The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-22 00:00:00

THE LATE FATAL ENCOUNTER IN I here." It might have been "I'm being mur-
NORTHUMBERLAIVD-STREET. k dered here." I cannot pledge myself to the
.0- exact expression. The large pistols are what I call horse
CORONER'S INQUEST—THIS DAY. • pistols. One of them was out of the case, and lying on the
The coroner's o ( uiry into the circumstances attending fleer. I don't know whether it was loaded or not.
the death of William John Roberts, lately occupying ape) t- William Clark —I am in thi; employ of the Catalonian
merits in Northumberland-street, Strand, took place this Cork Company. I did not know the deceased. I don't
morning in tho board-room of Charing-cross Hospital be- know what the witness Clay has just-said. I was in the
fore Mr. St. Clair Bedford, the coroner for the city of West • j
yard of the house on Friday week, and heard the two shots
minster. 1111 fired. 1 -should say four or five minutes elapsed between
Mr. Humphreys attended on the part of Major Murray, the reports. Very shortly after the window of the first
and Mr. Sleigh for the family of the late Mr. Roberts. floor opened ; a man came to it end put his leg out. lie had
The jury having viewed the body of the deceased, which the tongs in his hand, also his umbrella. Clay told me to go
presented a very shocking appearance, the first witness for a policeman. The gentleman at the window said, " There' s
called was murder been committed here." lam certain he used
Mr. William Roberts, who said—l reside at Brunswick- those words. I told him not to come down,:but we (meaning
terrace, Camberwell. I am a solicitor's clerk. The de- myself and Clay) would come round and open the door. I
ceased was my father. I think he was about 45 years of went to our warehouse and got assistance, and having sent
age. He carried on the business of a bill discounter in for a policeman, we met Mr. Ramsay on the stairs. We
Northumberland-street, Strand. tried to force the door open, and then some one called out,
Mr. John Joseph Skegg said—l was house surgeon to " He's in the street." We went down to the door and hero
this hospital when the deceased was first brought in. It we saw the man bleeding from the neck. Some said, "go
was on Friday, the 12th of July last, at half-past 12. His to the doctors," but he said, " I want, my umbrella." It was
head was covered with blood, and ho was removed up stairs. got for him and he went away. I then procured a ladder,
On examination I found 13 lacerated wounds, the shortest it was placed against the back room window of Mr. Roberts'
of which was about an inch, and the largest eight inches. apartments, and a policeman went up. When I went up-,
There was also a wound on the left side of the face, ante- staire the front room doer was open. I heard some one say
nor to the ear. On introducing the finger I found the "Go for a surgeon." I went to Mr. Starkie's at the top of
bones fractured in various places. The eye was much the street, and a gentleman coming from there he said Mr.
swollen, and filled with blood. There were also bruises about Roberts had better be taken to the hospital, which was
the face. The left scapula was very much contused. The done.
right hand was very much contused ; there was also a frac- By Mr. Sleigh—l did not hear anything said about any
ture of the fourth finger of the left hand, and a lacerated one escaping.
wound between the same finger and thumb. The left arm By Mr. Humphreys—I have heard pistol shots frequently
was very much bruised. He was quite sensible when he fired during the previous fortnight. Our warehouse is trk
came in, but I can't recollect that he said anything. His the back of the house in which Mr. Roberts lived.
wounds were dressed, and he was placed under the charge Mary Lines—l have lived at 15, Northumberland-street
of Mr. Canton. The man died on Thursday evening at a between five and six years. I have heard noises
quarter past six, I, with Mr. Canton, made a post mortem like planks being thrown down. I can't say positively that
