The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-04-23 00:00:00

SHOCKING AFFAIR.

A MAN MURDERED ON CLENT FULLS.

A shocking affair occurred on Cleat Hill., on Triesrisy
evening last, which resulted in the death I.f a young
man named John Brettle, 23 years of age, re.irling at the
Dark Lane, Lye Waete.
It seems that Brettle went oat to Cleat with h is sweet-
henit, Jane Gordon. They walked about the lolls, :mil
between seven and eight ix. the evening ware des sender g
them on the Hagiey side, when they were overtaken hy
Pearson. Some dispute, as it is stated, had oecarred
between the two men on some previous occasion, &Mt
few words took place between them, the only other per•
son present being Jams Gordon. She states that Pear.
son struck two blows at her companion, and it uppers
that one of these caught Lim over the jugular vein.
Brettle fell to the ground, and Pearson made off for the
Lye. The Injury Brettle had received was of suet: a
nature as to cause his death, and as soon as the tiding*
of the affair reached Pulica.constable Hall he hash mid
to the qmi. Dr. Hobbs was sent for, but life wasestinet.
The body was carried to John Waldron'ir. the Hill Tav-
ern, at Cleat, there to await the Coroner's impost. Hall
having made inquiries as to the person whir bad canard
Rrettle'm ditath, went to the Lye in search of Pearson,
whom be succeeded in apprehending about eleven o'clock
the same night. He charged bins with the merdrr of
John Brettle, and prisoner made a staterneot t.. him. to
tb e effect that he struck at rettle in the face, hut owing
to hie swerving Lis Lead on one side, the blocs 5.041.•
him under the ear. Ile said he only struck nne Slow,
and that he wae net aware he killed the ile.-sas, d. Gor-
don stator that he struck teem twiee, and %last di cea.eil
dropped at once.

ingurst was Lehi on the body et the ree•rr.
on Thursday, before It. Docker, Esq., coroner. he
first witness celled wee
_ . -

Samuel Bret Ur. eh° said lam broth, rof decessed,
and live at the Dark Lane, Lye Waste, .d ust home.
nail maker. My brother was 22 years of age. Ind lived
with mo. He was • homensil maker. The holy whirls
the jurymen have jut viewed, is the body of my ondh. r.
Was not with him when he was injured.
Jane Gordon said: 1 are a single woman. an.l live at
the Lye Waste. Wu Brettle when he aas hurt. on
Tuesday, the 12th ink. Went with hilt) to Cleat lila.,
Saw John Pearson there between seven and eight o'clo.k
iu the evening. Was with deceased when I flint saw
Pearson. We met together. Deceased said, •• There
are great many crows on the hills." He said it as. soon
as Pearson came up. Time were a great many tlying
. about the hills. Pearson said, "and a great may spar-
rows." I said, "Ton are one," and began be leech at
his, thinking he was only joking. He raised him fiat,
and said to Brettie, "Tan had batter mind, or I will wive
, you our." lie was walking on one aide of deceased, aid
I on the other. He struck at him, and the deceased
•• decked" down his head, and the blow mum, d trim.
! He said he should give low Inc. and struck at him.
[kettle did not attempt to defend Ii israeli. and Pear.on
struck at him amino and hit lion on the side of tbe neck.
Broth, slogger, ml forwsrl, au I Pearam bit him egain
dircetly, on the Name pntee. It wag Natl. his right limd.
Deceased did not speak st all; but fell down. He was
senseless. He tw.er stirred duos :eds. lie g.re sk V. r+4l
groani. It was about a quarter of an hour before he
died. He was not moved until after be tau dead. Pear-
son, after striking the second blow, turned and Weld
away. I called f'r N young Man, and Thomas Pardee
came, and went •,,d got some water, and seat some "he
I. r a surgeon. The surges° did riot arrive until the de-
ceased was deed. They led we usu. Did notice Peon
son before that time that day. I reached the Hills about
one o'clock. Deceased arrived there between three and
four o'olock. lie came by appointment to meet me.
The Coroner said he should have to adjourn the in.
quest for a post mortern esainiaatioi to be made. he
laqua at was aceordii.gly adjourned until one o'clock on
rusaday neat, at the Lyttellen Anne Hotel, Hag!ey.