The Commonwealth. — 1867-03-09 (London, England)

ALLEGED MURDER IN BER3IONDSEY. On Friday evening a lengthened inquiry was held at Guy's Hospital by Air. W. J. Payne, deputy-coroner, elative to the supposed murder of a an named Michael Wilton, aged 53 years. The deceased, who was a hawker and leatherseller, was found on Tuesday morn,ng last lying insensible in Long-walk, Bermondsey, from the effects of severe injuries, and he died the same day. A. man named Crawley was arrested by the police on suspicion of having caused his death. There was also a charge of negleet of duty on the part of three police. constables, and they have been suspended pending the present inquiry. _ _ _  Sir. S. Bashell, house-surgeon, sad that the deceased was brought into the hospital at nine o'clock on Tuesday morning, quite insensible. Ho died at six o'clock that evening. There svps an extensive fracture of the bones at the back of the bead, and there was a slight injury on the forehead, caused apparently by a blow. There were also contused wounds baf ore and behind the right ear, the results of blows or kicks. The arm was contused as if from a violent grasp. The injuries to the head caused death. A blunt instrument, such as a policeman's truncheon, could have eaneed the injury to the forehead. A heavy fall might have produced the fracture of the skull.  Mrs. M. A. Billings, landlady of the King John's Head public-house, Berraondaey-Egnare, said that on Monday night the deceased was in her house about three hours. He spent ss. in treating the bystanders, and he got drunk. Two men had a fight about the deceased's beer, and she had put them out. The deceased fell against a bench, striking his forehead, and he was insensible and si3k for ten minutes. He recovered, and left the house at twenty minutes past twelve o'clock. He had some money then in his possession. Harriet Gilbert, who described herself as a respectable widow, living at No. 3, Grange- walk, Bermondsey, said that she saw the deceased treating the people in the Public-house on Monday night, and she got drunk. She left the house before he did, and went to Eady's fish-shop. The deceased and two men came in after her; the deceased treated them all to eels, and when he wan being handed 93. change, she pocketed 3d. of it. She went away, and sho knew nothing further of what happened. William Eady, 33, Star•coruer, generally corroborated last witness's evidence, and stated that she came into the shop with the deceased, and said that he was her husband. Inepector Gillifant said that be could not trace deceased any farther. At four o'clock in the morning he was found senseless on the pavement by Policeconstable Langley, 190 M, in Long-walk, close to Crawley's house. As Crawley was one of the men Eeen to leave the eel-shop with him, he was taken into cuAtody. No money was found on the deceased. Three policemen, Charles Langley, 190 IL Robert Beavis, 990 A, and John Bestow, 4 M, were examined, and their teatimony went to prove that when the deceased was found lying in Long-walk, he was "snoring," and was believed to be drunk. Some people asked Langley, who was a young officer, not to take him to the station, and he did not, but put him against a wall. He was left there until six o'clock, when a Mr. Milner asked that he should be brought into his shop to recover. He did not revive, and between eight and nine o'clock the police at length removed him t e station, and then the hospital. The Coroner considered ths own moat serious one,,and adjourned the inqui7.7.