The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-05-23 00:00:00

THE MAUCIOUB WOUNDING GT A FARMER.

VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER AGAINST

TEED.

A verdict of roanalsughter was on Friday evening,
at the corouer's inquest, returned spinet Heal
Alfred Teed, the farmer of Whitchurch, touching the
death of Levi Bridle, of the sante place, who, MS
reported last week, expired on the 16th inst.
The inluiry was hold at two p.m. on Friday, before
C. G. Nantes, Ifaq., Deputy• Coroner for the district.
Mr. Tweed, of tioniton, was preseat to Watch the
inquiry on beheU of the prosecution, and Mr. it. N.
Howard, of Weymouth, for the defence. The officer
of the C )urt was Actiagedergeaot Devenish, of Whit.
church district, and Supt. Mac Hale was also present
during the inquiry.
The inquest was held at a home formerly a licensed
one, known as the Neg's Head, Mose to the house of
the unfortunate deceased.

The jury was pomp sed as follows-24mm Arthur
&ally (foreman), Jamie Hobbs, William Henley,
Robert Bultoid, Joseph John Holway, WWlass
Wareham, George Glide, Robert Hassel, John Fowler,
Levi Champ, Wilier Will Kendall, Georg* Bugler,
and Henry Hodder.
After viewing the deceased, the coroner concurred
with the solicitors and jury that matters would be
much simplified if the evidence of the respective
witnesses were now read over to them as taken at the
Magistrates' Court st Bridport. (dual evidence was
fully reported by us in our last impression.)
The first witness called was Dr. Morris, sett
Charmoutb, who deposed holding • poet 'aorta:
examination of the body of deceased on the previous
day, in company with Dr. Densiloe, of Bridport.
They found an incised wound at the top of head—
shout the middle of the we Ira, extending from the
front towards the right side, sod to the back of the
heal There were also two, if not three, contusions
on the left aide of the bend. The most seven wee
about the middle of the loft parictsl bone. There were
also two wounds on the lower put of the back
—one on each side. There were no other external
marks of violence. On removing the scalp they
found extravasation of blood on the left side of the
head, immediately under the wound on the parietal
bone. On removing the skull they found a largo,
firm clot of blood, about the sixs of the palm
of a band, the clot being in the centre part, needy an
Inch in thickness. There was also • fracture of the
left parietal bone,extendiog through its substance from
the sediettal suture to the anterior and inferior angle
of the parietal bone. There was no depression of bone.
He should my the clot of blood was situate between
the skull and the itero-ssincr. On the right side
there was an effusion of blood extending from the top
of the head to the base of the skull, between the dime-
tearer and the brain. He should think the injuries
were produoed with • stick, or something of that sort ;
when he first saw them they were recent, and looked
like abrasions. He considered they were caused by •
stick, or some blunt instrument.

