Rushden Research Group: obituary Jeremiah Jones

Wellingborough News, 19th July 1884, transcribed by Kay Collins

Jeremiah Jones

Fatal Termination to a Quarrel at Irchester — A Verdict of Manslaughter
The usually quiet village of Irchester was thrown into a state of great excitement on Saturday evening, last by the sudden death of a man named Jeremiah Jones, about seventy years of age, which took place about five minutes after the deceased and a man named Owen Humphreys had been fighting together. It appears that there had been an outstanding quarrel between the two men for a long time respecting their adjoining allotments of land let out by the Vicar, and the quarrel seems to have culminated on the Saturday evening in front of Mr. Turnell's field near to Mr. C. Lilley's shop.

Humphreys accused the deceased of doing damage to the land he rented by carting (over some broccoli growing upon it, and the deceased seems to have made a remark that as some of Humphrey's wheat hung over his (deceased's) ground he should chop it off. This appears to have roused Humphrey's ire, and he sparred before the deceased, and threatened to give him one for himself. A lad saw Humphreys strike the deceased a blow on the chest which knocked him down. As he was falling, however, the deceased caught hold of Humphreys, and they both fell together. Humphreys was the first to get up, and he pulled Jones up by taking hold of his neckerchief. They again fell on to the ground, when Humphreys was pulled off by a man named Robinson. Jones seems to have made one or two remarks during the scuffle charging Humphreys with being a coward, alleging that he had tried to "throttle" him. Both the combatants then parted and went different ways, but when Jones got 20 or 30 yards away he fell forward and expired. Humphreys, who is a single man, and very much the younger, was then taken into custody and brought to Wellingborough Police Station, and on Monday morning was brought up before Mr. C. J. K. Woolston and remanded till Friday. In reply to the charge, prisoner said he did not strike Jones, who was the aggressor, and who had threatened to strike him with a knobbed stick but he (prisoner) only acted throughout in self-defence.—Supt. Bailie asked for a remand. He said that an inquest was to be held the same evening at Irchester, after which he should not oppose bail.—The prisoner said he was prepared with substantial bail.

The Inquest
The inquiry into the cause of Jeremiah Jones' death was held at the "Carpenter's Arms," Irchester (to which the body was conveyed), before Mr. J. T. Parker, the divisional coroner, at six o'clock on Monday evening. The following gentlemen were sworn on the jury:—Mr. Stephen Parsons (foreman), Messrs. H. Saxby, E. Parsons, C. Lilley, W. Barringer, W. Ward, sen., J. West, D. Burgess, W. Ward, jun., S. George, C. Ward, J. Ward, J. Payne, G. Ward, and A. Kemshead. There were also present at the inquest Mr. J. D. K. McCallum (the chief constable for the county), Supt. Bailie (Wellingborough), and some of the relatives of the deceased.

The Coroner, addressing the jury, said that they had to inquire into the death of the deceased, and ... ... ... ... being the person was as much guilty of manslaughter as though he had caused the death of a perfectly healthy person. The question was whether there was sufficient evidence to show that the violence used by Humphreys accelerated death. Everything turned on the medical man's evidence. It seemed very probable that the struggle and excitement was the cause of death, but it was necessary for the jury to have pretty strong evidence with regard to that, and it all depended whether they considered from the evidence given by the medical gentleman that the violence used by Humphreys caused or accelerated death.

The jury having consulted in private for about ten minutes, returned a verdict of "Manslaughter."

Eric Jenkins, from The Northampton Mercury, 18th July 1884, p. 6 and 8, and 26th July 1884, supplement p. 2. and 1st November 1884.

On Saturday evening, July 12th, 1884, there was a "considerable commotion" at Irchester. Jeremiah Jones had been quarrelling with Owen Humphreys. They had "strained relations" for some time over an allotment ground near the Wellingborough Road, where they both rented plots. At 8 p.m.on that Saturday, Jones was talking to Henry Robinson in the main street, near the Church. Humphreys came up and began their dispute again. Angry words were followed by blows, and in the scuffle Humphreys fell underneath Jones, who seemed to have the upper hand at first. However, Jones was 70, and Humphreys only 33. Jones was "hale and strong", but Humphreys succeeded in getting the better of him. He violently seized Jones's throat. Jones threatened to summons him, and walked away, but 20 yards distant, he fell down dead! He was taken to the Carpenter's Arms public house. Humphreys was arrested by the Parish Constable, A. Ward, and taken to the Wellingborough Police Station.

On Monday morning, Dr. Clarke made a post-mortem examination. The deceased was a jobbing gardener, with a wife and two sons living. Humphreys was a hurdle maker, unmarried. On Monday, he was taken before J. K. Woolston J.P. and formally remanded. He said he did not strike Jones, who was the aggressor and threatened to strike him with a knobbed stick. Humphreys acted in self-defence. Police Superintendent Baillie asked for a remand when the inquest was over, and did not oppose bail.

