The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1889-03-22 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

ENTENCE OF DEATH.  At the Liverpool Assizes, before Mr. J ustlce Charles, Charles Partou, aged 16, has been indicted for the wilful murder of John Fletcher, in it hansom cab, at Manchester, on the 26th February, by administerher chloral with intent to rob him.--Mr Hopwood, Q7C., Recorder of Liverpool, appeared for the prosecution, and stated that Mr. Fletoher was a semi-retired paper manufacturer. Ile lived at Southport, and had recently been elected on the Lancashite County Council. On the 28th Feb. he went on business to Manchester, and there met the prisoner, though under what circumstances they first encountered each other was not known. Counsel then proceeded te detail the story already given at the police-court proceedings, of the prisoner and the deceased being seen together near the .11auchester Cathedral about seveu o'clock m the evening, of their taking a hansom and driving off together to the Three Arrows public. house, where they had some drink, of their leaving that place in the cab, and of the deceased being found shortly afterwards alone in the cab, and in dying condition, and robbed of his watch and chain and some money. The watch and chain was afterwards found in the possession of the prisoner. Cousiderable sensation was caused iu court by an announcement made by Mr. Hopwood, that a new witness, who had not been called at the preliminary proceedings, would now be produced and would say that he was at the Three Arrows when the prisoner and the deceased were there, mid saw the prisoner pour some liquid from a smell bottle into one of two glasses of beer which were before them. Various witnesses in support of the prosecution having been examined, George Phillips, a bookmaker, was called, and stated that he was in the Three Arrows on the evening of the 2titti of February and saw the prisoner and a mau who answered to the description of Mr. Fletcher sitting in conversation together. Two glasses of beer were put be ore them, and witness saw•the prisoner pour some liquid from a small round bottle into the glass in front of him, lie thin lined up the two glasses, looked at them, and put them down again, but witness did not notice that he had changed the glasses. lie thought the .prisoner might be taking medicine, and so did not pay much attention to the matter, though he spoke about it to the landlady. Charles Esteourt, Manchester City Analyst, stated that he analysed the slontaelt and intestines of the cleceastal, and fourid indieatious of the.preseace of choral. Ile could not lot in airy judgment as to what amount had been administered, tot he had not the slightest doubt of its. presenee. Dr. Juline DieseAeld, physiciau to the Mani:limiter Royal lath mary, said he had made the C;l60 his study. The oause ot death was syncope due to the combined effects of chloral and alcohel, and not to aleohol alone. There was nothing in the condition of the body to indicate death trout taititral cruises. Chloral was net present naturally in the body. Chloral was easily soluble, and leit ii pueott taste, which quieltlj passed oft. This c'oaed. the plosccution. Mr. itrlieand then addressed the Jury for the defiant!. lie aid not deny tho identity of the accused nor his being with Faeclicr, as desteibcd by witiresse-, hut he utterly ticaied that the prisoner administered ehloral to him, and. he attlibuted the death of Mr. Fletcher to alceholio poisoning. lie reviewed the evidence at considerable length, but did not call witnesses for the deteutte. The Judge having samiued up. Thu Jury, after a short deliberation, retramed into 'Joint with a verdict of guilty, addcd a recommendation to metcy oil account of the prisoner's youth. The Judge, amid intense suppressed excitement, in passing sentence of death said he could not see that the Jury could have arrived at any other conclusion, and he advised the prisoner uot to place any reliance on the recentnieudatiou of the J my.