The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-12-07 00:00:00

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER AT
• HALESOWEN.
COMMITTAL OF THE ACCUSED.

At the If alesowen Police Court, on Tuesday , before Mr.
Edward Moore, Reuben Waldron (46), nailer, was brought
up charged with having caused the death of his non Heze-
kiab Waldron, aged 17, on the 27th ult.
Elizabeth Coley deposed: I knew the deceased, Hese-
kiah Waldron. He was living away from home. On
Wednesday last I was with him at the Sawyers' Arms
public-house, Heathery, between eight and eine. He was
drunk. I afterwards went with him to the Bull's Head
public-house, and we left there together about 9.50. As
we were going up Spring Hill, the deceased fell down
opposite William Groves's and his head caught the wall.
Use head was cut at the back, and bled very much. We
then went together to the prisoner's house, and as soon
as we got inside the deceased commenced to break the
crocks and furniture. His father, the prisoner, came
into the house at that moment, and eaid, "Kish, what
does this game mean 2" Deceased said, "Who's that?
Slit's my father, I'll dull his brains out." De•
ceased at the same time threw a jug at his father, but it
missed him. The deceased and hie lather then began to
fight, and one of the neighbours tried to part them, and
the deceased said, "I shall not be stopped by anybody ;
I shall kill my father." Several blows were struck
by both, and at last deceased and the prisoner fell to the
ground together. The prisoner then got up and said,
"11.1 go and fetch someone, for I won't have my things
brukeu," and upon saying that he went out. Whilst the
prisoner was out the deceased said, "If I don't kill my
falber before I go home this night I hope God
will kill me." When the prisoner came into the house
again the deceased again etitick at him, and his father
then tried to get him out of the house. As they were
struggling through the door they both fell on to the path-
way outside the door. The pathway is about four feet
higher than the turnpike road, and is supported by a wall.
I and William Milletts then amisted the deceased off the
pathway, into the road. The deceased was then uncon-
scious, and we gave him some water to drink, and bathed
his face. He was then carried down to where I live, and
died in a few minutes. He never spoke after he and his
father fell down together. When deceased was drunk he
was in the habit of quarrelling with his father, and it was
because he could not agree with his father that he left
home. The prisoner was not sober, but he was net so
drunk as his eon, the deceased. The prisoner used no
more violence than was necessary to remove the deceased
from his house, and he requested him several times to
leave quietly. The deceased did not die for more than
an hour after he fell the ffrst time.
Charles Warr and Martha Warr gave confirmative tes-
timony, and the latter, in addition stated that the prise.
flee pushed the deceased off the pathway into the road.
Daniel Weld Phillips, Burgeon, said: On Wednesday
evening I was called to the deceased shortly after eleven
o'clock. When I saw him be was quite dead, and, I should
think had been so half an hour. Upon examining the
body I observed a contused appearance about the eyes
and mouth, as if deceased had been fighting. The con-
tusions were quite superficial. I than found an irregular
contused wound, 1i inch long, on the back part of the
head. It had not penetrated the skull but had merely
cut through the scalp. There had been agreat escape of
blood, but not sufficient to affect life. I could not per-
ceive any external injury sufficient in my opinion to cause
death. I afterwards made spost•mortem examination of
the body. On separating the scalp from the cranium,
found evidence of severe contusions on the left aide of
the head above the temporal bone. Several drops of
eemi-cosgulated blood adhered to the scalp, correspond.
tug to the contusion. Similar appearances presented
themselves in the region of the wound, but to a less de-
gree. Upon opening the dura-mater three large drops of
blood were lying upon the left aide of the head. The
brain was healthy, the upper surface being only minutely
injected. On examining the internal surface of the dare-
mates I found a rupture of the cerebral vein of the
left side, and the clots of blood corresponded with that
rupture. There were about four ounces of fluid blood
lying in the base of the skull. th my opinion the extra.
vesation of blood caused his death. There was no frac-
ture of the skull. I examined the other internal organs.
and found them perfectly healthy. A fall over the wall,
as described by the last witness, would cause the contu-
sion and extravimation of blood. I have heard of the
first fall before the deceased went to the prisoner'e house,
but am of opinion that that fall did not affect the life of
the deceased.
Acting-sergeant Kennedy proved apprehending the
prisoner, who stated to him that he struck the deceased
several times with his fists, but used no weapon.
The prisoner, in defence, made a statement watch was
similar to the evidence given by the first witness.

The prisoner was then committed to take his trial at
the Assizes, and was conveyed to Worcester on Wednes•
day morning.
A good deal of sympathy is felt for the prisoner, the
general opinion being that he did no more than he was
driven to do by the deceased.