The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-04-15 00:00:00

A SAD OCCURRENCE.

At the Southwark Police Court, on Monday, John
Pearson, 19, a walking-stick maker, of 21, Parker's-
row, Bermondsey, was charged with causing the death
of Thomas Walton, by shooting him with a rifle at 21,
Parker's-row. The prisoner is a private belonging to
the 23rd Surrey Rifle Volunteers (R9therhithe), and,
like the deceased, was an apprentice to Messrs. Mears
and Co., walking-stick manufacturcrs, Southwark.
street, and they were on very friendly terms with each
other.
Elizabeth Brinkwood, needlewcman, of 21, Parker's-
row, Bermondsey, said she was sitting in her mother's
room about ten o'clock on Saturciay night. Her
mother was reading, and the prisoner and deceased
were talking and playing together. The prisoner
took up his rifle, which was standing at the corner,
and, holding it by the barrel, sat down by the side
of the bed. The rifle suddenly went cff, and witness
fainted. When she recovered her mother had hold of
Walton's head. She said, "He breathes; fetch a
doctor." Witness went down and spoke to some one,
and returned to the room. The deceased was then in a
sitting posture, but she did not think he was alive.
The prisoner lived in the house, and had dinner with
them. He and the deceased were fast friends, and were
both sober. The prisoner kept his rifle in witness's
room because he had no fire in his room, arid was afraid
of the damp. She did not know it was loaded. He
had not touched it for some time. He took it up to
look at it as be was going out in full nniform on
Wednesday, and he wanted to see how it looked,
He last had the rifle out a fortnight or three weeks

ago.
Rose Emma Lightfoot said the last witness was her
daughter. On Sunday night, about nine o'slock, she
was reading a paper near the table, when the deceased
and the prisoner came into the room and commenced
laughing with each other, aid tried each other's hats
on. She heard the report' of a gun, and, looking Up,
saw the smoke from the rifle, and the prigoner rushing
out of the room. She ran towards the deceased, who
breathed, but did not speak. When the prisoner
rushed out of the roc= he, said, " Oh 1 poor Tom." The
rifle was kept in the room' and she had frequently
dusted it, and put it back in the corner. No ccfitridges
wore kept in the room.
George Lupton, a currier's apprentice, said he was
In the parlour naider the last witness's room. He
heard the report of a gnu and a fall, and on going up
met the prisoner. He asked him what was the
matter. He said, "I have accidentally shot my

companion."
John Farden, 81 M, said the prisoner said he had
had a cartridge some time, and put it in the rifle to see
whether it fitted. At the station he added that when
he put in the cartridge he was called away, and that
he forgot to withdraw it.
Joseph Alfred Smith, sergeant of the 10th Surrey
Rifles, said it was the custom for privates to keep their
rifles at home, excepting when examined by the
armoury sergeant. It would be an act of culpable
negligence to Leave 4 cartridge in their rifles in their
rooms.
The Magistrate remanded the prisoner.