The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-03 00:00:00

FATAL OU

TRAGB AT SHEFFIELD,

The inquiry into the circumstances attending the
death of William Wilson, of Fitzwilliam-street,
brass caster, who died on Friday week from being
stabbed on the previous day, was resumed at the
Town-hall on Wednesday before Mr. T. Badger,
coroner.
George Plant, of Tomcrossdane, brewers' tra-
veller, in the employ of Messrs. Bradley.and Co., of
the Soho Brewery, appeared before the jury as the
accused. Mr. Fretson attended to watch the case
on his behalf,
George Norton, of Wentworth-terrace, silver
chaser, said—On the evening of Wednesday, the
26th Jan., I was at the School of Art Conversazione.
In Consequence of the rain I remained at the Adel-
phi Hotel, along with Joseph Hawksworth and
Other friends, until a quarter or 20 minutes to 1 on
Thursday morning. When I and Mr. Hawksworth
got to the corner of Rodger and Fowler's shop, ad•
joining the General Post-office, on our way home,
I observed two men quarrelling on the footpath, at
the end of the Hartshead passage. I crossed the
road, and asked the prisoner, who was one of the
men, what was amiss. He replied that he had
been stopped ; and the other man, who was the de-
ceased, said he had taken Plant for a friend of his,
who was a cabman. They had given over quarrel-
ling on our arrival, but after the conversation with
us deceased remarked that he could have taken from
Plant a stick that he held in his right hand. De-
ceased then took hold of the stick, as if to take it
from Plant. They again had a slight scuffle, dur-
ing which the deceased was stabbed by the prisoner
with a dagger, which he (prisoner) held in his left
hand. When Wilson said he could have taken the
stick from the prisoner, the latter replied that- he
could have given him the knife. I then",:torhe
first time, noticed that Plant had a dagger in his
hand. [A large dagger, with a formidable blade
about six inches long, was produced and identified
as the dagger with which Plant inflicted the fatal
wound.] On being stabbed deceased appeared
paralysed for a few moments, after which he
screamed, then reeled like a drunken man, and even-
tually sat down upon the causeway. edge. I cannot
say that deceased was tipsy.; he behaved like a
sober man, and recognised me when I was in the
middle of the street, he having known rue when I
worked in Porter-street. Mr. Hawksworth did not
think the deceased was stabbed, but thought the
scuffle was a trick to get an opportunity of garot-
ting us. It was also raining. On this account we
left Wilson sitting on the causeway edge, and the
prisoner standing behind him, I advising prisoner
to remain until a policeman came. Prisoner over-
took us at the end of Watson-walk, and as he was
passing us I saw him put a dagger into his side-
pocket. Before we left Plant said he would stay
until a policeman came, but did not do so. I and
Mr. Hawksworth turned up Watson-walk, and
Plant proceeded down Angel-street, which is in the
direction of his own house.

The Coroner—Why, having seen the man stabbed,
did you not calla policeman and have Plant taken?
Witness—l saw Plant throw up his arm in the
act of stabbing deceased, but was not in a position
to see the dagger. I was not positive at the time
that deceased was stabbed, and the prisoner being
a man of gentlemanly appearance I did not like to
interfere.
By the Coroner—The men were not down
together; the stab was not inflicted accidentally,
but purposely. There was sufficient time for the
prisoner to go away if he had wished during the
interval which occurred in the scuffle and our
arrival.

By Mr. Bland and another Juryman—l did not
see the deceased strike, punch, or kick the prisoner.
No person was near the prisoner and deceased at
the time, except myself and Hawksworth. I did
not see any man standing under the post-office
archway. I never saw the prisoner before that night.
By, Mr. Fretson—l did not observe whether
there was dirt upon Plant's clothes, as if he had
been down'; it was dark. Plant did not say he had
been down, nor did I see him down. I noticed his
hat, but did not observe' any dirt upon it. I did
not at the time Wilson had hold of Plant's stick,

trying to take it from him, hear Plant say " Now,
if you come again, I will punish you." I did not
hear Plant say previously that if Wilson took the
stick he would give him the knife. Plant had the
knife in his hand at the time, and Wilson shortly
afterwards did attempt to take the knife. I 'did not
hear deceased swear at or use insultino, language
to Plant. Deceased said nothing to Plant except
that he could take the stick from him. When de-
ceased recognized me he called out, " I know thee,
old' lad." I did not know th 6 prisoner. Nothing
was said about garotting at the time.
Mr. Fretson—You said something about Plant
being a gentleman. Was it your impression at the
time that he was a gentleman who was being
stopped ?
Witness—Yes, it was. In fact, Plant told me he
had been stopped. He did not say he thought the
man was going to rob him.
By the Coroner—Plant appeared to be sober. I
was sober.