examination of the body. Mr. Canton has the notes made I have frequently heard the report of fire-arms, Between
during the examination, a quarter and 20 minutes past 11 on the morning of the
Mr. Canton was then called, but did not appear, and the occurrence, whilst I was sitting in ono of the lower rooms
proceedings were for some time stopped. of No. 15, I heard some high words. I did not know front
Mr. Sleigh—l take the opportunity, sir, of suggesting whence they proceeded. They were men's voices.
that it would be desirable for the jury to view the rooms In about 10 minutes after I heard a noise, and
where the affray took place. in five minutes after I heard the noise again..
The Coroner—Quite so. I intend that at the proper I then heard a crashing of glass, and shortly afterwards
time. saw a man coming over the wall with his face covered with
On the arrival of blood. I saw a man catch hold of his coat, but ho dropped
Mr. Edwin Canton the inquiry was proceeded with. He to the ground. The next time I saw him was on the step's
said—l am one of the surgeons of this hospital. I saw the of No. 16. I saw spots of blood in the passage of No. la.
deceased about one o'clock on Friday, the 12th July. I Police-sergeant Golden, 46 A—On Friday, the 12th of
examined the injuries and found thirteen scalp wounds, July, I was passing 16, Northumberland-street, and a
chiefly on the right side of the head. In addition number of persons called out "There's murder being done.'
to injuries described by Mr. Skegg, 1 found the tem- Shortly after I saw a gentleman coming out of 15, and ha
poral artery was divided, I made a post mortem exami- said he had been shot by a man in No. 16. I afterwards
nation on Friday last. I found the scalp wounds as they heard some people call out, " Stop the man, we don't know
i have been described. A small quantity of blood was in a who he is." I detained him. He did not offer the slighter
few places effused beneath the scalp. The right temporal resistance. He was coming towards me. He said, " the
muscle was in part reduced to a pulp, beneath it was a man in the first floor of that house," pointing to No. 16,
fracture of the right temporal bone. This fracture ex- "has shot me, go and take him." I handed him over to a
tended to the lowest part of the temporal region, and con- gentleman who volunteered to take him to the hospital. I
tinued across the roof of the orbit, which it had fractured then went to No. 16, and found both doors on the first floor
in four or five places on the same side. On the edge of the fastened. The back door was opened by The police, and I
orbit is fracture passed into the frontal bone, in a situation then entered the front room and there tound the deceased.
where it was discovered on the first examination of the pa • I said to him how did this happen, =a ho replied, "It was
tient. On the left side of the head afracture was found also in done by that man who has gone down stairs." Those were
the temporal region. From this spot I had removed four pieces the only words he ;spoke. Both rooms were in great con-
of bone which were underpressed, and which I had found in fusion ; in the back room close by the mantelpiece there
this situation and in this condition during the life of the was a largo pool of blood, end on the opposite corner them
patient, From this spot a fracture extended through the was also a large pool near the window. I saw a brace of pistola
roof of the left orbit, This fracture is also comminated. lying on the floor. I now produce them. The case was
The cheek bone of the left side was broken. Upon renaov- on the table. I saw four bullets lying near the pistols, and.
ing the skull-cap the membrane of the brain was found to close to a large heap of paper. The table appeared as if it had
be congested, a clot of blood was found lying beneath the been broken in the scuffle. In the front room the carpet
membrane and the bone. Beneath the fracture already was in a heap, close to the folding-door, and a large
mentioned on the right side of the forehead, a clot was also quantity of blood was upon it, and also a pillow
