The Principality

DOUBLE MURDER AT SWANSEA. Thomas Martin, aged 24, stone cutter, and Michael Leary, aged 29, railway labourer, were charged with the wilful mur- der of Jenkin Evan, and John Williams, late of Swansea, on the 8th day of May last. Prisoners took their stand at the bar apparently with the utmost-apathy, especially Martin. Leary was tolerably well dressed, but Martin had on the same clothes as those in which he was apprehended. They did not challenge any of the jury, and on the indictment being read over to.-them, they both pleaded Not Guilty in a rriii voice. They were then charged with the murder of John Williams, and the trial proceeded. Mr. Grove and Mr. :Beuson conducted the prosecution; and The prisoners were defended by Mr. Sergeant: Jones and. Mr. Albert Jenkyn. On the table there was a model of the house where the tragic scene occurred, from which the relative posi- tion of the houses, the yard, and the road could be distinctly seen. During the early part of the trial, both prisoners paid the utmost attention to the evidence, and seemed considerably satisfied with the rigid cross-examination to which Leary and. Norris were subjected by Mr. Sergeant Jones. Martin seemed somewhat more anxious than Michael Leary. His lips upon Cli times were firmly compressed. When the court adjourned at the conclusion, of the case for..the Crown, .they descended the steps of the dock. From the position we occupied in the re- porter's box, we could see them very distinctly. They con- versed freely with, each other, and laughed occasionally. We z, also overheard Martin saying to Leary that the witnesses or some of them did not knoAV at all Avho did it. V. e believe they mainly rested their hope on this, and hoped at the utmost they would only be convicted of manslaughter. On re-ascend- ing the dock, they listened with evident satisfaction to the address of their counsel Mr. Sergeant Jones. They seemed to follow him with unabated interest, and Leary's countenance had, relaxed almost to a smiling mood. Towards its conclu- sion, Martin leaned on the dock the time in the course of the day. During the summing up, their countenances became firm and compressed. Though traces of considerable anxiety might be discerned, yet there was nothing to indicate that they considered themselves in imminent danger. Many of the spectators undoubtedly appeared much more concerned than themselves in their fate. The trial lasted about eight hours. After the jury were sworn, Mr. Grove proceeded to open the case. He trusted that no mistaken zeal on his part as an advo- cate in so serious a case would be manifested. He would briefly endeavour to call the attention of the jury to-the evi- dence which he should have to lay before them. The murder had happened On the 8th of May, when a kind of Aveddmg fes- tival, or as it was generally called cwrw bach, was held in the house pointed out on the model. Some time on the night in question the two prisoners, with three other Irishmen, had come in. They were going towards Swansea from Llychwr, where they had been paid off on the South Wales Railway. On their way they first called at the Trap public-house, and had some beer. They then tried at the Marquis Arms, but failed. Having met with a woman of the name of Mary Bowen, who directed them to Ty-chwith, where the cwrw bach was held, they went thither. The learned gentleman then mi- nutely and clearly detailed all the circumstances of the case, which will be found in the evidence of the several witnesses. He then detailed how and under what circumstances Martin was apprehended. He was found on the top of a mountain, between Swansea and Neath, near to the Red Jacket Works. He had not the same clothes on as he had on the night of the murder. The policeman found no stockings on his feet, though he found some that wei'e wet in his pockets. He said that his name was Tom Reardon. The different circumstances con- nected with the knife, which will be found in the evidence, were then severally detailed. The learned counsel said that he merely wished the jury to put their own construction on the words used by Martin and the other prisoner. If the jury could believe the evidence of Patrick Leary. there could be no doubt but that the fatal bloAV was struck by Martin. They would then have to inquire how far Michael Leary was aiding, abetting, and assisting him. Leary was taken near Cowbridge, in company A\rith the two Norrises. On his return to Swansea and in custody he had made use of several remarkable expres- sions, which would be proved to the jury by the policeman. If the jury would consider that he had said some days before that he had an. instrument that would let out the inside of a man. in an instant, and couple it with the use which he had made of the shovel, they would find an important link in the testimony. If such circumstances as these -L weighed with the jury, they would find Michael Leary guilty,—if not they would acquit him. There is this in his favour, that a man who was using a shovel was not likely to lay it aside, and take up a knife. Michael Leary had a knife on his person Avhen he was apprehended. Martin had none. He had it the day before; but nobody knew what became of it. There was a. cut on his finger, which he said was done in the scuffle. A knife was found in a bundle of clothes, but that was not Martin's knife, and could not be the knife with which the murder was com- mitted. The medical witnesses would prove beyond all sha- dow of doubt