The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1873-08-15 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

FATAL STABBING CASE AT LIVERPOOL.  At the Liverpool police-court on Tuesday, before Mr. Mansfield, the deputy-stipendiary, James Connor, a tall powerful young man, who is a boilermaker, and come. from London, was charged with stabbing James Gaffney, of Sheffield, and attempting to stab William Metcalfe, in Mill street, on Monday night. Mr. Davies, the prosecuting solicitor, said the charge on the sheets was one of stabbing, but the injured man had since died, and the charge would therefore resolve itself into one of a graver nature. It appeared that the deceased man Gaffney, and his friend Metcalfe were passing along Mill street about 11 o'clock on Monday night, when they observed the prisoner striking a woman. Gaffney went across the street and asked prisoner what he was doing that for. A di,pute ensued, which was followed by blows. It was believed that the prisoner struck Gaffney first, and that the latter returned the blow, whereupon the prisoner stabbed him under the ear with a knife. l'risoner then attempted to stab Metcalfe, but did not succeed. Gaffney was conveyed to the Southern Hespital, where he died early on Tuesday morning. Mr Davies thought that, under these circumstances, the charge should be one of manslaughter Mr. Mansfield did not think so. The prisoner was committing an unlawful act in striking the woman, and the deceased was interfering to preserve the Queen's peace when the prisoner stabbed him. This constituted murder, and the prisoner would have to be committed on that charge.... Mr. Davies: But if the other man interfered to the extent of striking him a blow in the face, that might create hot passion, and the act being committed in hot blood the charge would be one of manslaughter Mr. Minefield: That point may be acceded hereafter. At all events he will have to be committed for trial.,. Police-constable 561 was then called, and he stated that he was on duty in the neighbourhood where the affair occurred, and was informed that a man had been stabbed. He saw the prisoner running away, and pursued him. He succeeded in securing the prisoner, whom he took into custody, and charged with the offence. The prisoner, in reply, said, "I did not do it." Witness searched the prisoner at the police-station and found in his pocket a knife, the blade of which was stained with 'blood William Metcalfe was next called, and said that be and his friend James ' 4Jaflney were paving along Mill street about eleven' o'clock on Monday night when they saw the prigoner striking a woman. Gaffney went up to priBoner and said something to him, but witness could not hear what it was. Directly afterwards prisoner drew a knife and stabbed deceased on the neck. 'Witness went up to them, and seeing the blood, be knocked prisoner down. The prisoner jumped up very quickly and made a blow at witness with the knife, which cut through the clothes on his chest, but inflicted no wound. Witne.s was quite sure that no blows were struck on either side before the prisoner stabbed Gaffney in the neck Mr. Mansfield: Then it is clearly murder Mr. Davies said he had been totally misinformed. The case was entered on the sheets just as he had stated it. Ho , would ask for a remand till Thursday The accused, when asked if he had anything to say against a remand, denied stabbing deceased, but admitted that he struck him with his fist. There were, he added, three or four men' upon him and kicking him.—The prisoner was remanded.