The Murder Of James Farrell

Violent death was a common occurrence in the East End of London in the 19th century.

Knife crime was a particular problem, as many people carried knives on them. and it didn’t take much for a street brawl or drunken argument to boil over into something far more serious and a fatal stabbing would occur.

Hour, in its edition of Tuesday the 6th of January, 1874, published details of the inquest into the death of one such victim:-

THE MURDER AT MILE END

Last evening, an inquest, with reference to the murder of James Farrell, a carman previously employed on the Great Eastern Railway, was resumed by Mr. Richards, Deputy-Coroner for Middlesex, at Mr. Rose’s White Swan, Wapping.

Inspector Sayer, Sergeant Lansdowne, and Inspector Gee of the K Reserve, again watched the case on behalf of the police authorities.

CHARLES HOARE’S TESTIMONY

The further evidence elicited was that of Charles Hoare, of 7, Starr-street, who deposed that on the night in question he was with six others, including the deceased, that they visited two public-houses, that after leaving the Red Cow, the last establishment they were in, they proceeded on their homeward route, and they encountered three other men, who were evidently disposed to cause a row.

The witness further deposed that he himself wished for no difficulty, but that the deceased was ripe for the same.

The seven separated – four preceding and three following behind, which were the deceased, Charles Hoare, and Desmond.

At the corner of Lady Lake’s Grove the three men with whom they had had some words previously stopped, and the deceased said, “I will go and have a row with those fellows,” and was followed by the witness.

A MELEE ENSUED

The deceased said, “Come on, Charley,” crossing the road for the aggressive purpose aforesaid, and he never heard him speak again: Desmond followed him, and a general melee ensued.

Three of the assailants rushed on the witness, and he, in the scuffle that followed, was stabbed in the arm and chest.

Two women were standing by, and to them he showed the condition he was in.

AN ALARM RAISED

The women immediately raised an alarm, and the deponent went to the London Hospital, where he was received that night and was treated for his wounds.

No quarrel had occurred amongst the deceased, himself, and friends.

THE COAT AND THE PUNCTURE MARKS

The coat the witness was wearing at the time was produced, and handed round for the inspection of the Jury, the punctures by the knife being shown by Inspector Gee.

The witness asked for Hoare’s assistance in the scuffle, and the assailant unknown said, “Come again, and. I’ll give you another bit.”

A cap was produced, which was found on the deceased, and no satisfactory evidence could be given as to its owner.

The witness further said that he heard one of the assailants say, “Use your knife, Jack.”

EVIDENCE FROM OTHER WITNESSES

Henry Air, having been in the society of the witness and the deceased, corroborated the evidence.

THE JURY’S VERDICT

After several other witnesses had been examined, whose evidence simply corroborated the above, the Jury returned a verdict of Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown.