HORRIBLE MURDER IN SYDNEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 320, 21 November 1864, Page 5

HORRIBLE MURDER IN SYDNEY.

(From tho Sydney Mornirg Herald.) Mr. Genrgo Whitfield, tlw gunsmith, was-, on Friday evening, deliberately muutered by a man named Patrick M'Uliun. At about half-past six o'clock, ill*. Whitfield was standing at his shop do f T, in King-street, near the corner of George-street, talking to Air. Donovan, tho tobacconist, when M'Glinn stepped up behind Mr. Donovan, and, levelling a sixbarrelled revolver over his shoulder, tired oft'tho contents of one chamber into Mr. Whitfield's head. 'Iha ball struck Mr. Whitfield on the forehead, noil* the l ight teuiple. ami pissed out of tho back of his head. Giinn, who is a gunsmith, and carried on business in York-Street, ono door fr>m Kidg-street, did not, as it is undeislood, preface his muiderous work by i»ny remark, and it is pos-ible that his hapless victim was no: aware of his presence. Mrs. Wnittield ran out 01 the shop on hearing the report, and 't-r constei i.a'.inu may be conceived, but m t exp essed. Jlr. Whitfield was caugh hold of by a man w.io saw tlie shot lired, and who assisted him into the ■ "iiise. The murdered man never spoke, and he died almost iusti-.n ly. A cab was staited off for l)rWri;;ht immediately the deed was done, hut the unfortunate man was dead before medical aid could be obtained. Mr. Donovan took tho pistol from MVilinn, and constable 'Jhompson, who was no duty a few \ards oil', went up and apprehended him. M'Ulinn aelnoledged his guilt, and made no attempt to resist capture. lie was taken to the Central Police Station, and locked-up. Several reasons have horn mentioned as having incited M'tjlinn—such for instance as that deceased had d spaiaged M'Glinn in his business as a tradesman, and that they were cmlittered against ia. bother by religious animosities. The cii'prU, however, lias asigned no cause for tho commission of the ilreauful act, and it is, perhaps, therefore, not desirable to amplify the account ot this distressing occurence by recording suppositious rumours when ii. is ditlicult to detei-miue what, or if any amount of creuiiability aituches to theui. Inquiry on this score is bi-st left to the iudicial tribunals biioie which the matter must be brought. A" inquest respecting Mr. hittieki's death will be liciiuii as early is possible, probaby to-day. Mr. Whitelield l.ait been 1- ng established ns a tradesman - in t-ydney, and his death will be sineeio y deplored, for l.e was widely known and much esteemed by many of his fellow-citizens. Uhe tragical ail'air was the principal topic of conversation in the city last night and the deepest commiseration was expressed on account of his untoward fate, and lor til se who are bereaved bv his untimely death. The doors ot the two gunsmith's shops wi re beset for some hours last night by thi-uiics ot people, attracted there, uo doubt, bv curiosity or by feelings of a more painful interest. An inquest respecting the death of Mr. George Whitli« Id, who was murdered whilst standing at the door of his shop in King-street, on I'riday evening, was begun on Saturday at the Criterion Hotel, Kingftivet, before the City Coroner, and a jury of twelve. Paliiik M'Ginn, the man who shot deceased, was brought before tlie court in the custody ol seniorserteaut Waters. The demtanourof the wretched ci.lprit who, it seems, has hitherto had an unblemished reputation, was maiked by an appearauce of eontiition. 'J he room was crowded throughout the proceedings, and when the prisoner was leuioved by the police in a cab to Darhnghurst gaol, there was a gathering ol ill-out live hundred persons, which thronged the out side of the hotel eagerto cauha glimpse of him. 'J he inquest would have been tinishca on .-aturJay, but iniili- rof ilie doctors sumniui. d were present to give their evidence w)un called on ; and the iiii-Mi.ui, alter waiting a consideralle time, found it necessary to adj' urn the investigation until ten o'clock on Monday, 'the oiny evidence jet to be taken is the diposition of anudiial witness; and, since tlie prisoi-.ir udmits his guilt, tli** ca ecannot be ]>iejudicialiy atiectid by the publication of ihe proceedings as far as t!.e\ lui\e goue 'Ihe testimony of ' senioi-sergeant Waters si ems to favour a presuiup--1 t;on that the murderer has been the subject ot a mieer- ' able delusion ; but it is not undeistood there is any reasons to doubi his sanity on other matter*.