Hello All The following articles are transcribed from the Londonderry Standard. Please note that I could not discover a conviction or a sentence in the case.
17 Jan. 1872 Fatal Use of a Knife in Derry On Saturday night last, about ten o'clock, a drunken fracas occurred in the public-house of Mr. James HASSAN, Bishop street, in which, unfortunately, George GILFILLEN, a young man, aged about twenty years, received a stab about an inch and a half in length in the left groin, extending across the lower part of the abdomen. The medical gentlemen in attendance upon GILFILLEN are of the opinion that the wound will prove fatal, the bowel having been cut and the intestines protruding. The facts of the case may be briefly stated; Three young men, William WARNOCK, Thomas M'CLELLAND and John WRAY, went into the house of Mr. James HASSAN, Bishop street (without), and were served with porter, which they drank in a room upstairs. While they were in the room WRAY was observed to have a knife in his hand, which he used in cutting tobacco. On leaving the room and coming down stairs to the hall, these men were met by GILFILLEN and some others and an altercation took place, during which each party endeavoured to pull his own friend away. WRAY was taken to the outside of the door by his companions, but he broke away from them and went back. When taken to the door first he is said by some witnesses to have sworn that he "would rip the first man that came to him!" WRAY was then taken away and shortly afterwards all who were in the hall were turned out by the owner of the house. GILFILLEN told a friend who was along with him that he had been stabbed by WRAY and caused him to put down his hand and feel the wound. He had gone but a few yards from the door of the house when he fell on the footpath from exhaustion and loss of blood. His comrade, BRADLEY who was along with him, fearing he would die, at once ran off for a doctor. Several others, coming up immediately afterwards, they raised the poor fellow up and had him conveyed to the police station in Bishop street, where Doctors William MILLER, DARCUS and D. J. BROWN were called to see him. The unfortunate youth was afterwards placed on a stretcher and conveyed to the house of his parents in Foyle-view, where everything that medical skill could suggest was employed to alleviate the pain which he was suffering. While in the police station, he was able to say to the constable in charge, that John WRAY had stabbed him and a magistrate attended to take his depositions. The doctors, however, considered that he was too weak to be questioned. He was, therefore, removed to his home and on Sunday morning, Captain KEOGH R.M., attended his bed-side and took his depositions, in presence of the accused. The particulars are fully reported in another column. It is but right to state that this melancholy and deplorable occurrence is not connected with party work, both GILFILLEN and WRAY being, we understand, members of the Apprentice Boys Society. On making enquiry before going to press, we regret to learn that poor GILFILLEN is unconscious and is not expected to survive many hours. 18 Jan 1872 - Death January 17, at his father’s residence, Foyle-view, Derry, George GILFILLEN, aged 21 years. His remains will be removed for interment in the Cemetery, on this day (Thursday) 18th instant at 3 o'clock. Friends will please accept this intimation. 20 Jan. 1872 The late case of Stabbing in Bishop-street - Death of George GILFILLAN On Wednesday morning, shortly after three o'clock, George GILFILLAN died at his residence, Foyleview. It will be remembered that the unfortunate deceased was stabbed in a public-house in Bishop street, shortly before ten o'clock, on the evening of Saturday last. From the moment of the melancholy occurrence, the medical gentlemen in attendance upon the deceased, Messrs. William MILLAR, H. R. DARCUS and D. J. BROWNE never entertained the hope of the recovery of the deceased, the bowel having been cut and protruded through the wound in the abdomen several inches. Inflammation set in on Tuesday and, as have stated, death resulted on Wednesday morning. The Inquest An inquest was held at the Police-station, Bishop street, on Wednesday, before Minchin LLOYD Esq., coroner of the district. Captain KEOGH R.M. and John O'NEILL Esq., J.P., also attended. The following gentlemen were sworn on the jury; Messrs. Andrew REID (foreman), Henry M'DONNELL jun., James MONTGOMERY (Bishop-gate), John M'NEILLY, Joseph FERGUSON, John KERR, James HANNA, John M'CLELLAND, George SMART, Michael M'Elligott, Andrew COLHOUN, Thos. S. MAGEE, John Talbot, Joseph MONTEITH, John CAMPBELL, Bernard HANNIGAN, Hugh CONWAY, Andrew M'CAFFERTY and George ALLEN. The jury, after being sworn, proceeded to the house of deceased to view the body. They were accompanied by head-constable O'CONNELL. While the jury was absent, Mr. INTYRE, attorney for the accused, arrived. He asked the coroner how he proposed to conduct the inquest. It was usual to take 'viva voce' testimony. The coroner said he did not know whether or not. If the jury was satisfied with the depositions of deceased and the evidence of the doctors on which to frame a verdict, he would take further evidence. The jurors having returned from viewing the body and having answered to their names, The coroner said - Now, gentlemen, I propose first to read to you the dying depositions of the man, after which I purpose to examine the doctors. If you consider that sufficient evidence on which to form your verdict, well; but if not, I will examine any other witnesses you