The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-19 00:00:00

THE MURDER AT OLD HILL.

A great deal of excitement is manifested in the dis-
rict in reference to the cold-blooded murder. No
efforts are being spared by the police to obtain some
clue to the murderer. The New British Iron Company,
by whom Samuel Bowater was employed, have offered a
re ward of £5O which will lead to the discovery of the
murderer. On Saturday a man named Joseph Sideway
was apprehended on a charge of burglary, and a rumour,
which caused much excitement, gained flora.) credence
that he was also the perpetrator of the atrocious crime
in the pit hovel luring Monday night, the 7th inst.
No trace of blood, however, was found upon him, and
the police do not believe that he knows anything of the
matter. It is hoped that the continued investigation of
the case will ensure the production of evidence at the
adjourned inquest which vv,ll throw some light upon
what, at present, is a dark and shocking mystery.
Samuel Bowater, the watchman, who was recently
murdered at Old Hill, was buried at Rowley Church,
on Suoday. A large number of persons were present,
and the police were in attendance;
The adj mrned inquest was resumed at the Beech Tree
Gor.ty Hill, Blackheath, before Mr. E. Hooper,
coroner, on Tuesday morning last,—Mr. Suprintendent
Woollaston and Inspector Price appeared to watch the
case on behalf of the police, and Mr. Homfray attended
on behalf of the New British Iron Company.
The first witness was Ann Waters, daughter of the
deceased, who said he lived with her, in the Tump
Road, Blackheath, She last saw her father alive on the
Monday afternoon. He left home at half-past four, and
was then going to the Bla.k Wagon Colliery, where he
was employed under the New British Iron Company.
He was their night watchman at the colliery. When he
left home he was in good health. He took with him his
supper and his dog: It was usual for him to take the
dog. She knew he had a watch with him, and he used
to carry a bag in which he kept his money. The watch
was an old-fashioned silver one, with plain English
figures. On the afternoon her father left she wound up
the watch for him. She always wound it up for him,
and he took the key with him. It was hung on the
short chain he wore. He also wore a long chain, and
upon it were a number of threepenny and fourpenny
bits. As far as she knew, her father was on good terms
with everybody. On Tuesday morning she next heard
of her father, her brother telling her he was nearly
killed. At seven o'clock he was brought home dead.
The colliers of the pit and many people accompanied the
body. Her father had been several years a watchman at
the Black Wagon Colliery. A few weeks ago her
father told her some one had been threatening
him He said several had " put his time in." She
thought that meant to kill him. She used to ask
him who it was, but he never said. The bag produced
was that of her father's. In it he usually carried his
money. The keys and knives produced were also her
father's.

George Wellings, doggy at the Black Wagon Colliery,
said that as watchman Samuel Bowater's duty was to
watch that no one stole the coal, and to assist the
engineman if required. There was a hovel provided
for him. It would be contrary to rules for him to have
anyone with him in the hovel. He was cautioned
never to have any person in the hovel with him.
Witness never saw Bowater drunk. He believed the
old man was on good terms with everyone. He had
heard say, however, that some rrren had come in the
night. This was stated by him some days before his
death. He said they wanted to come and sleep in the
hovel. They were rodneys or parties Bowater did not
know. When driven out of the hovel they told Bowater
they had " a good mind to kill the -," Bowater
said he did not know them. He mentioned this circum-
stance more than twice, but did not tell him whether
they were the same people. The engineman first told
him the watchman was fatally injured. It was a
quarter-past five on the Tuesday morning, and he said
he wanted something for Samuel Bowater to drink, for
he was hurt very bad. The engineman said he 4id not
know how he was hurt. He did not know, he said,
whether he fell or how it was done. When witness got
to the pit they were bringing B)water across to the big
hovel. They were carrying him on a door. The old
man was alive but insensible. A surgeon was sent for.
Bowater's face and hands were c6vered with blood.
Deceased was a very quiet, harmless man, and he never
knew him quarrel.
George Harris, fireman, said he was called up by
Moses Round, the engineman, at a quarter-past four on
the Tuesday morning. Round said, "Samuel, the
watchman, has got hurt badly somehow, and you must
get up." Round also said, "We had better take some
fire with us, as it is out in the hovel." The fire was
taken. There is a doorway to the hut, but not a door.
Deceased was lying on his left side, and his back was
towards the door. He saw a bad cut at the back of
Bowater's head, and under it was a quantity of blood.
It appeared to him that the blood had been there an
hour or two. They lighted the fire, and got some
flannels and put on the watchman to keep him warm.
The old man was quite senseless. He stayed for ten or
fifteen minutes whilst Round went for the horse-fettler.
They then consulted, and witness was despatched to the
doggy for stimulants. They did not talk to each other
how the brutal attack had occurred. He had known
Bowater five years and the engineman two. Deceased
was on very good .terms with Round and with every one
else at the colliery.
By a juryman : The dog was near the engine when he
went, and he accompanied them to the hovel. When
strangers were about the dog was usually fierce. He
had often heard the dog barking in the night. There
would be no one else employed at the pit besides
deceased and the engineman.
Thomas Parkes, labourer, said he was in Bowater's
hovel on the night of Monday, the 7th. It was ten
mirutes to six, and deceased was there. He made a
fire for Bowater, and stopped with him a quarter of an
hour. Bowater always carried his watch with him.
He never put it up in the hut. Whilst he was there
B -meter pulled his tobacco-box out, and some money
w;th it It was a shilling. He then put it into his bag,
velich he took from his outside pocket. He could no
sly whether there was any more money in the bag. He
hid not told anyone he heard money jingle in it
Deceased had on his wAtch and chain.

By a jutyman : The dog was friendly with him, but
he had heard it bark at strangers.
George Wellings, re-called, said he heard no one ask
deceased how he came by his injuries. He considered
it was useless, as the unfortunate man was quite un-
conscious.
Samuel Bowater, son of the deceased, said he heard
of his father's injuries as he was going to work. He
went to the hut and saw that he was alive, and he noticed
a severe cut on the forehead. The old man could not
spank. No one asked his father what had been the
matter.

The Coroner : It is a most extraordinary thing that
mot a single witness seems to have asked the deceased
what was the matter, or tried to ascertain by questioning
whether he was really unconscious.
Witness (continuing) : He believed his father was
killed, but he did not communicate with the police.
Ile did not think anyone else did for some time. His
f •ther died before he was removed from the big hovel.
He did not go to the police, but waited until they came
to him.

Samuel Price, inspector of police, stationed at OM
Hill, said the first information be received was soon
after eight o'clock on the Tuesday morning, when he
was told that the watchman was killed at the Black
Wagon Colliery. He went, and the first person he met
was Mr. Welling& He went alone to the hovel, and
there found a poker, a dresser, a shovel, and walking
stick. The dresser and shovel were on the floor covered
with blood. Deceased had been lying on the pike.
There was blood on the edge of the shovel, which had
been lying near the body. The stick appeared to have
been handled by persona with blood on their hands.
The poker was in the ashes, but it was smeared with
blood.