The Express. — 1847-10-05 (London, England)

AFFRAY WITH THE MILITARY.—A MAN MllftDERIID.—At Sheffield, on Saturday, an inquest was held before Mr. Badger, upon the body of Thomas Morten, aged 30, a cutler, who died on the previous day, from injuries which he received in a desperate affray with a party of soldiers of the 40th Foot. The inquiry excited the greatest interest.—Maria Roberts deposed that she knew the deceased. On Saturday sennight she went to the Army Arias to her husband, with whom she left about 12 o'clock, accompanied by deceased and his brother. When they were turning down Barrack.lano they heard some persona singing, and shortly afterwards met two soldiers. John Morten asked ' them why they were singing songs on a Sunday morning. The soldiers began scuffling with the party, and witness called for the watchman. The guards came down from the barracka, and one of the soldiers came up to witness's husband, and said he had a good mind to run him through, and at the same moment pointing his bayonet at him. She then saw deceased knocked down by one of the soldiers with his bayonet, and about six soldiers round him. She did not see anything more, but heard several heavy blows struck. The watchman then came up, and witness turned back, and went to the Army Hotel. —By the Jury : Witness was close to deceased when he was knocked down. Several soldiers ran at him. None of them endeavoured to prevent the blows. It was not one of the soldier@ who had had the scuffle, but one of the guard who came from the barracks who knocked deceased down. The bayonets which the soldiers had were fastened to their muskets.—George Roberts, husband of the last witness, confirmed her evidence up to the time when they met the two soldiers who were singing. Witness asked one of the soldiers what:they were doing out at that time of night, and he re• plied, "We have got a holiday for the night."—John Morten, the brother of the deceased, deposed that he saw one of tho soldiers lift his musket to strike his brother, and he considered that it must have hit him—William Thorp, the watchman, deposed that he was on duty on the night in question. His attention was called to the spot by Mrs. Roberts. He there saw a person on the ground, and a soldier on top of him. Witness pulled him off, and asked him if he was going to murder the man, to which he replied that he had been insulted. The cross belt of one of the soldiers was lying in the road, and a soldier who had been standing by the deceased picked it up and walked away with it. Witness celled to him and told him he should want the belt, but he would not stop. The soldier whom he had pulled off the deceased made an effort to get away, but witness retained him until Sergeant Johnson took the prisoner out of witness's custody. The soldier was in custody, and witness could swear to him, and also to the person who was near him. When witness saw deceased he appeared much hurt, and when he was pulling the soldier off him deceased cried out, " For God's sake don't kill me."—The coroner said it was very necessary that the prisoners should be before him to hear the testimony of the witnesses. He should therefore adjourn the inquiry, in order that he might see Mr. Overend, the magistrate.