The Sun. — 1834-08-07 (London, England)

AUG. 4.—lt is our painful duty to record the particulars of a shocking murder which was committed in the streets of this town on Thursday morning, by an Irishman, named Patrick Brogan, on the body of another Irishman, named Peter Swiney. It appears that the deed was perpetrated from a spirit of revenge on the part of the murderer against his victim, originating in the Irish factions, who committed such excesses in the riots of Atherton-street, about three months back, for which several were tried and convicted at the sessions. The particulars of the shocking occurrence will be learned from the inquest, which was held in the Court-house, before Mr. Crosbie and a special jury. 'Flie first witness called was Moses Johnson, who stated that he is a shipwright, living in Kitchen-street ; he knew the deceased, Peter Swiney, and on Thursday night last, about half-past twelve; was in his company with two other men, named Stockman and Lillie, in King-street, when they met the prisoner, Patrick Brogan. They all sat down on some steps in King-street, when Lillie went away to a house in King-street-lane. Brogan then began to talk of a fight which had taken place between himself and a man named Davis, who was a friend of Swiney's. Swiney said that he had nothing at all to do with it ; and on witness making a remark, prisoner said that he had nothing to say to him (witness), but that he would have his revenge on Swiney. The prisoner then asked witness if he would go home and sleep at his house, when Swiney said that he should not, as he (witness) had a good home to go to of his own. They all then got off the steps, and witness asked Swiney if he was ready to go home, at the same time telling him that if he did not go, he (witness) should bid him good night. Swiney and the prisoner then went away towards the house where Lillie was, and Stockman and witness stood in the street watching them. Immediately afterwards they observed the deceased and prisoner standing still, apparently talking, and they saw the prisoner's hand in a striking position thrown towards Swiney's body. Did not perceive anything in the prisoner's hand. They might be standing about ten yards from witness, and he heard Swiney call out, " Moses, I'm stuck !" and the prisoner then ran away. Witness and Stockman ran to the deceased, and found his shirt covered with blood in the part where they had observed the prisoner strike him. Witness assisted Stockman to lead deceased to a watchman in Paradise-street, who gave an alarm, and the prisoner was shortly afterwards apprehended and brought to them by another watchman. Deceased then said to the prisoner, " You are the man that stuck me," and prisoner said " Yes, I did stick him." The prisoner was taken away in custody of the watchman, and witness and others took deceased to Marshall's, a surgeon, in Duke-street, and Mr. Leather, his assistant, saw deceased ; witness then carried him home to his residence near the Salthouse Dock, and Mr. Leather accompanied them ; witness went home about four o'clock in the morning, and saw the deceased again that day ; he appeared very ill ; saw him again on Friday very bad, and on Saturday saw hint dead. Several other witnesses having been examined, the Jury expressed a wish to retire, and after an absence of about ten minutes they returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against Patrick Brogan ; and the Coroner forthwith committed the prisoner to Lancaster Castle, to take his trial at the ensuing assizes. The prisoner did not appear in the least affected, nor scarce conscious of the awful situation in which he stands. He is a man about forty years of age, five feet five inches high, dirty and ragged, but has nothing in his countenance indicative of a ferocious disposition.