found in the right temporal region. Upon removing this which was lying with the carpet. I also found.
membrane from the brain the surface of the hemispheres six bullet marks about the room, four near the
of the globe of the brain was found covered marble mantelpiece, and. two had penetrated the wall.
to a slight extent with furulent matter and lymph. The The drawers in both rooms appeared to have been ran-
substanee of the brain on the left temporal region was sacked. A great many of the papers were on the floor.
injured, and there were also other serious injuries. The The room presented the appearance as if a struggle had re-
body I found healthy, and he died from the injuries done eently taken place therein. I saw two broken bottles lying
to the head and its contents. near the window. I also produce the broken tongs.
Coroner—How do you think the injuries were produced ? By Mr. Sleigh—l did not pick up the bullets, I
Witness—l should say by some blunt weapon. No sharp looked at one; it did not appear to have been
weapon would produce the injury. There was no incised discharged from a pistol. They might have fallen out of
wound. the pistol case. I heard several porsons make the remark
Coroner—Were the wounds distinct-in appearance ? " You've been shot." The gentleman said, "Am I much.
Witness—Yes, each was distinct from its fellow. hurt. The man is in the first floor ; why don't you go and.
Coroner—You mean to say positively each wound was take him." When I went into the front room I saw Mr.
caused by a separate blow ? Roberts crouched up in a corner. He had his hand on the
Witness—l should think it must have been. door handle. There was no key in the door, which was
By Mr. Sleigh—ln consequence of the wounds being both locked. The key of the back room was in the lock, on the
lacerated and contused, I came to the conclusion that they
outside. The door was fastened by a bolt on the lock inside.
were inflicted by some blunt instrument. I don't think the
By Mr. Humphreys—When I entered the room it appeared
wounds were made by a pokef. It must have been some- very much disturbed. On the left hand side of the mantel-
thing that would tear, something sharper than a poker. piece there is a book-case, and a small chair near it, upon
The fracture on the cheek bone would occasion great pain
which, apparently, some one had been sitting. Near it was
in speaking. The patient made some remarks and did not
a pool of blood. There was also a high chair. It was
appear to suffer very greatly at first, but towards his death
near the book-case. Both chairs were close to the table.
he appeared to be in great pain. The clots of blood would The high chair was nearest the pool of blood.
cause pressure on the brain and render the patient very en- We shall continue the report in our late edition.
feebled. It would be increased by loss of blood. One of
the clots of blood was the size of a shilling, and the other
was the size of the section of a pigeon's egg. I observed ,
the contusion of the scapula, that is the shoulder-blade
bone. That might have been caused by a fall or by a severe
blow.
By Mr. Humphreys—Roberts was sensible up till nine
o'clock on Tuesday morning. He sometimes talked and
made ebeet remarks. He never made any statement as to
the cause of the injuries. I think a pair of tongs would
produce the wounds on the scalp. The wound between the
thumb and the index finger might have been produced by
a broken bottle.
Mr. Humphreys—Did you see Major Murray ? That
gentleman's name has not been mentioned, but I have no
doubt it will.
Witness—Major Murray is an inmate of the hospital.
He is very anxious to give his account of the transaction to
the jury, but I don't think he is yet well enough to leave
his room.
The Coroner—There is a great deal of evidence to be
taken before we come to Major Murray, so I think we had
better proceed.
By a Juror—Mr. Roberts said nothing in my presence
about his injuries, but I believe he has made a communica-
tion to some other person.
Mr. Humphries—Was there any mark of a pistol shot on
the deceased ?
Witness—None.
Mr. Thomas Clay—l am foreman of the Catalonian
