The Sun. — 1863-09-12 (London, England)

CESAREWITCH. 1000 to 30 on the ficald (offered)  The Alleged Murder of a Bank Clerk.  Yesterday, at 12 o'clock, Mr. Humphreys, the ceitoner for the eastern division of the county of Middlesex, anti jury opened an inquest at the Dock Hotel, East Smithfield, touching the death of Hugh Dolvin Morris, a clerk in the City Bank, in Threadneedle-street. The deceased disappeared in a mysterious manner on the night of Thursday week, and was never again seen alive by any one to whom he was known. His body was found floating in the Thames on Wednesday last, under circumstances which it will be seen were disclosed yesterday in evidence, and his friends believe he was murdered.  The body, which has been identified, lies at a dead -house in the neighbourhood of the St. Katharine Docks, and there it was seen yesterday by the coroner and jury, pre • oratory to the inquisition. Alfred Morris was the first witness called. Ho said, in reply to questions by the Coroner—l reside at Hazelwoodlodge, Rovpell-park, Streatham, And am a bank clerk. The deceased was my brother, and was 23 years of age. Ho was also a bank clerk. I last saw him alive on Thursday week, Sept. 3, about half-past 2 in the day, at the entrance to the City Bank. We had been taking luncheon together, and I parted with him there. So far as I know he had no acquaintance at the river side. He was not in any trouble or difficulties, pecuniary or otherwise: Although he did not owe more than £l5 or £2O I never heard him threaten to take his own life. He did not wear a watch. We had reason to expect him home that night as usual, He was a lad of good character. He must have had money about him at the time of his death.  A lighterman named Finnison, living in Globe-street, St. George's-in-the-East, deposed that he was on the river on his barge on Tuesday last, and picked up the body of the deceased just outside the entrance 0 the St. Katharine Docks. The body was dressed, but without a hat. He brought it ashore, and it was then removed to the deadhouse. It appeared to have been in the water about a week. One of the eyes was black.  Mr. John Willes, a surgeon, at 32, Upper East Smithfield, said he examined the body of the deceased on Tuesday afternoon. It was fully dressed, and was covered with mud and slime. He had it washed. He found a great deal of contusion over the right eye and slight contusion over the left eye. The face was extremely bloated, and the marks over the eyelid appeared to be the results of decomposition. On the right eyelid there was a slight abrasion. The body was swollen. There Were marks on it, but they were only those of decomposition and not due to bruises. He could not in any way account for the cause of death. Witness added, in reply to Mr, Alfred Morris (deceased's brother), that if violence had been used immediately before death there might have been some difficulty in distinguishing it from marks resulting from decomposition. The discolouration was superficial, and if death had resulted from blows given before death he should have expected that the discolouration would have been deeper. Edward King, a very young man, and a principal witness, was next called. He said—l reside at Bellevue, Forest-hill, and am a clerk in the Cityßank. On the everting of Thursday week the deceased stopped at the bank to assist me in my duties. We left the bank about 9 o'clock. It was a very wet night, and he and I went to a place near the bank to take some refreshment. We e had some sherry and water, with bread and cheese. We then went towards Londonbridge on our way to the railway station. It began to rain heavily, and we called on Mr. Stephens, the landlord of the Ticket Porter publichouse in Arthur-street, near Londonbridge. He is a friend of mine, and has known my family for some years. We reached there a little after 11, having gone direct from the place where we took refreshment on leaving the bank at 9 o'clock. At the Ticket Porter we bad two bottles of charaPagna among four of us, Mr. Stephens and Mr. Cox being the other two. It was getting late, and ti :ceased began to fear we should lose the traia. He got up suddenly and saying, We must not lose this train," went out. I asked hins to stop and I would go with him. I did not hear what reply he made, if any. I followed him four or five minutes afterwards, and expected to find him outside. I looked about for him, but he was nowhere to be seen, and I went home without him. I also looked for him at the station, but in vain. It would be a few minutes after 12 when we left the Ticket Porter. The Coroner—Was the deceased sober? Witness—He was excited, but I could not say he was intoxicated. _  The Coroner—Was ho excited from drink? Witness--No ;he was in a laughing mood, and spoke in a rational manner.  The Coroner—Were you sober? Witness—Yee ; perfectly so. The Coroner—Do you know what money him ? he had about  Witness—l noticed him change a sovereign during the  evening.  The Coroner—Travelling on the came line of railway from day to day and being in the same establishment, you possibly knew some of his acquaintances? Witness—l never heard him speak of his having any acquaintances about the waterside. That is all the evidence I can give. By Alfred Morris, deceased's brother—l should not say he was at all intoxicated when we were at the Ticket Potter. He could walk perfectly straight. I should not have been afraid of his falling into the river. was not excited to any undue extent. He was not at all a likely person to commit suicide. He bore a very good character at the office, and his accounts were quite correct. A gentleman present from the City Bank bore out that statement. John Stephens, the landlord of the Ticket Porter in Arthur-street, Upper Thames ..street, deposed that the deceased, with the previous witness, came to his house on the night in question about 11 o'clock, He was perfectly sober, He had part of two bottles of champagne, and left a little before 12 o'clock, Ile drank nothing more there. WitintS could ;lot Pay the deceased WM quite sober, Jie