The Sun. — 1863-09-03 (London, England)

THE MURDER AT TEIGNBRIDGE.  The coroner's inquiry concerning the death of John Meers, aged 31, whose body was found in the water under one of the arches at Teignbridge on Friday, the 22d of August, was resumed on Tuesday, at the Union Inn, Teignrace. William Handyn, a labourer, of Leverton, deposed that the last time he saw deceased alive was on Thursday, the 13th of August, at the Newton Races, in company with a fellow workman, called Coleman. He saw him several times during the evening. He appeared to have been drinking. Between nine and ten be saw deceased near the grand stand, and heard him say to Heath, "Heath, you are quite a different man from what I took you to be." Heath did not reply. Witness was cross-examined at considerable length by Police. constable M'Ternan, in reference to what he had told him concerning the affair. Witness professed that he did not remember what he had told the constable, and gave his evidence in such a way as to call forth a severe rebuke from the coroner. Thomas Harris, a bargeman, of Newton, said that on the night of the first day of the races, about half-past ten o'clock, he was returning from the races, and when near the Kingsteignton Bridge, a man came up and caught him by the legs, and attempted to throw him over the bridge. A man called Bully came to his assistance. He followed the man, who was a stranger to him, to the Dartmouth Inn, Newton, where he was told his name was Bunker. Witness also said that he saw the deceased on the second day of the races, cn the racecourse. John Heath, a potter, of Bovey Tracey, was next called, and, after being cautioned by the coroner, in the usual way, deposed to having seen the deceased at the Newton Races on Thursday, the 13th of August. The last time he saw him alive was between eleven and twelve in the evening. Deceased was then sitting on a form in the last booth towards Newton. He appeared to have been drinking. Witness shortly afterwards left to go home, in company with a man called James Lethbridge. When witness left the course there was fighting going on in one of the booths, between some sparring men and a number of Kingsteignton men. Witness got home between two and three o'clock in the morning. On his way home he passed over the bridge where the deceased's body was found. On passing the booth the deceased spoke to him and said, " Heath, you have assaulted me." Witness, in fighting, hit the deceased twice in the face, knocking him down each time. He never quarrelled with the deceased before, as there was no one in the pottery he respected more. At this stage of the proceedings the Coroner remarked that he saw but very little at present that would assist the jury in coming to a satisfactory conclusion. The whole of the evidence having been read over, the Coroner observed that, as the evidence was now before the jury, it was for them to form their own opinion upon the matter. He did not think it was probable the deceased had come into the water by his own act, but that he must have been violently ill-used, and afterwards, by some parties unknown, thrown into the water. He considered that if the jury were to return an open verdict, the police would then be able to bring the parties before the magistrates, as he was clearly of the opinion that the deceased had been murdered. The room was then cleared, and the jury, after the lapse of about forty minutes, returned the following verdict :—" That the deceased was murderedby blows inflicted upon him, and afterwards thrown into the water, by some person or persons unknown." The Coroner said that he perfectly agreed with the verdict, and intimated his intention of communicating with the Secretary of State, with a view of having a reward offered for the discovery of the perpetrator.