Cork Company (next door to the house where the affray
took place). Last Friday week I had occasion to go into
the house No. 16, Northumberland-street, on the day of
the occurrence, about a quarter to 12 in the morning.
After being there a few minutes I heard the report
of firearms, and about five minutes after that I heard an-
other report. Having heard reports on former occasions
I paid no attention to them. I was in the back yard when
I heard the reports, and I am certain they proceeded
from Mr. Roberts's chambers. His apartments were on
the first floor. I looked up at the window, but it was closed.
The only remark I made about the shots was to one of our
workmen. About five minutes after the last report the
window of Mr. Roberts's chamber was thrown up, anadmao
gentleman, whom I now know as Major Murray,
suarri ay,,
'd ' Good
to the window and put out one of his legs.
"Tohegre'
God, what's the matter ?" He said,
hh rd
murder done here." Those were is very
he wouldsl been
God,
dawn
the way e intended, or wteoeln
him not to come
it t o the front door and. found kill himself. I told him to remain where he was until
I
came So him. I went round
heardloeked
a. s
mI
awshe nott
gulpa s
ss
.t a irls
hto u r r
ig eeta ad ssowi snt atnocteh,
eand
rtdh, eann
dI
when I got to the back door I found the gentleman I saw
' at the back window going over the wall of No. 15. 1
thought he was making his escape, and I caught hold of
his coat. He got away, and on looking over the wall I saw
him go through the passage into the street. I went there
and I saw the gentleman at the door. He seemed to want
to go away, but I told him he must remain. I had not seen
his wounds at that time. When I got him to the door of
' No. 16 I saw he was wounded in the neck. I saw a police-
man and gave the gentleman into his care. I told him to
get some surgical advice. I did not see what was done after.
I then went up to Mr. Roberts's room with some more people 1
to force the door, and I saw the same policeman I had given the
gentleman to, and he said we had better wait till some more
police came. On the arrival of two more constables '
ladder was procured. I suppose some one gob ui', as the door
was opened from within. Ou entering the room we found
the folding doors closed. They were opened by the con-
stables, and Mr. Roberts was found in the left hand corner
of the room crouched down in a corner and covered with
blood. Two constables lifted him up and brought him
into the back room and set him in a chair, and he was
afterwards removed in a cab to Charing-cross Hospital. I
only know the gentleman as Major Murray from what I
have heard. The state of the room was d
of isordered. A
chair was broken, and there were a couple large pistols
on the ground near the window. The police took
tchoarogen
of the weapons. Mr. Roberts's rooms consisted
tongs
the first floor. The gentleman had part of
tththe
aTnhumbrella
bbit
of
the in
police recovered it. There was a broken
his
tongshands
droppedilel 1 hion into the ea
the window in a pool of blood. back area, and
e window.
but the
wine bottle near
red a
tea after the second re-
port that I looked up. The s
By Mr. Sleigh—lt was five
pistol-ease had been
first. It It appeared to me as
•f second
h minutes
in the hands of one
set. I also saw a small par i
It was in the front room that Mr,
toeednwas not so loud as the
of the police officers.l
of p
-which look into hoseNorthumberlan-eet. Wheit
Roberts was found. The. folding doors open towards the
windowsl
eauahthold of the gentleman's coat d not make
the slightest remark. I cannot tell how he got
away whether his coat tore or whether his
weight caused me to loose my hold. When I called for
assistance, and as the gentleman and I were at the door
of No. 16, some one came up and said to Major Murray,
" You're shot." Major Murray said, " Had I had two pis-
tols I would have shoe bias also." Some one said, " The
man that'• seise it may escape." He then replied, "I've
served him out for this too much to permit him to escape."
By Mr. Humphreys—The words the gentleman said at
the Window were, "1140rea mwder pot% OP

