The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-20 00:00:00

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GRATIS.

THE MURDER OF MR. THOMAS

PEACOP, NEAR ROCK FERRY.

SIR HENRY POTTINGER.—This great negotiator
arrived at Douglas' Hotel on Wednesday last. On Thursday 1:0
v:sited several places in the city, and also drove to Portotien,
selurgh, ad other quarters. Si Henry left ror +tie south on Frday.
Atb startingn he was recognised byr several persons near the hotel i
, who
• evinced great respect towards oliK diStillguiShed visitor.,—Edinbargi.
Ikating Post of Wednesday'

(From the Liverpool Courier of Wednesday.)
Yesterday the prisoners were again brought up before the
Rev. R. M. Fielden, W. Jackson, Esq., and W. Porter, Esq.
The Court was, as on the previous day, crowded with per•
sons of all classes, and the greatest excitement was mani-
fested.
The first evidence taken was that of Mr. John Fisher
Keyzar, commercial traveller, who said that he lodged at
New Ferry, near the turnpike-gate. On the night of the
31st of December last he came from Liverpool by thi, nine
o'clock boat, and after landing he proceeded towards his
home by Rock-lane. When he had reached the top, and
was turning into the road to Chester, he heard a cry of
" murder." It did not strike him that it was anything more
than a drunken brawl, and he did not take much notice of
it. The cry was repeated again and again, and apparently
became fainter. When he bad gone about 200 yards he per-
ceived something lying on the ground from which the cries
proceeded, and he hastened to the spot. The night was very
thick and dark, and he had to get quite close before he per-
ceived that a man was lying on the ground wtth two men
dressed in white clothes on him. One was at his head try-
ing to stifle his cries, and the other was rifling his pockets.
Witness said, " Come off the man, you would not murder
him?" He took hold of the coat of one to pull him off, when
lie suddenly perceived a third man in dark clothes, who
struck him a blow on the forehead, and knocked him sense-
less. He distinctly saw the stick with which the blow wag
given. It was apparently about two feet long, and b _ld
lump at the end of it ; the lump seemed very large to what
the stick was. When witness came to himself, he found that
he was lying on the road. He went into Butler's public.
house and told them what had happened. Witness was con-
fined to his bed a week from the effects of the blow ; the large
scar on his forehead was the result of it. He also received a
severe blow on the shoulder, but he did not recollect that
being inflicted. It was done after his senses were gone.
Cross-examined by Mr. Chew—Could not swear to the
stick if he were to see it again.
Superintendent M'Kay produced a stick found in Lynch's
house, about eighteen inches in length, with one end
covered for several inches with lead; but on its being shown
to the witness he said that had not the appearance of the
weapon with which he was wounded; the knob was not
sufficiently distinct. The head of a pavier's hammar, • - ?4,
sisting of a lump of iron about an inch and a half long, k
an inch broad, and an inch thick, also found in Lynch's
house, was next shown to the witness, and he said it would
make such a knob as the one with which he was wounded.
Mary Sparks, daughter of a farmer at Rock Ferry, remem-
bered the night of the 31st of December. She came front
Liverpool with her sister in the nine o'clock boat. Mr.
Keyzar went on the lane before them. On reaching the
wood they heard the cry of " Murder," and " Pray, spare
my life." They went on, but hearing a noise, were afraid
to proceed, and waited in the road until constable Nev.-ton
came up. They saw two men run away over the field on the
road side.