Joseph Hawksworth, of Bank-view, Crookes-
moor, artist, deposed. to the facts stated by the pre-
ceding witness. When I first saw the deceased an
angry altercation appeared to be passing between
them. lat the time believed it to be a hoax for
the purpose of getting liquor, and took little notice
of it. I saw nothing else take place between the
two men. I did not see kicks and strokes or blows.
Before we turned up Watson's-walk a person passed
us, and bade us good night. I went down Angel-
street. I recollect nothing more of the affair. I
cannot say whether the person who passed us was
under the influence of Honor. I have not seen him
since, and cannot say that I now see him before the

jury.
The Coroner—You seem to know so little about
the matter—pray were you sober ?
Witness I had had two glasses of beer, and might
be somewhat under its influence.
By Mr. Fretson—l have been stopped in the
streets frequently and asked for liquor on various
pretences. That was why I thought it was a hoax
to get liquor. I did not hear what was said. I
did not think or say it was a garotte robbery. I
did not see the men down together.
Police-Constable George Smelter—l was on duty
in Hanover-street on the evening of Wednesday,
the 26th ultimo, and as I was proceeding down
the street about a quarter past twelve I saw the
prisoner on the opposite side of the road with_a
naked dagger in his left hand. I stood a short
time to watch him. He stood opposite me and
said, "Do you wish to know my number ? If you
do, I will give it you." I replied that I did not
require it, and walked a few paces forward. The
prisoner stood watching me. I saw no more of him
until I, along with Inspector Sills, apprehended
him at his house in Tomeross-lane. I had not seen
the man before, but am satisfied that the prisoner
is the same man. Ho spoke to me in an excited
tone when I saw him in Hanover-street, but I can-
not say. that he was tipsy.. There was no other
person in the street at the time.
Emma, wife of George Marples, of Bath-street,
table-blade forger—l was standing at the door of
the Fitzwilliam Hotel, which is at the corner of
Broorahall and Fitzwilliam streets, between 12
and 1 o'clock on the morning of the 27th ult. I
was going into the hotel for my husband. A gentle-
man came up to me and said, " Well, my dear, I am
afraid you will be getting wet." I replied, " Yes,
Sir ; but you had better be going on about your
business." He thereupon pulled a dagger from his
breast, held it up, and said, " I am not afraid of
anyone insulting me." The landlord of the Fitz-
william Hotel spoke to me at the door, 'and the
gentleman" went across Fitzwilliam-street to the
corner of Chester-street. He asked me what street
it was, and when I told him, he said he wanted
Portobello. I told him he might go and seek it.
I saw no more of him. I told the landlord of the
Fitzwilliam Hotel what he had said to me. Yester-
day I selected the prisoner from eight or ten other
men at the Town-hall. He is the man who accosted
me on the morning of the 27th ult. He appeared
to have had drink.
Inspector Sills, of the detective department,
said—Last Friday morning Mr. Jackson, the
chief constable, gave me the description of a
man who waf supposed to have stabbed' Wilson.
I went in search of the man, but could not meet
him until Monday afternoon, when I found him at
his house, No. 85, Tomcross-lane. I told him he
was to go along with me to the Town-hall, and he
had
not, so. At the Town-hall I asked him if he iad
not, on the previous Wednesday night, worn ahat
with a round. crown. He said he had, and further
admitted that he had a top-coat, and carried a
dagger in his hand. I then took him before the
chief constable. He told Mr. Jackson where the
dagger was, and I went and
he
tihte\dvaags.gerlao
nowls
produced on a shelf where e said
found a round-crowned hat, and his coat I obtained
from the house of Mr. Shaw, pawnbroker, in the
Wicker. I afterwards told Plant he was charged
with stabbing William Wilson, who had died from
his injuries. His reply was, " Indeed ! then I must
see my solicitor." '1 he blade of the dagger was
stained with blood to the extent of about four