Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1870-11-04 (Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, England)

COMMITTAL OF THE ACCUSED. At the Borough Court, Bradford, on Monday, Patrick Riley, tafenty-six, and John Riley, twentyfour, natives of Galway, lately employed at Waterlane Forge, Bradford, and who resided in lodgings at Longlauds-street, were brought up on the charge of wilfully murdering Thomas Leach, water turner, in the service of the Bradford Corporation, on Saturday night, in Westgate. The murder had caused great sensation in the town, as the deceased, a quiet, inoffensive man, was well known. The streets near the Court-house were crowded with spectators, and the court itself was crammed with people. The magistrates on the bench were the Mayor, Ald. Law, Mr J. Light, and Aid. Brayshaw. The chief constable briefly opened the case, detailing the particulars of the murder. Mr Robinson (Terry and Robinson) examined the witnesses, and called Mr John Walker, landlord of the Pack Horse Inn, who deposed to the row in the house, the ejection of John Riley by the deceased, the return of Leach into the house after he had been stabbed, and his deaths in about four minutes afterwards.— James Walker, son of the landlord, corroborated his father's evidence, and said that while Leach was on his knees in Westgate, over John Riley, he saw. Patrick Riley run in and strike Leach with something in the breast, and attempt to strike Geo. Berry, stable boy, and others who were about. Patrick Riley then disappeared in the crowd, but he (witness) positivety swore to him as the man who thrust something at Leach's breast. Leach was quite well before he seized John Riley, and just previously he had said that he would not be at the house next Saturday, as he was going to the firemen's annual supper. Elijah Clay, ostler, described his seizure by John Riley, the coining up of Leach to his rescue, the struggle of Leach with John Riley, and the fall of the men in Westgate, but he did not see Patrick Riley strike the deceased. George Barry, stable boy, gave similar testimony. He ran to Leach, and was in the act of raising him from behind, having hold of his arms, when Patrick Riley rushed up and struck Leach in the breast. He also tried to strike witness. Deceased walked into the house, sat on the stairs, was helped into the -kitchen, and died after witness had pouted a little brandy into his mouth, saying faintly, just before his death, "Oh, I'm done."—Dr Dunlop and Mr Parkinson, surgeon, who had made a post mortem examination of deceased, described the wound as five-eighths of, an inch in length, and 3i inches to 4 inches deep, penetrating to the heart. The knife had passed through the middle of the breast-bone, severed the right ventricle, and gone through the perivirdium.— Police-sergeaut Wilson produced the portion of Patrick Riley's muffler, and the "prisoner immediately exclaimed "that's mine. The Chief Constable said he had another witness, who had come to give evidence before the coroner, but he thought "there was sufficient to convict 'Patrick Riley. Both wisoners repeatedly denied the charge. Patrick Riley was then ordered to be committed for trial at the assizes on the charge of wilful murder.—Mr Themes Taylor, coroner, held an inquest into the death of Thomas Leach, at the Pack Horse Inn, yesterday limning, when the evidence was fully gone into, and Patrick Riley was committed on the coroner's warrant on the charge of wilful murder.—lnformaticaus were next laid against John Riley for assaulting Elijah Clay, the ostler, and Mr J. Walker, the landlord of the Pack Horse. Evidence was given of the prisoner's violent conduct, Mr Walker stating that while Leach was struggling with John Riley in the "market room," Riley bit the deceased savagely. John Riley was committed to prison for two months on each charge, four mouths altogether.—Thos Carey, mason, of Vincent-street, who was engaged in the row which had so fatal a termination, but who was taken into custody by Police-constable Wardman Craven previous to the tragedy, was charged with refusing to leave the Pack Horse when requested by the landlerd, Mr Walker. The prisoner pleaded that he had never been before the magistrates previously, and as Mr Walker said he was not one of the worst behaved, he was fined ss, with $s costs, or ten days in default, the Mayor severely reprimanding him for his conduct.