r

Alice Sparks corroborated her sister's testimony.
John Newton, police-constable, said that he saw the Rock
Ferry nine o'clock boat land, and the parties who had given
evidence go on the lane. He followed, and heard a noise,
but not the cries of murder. He found the Misses Sparks in
a state of great alarm ; and they went on under his pro-
tection. About half way between Mr. Peacop's shop and the
end of the Rock-lane, he found a man lying on the cause-
way. He lifted him up, and the blood fell like rain on his
hand. He took the man towards Butler's public-house, and
met some parties coming from thence in search of the de-
ceased ; and he then found it was Mr. Peacop.
After the examination of other witnesses,
Mr. Palmer, special high constable of the hundred of Wits.
rall having deposed upon oath that he had further important
evidence against the prisoners, they were remanded until line
day (Wednesday), at two o'clock.
The prisoners were then removed, and the crowds of
people who were collected in the neighbourhood of the court*
shortly dispersed.
We have been informed that Burns, who has .impe,ac''.ed
his accomplices, was in the habit of making dangerous h'ate
while in Birkenhead, and that his life had been threatened by
the others if he were not more discreet. They then found the
money to take him to his own country ; but change of cc me
could not quiet the stings of conscience, and that, mak :ng
known his crime to a priest, under the seal of confession, the
reverend father advised him to make a clean breast by gig ing
information.
BIRKENHEAD, WEDNESDAT.—The further examination
was proceeded with to-day. A company of the 47th Foot
took up their quarters at the Town-hall, which adjoins the
Bridewell. During the whole night, and up to the period of
the removal of the prisoners this evening, all aides of the
prison were guarded with double sentries. A diagracefill
scene occurred just before the opening of the court this after-
noon. Several of the soldiers were in a most beastly state of
intoxication, one so dead dnmk that be was carried throagh
the court into the Bridewell. Two others were also obliged
to be locked up in consequence of their disorderly state.
The magistrates on the bench were the Rev. R. M. Fielden,
Colonel the Hon. Sir Edward Cust, J. R. Shaw, Henry
Winch, William Jackson, and William Potter, n-tis.
There were also in court, amongst other gentlemen from the
surrounding neighbourhood, Sir Joshua Walmsley, Mr.
Rushton, the stipendiary magistrate of Liverpool, and INfr.
Dobbing, the head-constable.
The prisoners Tullant, Lynch, Nowlan, and Burns, having
been placed at the bar, the first witness called was Mr. J.
C.
Foulkes, the surgeon, who attended the deceased, and after•
wards made a post Inortcm examination of the body. He
described the nature of the injuries he had received, front
which it appeared he had been most dreadfully beaten alit
the head and face, but the two fatal wounds were one which
divided the upper part of the nose, and fractured the base of
the skull. The other was over the left eye ; either of which
were fatal. The former he thought was most likely to have
been inflicted by a kick with a strong boot, and the latter
with some blunt instrument, such as the loaded stick foi nd.
in the house of Lynch.
Mr. W. Stevenson, who had also attended the deceived,
confirmed this statement.
Mr. James M'llarg, superintendent of the Birkenhead po-
lice, deposed to apprehending Lynch, when at work in the
turnpike-road near Rock-ferry. He was engaged in flaying
down gas pipes; and, when pounced upon, took up an im-
mense wooden mallet, used for driving plugs into the mains,
but was seized just as he was swinging it. After he was
placed in prison, his house was searched. In his bedroom
-were found three pistols and a mould for casting balls ; cud,
concealed in a cupboard, were found one pistol, a stick about
two feet long (loaded with lead at one end), and the head of
a hammer, such as are used by stone-breakers. Lynch, on
being told the nature of the charge, was much agitated, and,
after a pause of about a minute, said—" I am innocent."
Michael Burns was then addressed by the Rev. Mr. Fielden,
and told that a statement had been made by him privately.
If, however, he wished to make any statement openly now,
and in the presence of the other prisoners, he was at liberty
to do so; but whatever he did say would be taken down in,
writing and would be read against him when tried, if he
were tried.
Burns then proceeded to say that he had been to Chester
to look for work, and that he was returning to Birkenhead
on the afternoon of the last day of the old year when he
met the prisoner Tallant, who asked him (Burns) to go along
with him (Tallant) to Rock-ferry, and they would get