that the wounds of which the murdered men died were effected by some instrument such as a knife. The learned gentleman then explained the law in regard to murder, and concluded by expressing his anxiety that the jury should j udge fairly from the character and the manner in which wit- nesses gave evidence what. credence to give to them. He be- lieved their verdict would, be one that would satisfy their con- sciences, and. if they would satisfy their consciences, they would satisfy the ends of justice. Patrick Leary, examined by Mr. Benson, sworn Was a la- bourer on the South Wales railway. Worked up to the 8th of May at Llychwr. I left that evening for Swansea. William Norris, John Norris, and prisoners, were with me. They had been paid off on that day. We called at the Trap public-house on our way. Do not know how much beer we had but they said it was too late to give us any more. Afterwards we saw lightat the Marquis' Aims, Before then, as we came down the hill, T. Martin took up a stone and sharpened his knife with it. I saw the knife. It was a large pocket knife, with a black and white haft, discoloured with dirt. The blade was long, but it was round on the end. It was rather worn. Had seen it before, but not since. We called for some beer at the Marquis' Arms, and were refused as it was too late. Did not get any beer there. We met a woman, and in consequence of what she told us, we all went to the wedding house to get beer. The woman followed us. There were great many people there. I saw John Williams there. I knew him before as gaffer on No. 5 cutting, South Wales railway. Saw a person of the name of John Rees, or Pillinger, there. After having some beer, I spoke to John Williams. I was sitting down on. a form. I went over to John Williams, and asked him if he could give me a start the next morning for work. He asked me what I said. Pillinger came over and said he would make me tell him in Welsh. I repeated the Welsh after him as well as I could. Williams told me to come the next morning. I asked him if it was filling or digging. If for digging that I had a shovel, and would leave it there till the morning. Pillinger told me to bring the shovel, and that the wages would be 2s. 3d. a-day. I said I would come for a while for that. Then I returned to -the bench across the house. John Norris gave me a quart, and said I had no beer since I was in the house. I took it to the inner room, and gave the man 6d. for the quart. When I came back, and before the beer was drink, there were several Welsh talking in the house, and one asked me whether I was going to work for 2s. 8d. a-day. I said I was. He caught me by the bosom, and said that it was on account of that small wages lie had left the work. I caught him by his clothes, and we scuffled together, and got out of doors. I fell to the ground when we got to the yard. We got out the front door. When I felll called to the boys to come and save me. 1 said, Boys, come out and save me." Five or six Welshmen were about me. They were the first that came out. John Williams was one of them. They crowded about me in the yard. I was then standing up. I was up before they came out. Don't know what became of the man that scuffled with me. I called on Martin, the Nor- rises, and Leary to come out and help me. The first that came out was Tom Martin. He had a knife open in his left hand. He made a blow at John Williams, and struck him about the breast. lie instantly fell. He did not say a word to any one, and Mar- tin did not say a word to him. When I saw him fall, I ran from the yard down to the road. All the people were in the yard at that time. John Williams was to the left of the door at some distance from it. Can't say there was anybody nearer the door than John Williams. Before I got to the road, somebody said that a man was killed," or "that they killed the man." As I ran to the road a man caught me by the bosom, and asked where I was going. I said I was going home. He said I should not go like that. William Norris and a woman came to try to separate me and, the man. Mike Leary came from the yard with a shovel and a bundle in his hand. He told the man to let me go. The man refused and then Mike hit him on the head with the Hat part, of the shovel. The man had his hat on. I did not see John Norris nor Martin aftei I left the yard till I left the-juan. The man let me go away, and I ran away towards Swansea. When I was running off, William Norris cried to my brother, "Mike, will you leave me ?" and my brother said, "I will not, Bill." After that Thomas Martin came up to me he was the first that came after me. I asked if the boys were coming, and he answered yes. They did not come up to us. Martin and myself ran away till we came to the Cw-mb.Avrla gate. After we passed the gate, Martin said to me, "I am the boy-that let the wind through some of them." We went "together to the house where I used to lodge. Martin wanted me to come with him I did not gowHh him. I went in. He asked what o'clock it was, but did not wait to hear. My brother came in shortly afterwards; but did not stay. Did not see Martin again before I saw him in the station-house at Swansea. Martin had on around waistcoat, moleskin or baragan, with red mine on it, and a. low yellow cap with a peak to it, on the night in question. I remember being with my brother Michael on the'7th of'May I was taking breakfast. My brother came in we had conversation I heard him say that he had an instrument in his pocket that would knock the wind out of any man. I was apprehended between Bridgend and Cowbridge. I inside a state- ment before the coroner. It was the same as I made to-day. I made it voluntarily. Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Jones: I was, apprehended near Cowbridge. I had slept out the night before. Mike Regan and Daniel Leary slept with me. I had not seen my brother Mike from the row until I saw him in custody. I was taken about four o'clock into custody. Cannot tell how soon. I saw the other prisoner soon afterwards. -1 had been working for some time at Llychwr. I did not know,that the men were paid off that day. I had spent a part of the Monday at Swansea. When I returned, wetrt to the,gaffer.Thouse. We .all met., the. outside, at Llychwr. We drank first at the Trap public-house cannot say how much we drank there. At the wedding-house there were twelve or more persons. John Williams employed me immediately. The usual pay was 2s. 8d. the day. There were Irish and Welsh on that part of the road. Cannot tell what time we met the woman on the road. We were all on good terms. I never fell out with Martin. I know a man of the name of Harrow. Cannot recollect that I have ever quarrelled with him. I never put my name on his shovel. We had some words about it. He said that I put crosses on it. Martin never interfered on his part. Heard that the shovel had gone to Martin's lodging. Was quite sure that Martis had a yellow cap on that night. It was yellow or faded red, 1 wrs rather the worse for liquor at the time I was in thewedding-houe. J did not see any scuffling while I was in the yard. Had known Martin since some time in March. Cannot tell how often I saw Martin. I knew where he lived. I knew a woman that passed as his wife. She had a child. Cannot say that I have seen anything in him out of the way. I come from Cork. Martin comes from. Tipperary; has heard that the Cork and Tipperary men. do not agree very well. I left Swansea on the morning of the murder at half-past eight in the morning. We spoke to each other after being apprehended at Aberavon; Ave were in separate cells. We were in the cell at Neath also. I believe I did say at Neath that I did not know who would wear the new pair of boots I had, and that I would not have bought them if I knew what would'have passed. I do not know that I said I should not care if I could get off with transportation, I Avas locked up at Swansea. Norris was in the next cell. Leary and Norris were in cells on the same Jloor. We talked to each other sometimes in English and Irish. Martin was not on the same floor as we were. I did not see any of them coming up beside Martin after the row. I am quite cer- tain that Martin came up. He said that he was the boy that had let the wind from some of them." I made no observation to him at the time. I did not see John Norris afterwards until I saw him in custody at Bridgend. By the court I had no knife. Cross-examination resumed Does not know of Martin receiv- ing Ss. 6d. at Llychwr. Had some words about Martin sendW money to his wife. I do not know that I had a row with him for helping a stranger to load a cart. I swear I have no recollection of it. I did say the haft of the knife was black and white. The point was round. I lost my knife on the Sunday before as I was drunk. Had seen my knife on Sunday morning. Cannot tell when 1 had it last. Had my dinner on Monday, but had not my knife. I borrowed a knife from the landlady at Llychwr. It was not such knife as I lost. I did not take away that knife, I went to the bouse where my wife lodges at Swansea. There are persons of the name of George and Margaret Ellard lodging in the same house, but do not occupy the same bedroom. When I went back f had no knife. I swear I had not. Saw a person of the name- oi Sexton. I did not produce a knife. My wife showed me a knife the next morning, and she would not give it me. I did not see her Abashing it with her spittle. I had had it before in my possession. It was a pocket knife. It was an ordinary knife in length. I told my wife I was going away. I did not go where I told her, as 1 went towards Cowbridge. i had no knife with me, Re-examined: I was at Swansea on Sunday when I lost mv knife, and was with my wife. I made a drawing of Martin's knife. The blade was four inches long.—Cannot tell its width. William Norris examined by Mr. Grove sworn Is an Irish- man; was labouring with last witness oil the-South Wales railway. Went on the 8th of May from Llychwr towards Swansea with the prisoner. After going to the wedding-house we sat on the form. Mike Leary and myself danced and the fiddler played during the dance, the scuffle between the last witness and the Welshman took place. After some time they went out scuffling to the door, where most of the scuffling took place. Most of the men wer outside before I could get'out. Two shovels stood at the door where we left them with two bundles on. I took the two shovels and ran out. Michael L-ai-y said Patrick is killed out side, in the yard. Mike took one of the shovels from me. I followed him to the yard, and I saw him striking a man with his shovel, and then he came back again and struck another man with his shovel. The man he struck in the yard was stmding up. A man caught me, and my companions ran away. T were all before me, and I cried, Mike and John don't leave nie," and Mike said I won't leave thee. He came to me and took the bundle and I got away, Martin fell and then we ran all together. My brother aiad myself went on together apart from the other two. I ;,aNv no'niore of Martin after he fell until I saw him in custody. We went where my brother was lodging in Swansea. In about ten minutes after, Mike Leary rapped at the door. I opened the door for him. He said that one man had been killed in the yard and another in the road. We went to Llansamlet the following day. Heard the following day from James Leary that two men had been killed. We then left for Cowbridge. Saw Martin taking a knife on the Monday before he said it was hard to be opened he put some stick under the blade. Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Jones; Had not known Mar- tin long. I am a Cork man. Saw Martin take the knife at Lly- chwr. We were all together. Martin said the knife was hard to be opened. Saw Pat Leary, myself, and my brother paid at Llyclrwr; Patrick was paid after us. I and my brother were going back to Llansamlet. Martin told us he was paid off. Found many persons, from 15 to 20, drinking at the cwrw bach. They were mostly Welshmen. I got a quart at first. We were there I think about twenty minutes or half an hour before the row began. I, and Mike, and two Welshmen danced, lelid not see John Norris dance. T tlid not hear the beginning of the row. There was general confusion when I saw it. SaAy one or two on the ground. All were the worse for liquor. They scuffled and went out. It was difficult to say AVIIO first went- out., as they went as thick and quick as they could. When I got out I saw a crowd of people, but I did act stop at all in the yard they had been some time in the yard before I passed through it. I followed Michael to the yard from the road, and sawhirn strike the man. When the man caught me, Mike and my brother came to me. Martin and Pa- trick ran before us. Patrick was near when Martin fell. We did not stop then we got in advance of him. Did not see Martin again till I saw him in custody. Did not see a knife with any besides Martin that day. I saw a knife with Michael Leary on Monday. Did not seea knife with Patrick. Re-examined lIe was not before Martin when he fell. Win. Davies, examined. by Mr. Benson: is a collier, working near Swansea. Was going to be married to Margaret Francis in May last. Got up a cwno bach for the purpose.' Held the eivi-io bach on the 8th of May. There were-from 15 to IS men present. Remembers the Irish coming in; they called for three quarts of beer. In a little time saw a scuffle between Patrick Leary and Edward Mor- gan. Leary knocked Morgan down. Then they went out a troop together. The live Irishmen went together, and some Welshmen. Directly afterwards Morgan came in, and said the Irish used" knives. Soon afterwards somebody cried "Murder," thinks it was in about three minutes after they went out, and the people went out. Saw John Williams killed. Saw him about two yards from the door. I called him but he did not say a word we rarried him to the house. Did not see any of the Irish afterwards.. They brought in some spades and bundles; found two spades and two buodiesaftcr they were gone. Saw a knife drop from a bundle. I gave it shortly afterwards to Evan Davies, the constable. 1 can- not say one of the Irish was drunk. Saw Patrick Leary speaking to John Williams about work. & Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Jones: There were from 12 to 15 persons in when the prisoners came in. They were.all Welsh- men except one from Gower. The Irish behaved well when they came in. All the Welshmen, did not go out at first; the row was over when I went out. All the Irish went out at first. SaAV no knife with anybody. Edward Morgan was drunk; all the Welshmen had drunk a good deal, [Inspector Rees produced a knife.] This is the knife that fell from the bundle. Edward Morgan, examined by Mr. Grove Is a railway labourer. Was at the cwrw bach. Had a quarrel, with one of them the Irishman struck me. I was drunk at the time. Icannot remem- ber much about what we quarrelled. Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Jones Had no recollection'of what had happened was drunk before going there. He earild from 4s. Gd. to 5s. a day he worked by the job. Others were paid by the day they had from 2s. lid. to 3s. a day. John Williams, examined by Benson: Was-at the cwrw bach. There were a good many people there. Remembers the Irish coming in. I know them now they are the five I saw before the coroner. The first thing I saw was Edward Morgan on the ground. In picking him up I had a blow with a shovel. There were good many people. The blow made me insen3jlJIe,afld I do not know what happened afterwards. John Grove, examined by Mr. Grove I reside at Llychwr. Enow Thomas Martin, Saw him on the 1st of May grinding a knife, and a little girl turned the mill-stone. He asked me to do it, as the little girl. Avas tired I did. so. It was a big knife the blade was 4 or 5 inches long. The knife was turned a little towards the point. William Gootlenough, examined by Mr. Benson Is a. labourer on the South Wales b railway at Llychwr. Remembers Martin coming to work. Remembers 'the-8th of May Martin threatened to run a knife into John Roberts. The knife had a long blade it was 3 or 4 inches in length lie. had it i ti his hand. I asked him afterwards, how he came to 'do such a: thing. He said he would as soon run it into me as thit ,int,n. 'I,to.Icl him .he had better do 'no such thing. Cross-examined by Ilr., Sergeint Jones: Was standing about 20 yajdsfrom Roberts and Martin. Did not hear. what.th"y