In a previous blog, I covered the story of the shooting of George Merritt by an American surgeon whose name was William Chester Minar.
The Manchester Evening News, in its edition of Monday the 19th of February 1872, published the following account of the perpetrator’s court appearance:-
MURDER IN LONDON BY AN AMERICAN
At the Southwark Police Court on Saturday, William Chester Minor, 37, described as an American physician, 44, Tennison-street, York-road, Lambeth, was charged with the wilful murder of George Merritt, aged 32, a man employed in the Lion Brewery, Belvedere-road, by shooting him in the neck with a revolver in Tennison-street.
THE POLICE CONSTABLE’S EVIDENCE
It appeared from the evidence of Police Constable 236 L, that, a little after two o’clock on Saturday morning, he was on duty in Belvedere-road, when he heard a report of firearms.
He proceeded in that direction, and saw the prisoner coming on the opposite side of the road.
He went over to him, and asked him who it was that had fired. He said he had.
He asked him who he had fired at.
He said, “A man; I should not be such a coward as to shoot a woman.”
Witness seized him, and took a revolver from his right hand. It was quite warm.
TAKEN TO THE STATION
He then took him to the station house, and on the way met another constable, whom he directed to proceed to Tennison-street, while witness conveyed him to the station-house, where a bowie-knife was found concealed under his coat.
The prisoner was very cool.
WAS IT MISTAKEN IDENTITY?
Among the many statements which the police received yesterday upon the occurrence was one to the effect that a man, named Thomas Pollington, a warehouseman at the Lion Brewery, Lambeth, would become entitled to £1,700 on the death of his wife, who is at present an inmate of the Colney Hatch Asylum.
In the event of his death it would pass to certain persons not named.
Last week it was rumoured that Mrs. Pollington was dying, and it is said that Minar inquired at the Lion Brewery several times in the course of last week as to the time that Pollington was in the habit of going to work.
It is further suggested that a portion of this money would come to the accused by the death of Pollington.
THE WATCHMAN’S STATEMENT
The watchman at the Lion Brewery (Robert Fuller) states that at twenty five minutes past two he was startled by hearing two shots fired, and cries of “Murder” and “Police.”
Two more shots were heard in quick succession, and he ran down to the tollgate at the bridge, thinking the tollman was being murdered.
When he got there the tollman said that he was afraid to look out lest he should receive a bullet.
Fuller then went on and found a young woman standing by Merrett, who lay dead upon the ground, shot in the neck.
The police had just arrested Minar, and the dead body was conveyed to St. Thomas’s Hospital.
This man further stated that Pollington and Merrett were much alike.
THE PRISONER’S HISTORY
The prisoner was formerly an assistant surgeon in the American army.
He took apartments at Mr. Fisher’s, 41, Tennon-street, on the Wednesday after Christmas.
His landlady noticed some peculiarities of conduct, which led her to the conclusion that he was rather eccentric.
He was frequently away from home, sometimes three days and sometimes a week at a time.
No letters came to his lodgings, but to a banker’s.
IN A VERY IRRITATED STATE
After being out for several nights the week before last, he came home one morning in a very irritated state, as near as can be recollected on the Friday morning.
He went out again at the commencement of last week, and all the week had been absent until Friday night, when he came home about eight o’clock.
About nine he asked for some strong tea, and after the family had retired to bed he was heard to go out about twelve o’clock.
THE SHOTS HEARD
He came home again, and went out again at about one o’clock on the Saturday morning; and after he had been out about an hour and a half the family distinctly heard three reports of a pistol fired.
The assassination took place about half-past two.
The pistol, as has been stated, was fired in Belvedere-road, and prisoner was met in Tennison Street coming towards his home.
More than £1OO in foreign money was found in his boxes.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT
Whenever he went out he always carried with him a bowie-knife, a six-chambered revolver, and a box of surgical instruments.
On each of the last three days he has called at the Lion Brewery, Belvedere-road, Lambeth, and asked whether a man named Pollington was employed there, and at what time he came to work.
Meritt had received a wound on the right temple caused by a bullet, and another wound right through the gullet.
The latter wound was caused by a bullet, which had gone through the neck.
The third bullet fired had broken off a piece of the stone of the public-house wall.”
HIS NEXT COURT APPEARANCE
The Globe, on Monday the 26th of February, 1872, carried a report on his next court appearance, which had taken place earlier that day:-
THE MURDER BY AN AMERICAN SURGEON
Today, at the Southwark Police-court, before Mr. Partridge, William Chester Minor was charged with the wilful murder of George Merritt on the morning of the 17th inst., in the Belvedere-road, Lambeth, by shooting him with a revolver.
On the prisoner being placed in the dock in charge of Mr. Keene, jun., deputy-governor of Horsemonger Lane Gaol , Mr. Partrige asked him if he had instructed any solicitor.
The prisoner, who seemed somewhat nervous, looked across the court to where Mr Gould and Mr. Nunn were sitting, and said, “Solicitor, no, sir.”
SUPERINTENDENT WILLIAMSON’S EVIDENCE
Superintendent Williamson said that the prisoner called on him on the 27th of December and several times afterwards.
He said that people were trying to poison him, as he felt his tongue burning in the morning.
Witness thought him labouring under some delusions of a harmless character.
A LETTER FROM THE PRISONER
On the 15th of January witness had a letter from the prisoner’s address, 41, Tennison-street, Sunday evening, in which he said that be had been narcotised, and was in a state of stupor from two in the morning till one in the afternoon, and he much feared his life would be taken away in some manner so as to make it appear that he had committed suicide, or in some other way.
If he could find them out, he (the writer) would assist him in any way that he could, and be hoped that Mr. Williamson’s agents were not liable to be seduced with money like the American police by knaves.
THE STORY WAS SO STRANGE
The prisoner asked Mr. Williamson what made him think he was under hallucinations.
Mr. Williamson replied that he could not think otherwise, his story was so strange.
He added that by the instructions of the Chief Commissioner the relatives of the prisoner in America had been written to.
He desired also to state that when the prisoner called on him he did not, from his manner, think there was any danger.
COMMITTED FOR TRIAL
After the usual caution the prisoner said, after a brief hesitation, “I think I would like to make a statement,” but Mr. Partridge said, “You had better reserve your defence,” to which the prisoner assented.
He was then formally committed for trial at the forthcoming assizes, and was removed t0 Horsemonger Lane Gaol.
HIS TRIAL FOR MURDER
William Chester Minor appeared at the Kingston assizes on Thursday the 4th of April, 1872.
The jury found him not guilty on the grounds of insanity, and the judge ordered that he was to be kept in confinement during Her Majesty’s pleasure.