PUGILIST'S FATAL BLOW.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 14 June 1907, Page 1

PUGILIST'S FATAL BLOW.

SCENE IN A TRAIN. A most sensational tragedy was enacted in the train which left Epsom, a few mile3"to iiie south of London, after ihie races, a man named Robert Choate, a gas-worker, being struck by Pedlar Palmer, the well-known boxer. It was when the train reached Purley station that' the discovery was made. The door of a carriage in which 19 people were travelling was opened, and a man fell or was lifted out on to the platform. He was unconscious. Two passengers, one of whom proved to be Pedlar Palmer, also got out of the compartment. They were detained by Porter Hill and others. A doctor was at once called, and after a cursory examination of the injured man he pronounced life to be extinct. The body was removed to a waiting room. On the arrival of the police the two men who had been detained were taken to Kenley Police station. Palmer was charged, but the other 'man was released. A passenger named Mr Squires, who J, was r.in the next compartment, made' ttie following statement to the police :— "At Tattenham Corner Station' an elderly man entered the second-class carriage in which 19 persons were travelling, and began to sing. This annoyed the oth_er pasengeM in the carriage. T.he man persisted in singing, and then I heard blows struck and the sound of a thud. Looking across the compartment through the throng of passengers I" saw a man in a semi-prostrate condition, and' remarked :• 'Why. you've killed him.' Then 'Pedlari Palmer replied, 'No, 1 have only shaken him." It was not until the following day that deceased was identified. Pedlar Palmer was brought before the Croydon County Bench on the following day qn a charge of murder, and remanded.. Prisoner's, name . was given on the charge-sheet as Thomas Palmer, described as a commission agent. The proceedings lasted a very short time. The court was crowded, and many people collected outside the police station, which is opposite the court, to see the prisoner walk across. The first witness was Frank Cramp, a middleaged man, who said he was a paperhanger. Witness said : I was in a train from Tadworth to Croydon at about half-past six last; night ;m a third class divided compartment. I was !in tbe next compartment" to prisoner.' ' The Clerk : What did you see or hear T — l did not see much. I saw a man get in and strike another man. — What part of the journey was 'it? — Just before we got into Knigswood tunnel 1 saw two blows struck. Who struck them?— The man in the dock. On what part of the body did he stiike him?— l could not say. Did you hear any words? — No. Witness saw or ' heard nothing more till they got to Purley, when' he sa>v a dead man being "taken ont on to the platform. Mr Clarke': Tpu were liot in the same compartment 'as the man who struck the blow?— No. Chief-In-spector Jenkins, the next •witness .said. t About five minute}- past eight I. ' saw the dead body of a man lying in the waiting-room, on Purley station. Prisoner and another man, who has since been released, were in an adjoining room under detention. From, what I was told, witness went on, I had soner and the other man taken to Kenley police station. I afterwards went to the station and saw Palmer.' I told him he was detained on suspicion of causing a man's death, and that I should have to make further* inquiries. Palmer said •. "I did not strike him. I only shook the old man. He wanted to sing and dance." At 20 minutes to 1 the next morning, after making inquiries, I charged prisoner with murdering deceased. He said, "Good Good Almighty !" . Chief -Inspector Fowler then asked for a remand, which was granted, and prisoner was removed from the dock.