The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-04-30 00:00:00

THE LATE FATAL AFFAIR AT CLESIT7

VERDICT OF MANSLAUDIITER.

The adjourned inquest on the body of John
Brettle, who was killed, en the 19th instant, at
Clent, by a blow from John Pearson, as already
published, was resumed on Tuesday, before Mr.
H. Docker, Coroner, at the Lyttelton Arms,
(neut.

The Coroner having reminded the jury thst
the inquiry bad been adjourned for the purpose
of allowing time for S port.mortsm examination
to be made, celled
Mr. J. L. Hobbes, surgeon, who said about
twenty minutes to nine o'clock on toe night of
Tuesday, the 19th lust, he was celled to see the
, deceased at the Hill Tavern. Deceased then
seemed to hove been dead about half an hour.
Wittiest; did not X4II/1110 him particularly then,
but he observed it there war a swelliug on 'lo
right side of the neck. He had since made a
post-mortem examination of the body, and found
a swelling on the right side of the neck, and ex-
tending to the back. There was an effusion of
blood over the injured part. The injuries were
such as might have been caused by a heavy blow
of the Sat. He did not find any injuries on any
other part of the body. He opened the head
and found an effusion of blood on the surface
of the brain, in quantity about six or eight
ounces. The substance of the brain and mem-
branes were healthy. On the right side of the
neck against the jugular vein there was an effu-
sion of blood, about a teaspoonful in quantity.
, The blow might have caused concussion of the
brain, and lead to the extravasatiou of blood
thereon. Death would be caused by the pres-
sure of blood on the brain.

Jane Gordon, re•called, said she had known
Brettle for some time. She knew Pearson as a
neighbour, but was not aware of any quarrel
between him and deceased. She met Pearson
bite accidentally on the hill.
To the Foreman: Pearson went by the name
of " Sparrow." It was his nickname. When
she spoke to Pearson he said he would give her
one. She did not know of any jealousy existing
between Pearson and Brettle.

Police-constable Hall having repeated the
evidence he gave before the magistrates on
Friday,
The Coroner asked if the prisoner was pre-
sent.
A police-officer said he was not.

The Coroner: Why not?
Police-officer: Because the governor of the
gaol would not allow him to come. I served
him -

with a Coroner's summons.
The Coroner said that when Pearson was pre-
sent at the opening of the inquest he said to
him (the Coroner)—he did not know whether
the jury heard it or not—that he wished to be
at the adjourned inquest, in order that he might
have the opportunity of making a statement.
As the prisoner had intimated that desire, he had
issued a summons for his attendance; but be-
fore that the magistrates in the discharge of
their duty, deemed it necessary to commit him
to take his trial, and it was not within the power
of the gaoler to allow him to come there. The
judge of a superior court could issue a writ for
that purpose; but he (the Coroner) thought it
was not necessary in a case of that kind, inas-
much as it would not alter the complexion of
the case, the prisoner having admitted to the
police-officer that he had struck the deceased.
The Coroner then briefly reviewed the evidence,
end the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter
against Pearson.

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