like. John WRAY, the accused, was then brought in. He appeared to feel his position acutely. Mr. M'INTYRE - This man, I believe, is committed to the gaol until Monday, for farther examination. Mr. O'NEILL J.P. - Oh, he is committed till Monday, or any earlier period, if required. Mr. WARNOCK (Petty sessions clerk) then read the depositions of the deceased, taken before Captain KEOGH R.M. and John O'NEILL Esq , J.P., at the house of deceased, Foyle-view on Sunday morning last. Deponent, being duly sworn, saith - "On the night of the 13th January 1872 (last night), I was in the public-house of James HASSAN, in Bishop-street. There was a disturbance going on in the hall, and Sam BRADLEY went to separate them. I was proceeding out of the passage home, when John WRAY came and drove a knife into my bowels. I did not see any other person present but Sam BRADLEY. Immediately after I became insensible." The accused, John WRAY, having been duly cautioned and informed that he might ask any questions, or make any statement he chose, but that such questions or statements would be taken down in writing and might be used against him in future, said "George, did you not strike me first?" The deponent to this question made answer, "I did not." The coroner - Gentlemen, perhaps you will think that evidence sufficient, taken in connection with the evidence of the doctor. William MILLER, M.B., sworn, and examined. The coroner - Were you called in to see the deceased? Dr. MILLER - l was. Coroner - ln the first place, do you consider it necessary to hold a post-mortem examination? Dr. MILLER (after a pause) - Well, I can state what he has died of and the other medical gentlemen agree with me. Of course, it would be the more satisfactory way. This course was not deemed necessary, and Dr. MILLER continued - On Saturday night, I found the deceased lying here in this place, on a stretcher. He was suffering from a wound or stab in the left groin. The wound was about two inches to the left of the navel. There were about seven inches of the bowel which had protruded. There was a wound upon the bowel itself. With the assistance of Dr's. David BROWNE and DARCUS, I applied the necessary dressings to the wound in the bowel and got the protruded portion returned. I then dressed the external wound also. He was then removed home. I might mention that it was his mother's decided wish that he should be taken home. Otherwise I should have had him taken to the Infirmary. I attended him, along with Dr. BROWNE and Dr. DARCUS, till the time of his death. In my opinion, he died of acute inflammation of the bowel and of the peritoneum, the effects of the wound. A juror - Does Dr. DARCUS corroborate the evidence of Dr. MILLER? Dr. DARCUS - lf l am sworn and examined I will. Dr. DARCUSwas then sworn, and said he agreed entirely With Dr. MILLER'S statement. A juror - l see Dr. BROWNE here. The coroner - They did not make a post-mortem examination, and it is not necessary to examine any more. Dr. MILLER - Of course, not having made a post-mortem examination, I speak only from the symptoms. On the request of the foreman, Dr. David J. BROWNE was sworn and said he concurred with Dr. MILLER'S statement. A discussion then took place among the jurors as to the necessity for further evidence in corroboration of the deceased’s depositions. Samuel BRADLEY was called and was about to be re-sworn to attest his information, when Mr. M'INTYRE said - When this deposition is read, I will ask to have the witness, William WARNOCK, examined. Head-constable O'CONNELL - lt is circumstantial evidence and we would have to examine all the witnesses. Mr. HOGBEN S.I. -Before the jury finds a verdict. I can produce evidence to show that this man had a knife in his possession and there can only be one inference, that that was the knife which inflicted the wound. We could not find that knife. Mr. M'INTYRE - That is your statement. Mr. HOGBEN - That is all. But we have evidence that he threatened to rip someone. A juror - Who is the person? Mr. HOGBEN S. I. - That man before you. Mr. M'INTYRE - That man is contradicted on his oath by Mr WARNOCK Mr. O'NEILL J.P. - He did not contradict him at all. But did not hear what he heard. After some further conversation the jury returned the following verdict; We find that George GILFILLAN came by his death from a wound inflicted by some sharp instrument and that John WRAY inflicted said wound on Saturday night, the 13th January 1872, in the house of James HASSAN Bishop-street (without). Deceased George GILFILLAN, died at Foyleview this Wednesday morning, the 17th day of January 187- The prisoner was then committed to gaol, on the coroner's warrant, to take his trial the forthcoming assizes. 28 Feb. 1872 Londonderry Assizes The following is the state of the calendar; William BLAIR, wilful murder; Anne M'ILROY, concealing birth; Nancy MALLON, conceahug birth;Samuel CURRY, rape; Michael BRANNAN, perjury; Robert WYLIE, Michael COLEMAN, James KEARNEY, having had arms in a proclaimed district; John WRAY, manslaughter; William John MILLER, Patrick M'CLOSKEY, violent assault; David M'GEOWN, Mary MADDEN, Lizzy M'MAINS, larceny; James MAGEE, William NORRIS, Patrick HENRY, riotous assembly and assault; All the best~ Teena _______________________________________________ UlsterAncestry@cotyrone.com UlsterAncestry Mailing List Searchable Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/ulsterancestry@cotyrone.com/ https://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry Website: https://cotyrone.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/
