his share, and lead throughout the transaction
acted with great kindness and forbearance towards him,
although he had been greatly provoked by him. That
some few weeks ago the prisoner sent the deceased
threatening letter, and the deceased brought him be-
fore a magistrate, but as Mr. Waugh did not press
the charge severely against him, the magistrate dis•
charged him without compelling him to enter into
his recognisances, his giving an assurance that he/
would not again annoy Mr. Waugh. That I hall
every reason to believe that Mr. Waugh did lot
press the charge against him from motives of kindneef,
fearing that if called upon to enter into recognisances be
would not be able to find a surety, and would b• lava"
cerated, perhaps, for some considerable time. That the
statements made by the prisoner when taken int°
custody, that Mr. Waugh had ruined him of
cheated him out of his estate, and observations
to the same effect are entirely false. I may gel
that, if any client was indebted to a solicitor
for his exertions, the prisoner was to the int°
Mr, Waugh. That the deceased, besides having 0
extensive business, was possessed of a largo private for
tune, and had no motive whatever to keep the prisoner
out of one shilling he was entitled to. That I am by
duced to make this statement out of respect to the
memory of my departed friend, which may be injured
by the statements of the prisoner. I may say, in con
elusion, that I know him to have been a good husband'
a kind and indulgent father, and a generous and warm'
hearted friend."
The proceedings then terminated.

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORSE•

Meeting This Day.

ELECTION OF CLERK.

The adjourned meeting of the Board was held tb►s
morning at Burlington-house, Piccadilly, for the el.c"
tion of a clerk to the Board ; Mr. Tkwaites in the chair.
The list of the names of the candidates for the situs'
tion have already appeared in The Sun.
The CHAIRMAN then put the names to the vote, whoa
the numbers declared for each candidate were as fol'
lows :

Mr. Curling
Mr. Woolrych
Mr. Cook
Mr. Wilkinson

Mr. Isaacson
Mr. Coode
Mr. Brown ll
Mr. Mundell
Mr. Simon

Mr. Bayley

Mr. PaitisOn • 1
Mr. Church 0

Mr. Gibbons
Mr. Lowford
Mr. Ferrier 0
Mr. Greene 0
Mr. Power 0
Mr. Manning 0
Mr. Thompson
Mr. Chubb
Mr. Best 0
Mr. Hare
Mr. Johnson

The CHAIRMAN announced the resignation of Mr. /'
Wilkinson, one of the members of the board for the VI.
rish of St. Pancras ; consequently the objection to 14
member of the board offering himself for a paid ofne6
was got rid of.
Mr. IL L. TAYLOR announced to the board that, at*
meeting of the Common Council held yesterday, it wag
unanimously agreed to place the council•room at tb•
service of this board for their meetings so long as thei
might require it. (Applause.)

A vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to Oil
members of the Common Council for their kind offer.
The CHAIRMAN said that he had carefully gone through
the applications for the office of Clerk, and found tbsA
out of the 31 candidates, seven of them--Messrs. Stoner'
Tabraham, Buckton, Ball, Burt, and Freeth—were n°t,
of the legal profession, and that Mr. Wallington had
withdrawn his name. As the board had decided that
the clerk should be of the legal profession, he had re 4
moved their names from the list.

A resolution was proposed that the election should be
proceeded with by putting the names of the candidates
to the board seriatim, reducing tho number to two. 14-°
amendment was proposed that the number should be
20 reducod to 6. On a division the amendment w 0
carried.

The list was the❑ reduced to the following gentlemen:
—Messrs. Curling, Woolrych, Cook, Wilkinson, Isaac•
son, and Coode.

A discussion took place whether the candidates should
address the board, or their written applications and tee
timonials be read, in the course of which seine stroog
remarks were expressed on printed slips having boo
forwarded to the members, containing extracts from
Hansard of speeches delivered in the House of Cou'
moos reflecting on the conduct of one of the candidates•
It was ultimately resolved that the applications ghoul'
be read, and that the candidates also address the board.
The applications were then read, and the candidate*
addressed the board, Mr. Woolrych being subject to *
strict examination relative to the manner in which he
had discharged the duties of clerk to the late con►'
mission.

The board then proceeded to the election, when th•
numbers were for

let. 2d. 3d. 4th. sib,
Mr. Curling l4 16 15 12
Mr. Ceok
Mr. Woolrych
Mr. Wilkinson 2l 22 22 21 19
Mr. Isaacson
Mr. Coode
Mr. Woolrych was unanimously elected clerk.
After some routine business the meeting adjourned.