The Sun.
London, England, 1869-11-10 00:00:00

GAROTTB ROBBERY AND MURDER

The Coroner for East Surrey held an inquiry on Tuesday
at Newington, respecting the death of John Baxter, aged
66, a bank messenger. Mrs. Mary Ann Fitt said that
the deceased had lodged at her house for the last eight
weeks. On Sunday evening, the Ist of August, he left home
with the intention of visiting a friend, and as ho did not
return during the night she made inquiries about
him, and was informed that he had been taken
to St. Thomas's Hospital. She went there and found
him lying in bed, and he informed witness that he was re-
turning home about eleven o'clock along King's-row, Wal-
worth, when he was suddenly seized upon by two men by
the neck, who threw him down and rifled his pockets. He
further said that he called out " Murder !" and "Police!'
but was struck so violently in the face that he became in-
sensible, and was unable to recollect anything more.
games Hill said that between eleven and twelve o'clock on
Sunday night, the Ist of August, he was in bed, when he
was suddenly awoke by the cries of "Murder !" and
!" which arose outside his house. He got out of
bed and pulled the window blind aside, and then saw two
men scuffling on the ground in the carriage road. He
dropped the blind for the purpose of dressing himself, but
hearing further cries of " Murder !" lifted it again with the
intention of opening the window, when he saw a man in a
kneeling position, and another laying hold of him by the
neck with one hand and striking him violently in the face
with the other. The third person he was unable to see,
owing to its being very dark. Several of the neighbours
came out, and witness shortly afterwards went to bed, be-
lieving it to be merely a drunken quarrel. Polite-constable
Robert BlTherson said he was on duty in Hill-street,
Walworth, on the night in question, when he was called
to King's-row, Walworth, and was informed that a man
had been knocked down and robbed. He shortly after-
wards saw the deceased sitting in a chair in front of Mr.
Hammond, the builder's, house. There was much blood
shout his face, and he said he had been knocked down
and violently assaulted by two men who demanded his
money, and because he would not give it they rifled
lais pockets. Witness asked whether he could give a
description of the persons, but he said he could not, as they
out their hands over his eyes. Deceased was unable to stand,
Ind witness took him on his back to St. Thomas's Hospital.
Witness had made every inquiry, but had failed at present
)f obtaining any clue to the offenders. George Balwin, a
lairymo.n, said that on the night in question he was going
ko a stable at the back of his premises to feed his horse,
when he heard a man call out, "Murder !" and "Police!"
tnd he also heardpersonsaskingformoney. He ran through
`.he house to the front door, when he saw a man walk away.
sr. ~,„et 7Z cz:en noticed a second man,
who looked very pale and trembled on seeing witness. He
walked away in the direction of the Walworth-read. The
witness, hearing groans, proceeded in that direction, and
then saw the deceased lying flat on his hack. He would
1)e able to identify one cf the men actin. The nth Fr, Wilt)
was dressed in a white " wide-awake," had an overcoat on,
which was covered by a smo.k. Mr. Frederick Pollock,
surgeon at St. Thomas's Hospital, received the deceased on
the night in question. Upon examining him he found ,he
'sad sustained a fracture of the right thigh bone, which
was set, and he was afterwards retained and put to bed.
He became in a bodily weak condition, and expired on
Friday morning last from the injuries he had received.
the jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder against
some person or persons unknown."