The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-10-06 00:00:00

THE CHARGE OF MURDER AT
BALHAM.

On Friday evening in last week, Mr. Wyatt,
coroner for the district of Camberwell and Streatham,
held an ir.quiry at Balham respecting the death of
Mr. John llimery Bruton, aged 25, lately residing
with his parents at The Myrtles, Lower Balham-road,
who met with his death on the morning of the previous
day at the hands of Harry Powell, who now stands
charged with the murder of the deceased.
Mr. John Henry Bruton said he was a stone mer
chant and builder, and resided at The Myrtles, Lower
Balham-road. The deceased was his son and un-
married. He resided at home and assisted witness in
his business, and at the time of his death was acting
as manager of some building works going on in the
Ormley-road. Witness last saw him alive on Thurs.
day morning at twenty minutes peat eight. He was
then at home and in good health. Witness knew a
young man named Harry Powell, and about three
months ago entered into an agreement with him to do
certain work at the buildings in the Ormley-road.
Powell neglected to fulfil his part of the contract in a
proper manner, and witness gave him notice that
unless he did BO he (the witness) would have to gat
some one else to do the work. On last Monday witness
engaged some one else, and the deceased was to have
met the new man on Thursday morning at the works.
Powell had overdrawn his account. The chisel pro.
duced (a heavy, cold steel, stonemason's chisel) Powell
had no occasion to carry about with him.
William Arthur Butcher, an errand.boy, deposed
that last Thursday morning, about half-past nine
o'clock, he was delivering oil in the Ormley•road,
when, on passing some buildings now in the course of
erection, he saw Powell striking Mr. Bruton, who
was on his back on the ground with a steel chisel or
small crowbar, on the head. Immediately after two
of the workmen came up.

Charles Frederick Onsman said he was a carpenter
and joiner, and resided at Elma•place, Garrett-lane,
Wandsworth, He was in the employ of Mr. Bruton
at the works in Ormley-road. Witness knew Powell
by eight. On Thursday morning Mr. Bruton, junior,
arrived at the works about half-past nine, and wit-
ness saw him speaking to Powell. Shortly after, in
consequence of what a man named West told him, he
went to the front of the buildings and found the
deceased on the ground in a pool of blood; his head
was battered in, and he was quite motionless. Powell
was standing close to the body, and said (addressing
witness) "I have done it now." Witness said
" What?" Powell replied, " I have settled him,"
Witness then requested Powell to walk to the main
road, which he readily did, and on arriving at the
Balham Court tavern they met a policeman, and
Powell gave himself up.
By the Coroner,—l am aware that there was a dis-
pute between the deceased and Powell as to money
affairs, but do not know the nature of the dispute.

•
Police-constable Part, 259 W, stated that last
Thursday morning he was on duty outside the Balbam
Court tavern when Powell, accompanied by tbe last
w'tnees, came to him and said he bad murdered
and wished to give himself up. Witness asked
him whether it really was so. Powell replied, " Yes ;
come and see." Witness then accompanied him to
Ormley-road and found the deceased lying on the
ground in a pool of blood, Witness then sent for Dr.
Godfrey and took Powell into custody. Powell, in
answer to witness, pointed out a steel chisel, which he
said he had done it with, and witness took charge of it
Mr. Benjamin George Godfrey, surgeon, in practice
at Balbam, deposed that last Thursday morning,
shortly before ten o'clock, be was called to Ormley-
road, where he found the deceased on the ground in a
pool of blood, with his head battered in and his brains
protruding. Witness examined him, and found he was
quite dead. The chisel produced would cause the in-
jured condition of the head.
The Coroner, in addressing the jury, remarked on
the shocking nature of the inquiry, and informed them
that there was only one verdict which they could
possibly return, and that was one of wilful murder
against Powell.
The court-room was then cleared, and the jury,
after deliberating for about three minutes, returned
a verdict of "Wilful murder" against Harry Powell.