some money from the baker (meaning Mr. Peacop), and
desired him to see Lynch. It was then agreed. that he
(Burns) and the other prisoners should all meet together at
the toll-gate at Rock-ferry at half-past eight o'clock. lie
and Lynch walked to the place together, Lynch saying
Nowlan had gone before, and Tallant, living in that neigh-
bourhood, had gone home previously. At the time ap-
pointed all met at the toll-gate, which is almost directly op-
posite Mr. Peacop's place of business. The prisoners then
posted themselves in various parts of the road, but not far
from each other, Nowlan being placed to watch the shop door
to see when the baker (as the deceased was called by the pri-
soners) left; and when he came up to Tallant be (Tallant)
was to whistle, when all were to make to the spot. They
waited about half an hour or more, until about half-past
nine, when he (Burns) heard the whistle, and on going 1.)
the place found Lynch and Nowlan fighting with the bake
The latter then made a struggle across the road, when.
Lynch knocked him down with a whip he bad in his
hand. Burns described the whip to be the same instru-
ment as the stick loaded with lead found in the house of
Lynch. He said there were two of them belonging t 4
Lynch, but the other had more lead at the end, and was in
the possession of Nowlan that night. After Lynch had
knocked the baker down he struggled on his right • side to
rise, when Nowlan struck him on the head with one of
the whips. He fell, and Nowlan threw himself upon hint,
and took twenty-five or twenty six shillings out of his
-
pocket. When the baker was down, another per-
m toars ocky.
son came up the road fro
Nowlan struck at the man and hit hidm, R
but fercourld
not tell whether he fell or not, as he (Burns) ran oft
towards Birkenhead. He crossed over the road into the
fields, and came part of the way along the fields. He thee
waited opposite a public-house at the lower end of Back
Chester-street, where in about twenty minutes he was
joined by Nowlan, who said he had got four or five-and-
twenty shillings, and gave him (Burns) half-a-crown. Ile'
then went over to Liverpool and lived in Bannister-street
for about two months. Three days after the robbery he
again saw Nowlan, when he told him (Burns) he coins
not give him more than another half-crown, as it did not
turn out so much as he thought it was, and he gave him the
half-crown. After being in Liverpool for two months doing
odd jobbs, such as getting in coals, he returned to .Birken-
head, and got work for two or three days, and theno_ worked
for seven weeks at Oxton. Then, in consequence f
being threatened by a woman connected with the prisoner+,
he went to Dublin. After he got to
Bickers to confess, awl.
Dublin he was ill of '4,
bad leg, and he went direct to Father
he told him to make this statement to
btheiengmnalgiadsterabtye,sß.
Bunts,
During the time this statement
d to be in a most dreadful state
ndroetss!tsohme butubceinicaltieet e
dm:a
the prisoner Tallant am
of agitation, and once attempted
wtoeraed
prevented. The other p_
is examined by the attorney for the
Burns was !lenne said he was a native of Pleasant-
other prisoner:
town in the county of Wicklow, and served his 'appren-
ticeship to a stonemason. Has been in England about six
years, and it is about five since he first came to this place.
Was in the army, and left on his own account. Never
committed any robbery before, nor any other offence, except
getting drunk. Had known Lynch about a year and a-half.
Was not aware of there being a reward of 3001. offered in this
case. Did not want it if there was. The reason he did not
give information sooner was because he had not gone to con-
fession before, or he should have been told to do so. Be-
lieves, with the help of God, the priest can forgive him after
he has done penance, but must do penance the remainder
of his life. Lynch and he went about a month before to
rob Mr. Peacop, when he was armed with one of the whips
and Lynch with the other. They did not rob him, because
the opportunity did not serve. There was an oath among
them. Lynch swore him at his house to be the same as him-
self and Nowlan and Tallant in anything they did. In an-
swer to further questions by the attorney, Burns repeated
nearly the whole of his former statement in nearly the same
terms as he had previously given it.
The magistrates, after consulting together for a short time,
announced that they would remand the prisoners until that
day week, Mr. Palmer, the special high constable, stating
that he expected by that time to be ready with a good deal
more evidence.
The prisoners were then remanded, and for their greater
security, they were removed in the evening, under escort,
to Chester Castle, followed to the railway by an immense
crowd.
(en I