By. the Foreman: Tbs-blow on the top of the head
might have been done by a kick.
By • Juror: All the blows on the head must have
been inflicted by violence, anil the injuries on th• loft
bone caused by direct violence. I visited
rrecisacte mad the day after the Worth' were sustained, and
I saw him again on the day he died-in fact, I arm
present at his death. He died on Tuesday morning
last about quarter to twelve. My son visited dammed
dative( the time I was IIL The external inioriso were
all apparent when I first saw him, and be we. then
lying upon his back, pecfectly insensible, Deceased
moved his left arm nantinuaily to his head; to •
oertain extent he recovered othsciouthims before he
died. fl. wee conscious once whilst I was present,
but be did not maks any statement. Be was partially
conscious; his eyes were open, and be moved them. I
think once when I asked him if he was in pain,
deceased whispered '' Yes."
The next witness was Andrew Paull,•who, after his
farmer evident:a was read over, said,
By • Juror: I did not *es Bridle or Toed before I
beard the blow, butt beard Bridle's voice before I board
the blow. I did not bear Bridle speak an angry word. It
did not sound like nuarreffing, except that Teed con-
tinua, Iteing. he (Bridle) had no business on his
Premises. This was after Bridle was down. I did not
hear Teed order off deceased until after the blow
was struck. I could only moo through the hed,re. I
only heard ono blow. Whether Tweed was beating or
kicking deceased I can't say. Toed was moving to
sod fro. I could see wither • kick nor blow, but I
heard one blow. Till I saw Harwood help deceased
out of the field I saw no one there but decreed and
Teed.
Tile Rut witaiss was Marks Bookie% keeper of
the New Inn, Fishpond Bottom. Eveleigh said be
wished to add somMhing to his evidence given before
the niag.trstee, as at that time ha was crom-athenined
before tad an opportunity of saying it. "When I
came back to the kitchen of my house, Harwood's
daughter was there. I hoard the deughtth make •
statement."
By the Coroner: Prisoner woe not present at the
time.
The coroner Than I am afraid I cannot bake it as
evidence.
The neat whams wee William Flar wood, • labouthr
In the employ of prisoner.
(At this stags the hat of demised WSS prodtZasit
high " dematalksr," laving a hole in it, and
several blond stains.
By the Coroner: I root my house of Teed, who
occupies the field adjoining; 6 the field is • stall of
his. To go to the field Teed has not to WOW any pro.
perty of mine. There im • gate by which Teed entire
his field, the post being against the wall. and • itins
or " lithay," is attached to the house. My wife,
daughter. and myself were standing in the road, who. Bridle asked where Toed was. I said his was bthiad
the house somewhere, but I did not know whore. I
went into the hones, and Bridle went iato the field.
By a Juror I should Wok Teed wee in the field
five minutes before Bridle arrived. I saw Told cow
with • wheelbarrow, about 40 or 60 yards front time
house. Bridle woe about half (ips*, but did ad
appear to be angry. I clid not take &Maned Wow
because I hod done so oats, and Only had abuse ter It.
DisicZtirl)
and myself
no blows Lased a 4
esd ilridlemtoYegtalvelg:. ol the
wombs&
By the Foreman: That was not after deceased was
down, but before. I went into my home because I
did not want to know anything about their business,
and I bad been to work and wanted my toe. I WY
In my gird= when Teed celled me to "take the
villain out of the field." I found him on the ground.
By • Juror: A quarter of an hour might I?ave
elapsed between the time when Bridle went into thq
field and when Teed told me to tate idiom Ottt. • Ma
Teed was not in liquor.
Dr. Norris, recaller; by the %Am,* ot tA, mire
stated that 1404 on Qs lona part or -a,Ves.sd
wt.; jamioa., but were more Ilk.!1 to have been
produced by 'dabs, judging from the character of tbe
blows. He saw doomed also on Sunday, the 14th
Inst., and then he wan partially sisible.

lierrmat John Hobs, of Lyme Bogle, said on
Sunday, the 7th, he aosompaided Dr. Norris, ea, to
Fishpond Bottom, and saw the deceased in bed is- kb
own -house. His &lb side was paralysed, and there
were blows on kis bead; bs could not move his right
side. Be afterwards saw the primate Teed, who sold
" Are you come about Seidl's," and witness told lint
he was. Feed said U you edam with me I'll show
you where the mourresto took plass ; Bridle attacked
and I struck him with &abbe
In ,:riz=r4vm.d showed 11144018 thePiaooo sod
pve him • stick (produced), and said "Tile is the
stick I struck him with. Teed gave witness the stick
from nem the doorway. Ile opprehooded him on a
sh,op of ougloiously wounding, When he took the •
to Bridport, primmer said" I am very sorry,
frdsi; :fit mean to burl hica."
By the Coroner and Jury: Teed told me be had
beim to ltarehaless to am me as the previous evening.
The spot in the field which be showed in. woe not mon
than x 0 yards from the gate, sod beyond the liniuiy.
Then ie no window or door on that aide.
Harwood wits re-called., and salted by the jury if he
knew whether the ;miaow took the stick with him
Into the field. Harwood said "No, the Mkt toed to
lie by the moll door, witness did not know where it
was at that Liar. A stick used to be kept than to prop
Ws stall door with, but witosse did not know U that
was the same stick."
Mr.. flarwood was out callsd, and after her evidence
was read, said
By toe Cornier : tip at the Ni, Inc I heard Bridle
say to Levi tiapper that he should to,. Teed taken
up for allowing his (reld..) WIN to feed on his
(maimed'.) mowing ITMr sod that he should have a
tight with him. Ido not know if by fight be meant •
litigation. It wee after this that Dapper said " yaw
Ma better let 11.1.7 till the morning." I left Bridle
at the ins. I heard Bridle say he had a son coming
home, down 300 miles, and if he couldn't fight him
(Tem) he should. Hy daughter coats to the inn widlet
I was there; ths only persons peanut wen the
landlord's wile and sister. This banked WM not in
the kitchen. . .

