The Sun. — 1851-05-13 (London, England)

THE MURDER OF THE POLICEMAN  IN VAUXHALL-WALK.  Yesterday evening the inquiry into the circumstances connected with this horrible murder, which was adjourned for the purpose of affording time for a post-mortem examination of the deceased, was resumed before Mr. Payne, at Guy's Hospital. The room where the jury met for this purpose was exceedingly small and inconvenient, and the foreman expressed his surprise to the coroner that in such an extensive establishment, and one in which numerous inquests were held, a more ,commodious place could not have been afforded them for one evening. The CORONER, after consulting for some time with the inspector who has the case in hand, said that he did not think he would find it necessary to detain the jury upon this occasion. From what he had heard from the inspector, he believed he would best consult the ends of justice by adjourning the inquiry for a few days longer. ' Before he did so he should wish to hear the evidence of the house surgeon, Mr.W. Rhys, who had made the post-mortem examination. Mr. W. Rhys said he had made the post-mortem examination as directed, but nothing he had noticed had altered his original opinion—namely, that death resulted from extensive injuries to the head. That was the only conclusion he could arrive at after a most careful investigation of the injuries which the deceased had sustained.  [Though it did not come out in the evidence yesterday, we may state that the post-mortem examination which was made immediately after the termination of the inquiry on Tuesday last, showed that all the organs of the body were in a perfectly healthy condition. Upon the scalp were several large lacerated wounds, corresponding to which were simple, compound, and comminuted fractures of the skull, extending across the whole of the frontal and spheroid bones. The temporal muscles were completely crushed; the dura mater and brain lacerated, and a large quantity of extravasated blood was found upon both hemispheres of the brain. In fact, hardly a single internal portion of the head had escaped destruction.] The evidence of some of the witnesses was then read over to them, at the conclusion of which, The CORONER expressed a desire to see the stones which were picked up en the spot where the man was murdered. Police-constable Head accordingly produced them, and called the attention of the coroner to certain discolourations upon one, which looked like dried blood; whereupon Mr. W. Rhys was recalled, and stated. in reply to a question from the coroner, that he did not believe the stains were ca 3sed by human blood, cr blood at all. He thought it was entirely owing to the " glaze" having been knocked off, and some slight mineral discolouration taken place, but he would examine it more closely if it was thought necessary. The CORONER having expressed a wish to that effect, Mr. Rhys took away one of the stones, and shortly returned, stating that though the spots which had been indicated were not mineral stains, and wiped away, leaving a slight reddish mark upon white blotting paper, still the result was not sufficiently decisive to enable him to declare it blood. The COZONER then said, he understood that the Commissioners of Police had taken up the matter with that spirit which they generally showed. and were bound to show, upon this occasion, when one of their men had been killed. He thought it would not be desirable to carry the case before the present sessions, as there was not sufficient evidence collected to enable them to prosecute. As the magistrate would no doubt remand the prisoners again, he thought it would be better if they met some time next week, as by that period much important evidence would be forthcoming. The inquiry was then adjourned to Monday next, at two o'clock.