The Sun. — 1855-11-08 (London, England)

SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF AN ARTILLERYMAN.  On Saturday afternoon last, at a quarter before two o'clock, the body of an artilleryman, named William John Plyman, was found drowned. The body was floating past the Dockya-d when it was picked up by a policeconstable doing duty at the jetty at Woolwich Dockyard. The deceased was a very fine-looking man, and a man who was universally respected throughout tare regiment fur his general good disposition and his regularity of conduct, independent of the superior education which he had ; the non-commissioned officers of the detachment to which he belonged bore testimony to his regular habits, and that this occasion was the first time he had ever been absent after the time allowed. It appears that the deceased went away from barracks in company with another artilleryman, in the afternoon part, and they continued together until half-past six o'clock on Friday evening, when they parted company —the deceased being then in his usual state, not in any way intoxicated, or appearing anything different than he usually did. He was afterwards in company with one of the Royal Artillery and one of the Royal Marines, who remained together all the evening, and were seen at different places until half-past two o'clock on Saturday morning, when he was last seen by the proprietor of a coffee and eating house, in Hog-lane, near the waterside. The coroner, Mr. Carter, held an inquest on the body on Monday afternoon, and from evidence which was given on that occasion, led the jury to suppose that he had not come by his death in a fair manner, nor that it was caused by self-destruction, as he was one who bore not the slightest sign of a man likely to commit suicide. The coroner, therefore, gave order for a post mortem examination to be made, and the jury adjowned until three o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, and in the mean time the police were to use every exertion to induce other witnesses to attend, and likewise the artilleryman and marine who were with him at such a late hour. At three o'clock yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon the coroner and jurymen assembled at the Castle Inn, Pours street, and the first person called upon was Mr. Samuel H. Harahan, Assistant surgeon of the Ordnance Medical Department, who made the post mortem examination, and he stated he discovered a slight bruise on the left cheek, and the flesh on the little finger of the left band was also bruised. There was a slight bruise on the left groin and another on the leg near the foot, all of which were so slight that the surgeon stated might have been caused after drowning. It was his opinion that death was caused by suffocation from drowning. Other witnesses were then called, whose evidence did not throw any light on the subject in question. Henry Tripp, proprietor of a coffee-house, was then called upon for his statement, which went to show that he was slightly intoxicated at 3 o'clock on Saturday morning, when he last saw him, along with the other two soldiers ; but evinced no signs of insanity when he left his house. From evidence which was given on Monday, it appears that a disturhance was made, and a quarrel ensued, in which a female was concerned, and which occurred about half past 3 o'clock on the Saturday morning ; after which time the unfortunate man was never seen alive. The female and the two soldiers were not forthcoming at the inquiry this afternoon. The soldiers are not known, and cannot be brought forward ; but the female is known, and therefore the coroner has issued a summons for her attendance at 3 o'clock on Friday afternoon, until which time the inquest is adjourned ; as it is the opinion of the jury that he must have been thrown into the river as the quickest mode of ending the quarrel.  APPREHENSION OF lioß.