The Sun. — 1830-01-27 (London, England)

MURDER AT PORTSMOUTH.  In our paper of last week we mentioned the circumstance of William Whiney, a convict on board the York hulk, having been discovered on the previous Friday morning in a store-house in the Gunwharf, with his throat cut in a shocking manner. In consequence of a report which shortly afterwards became prevalent, that the deceased had not committed the act himself, a jury was summoned by F. HOWARD, Esq., Coroner, to inquire into the cause of his death. The Jury accordingly assembled on Tuesday morning, and daily by adjournment until Friday night, on board the York, when the following facts were elicited. From the evidence of Drs. Porter and Meadows, and of Messrs. Martell, Garrington, and Prowse, surgeons, it appeared that the head of the deceased was almost severed from the body, and the skull near the temple fractured; and from a careful examination of the fracture and its effect, it was clear that the wound must have been inflicted by some blunt instrument before the throat was cut ; and as the fracture was sufficient to cause death, it was in their opinion impossible that the deceased could have cut his own :liroat. At eight o'olock on Friday morning, he, with several others, went to the Gun-wharf, where he was seen, about half-past eight, talking to a labourer ; and at a quarter past nine he was found in the shed as before described. By the evidence of a convict named Powell, to whom suspicion attached, it appeares that he (Powell) was at work that morning in the Gun-wharf, and that he left his party at half-past eight to go to Winney to purchase a halfpenny-worth of tobacco; that he inquired for him at several places, but could not find him ; that he afterwards went to the shed (No. fl), and about ten yards from the door he saw a man lying on the floor, weltering in his blood ; that he thought it was Winney ; but that he was so frightened, he left the shed immediately ; (Lowther convict, named Brow*, however, who saw Powell enter the shed, stated that he remained at the saw-pit for some minutes, during which time Powell certainly did not come out) ; that he went to Mr. Wolfe's cabin to inform him of the circumstance (this cabin is a considerable distance from the shed, yet it appears he must go there in preference to informing another convict named Willis, whe by his own account, was within sight and call); that he and Mr. Wolfe returned to the shed together, where they found that the deceased was Whiney. The most material point about the evidence was, that Powell denied having gone into the shed No. 9, positively declared that he merely peeped in, and went away immediately. This however, was contradicted by Brown, who said he was standing at a saw-pit, looking towards No. 9, when he saw Powell come out of the dinner-shed, open the door of No. 9, and go in; that he (Brown) continued looking in that direction for about three minutes, and that Powell did not come out again during that time. Brown's evidence was confirmed by another convict (Briggs), who deposed to having seen Brown looking in that direction. The whole of the witnesses having been examined, the CoRoNEe. said he did not think there was sufficient evidence against any particular person to justify their returning a verdict of wilful murder against any individual. The Jury, however, thought otherwise, and after having consulted for about an hour and ahalf, they returned a verdict at nine o'clock on Friday evening of " Wil ful murder against John Powell." A previous inquest had been held on the same body on Friday, the 15th instant, on board the Racoon, before G.L.GftErrIIAN, Esq., Coioner within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty, when, in accordance with the evidence then adduced, a verdict was returned that the deceased cut his throat in a fit of delirium. In consequence, however, of a report that the deceased had not committed the act himself, Mr. Greetham applied to Edward Carter, Esq., that a further investigation night take place on the subject. John Powell, suspected of the murder of William Winney, is twenty-five years of age, stands five feet four inches and a half high; he was born in Sunstreet, Finsbury-square, and was convicted at the Old Bailey on the 10th of April, 1828, of stealing a coat. His real name is Langley Pearce, and he was a good workman as a mathematical instrumentmaker, and formerly worked for Mr. Stebbing, the optician, of this town.—Portsmouth Herald.