The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-19 00:00:00

THE AFFRAY IN NORTHUMBERLAND-
STREET, STRAND.

Yesterday evening -- -
Mr. Roberts, one of the prin-
cipals in this most mysterious encounter, died of
his injuries at Charing.cross Hospital. When this
unfortunate gentleman was first admitted little if
any hopes were entertained of his recovery, or even
of his surviving through the night. The fearful
nature of his wounds and the nervous shock which
followed on them made his death appear almost
certain. Nevertheless, strong restoratives were
administered, and, contrary to the expectation of
his medical attendants, the patient at last rallied
and regained his senses. From that time until
yesterday he continued to progress, though so ex-
tensive were the fractures of the skull, and so
dreadful the lacerated scalp wounds, that none
could tell from day to day which would be his last,
nor say that there was hope of his complete re-
covery. We believe Mr. Roberts was not a very
tractable patient with regard to the remedies
which his medical attendants thought necessary.
He, however, after the second day was perfectly
sensible, and could communicate all his wants to
those about him. But with regard to the cause or
causes of the late desperate affray he would answer
nothing, and maintained an obstinate silence to the
last whenever the subject was alluded to. The day
before yesterday he was going on very favourably,
and passed an unusually quiet night. Dr. Canton
saw him as early as eight o'clock yesterday morn-
ing, when he seemed to have done very well. Be-
tween half-past nine and ten, however, there were
very sudden symptoms of a change for the worse,
apparently as if inflammation of the brain had set
in. This change, though marked and alarming,
was not of long continuance, and towards mid-
day he seemed rather better till after one
o'clock, when it became evident that he was fast
dying. When admitted to the hospital the de-
ceased had a terrible fracture of the right temple,
but, as there was no depression of the bones, it was,
of course, not meddled with. When the alarming
symptoms set in, after one o'clock yesterday, Dr.
Canton at once determined as a last chance to re-
move these broken pieces. The operation was ac-
cordingly performcd, and thlue or four large frag-
ments of the bone were removed. This gave no
relief, and it was at once seen that the end was
merely a question of an hour, more or less. His
relatives, who were summoned on the first fatal in-
dications setting in, were with him up to his death,
which took place almost without suffering soon
after six o'clock yesterday evening. He was quite
insensible for some long time previous to his death,
so that it was useless attempting to realise the ex-
pectations entertained that he might, in his last
moments, throw some light on this extraordinary
mystery.
The statements that Major Murray is fast pro-
gressing towards convalescence are quite prema-
ture. He is going on well, but this is the very
utmost that can be said es yet ; for he is now, and
has been since his admission to the hospital, in
almost as critical a condition as Mr. Roberts was

till his death yesterday. The bullet itself inflicted
a deep and dangerous wound in the throat, and Dr.
Canton was obliged to perform a very formidable
operation to extract it. Even progressing as he has
done, some days must elapse before Major Murray
can be considered out of danger.
In the meantime the police, under Mr. Superin-
tendent Durkin and Inspector Mackenzie, are
busied night and day in endeavouring to elucidate
this affair. The greater part of the immense mass
of documents, notes, and papers in the deceased's
room have been carefully examined, and we believe
we are now justified in saying that from these and
other sources a clue to this mystery has been ob-
tained. It is not likely, however, that the nature
of the suspicions entertained will transpire even at
the isquest to be held on the body of Mr. Roberts.
It was not thought advisable last night to inform
Major Murray of the death of his antagonist or
assailant.