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From: Linda <>
Subject: [MURPHY-L] Michael Murphy
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2003 15:00:38 +1000

Dear Listers,

Found on: Merseyside Snippets (Liverpool, Lancashire, England)
website: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~dadds/MERSEYSIDE.index.html

Southport Visiter, Dec 16th 1858

At the Liverpool assizes on Tuesday
Hugh MC'CABE, aged 22 and Michael MURPHY, aged 21, were indicted for the wilful murder of Robert VOSE, at Windle on the 6th Oct, MC'CABE was only charged on a coroner's inquisition.

The prisoners are Labourers at St Helens and on Tuesday night, 5th Oct, the deceased, his cousin, and some other men were drinking in a public house, the Peel Arms, when the prisoners, who had previously been drinking at the Star, public house, came in, and angry words ensued.

At 12pm, the Landlord came and said it was time for them to leave, the deceased and his cousin Richard VOSE, left first.

The other men came out and MC'CABE and the deceased started fighting.

A general fight broke out and according to one of the witnesses the deceased struck the first blow, but another witness said it was MC'CABE who struck VOSE in the first instant.

During the fight MURPHY ran across the street to assist MC'CABE and was knocked down by Richard VOSE.

According to the evidence Richard VOSE and the deceased ran down Water St for the purpose of returning home, followed by MC'CABE, but according to another witness, after the deceased and MC'CABE had been struggling on the ground, the police arrived, they both got up and ran away.

About 10 minutes later a man was found lying on waste ground by the road, the man thought he was drunk, and there being a rattling sound in his throat, thought he wanted to vomit, the witness turned him over and walked away, without observing any blood on the man as the night was very dark.

At 5-30am the body was found in the same place quite stiff and cold.

On examination there were two wounds on the body, one on the left arm, the other in the upper left breast, penetrating into the cavity of the chest, the latter wound being the cause of death.

The circumstances under which the prisoners were arrested were described.

As also the extraordinary statements which MC'CABE made when taken into custody - that before anything had been said as to the charge, he asked, "Is the man dead?"

The jury after a short deliberation, returned a verdict of Manslaughter against MC'CABE, whose sentence was differed.

MURPHY who was acquitted was discharged.

Linda

Tasmania, Australia

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