The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-09-17 00:00:00

A MELANCHOLY AFFAIR.

On Saf nrday afternoon an Inryorat an held at Watehot,
near Taonton, on the body of Caarlotte Crocker, who was
Shot by her lover on the Thursdry previous.

Mr. H. E. Cave sail the deteaseel was his servant,
and had lived with him at hie realdenc,, The Green,
at Watchet, about six months. On Wednesday last
he had been out eh Kiting, and brought home his gun,
donblobarrelled breech.loader. One of the barrels
was loaded. He tried to takeout the cartridge, but he
could not get it out, Ile put hie gun with two others
upon the rack in the hall, and cautioned the deceased
not to touch it. as it was loaded. "I knew she had a
sweeth,art, William Stone, who woiked for me, hot he
a an my father's servant, and wee in the habit of clean-
ing out my guns; but I hail told deceased that !would
not all_w him toe, me to my house any more in the
evenince as he hod doue. Oo the Thursday night I
went from home abut a quarter past six o'clock, and
was shortly afterwards fetched. On my return I found
the girl in a chair in the kitchen dead."
El.zebeth Taylor, a nurse girl in Mr. Cavele employ,
said: On Thursday night NViiliam Stone came into
the kitchen, and, after a talk with deceased, she went
out and fetched some guns for him. He took one and
cleaned it, and took up the other to clean, and directly
he did so it went off and shot deceased, who was
sitting at the table opposite him, with myself and two
children, leaving our tea. She did not fall from the
chair, but was sittiug uptight. I ran out of the mem
directly,
William Stone, after being duly cautiened. maid : The
deceasA was my sweetheart. On Thursday night I
went into the kitchen at Mr. Cave's, teed told the de-
ceased, as I had half an hour to spare, I would clean
the guns out. Sue fetched a needle gun and a breech
, leader. I cleared the former and took up the latter
with my right hand by the etozk and turned it over,
holding the barrel with my left. It immediately ex-
pladed. As soon &s tile emolte cleared away! saw that
I had shot the deceased. The right side of her face
I was completely blown away. I did not touch the
I trigger. I did uot know the gun was leaded. (Upon
I examinetion of the gun it woo found the lock of the
I barrel atetliarged would go off at half-cock with con-
siderable pressure.) I had no orders to clean cut the
guns, nor any to stay away from the honer. The de-
ceased woe nineteen years of age.
E. Hurford, the nurse, was then examined, wed cbs
said she saw the girl taking clown the guns, and lirg:ted
her to let them atote and let the !Lan do it, but she
persisted and rail ehe was nut afraid of them. About
I ten minutes after this she beard a repent, and on going
I to the kitchen met Stone coming out, who said the gun
had gone off and killed the girl. She went in and
fund her sitting upright in a chair, with her left sear
meting on the table, quite dead, and her face ia the
c AAA on already described.

After recapitaSiing the evidence' the coroner re.
rasrki d it Wll9 a pity Mr. Cave had not drawn the
cartrid;v. He had said he lai tried ta do AO, aud
could not. The jury returned a vetdie, of Ae0:,..e..tal
Death.

The deceased was a fine yourg woman, and was just
upon the ere of going to another sitturion at atit.