The Warwickshire Herald. — 1894-03-01 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE INQUEST—VERDICT OF FELO-DE-SE.  Mr. J. Carttar, the coroner, concluded the inquiry into the death of Martial Bourdin, in the Public Hall, Royal-hill, Oreenwich, on Monday. The deceased was found mortally wounded from the effects of an explosion on the zig-zag path approaching the Observatory, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, on Thursday, February 15th, and died within an hour in the Seamen's Hospital. On Monday last week, when the inquest was opened, the evidence then taken was confined to the identification, and to the finding of the dying man.  _ . Mr. C. W. Mathews appeared on behalf of the Government, with Mr. Frayling from the Treasury Solicitor's Department. Colonel Majendte was present on behalf of the Home Office, and Mr. C. W. Mathews represented the Treasury.  The Coroner having read over the evidence given on the last occasion by the several witnesses.— Police-constable Tanganey said that at 5 p.m. on February 15th, in consequence of information received, he went to Greenwich Hospital. He searched deceased's clotl ,‘s, and found a portion of a glass bottle between the lining and the cloth of the front part of the coat. He found a watch and chain. The watch had stopped. He found two pieces of metal, a piece of lump sugar, a card of membership of the Autonomie Club, two cards of admission to a masquerade ball in aid of the revolutionary party, a bunch of keys, a tobacco pouch, a pocket knife, a piece of sealing-wax, nine cards of various addresses, memos of explosive ingredients, seven bills for food, &c,, the cover of a memorandum book, a tramcar ticket, five halfpenny stamps, a tailor's thimble, a pencil-case, a cigarette case, a piece of string, and a purse containing £l2 in gold, 19s. 6d. in silver, and 30. in bronze. He took the clothing and articles to the station. He saw Bourdin, who was insensible, and never spoke. The clock was stopped at half-past 3. There was no brown paper or glass in the deceased's pockets. Witness produced a brown-coloured billycock hat, with several holes both in the brim and the crown.  William Smith, tram-conductor, said he was on duty on February 15th. His route was from Westminster to Greenwich. He only issued one through ticket, and the ticket handed up to him was, he believed, the identical ticket which he issued. The number was 9251. It was issued to a young man, and he believed it was the game man, whose body he saw in the Seamen's Hospital. The ticket was issued at Westminster-bridge. The man held no conversation with any other passenger all the way down. He asked for a ticket to Greenwich. When he reached the terminus deceased asked witness which was the way to the park, and witness directed him. It was 4.19 when the car reached Greenwich. As the car passed the college the man was looking down as if he was looking for something. He had on a dark grey overcoat. Witness identified the top-coat of the deceased, which was of a dark mixture.  Mr. Mathews pointed out that the identity ot the deceased was proved by the fact that the ticket issued by the witness was found in the coat-pocket of the deceased.  John Bone, timekeeper at the East Greenwich terminus, said he was on duty on February 15th, from 4to 12 o'clock. The last witness's car was due to arrive at 4.16 that day, but it was a little late. When he was checking the conductor's time, he was askeJ the way to Greenwich Park. To the best of his recollection, the man who inquired was of short stature, and wore a brown hat. The man's overcoat was undone all the way up, and there appeared to be something in the left-hand pocket. He was positive the deceased was the man he saw. Charles Burchall, gardener, Greenwich Park, stated that on February 15th, at 10 minutes to 5, he heard a report like that of an overcharged gun. There was another man with him. Previous to the explosion he had noticed a foreign-looking young man walking in the park. The man was carrying a small brown paper parcel in his hand, which appeared to be about the length of a brick, and was going towards the zig-zag path. He recognised the portrait of the man afterwards when he saw it in a newspaper. He thought the explosion was caused by the boys he had seen playing about, so he took no more notice at the time, but went away about his business.  BOORDIN'S Batman's