The inquest was on Monday evening, 14th July, at the Carpenter's Arms, Irchester, before J. T. Parker, Coroner, with a jury made up of S. Parsons, foreman, H. Saxby, E. Parsons, C. Lilly, W. Barranger, W. Ward senior, J. West, D. Burgess, W. Ward junior, S. George, C. Ward, J. Ward, J. Payne, G. Ward, A. Kemshed. The Chief Constable, J. D. Kellie McCullurn and Superintendent Baillie of Wellingborough were both present.

Henry Robinson, shoemaker, Irchester: I knew the deceased, and I saw him in the street last Saturday, about 8 o'clock. We stopped and talked. He seemed in good health. He has not been ill lately. Owen Humphreys came up and swore at him. There had been many rows between them about the allotments. Humphreys accused Jones of damaging his allotment by going over some broccoli. Jones said: "Humphreys' wheat hung over my allotment and he would not chop it off". Humphreys put his fists up in a fighting attitude, swearing. He said he would knock Jones's brains out, but he later withdrew that and said, "I will give him one for himself!" After more bad words, they both fell on the ground. Humphreys was underneath, but he rolled Jones over and reversed their positions, collaring Jones's throat with his right hand and pressing him down. I "limbed " him off Jones, who then got up and threatened to summons Humphreys, he then walked away, and Humphreys went off towards his home. I saw no marks on the deceased. He did not complain of any injury. About three minutes after I got home, I was told that Jones was dead. I went out again, and found it to be true. I had not expected anything serious to happen. They had not fallen on the ground very violently. [To Superintendent Baillie] When Humphreys came up, he was carrying a bag with two bottles in it, but I don't know what became of that during the scuffle. I did not see all of the scuffle, because my attention was called away, but I am confident that blows were struck.

Frederick Skinner, aged 12 years: On Saturday night I was sitting on a gate near Robinson and Jones, who were talking. Humphreys came up and joined them, and then went away again. He returned after two minutes, and Jones and Humphreys quarrelled. I could not hear what they were saying. Then I saw Humphreys strike Jones on the chest with his fist. They both fell. Humphreys got up and pulled Jones up by his neckerchief. Jones struck Humphreys, and they fell again. Robinson helped Jones up. Both men walked away, and 20 yards off, Jones fell. He was pulled up, dead, by Mrs. Hatfield.

Eliza, the wife of John Clements: At half past eight on Saturday, I saw Humphreys and Jones standing together. They were struggling, and I saw them fall. Jones got up and leaned against the gate leading into Tom Turnell's field. I saw no blows, and I thought they both fell as a result of slipping.

Susan Hatfield: My husband is a labourer at Irchester. I saw Jones, Humphreys and Robinson and the boy, Skinner, together. Jones said, "If I live till Monday, I will summons you". He walked away, but then fell on his face. I was close to him, and went to help him, but he was dying. He was not able to speak to me, although he tried to do so. I had seen him previously in a healthy condition, but before he fell, he reeled.

John Acton Sutherland, assistant to Dr. Clark, of Wellingborough: I saw the deceased about half past one on Sunday morning. I made an external examination. I found that blood had been running from his nostrils, and there was a bruise on the end of his nose, and a slight abrasion on his head behind the right ear. I examined the throat, but saw no marks. I cannot account for death. This morning I made a post mortem examination with Dr. Clark. On opening the chest, I saw no evidence of internal injury. The lungs were healthy. On opening the pericardium, I found a normal amount of fluid. The heart had a considerable amount of fat around it, and it was diseased from that cause. There was also a long-standing valvular disease. The liver was unhealthy, but not to any great extent. Both kidneys were diseased, particularly the left one. The brain was healthy, but rather bloodless. Death was caused by heart disease. The struggle would be likely to to accelerate death, but I cannot say that the struggle had been in had such an effect, although it was very likely. The condition of the heart was such that the deceased could have died from it suddenly without any violence.

The jury discussed the case briefly in private, and returned a verdict: "MANSLAUGHTER BY OWEN HUMPHREYS"

At the Wellingborough Petty Sessions on 18th July 1884, Frederick Urban Sartoris (Chairman), Colonel Rawlins, N. P. Sharman, R. W. Arkwright and Colonel Thornton, Owen Humphreys was committed for trial at the Assizes, on bail of twenty pounds, himself, and two sureties of ten pounds each. When the case was finally before the Assizes, heard by the Lord Chief Justice of England, Lord Coleridge in October 1884, the verdict was "No Bill". The case was withdrawn because of lack of evidence.

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