The Express. — 1867-12-24 (London, England)

SUSPECTED MURDER IN SEIADWELL.  At the Thames police-court, yesterday, Jeremiah Duggan, aged 29 years, and Timothy Donovan, 25, Irish labourers, were brought before Mr. Benson charged with the wilful murder of Francis Brown, a glass cutter, aged 21 years, by throwing him into the London Dock and drowning him. The prisoners ars very rough fellows, who have been in custody before for violent &multi. They are charged with drowning a man. It is • singular fact, that while searching for the body of the deceased Brown, the body of a young woman, named Elizabeth Moore, bite of 44, Devonshire-street, was taken out of the water. She wee the wife of • sailor. She had been missing since Thursday night last, and it is supposed, from some expres. 'ions she was heard to utter, that she has committed suicide, Mr. Robert Wagstaff, • aidesman, of Noe. 10 and 11, Spitalfields-market, stated that at • quarter past 1 o'clock on Sunday morning he was coming up New Gravel-lane, Shadwell, and just before he reached the swivel bridge of the London Dock which passes over the lock, and isle, continuation of the main thoroughfare, he heard a cry of ''Help, help" proceeding from • man about the centre of the bridge. He looked forward in that direction, and saw two or three men standing on the bridge about 10 or 12 yards in advance of him. It was very dark, and be had some difficulty in making out how many persons were on the bridge. He rushed towards the men and saw the prisoners leaning over the railings, and a man in the water just under them, and drowning. He said to Donovan, " Who put that man in the water ?" to which be replied, " How do we know who put him over ?" He asked Donovan to whom the man belonged. Donovan said, " How do we know to whom he belongs?" and asked Duggan, jeeringly, " Who is he ? Duggan said, " I don't know who the —he is." Witness said, " Why did you not try to save the man ? Have you called for any assistance?" Duggan made answer, "Go to —,"and treated the affair in • coarse and brutal manner. Duggan also said, "Try and save him yourself." He called out murder and police as loudly as possible, and a poliee-oonstable inside the dock answered him.  Mr. Beason—What is the name of that constable! Freestoo, a police sergeant, No. M K. answered this question by stating that the constables inside the dock were not known to those outside.  Mr.lVagstaif—The men inside the dock called oat" Who is it, whatis the nutter?" Isaid "Thereiaamanoverboard." I understood the constable inside the dock to say " I am coming." He had to come 40 yards. A polio, constable, 96 /I, on duty outaide the dock came np, and at that moment the man in the water mink tor the last time, sad  Thomas Gicks, a police constable, No. 396 X, said that on Sunday morning, at a quarter past one o'clock, he was on duty in a place called the Milk-yard, the entrance to which is close to the foot of the bridge in question, and beard a cry of murder and police. He quickened his pace, and when he got upon the steps leading on to the roadway, which is on a level with the bridge, he heard the cry of a man overboard, " Murder, police." He ran on to the bridge and saw the last whines and the two prisoners there. Mr. Wagstaff said there was a man overboard and struggling in the water. The man went down before assistance could reach him, and was drowned. He said to Mr. Wagstaff and the prisoners, " Do you know how he came into the water ? " and told them he should require their attendance at the polies-station, and their names and addresses. Duggan said, " I tell you what its, master ;" on which Donovan interrupted him and said, . Don't criminate yourself." Both prisoners said they knew nothing about it. Donovan, on being asked if be had any questions to put to the witness, said, "All he has stated is true enough except one thing. I did not use the word criminate,' I don't know what it means, I told him to bold his tongue." Duggan—Criminate--I don't understand the word Francis Brown, of No. 5, Sun-court, Lower Cornwallstreet, St. Cleorge-in-the-Eut, said—l am a sail-maker by trade. I have lean the body of my son this morning in the dead-house in Sandwell Churchyard. I last saw him alive at half-peat 12 o'clock on Saturday night. He was then half drunk--eertainly the worse for liquor—but he knew well what he was saying and where be was going. He wanted to come and live with me, and I refused to allow him to do so. He struck me on the face. It was the first time he had ever done so. I went for a police constable, and on my return he weal gone. I never saw the prisoners before. My son was a cutter, and in the last year of his apprenticeship. e was in very low spirits on Saturday night, and knew he bad acted wrong. He lodged with a man named Wilcox, He was weeping on Saturday night when I raw him. Robert Stroud, police constable No. 270 K, said the body of the deceased was taken out of the water at ball. past 2 o'clock on Sunday morning. Inspector White said he had no more evidence to offer at present ; and Mr. Benson remanded the prisoners until Tuesday next.