The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-07-06 00:00:00

SUPPOSED MURDER AT BIRKENHEAD.

An inquest was held yesterday afternoon, at Mr. Davis's,
the Angel Hotel, Birkenhead, before Henry Churton,
Esq., coroner for Cheshire, on view of the body of Wil-
liam Geen, a sailor belonging to the brig George, in the
Birkenhead docks. A person named Martin Burns is in
custody, supposed to be implicated in the affair, and was
yesterday examined before the magistrates, but remanded
until after the inquest. The first witness called was
Wm. Bradshaw, who stated that on Sunday morning
he was on duty, about a quarter-past one o'clock, in
Beckwith-street, when he saw the body of a man lying
against the wall. On examination, found he was dead,
but the body was warm. Lifted up his head, and then
perceived blood oozing from the mouth. He knocked
for assistance, and had the body removed to the saddle-
room at the Angel Hotel. His hat was lying near the body.
John Fazackerley, labourer, living in Birkenhead, stated
that on Saturday night he saw the deceased about seven
o'clock. Witness met him in Park-street, and walked
along with him down to the car stand at Woodside. The
deceased spoke to witness first. They went to Coglan's
public-house, and had three glasses of ale each. After
that went with him to get shaved at Sweetman's, in
Albion-street, and from thence to the Globe Vaults, where
they had two glasses of ale each. Deceased then wished for
a little more amusement, and witness took him to Mrs.
Horner's, in Brook-street. They had a good deal of
drink there, and there was singing and dancing until
closing time (eleven o'clock). They then walked
along the street, witness assisting deceased down the
steps of the house. Witness, the deceased, and about
four young men, then went to the Prince Albert.
After they got there, witness paid for two quarts of ale,
and they remained there until twelve o'clock. Witness
left the deceased standing outside the door of the house,
along with one of the parties who had been inside, and
did not see him again. The deceased was then drunk.
There was no quarrelling, and he did not fall or receive
i any blow.

Sarah Jones, servant, stated that she was standing at
the door of Mr. Milner, in Park-street, with her aunt, at
half-past twelve o'clock. She saw a sailor pass the door.
There were several people standing in the street, at the
corner of Oak-stree, one of whom ran after him and
knocked him down. The witness also stated that a Mrs.
Christian, whom she knew, went up to the deceased,
assisted him to rise, and advised him to go home. Her
evidence was corroborated by that of her aunt.
Mrs. Christian was then called, and she swore most
positively that she had never seen the deceased ; that no
such transaction, as that deposed to by the last two wit-
nesses, took place, and that, in fact, she was in bed at
the time.
The witness was then confronted with the two former
witnesses, who most positively swore that she was the
person alluded to by there, and that she had been known
to them for the last two years.
The Coroner and Jury expressed their surprise at the
conflicting nature of the evidence of the last witnesses,
and it was agreed to adjourn the inquest fora week, in
order to give time to the pollee to make enquiries. Pre-
vious to this, however, the Coroner took the evidence of
Mr. Jennette, surgeon, who had made a post mortem
examination of the deceased, and who stated that he was
of opinion that the immediate cause of death arose from
the effects of external violence—a blow on the left side of
the head.

A FOREIGNER, speaking of the House of Commons,
says.-- • "So difficult is it for anything to be heard inside
its gorgeous walls, that the impatient members are obliged
to be continually calling out, ' Hear ! Hear ! Hear !"
nerica writes that he is now

A. FRIEND ill South

thousand

miles of pasture, and a patch of corn larger than Scotland,
while he has got so many cattle, that he has to boil the

as last seen

Ile man seemed

lelieht

, or making