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Herbert Murray Spicer, Imperial Yeomanry - killed in London 3.6.1902 6 years 3 months ago #56683

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I've transcribed what press reports of Spicer's death I can find, but this link leads to a transcription of the evidence given at Beels' Old Bailey trial www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?div=t19020630-510

For an overall report of the trial www.blackkalendar.nl/content.php?key=10442

Henry Beels was convicted for the manslaughter of Herbert Murray Spicer, and was sentenced to seven years' penal servitude.

An interesting possible connection between the two is that Beels was described as being a "dark man," and Spicer's father was a "West Indian planter" (presumably a planter in the West Indies). Did Spicer say something out of place to Beels at the coffee-stall?

HOOLIGAN OUTRAGE.

A Brutal Tragedy in London.


IMPERIAL YEOMAN ATTACKED AND KILLED.

Another ghastly murder by Hooligans has to be recorded to the disgrace of the Metropolis. And this time the victim was none other than Mr. H. Murray Spicer, a nephew of the head of the famous paper-making firm, and himself celebrated as one of the bravest among the Imperial Yeomanry. Mr. Spicer, whose home was in Godalming, and who had lodged in a Russell-square boarding-house, returned from South Africa bearing a wounded foot as a mark of his work on the battlefield. Then he quietly resumed his duties in the country department of the house. Monday night, with the wild celebration of peace, saw him out in the streets with a party of fellow-clerks, and with them Mr. Budibent, a friend and fellow-lodge of Mr. Spicer. The party spent that very merry night just in the usual way. Midnight found them at Charing Cross, and there they said "good-bye." Mr. Spicer and Mr. Budibent starting across Trafalgar-square, apparently for Tottenham Court-road, which in due course would lead them to the neighbourhood of Russell-square. How Mr. Spicer and Mr. Budibent found their way into Euston-road has yet to be explained. But the accepted theory is that they were swept along by the crowd, which at this point was very rough and extremely noisy. Down the Euston-road they went until, approaching Endsleigh-gardens, they stopped. And in that moment three men stepped out of the shadows, and the two friends were fighting for their lives. Mr. Budibent, breaking loose, stretched his assailant with two powerful blows. Even as the beaten man crawled away, a scream from Mr. Spicer brought Mr. Budibent to his side as the other two men scampered away in the van. In the hand of one of the men swung a belt. Down Mr. Spicer's face the blood poured from a hideous gash in the eye, where the buckle of the belt had struck. Every cab that passed was full of riotous celebrants; no policeman was to be found, and for nearly an hour Mr. Spicer lay bleeding and insensible before he was carried to the University Hospital. There, spite of an operation by Mr. Victor Horsley, he died in the dawn of Wednesday. The buckle of the belt had penetrated the brain. So far the police are absolutely without the shadow of a clue to the identity of the slayers, and the chances of their escape are manifold.
Evening Express, Friday 6th June 1902

KILLED BY LONDON ROUGHS.

An addition to the number of outrages already committed by the London "Hooligans." Mr. Murray Spicer, a City business man, succumbed at the University College Hospital to injuries received in an encounter with a band of youthful ruffians early on Tuesday last week. Mr. Spicer, who was about thirty-five years of age, and was connected with the well-known paper manufacturing firm of Spicer Brothers, had been in the West End with a friend watching the crowds celebrate the proclamation of peace on Monday evening.

At the inquest, opened on Friday, Mr. Herbert Spicer, West Indian planter, of Ockley, Surrey, father of the deceased gentleman, said that the latter served in the Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa, and had recently returned wounded in the leg. - Other evidence shewed that he, with his friend and fellow-lodger, Mr. Budiement, having viewed the illuminations at the West End, reached Euston-road, near St. Pancras Church, between one and two the following morning, both being sober. Mr. Budiement crossed to a coffee-stall in Euston-road to have a cup of coffee, and afterwards noticed Mr. Spicer in an altercation with several young roughs. One of the roughs aimed a blow at Mr. Spicer. The witness sought to protect his friend, when he, in turn, was attacked. He felled one of his assailants, and Mr. Spicer also, he thought, knocked down a rough. Then Mr. Spicer retreated into the roadway, when another rough unfastened his belt and struck him on the head with it. All the men then made off, and Mr. Spicer, who was unconscious, was conveyed to the University College Hospital, where he died from the effects of fracture of the base of the skull without regaining consciousness. Dr. Jones, the resident house surgeon, was inclined to ascribe the wound to a fall upon the stone pavement rather than to a blow with the buckle of a belt. A woman named Annie Hill said one of the roughs, whom she thought she could identify, struck Mr. Spicer as he was falling. Hill stated that the man who assaulted Mr. Spicer had threatened her with violence previously. Ultimately the injury was adjourned for a fortnight.

