The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1887-03-11 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

CLTDM.  THE BIRMINGHAM TRAGEDY. INQUEST AND VERDICT.  Mr. Hawkes, corolar for Birmingham, has cm. chided an cie,uiry respecting the death of Colonel Feudall, who a few Jaye ago died in One Of the B rminghant herpitals from injuties received in a diaortlerly louse. Four people are in custody on euepieion of being concerned in the deceased officer's death, their name. beintr Theresa Worley, George Lester, and Lester's father and mother. Witneeses were called to trace the movements of the colonel andßooney alter they met on the night of Saturday week. They were shown to have visited several publio-lionsee, and at one of them Rooney went out and fetched her paramour and a man named Redden. The latter stated in evidence that after the colonel and Rooney left the public-house Lester jumped up and said, " l'm going down home; " instead, however, he went m the direction of Rooney'e house. Half an hour afterwards Rooney again called at the publichouse, and asked Reddall, who was still there, if he would come to her lodgings. She raid, " I've pushed a man downstairs. He's nearly dead and 1 can't make anything of him." Redden noticed that die had blood on her hands, and refueeu to go to the house. Two or three neighbours testified to hearing noises as of a scuffle in the house, and rough language being used—the talking being by men. the furniture was knocked about. There was a shout of "Oh, in, God ! " This was followed by a groaning "oh ! as if (one of the witnesses said) "somebody had received a large blow." Rooney ran out of the house and fetched a cab, and took deceased to the hospital, where he died next day. Hie money and coat were missing, and the police, after a diligent search, were able to call evidence which proved that Rooney and Lester took the coat to the brother-in-law of the last named, who kept it till last Tuesday. On discovering to whom it belonged he gave it to Mrs. Lester vnth two sovereigns which were in the pocket, and she in turn left it late at night in the street, for any one to pick up. When arrested Lester had 10e. 3d. in his pocket. Some of the Coins were marked with blood and one of Limiter's fingers was cut through. He said he bad been picking up some broken glass. Detective Dobbs, who made the arrest, found in the house a leg which had been broken off the sofa. Statements which the younger prisoners have made since their arrest were read. Lester denied being in the house at all during the colonel's stay there. Rooney said: "1 went home with the gentleman. He sat on a chair by the door. I left him in the clerk while I went upstairs and made the bed. He stumbled and fell. I came downstairs and lett him there as be fell. I went into Bull Street to find Joe Lester. 1 did not find hint in Bull Street. I got into a cab in Bull Street, and was driven to Lancaster Street, between Canal Street and Begot Street. When I got home Joe was in the house, the gondola n was on the sole. Joe said,' I have wiped the floor where the blood was.' 'Landed him three sovereigns I had taken off the gentleman in t e house before I went upstairs. Joe said,' L will get a cub and go down Lome. Don't say I have been here.' I fetched a cab from Laucaeter Street, and helped the cabmen to get the gentleman in, and went to the hospital with him. I not Joe Lester in Willitim Street North as I came from the hospital, and we came home together. When we got home I noticed his overcoat hanging on the cellar door. Joe said, "There's his overcoat why didn't you put it in the cab ? ' I said, '1 didn't notice it before.' lie euitl, ' Slip it over your head and take it to Jack Ilardacre's ' Joe came with me. I got the coat over my head. Hardacre was not in when we first went. He (Lester) went and fetched him from somewhere. He said, ''take care of the coat.' Hardacre slipped on the coat and said he would leave it in lie father's house. We then came home and cemented in the house until we were looked up."—The Coroner, in summing up, asked the jury if they could doubr that the colonel bad been plied with drink and then deooyed to the house for the purpose of robbery. A verdict of wilful murder was returned against the prisoner* Rooney and Lester.