The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-03-16 00:00:00

BOUNDARIES BILL.

Mr. V. StaiTii then moved the order of the day for the
second reading of the municipal boundaries bill.
Left sitting.

MURDER IN THE ISLE OF MAN.

On Tuesday, the 6th instant, a court of inquiry was held at
Casttetown, by his Honour Deemster Heywood, for the purpose
of investigating the charge of the wilful murder of Frank Wil-
son, founded against Philip Clucas, by a coroner's jury. The
Attorney-General, James Quirk, Esq., conducted the prosecii-
tion, and the prisoner was defended by Messrs. Bluett and
Dumbell.

The jury having been sworn, the prisoner was placed at the
bar, when James Quirk, Esq., acting Attorney-General, stated
the case, and proceeded to call evidence in support of the charge.
The witnesses were—William Crellin. Jonas Broadbent, Wil-
liam Hastie, Robert Christian, Ann Gilbertson, John Gilbert-
son, Charles Cottier, Philip Kinlev, and Doctors Nelson and
Moses, whose evidence was, in substance, a repetition of that
taken at the coroner's inquest.
Philip Calev examined. Is gaoler of Castle Rushen. Re-
members a conversation which took place between Clucas (after
he was apprehended) and the High Bailiff of Castletown, at
which he was,present. A remark was then made about a 'pla-
card which appeared on'the walls, in which Clucas was stigma-
tized as the murderer of Wilson. He appeared much surprised
and hurt, that he should be published as a murderer before an
inquiry was instituted. He gave an account of the transaction.
and said, that his reason for telling Wilson that he had passed
Lee's house, when such was not the case, was to induce Wilson
to come on faster, as he was afraid they would be too late for
the packet. Clucas has stated in deponent's presence, that they
had been in several public-houses, and had had each six.glasses
of brandy during that evening, which, he said, was more than
he had ever before drunk. The prisoner confessed that he was
tipsy, but Wilson was much more so: After they had left Gil-
bertson's, the deceased became more affected by the liquor, and
the prisoner had difficulty in dragging him.on. Several times
the deceased fell and brought the prisoner along with him. At
last the prisoner was obliged to leave him, and proceed on his
way. '1 he prisoner had also stated, in answer to an inquiry at
that time, that, on arriving at Liverpool, he went to his old
lodgings, but the woman of the house being about to be confin-
ed, the prisoner could not be accommodated. He then went to
another house, kept by a Manxman, in Liverpool, where he
obtained lodgings. and work being scarce, he had a hundred
cards printed for the purpose of making himself more known
among his friends. If he had been guilty, of the crime laid tohis
charge, he had plenty of time to make his escape.
Thomas Nelson examined. Is a surgeon in Douglas, and at-
tended the coroner's inquest on the body of Wilson. In con-
junction with Dr. Moses, he made a post mortem examination of
the hody. There were no marks of violence on the head, but
on the cheekbone something like a scratch, and a discolouration
on the left arm, which might Jesuit -from a fall. There was a
wound on the left temple, about the size of a shilling or half-a-
crown, scooped out, being large inside, perfectly free from dis-
colouration or extravasated blood. It appeared to have been
eaten by rats or weasels. There was congestion of the vessels
of the brain, which was very much surcharged with blood. A
brow might cause this, but would leave au external mark, which
did not appear on examination of the deceased. A slight fall
of a drunken man might cause the marks described. There
was nothing, from superficial and internal examination, which
would leave him to suppose that the deceased had come to his
death by violent means, Did not suppose that he had come to
his death by strangulation or suffocation, as in cases of that na-
ture the lungs are collapsed, but the luugs of the deceased were,
on the contrary, distended.
J. W. Moses examined. Is a surgeon, and assisted Dr. Nel-
son at the opening of the body of Wilson; has heard Dr. Nel-
son's evidence read over, and perfectly coincides in his opinion.
The stomach was also opened, and• presented a very healthy
appearance, having little. in it beyond the juices, which would
leave the deceased more exposed. to the effects of the liquor he
had taken. . . .

His. Honour here asked the Attorney-General, if he had not
stronger evidence against the prisoner?
The Attorney-General said, that he had several witnesses to
be examined, whose evidence, however, was only circumstantial.
His Honour then said, that he had allowed sufficient time to
collect conclusive evidence against the prisoner, before the trial
came on ; but that as it appeared there was no more direct tes-
timony brought forward than what was given at the Coroner's
inquest, he considered that there was no evidence to commit
the prisoner. The laws of the Island for capital crimes were
most humane, and he approved in cases of such kinds where
there was direct evidence against the prisoner, to commit him
for his trial at the Court of Gaol Delivery. In the present case,
no evidence that had been adduced could justify him in follow-
ing such a precedent, and, he considered that the course open
to the jury wet to acquit the prisoner. At the same dine, he
could not forbear commenting upon that conduct of persons
connected with the public press, in prejudging the case, by
publishing notices so detrimental to the ends of justice, and at
variance to all decency. Such conduct was highly improper,
and deserved the most marked censure.

The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of Not Guilty,
and the prisoner was set at liberty.