Three men belonging to the labouring class were arrested on Sunday on suspicion of being concerned in the attack on Mr. Spicer, and were brought up on Monday at Clerkenwell Police-court. It was stated that when in the cells one of the prisoners (Beales) asked whether he was the only man who was required to "settle up" for the mêlée at Upper Woburn-place. In the other case an alibi seems to have been set up. The witness, Annie Hill, identified Beales. As further witnesses are to be called the three prisoners were remanded for eight days.
Rhyl Record and Advertiser, Saturday 14th June 1902

THE MURDERED YEOMAN.

The three men, Henry Beels, George Darley [25, labourer], and Thomas Sullivan [29, French polisher], who were arrested on charges arising out of the murder of Mr. Spicer, late of the Imperial Yeomanry, in Upper Woburn-place, St.Pancras, on the 3rd inst., were again brought before the magistrate at the Clerkenwell Police-court on Tuesday. As Darley and Sullivan had not been identified, the Treasury did not proceed against them, and they were discharged. After further evidence Beels was remanded until Monday next.
The County Observer and Monmouthshire Advertiser, Saturday 21st June 1902

LONDON HOOLIGANS.

The Fatal Attack on a Merchant.


PRISONER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

Henry Beels, 21, a labourer, of 5, Derry-street, Gray's Inn-road, was again before Mr. D'Eyncourt, at Clerkenwell, London, yesterday, on a charge of killing and slaying Herbert Murray Spicer, on June 3, at Upper Woburn-place, St. Pancras. The deceased was attacked by roughs and beaten with a belt early on the morning following the peace celebrations, and Beels has been identified by two witnesses as the individual who struck him a blow. Mr. Spicer fell to the ground and sustained extensive fracture of the base of the skull, which caused his death.

Mr. Williamson, who appeared for the Treasury, intimated last week that the case for the prosecution was closed, but the prisoner was further remanded in order that Mr. Cowdell, the solicitor for the defence, might call witnesses to support an alibi. In the meantime the adjourned hearing of the inquest has taken place, and the coroner's jury has returned a verdict of manslaughter against Beels.

Police-constable Stevens (recalled) said prisoner was searched at the station, and he was found wearing the belt produced.

Mr. D'Eyncourt committed Beels for trial on a charge of manslaughter.

Mr. Cowdell said the accused would make a statement on oath, and would call witnesses.

The prisoner, having been sworn, said, in answer to questions, that he remembered the night of the peace celebrations. He did not work that day, but was out with another Covent Garden porter until a quarter to six, when he returned home and had his tea. He then went to bed, and just before seven o'clock a friend of his - Frank Fairman - called and saw him in bed. He asked him to come and see the illuminations, but witness said, "I have got to go to work early in the morning. The man stayed twenty minutes.

Witness got up at 2.30 next morning, and had breakfast. He left the house at twenty minutes to four, and went to his work at Covent-garden Market. He was employed by several greengrocers, amongst them Messrs. Birkbeck, Hubbard, Jones, Bailey, and Aldridge. He was not in the Euston-road on the night in question, and had never used the coffee-stall which had been referred to. He did not know, and never had spoken to, the girl Hills. He knew absolutely nothing whatever of the attack upon Mr. Spicer. His right arm was crippled, and he had no power in it.

Jane Beels, the wife of the prisoner, deposed that on the night in question her husband returned home about 5.40 in the evening the worse for liquor. He quarrelled with her, and then went to bed. Witness further corroborated the evidence given by her husband.

Alfred Higgs, of 109, Pentonville-road, said he had charge of a coffee-stall in Euston-road, opposite St. Pancras Church. He knew nothing of the affray in which Mr. Spicer was killed. He had never seen the prisoner at his stall, but he recognised the woman Hills as being there once.

Cross-examined : He had only been in charge of the coffee-stall four or five days before June 3.

Annie Beels, mother of the prisoner, said that her son worked fort his father at Covent-garden Market. He had never had the proper use of his right arm since he was three years old, when he injured it by a severe fall.

Frank Fairman gave corroborative evidence as to his call upon the accused on the night of the peace illuminations.

Mr. Cowdell said Beels' employers gave him an excellent character.

Mr. D'Eyncourt : Prisoner is committed for trial at the Old Bailey. I will allow bail - two sureties in £50 and himself in £100.
Evening Express, Tuesday 24th June 1902
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