The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1887-06-04 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS. The prisoner was brought up at the Borough Police Court, on Thursday, before Mr. Preston, stipendiary magistrate, charged with the wilful murder of 'fluxbury. Mr. R. B. Moore represented the prisoner. Long before eleven o'clock the approaches to the court were crowded, and when the magistrate took his seat upon the bench the caul t was filled. Elizabeth Griffiths was the first witness called. She said: I am married, and my loisband's name is Thomas Griffiths. I live the yard attached to Simms' Royal Castle Hotel, Trammere. I first saw the deceased man Duxbury about twenty minutes past five o'clock yesterday. kb was coming into the stable yard, from the outside; along with Byrne. Ido not know where they canto from. l was standing at the door ot my house at ths time. I did not hear the prisoner say anything to Dintbury, but I saw him strike Duxbury with his fist on the right temple. I did not hear Duxbury say anything. He fell on the ground with the force of the blow. There is a large piece of pig iron behind the door and in failing he may have come in contact with it. There was also a stake sticking on of thc ground near the piece of iron for the purpose of preventing the door swinging too far. After knocking the deceased down the prisoner walked away and left the deceased lying on the ground. I called to Byrne to come back, saying that tie man was in a fit, but lie walked away. i oiled loud enough for him to hear me, h.t lie took no notice. The deceased lay on the floor for about two minutes. I sew two men passing and I called to them aatil they came into the yard. Their names are Thomas Dowus, living in Taylor'sdelph, and Charles A dtage. I gave them some water and they carried the deceased across the yard. Before the men came into the yard the deceased scrambled up by the gate and put his bat on, but he fell down again, as I thought, in a fit. He first fell on his knees and then on his face. The men carried the deceased to the stable door and put a coat under his head. A police-officer came into the yard a very few minutes afterwards, and I gave him some vinegar. The policeman was P.C. 92 (Hughes). The vinegar was not wanted. The deceased did not say a word all this time. There was a slight scratch on the temple, which I fancy was caused by falling on the piece of moo. He was taken away in a cal by the police officer. That is all I know.  By Mr. Preston: When the blow was struck I would be, perhaps, a little more than ten yards away. I did not hear any words pass between the men.  Mr. Moore: Perhaps your Worship will allow me to reserve my cross-examination of the witnesses. I am told by the coroner's officer that the inquest will be held at three o'clock this afternoon, but it will be rimply opened. Early this morning I visited the locn4 in quo, and I took Mr. Bleakley with me this morning and he will make plans of everything. No person regrets the occurrence more than my client, especially if he has in any way contributed to it. Gertrude Crossing was the next witness called. She said: lam a barmaid at the Royal Castle Hotel, Tranmere. I was in the hotel all Wednesday afternoon. It would be about five o'clock when Duxbury entered. The prisoner came in first and had been in some time before Duxbury entered. Nothing occurred inside the bar. I served Duxbury with a glass of beer for which be asked. He was quite sober. I saw him go out of the hotel, but I do not know what he went for. At the time he went out he had a piece of hawthorn blossom in his hand. He left the hotel before drinking his beer. He did not tell me that he was coming back. The prisoner left the hotel about the same time. I did not hear the men having any conversation. I think the prisoner spoke to the deceased about some flowers, but I cannot say what was said. I did not see the deceased afterwards. Byrne came back to the bar again. I did not hear any noise outside. I did not know that anything had happened until about half-an-hour afterwards. When Byrne returned be did not say anything about what had happened. By Mr. Preston: When the men were talking together they were not excited. Mr. Preston remanded the prisoner until next Wednesday.