By—e
Juror : I ahould think it wee Wu minutes or •
quartet of ea hour between the time whoa IV husband
went out Lao Um (Brash sad when he came is. When
I beard Heidi* paw the wat.iow and wit for Teed, I
went out, mid when be peened into the add I we.a, is
again. I sew no stick in &idled' baud wium his Wait
luta the fiekL I anal say U reed's hat wee dr when
went into the had, net &idle's hat wee oil. I did
not eee,astiek at that time. . .

To. doroner;ow addressed the jury, saying that U
they aosisiogred the evidence they bad beard was
endialeat to amble theca to loan then decrees, he
would shortly put before them the principal sad
salient points in the evidence adduced, mind thee, be
hoped, enable them to arrive at • right dill
Vire:Ay—What was the canes of death? As to toss
they bed had the medical and also sotentillo evidence,
of hr. Norris, from which it was weer teat death
resulted frugn blows sustained to the head of deceased
by • stick or Dome other haunt inatruuseut. do:sadly
—TM queedes waa as to how the blow was gives, by
what, and by whore Honor to that, they hsd
Teed'a own admire= that be struck Bridle with the
such, and showed the ounetoble the plane where it
occurred, espreesing sorrow tor what be had doss.
hurray—They had to conaider the circumstances
ander which the affair took place. They had heard is
toe evidence that Bridle west to look for Teed, and
not Teed for Bridle. Ihe cisestioa affecting the jury
was whining there was soy 1314100 or premeditation or
not to oonstitute • verdict of murder. In short, they
had to consider whether their verdict should be one of
murder or manslaughter. Now, if they had found
Teed in possession of • women& going in search of
Bridle, tee jury would say that he premeditated
indicurig severe injury, and Utat whether in such Co..
he intended to kW or not, be would have to be
reepoonble for the blows indicted. But the state of
thuga they had this day to deal with was • precasely
oppeahe state of facia. Bridle followed Teed upon
his own land, and A would be sulkiest to show there
was no presneditthion on the part of Teed, the
prisms:, to do whet be did. Then they had the
evidence that Bridle was not sober at the time, and
certain words alleged to have been made lAN of by
him at the tune rather pointed to the probability of
his meeting Teed stay. Re (the °Groner) had
already arrived at • oonclosioh, and, under the cir-
cumetraces or the case, ha believed they (the jury)
would or had arrived at • similar OWII, for there was uo
evidence either of malice or pt.wedlt.aitou or the pert
of teed to omatitute a verdict of murder against him,
sad he (the Cormier) antialliated their verdict wool/ be
one of raimathughter.
Within two or three minutes, without retiring to
ormaider, the jury retained a " Verdict of Mae-
slaughter " against Hoary Alfred Teed, finding that
Levi Bridle died of blows tabled by him on Saturday,
Übe 6th inst.
A censure was pared by the jury upon WUllatn
Harwood, in the employ of the prisoner, Lir hi.
" brutal conduct to ter using to assist in getting
deceased borne on the alibi of the occutethe when
celled upon to do so."
The torernan, on behalf of the jury, • idreesing the
Coroner, said they wished to express their same of the
exoellent manner in which that gentleman bad CAl-
auctol the inquiry.
Mr. Nantes Welly said suitably responded to the
compliment.
To judge front the sensation in the locality at the
closingof the inquiry, much interest was felt as to
how the proceedings of the inquest would terminate,
the verdict being also anxiously awaited In Jiridport
and neighbourhood.

THZ TALL or Tat PALOS=

ie fixed for Thursday next M the tiridport County
Polsorooarl. who. l'eed will be formsby interred With
manslaughter of Levi Beadle, who., without doubt,
the ewe will be .St for trial to the ensuing Amities.