ROYAL DRAMATIC COLLEGE.

On Saturday a fancy fair und general fete in
aid of the funds of this institution was held at

the Crystal Palace. As he.retofore, it proved one
of the most attractive g.atherings that has taken
place at Norwood, and we can conscientiously
cuuunuena rue public in search of a few hours'

amusement to avail themselves of its continuance

throughout to-day. All the most popular actresses
are stallholders in. the bazaar, and ply their trade
as fancy shopkeepers with a winning importunity
which admits of no denial on the part of purchasers.
Mrs. Stirling, Miss Amy Sedgwick, Miss Kelly,
Mrs. Mellon, Miss Josephs, Miss Bufton, Mrs. Mat-
thews, and a score of others are enshrined in pretty
stalls of pink and white drapery, and preside over
the rapid disposal of their wares as if " to the man-

ner bOre." For once high prices seemed no check
on large consumption, and, if we may judge by the
progress ilade on Saturday the College is likely to
be a considerable gainer by the exertions of these
ladies in its behalf. The fancy fair, however, though
a most important item, is after all but an item in
the many attractions this fete offers. Mr. Toole has
a peep-show for the lovers of thrilling melodrama ;
there are Aunt Sally's, a Punch and Judy, and above
all, a Tent of Mystery, of which we shall say nothing
further here than that the public must visit it for
themselves to appreciate its absorbing attractions.
Miss Johnstone has also a Hermit's Cave, whence
she dispenses her hoard of for. tunes on really liberal
terms. One of the most alnusing of the entertain-
ments,: however, is a theatre fitted up in the concert
room, in exact imitation of the true old nic ard_
sonian show, which has almost disappeared bbefore
theth e
usualm a r arch hp
loaft
fi
emrpmr orivu'et
smi
de
en
it t fe
on late awt eh yi
eeha rt s.
he
traditional
c o
wn and pantaloon, the beautiful ladies and mag-
'ficentgentlenraa, the man with the gong and pipes,
and the rest of the fair-going accessories were all in.
their fullest *nd most exhilarating vigour. Never
have such crowded houses been seen as thronged to
the constantly repeated performances of this little
theatre. The play stated to be "of the good old
Bartlemy fair times and of days long departed"
was entitled " The Midnight Spectre, or the Fatal
Secret." In order to enable this thrilling morceau
to be repeated as often as fresh audiences repeatedly
desired a double set of actors were necessary, and
the managers therefore announced in their bill that
they had secured the services of a double company
of,—

" The best actors in the werld, either for tragedy, come:,
dy, history, pastoral, pastoral-co:nic historical-pastoral,
tragical-historical, tragical - comical- historical - p wr
scene individable, of poem unlirralted."—" Hamlet,
scene 2.
what was
That there might be no mistake about
to be looked forward to the plot of the P._
amply foreshadowed in the bill as follows •
SCENA—PADUA•
The Plot—The Meeting—the MystarY
—the Gurgle—the G.sP—
TABLEAU OF E— -
Count Ristolaco . , (A Venetian n
Gamma) r. iece was
"aasct ii.,
the Villain Foiled
the Ghosi,
Y CITEMENT.
°blew.= in love with
NI Toole and Mr. Wid-
dicombe.
__, in tha pay of the Count),
Beppo Derkista .. (
--- ' o physician, otherwise —)2
(A Ruff and Mr. C. J. Smith.
Ferdinand Bianchi youag(Amr.fesv.is Ball and Mr. Eburne.
n , full of unne-
Baron de Spartivento (Acesoty Sicilia fears),nobleman Mr. Addison and
Mr. Barratt.
. (His daughter, the Pearl of Padua,
Gemma .. • • ' and the cause of much misery)
1 Mr. Paul Bedford and Mr. 3.
Robins.
• .. (Accompanied
: Ghost • • • •
scenic by extraordinary
effects and diabolical music)
Mr. Phillips and Mr. G. Peel.
1 It is needless to say how this drew, and how in-
' finitely comic was the expression given to the
Pearl of Padua, the fair Gemma, as personified by
Paul Bedford. There was a second piece, Valentine
and Orson, played later in the afternoon, by the
members of the Savage Club, which was admirably
done, and to the full as successful as the first.

SINGULAR ACCIDENT.
—On Monday last, at Brid-
lington Quay, a boy, about eight years of age, was attempt-
ing to drown a cat in the sea, and to accomplishhis purpose
had a stone fastened to one end of a string and the other
end tied round the cat's neck. Ho threw the stone into the
sea, expecting the cat would go with it ; but, instead of
doing so, pussy clutched hold of the boy's breast, and
dragged him after her into the sea. The tide being well
up, and the water deep, the boy would inevitably have
perished had it not been for the. exertions of two men, who
soeing his condition with some difficulty secured him from
an untimely death, for ha was -nearly dead when taken ou
of the water.—Yorkshire Gazette.
THE WEATHER krAD THE CROPS.—TheWaat
was wet and unsettled, on Friday and Saturday in Nori
Saturday evening
ever, are looking swab and harvest will be general ill t
Nr as especially stormy. The crops, h 6
weeks or a montb,.