The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-04-19 00:00:00

LANGPORT.

SAD DEATH OF A VOLUNTEER OFFICER.!
An ioquent was held at the Townhall en Tuesday I
afternoon, before the Portreeve (Francis Meade, Req.), I
as coroner for the borouzli, on the body of Lieutenant
Horatio Frederick Foulg tr Warren, of the Langport
Rifle Corps, who met with his death on the previous
evening under most &straying circumstances.
Mr. J. Louch, solicitor, represented the family of
deceased.
Tke jury having viewed the body and the scene of
the fatality, the following evidence wee taken :
Mr. John Parrett Gibbs, landlord of the Dolphin
lintel, said the deceased came to his house in good
health about eight o'clock on the previous morning.
Between nine and ten deceased said he was going to
the range in the afternoon, and asked him if he would
go with him. He replied that he was afraid he should
not be able ti gun the afternoon, and decess naked
him if he Gould go then, to which he replied "Yea."
Deceased got his Martini.tieury rifle front his house,
and about eleven they went to the Butts, where they
fired twenty-one rounds esch. They went straight
from his house to the Butt., and did not call any-
where returning. They arrived back at the Dolphin
about half -past one, and deceased remaioed there till
about four o'clock. Dr. Hughes came in about that
time, and deceased and be walked away together.
He did not see deceased again. Deceased was in good
health, and as cheerful se ever he saw him.—By the
Foreman: Deceased did not take anything to eat
on his return from the range. Deee ,ael obtained the
ammunition at hie own hou.e. He believed he bought
lot of Martini-Henry certridges about two years
ago. Deceseid only had three wine-glasses of port
wine at his house *ler he returne from the Butts.
By a Juryman: Deceased wag the bet chit in the
corps, and he fired v rat well on this occtoi in. He
made 24 points at 200 yards, 24 at 500 var le, and 11
at 600 yards, a total of 59 points. His (witness's)
total more was 45. (Witness produced the scores,
which he and deceased kept for each other.)
Mr. John Hughes, 'negro I, of Cu-ry said he
drove into Langport on the previous afternoon. As
he entered the Dolphin yard about four o'clock
deceased met him at the side door, and remarked that
he thought he recognised the trot of his pony.
Deoeased was in umsually good spirits. Daceaseel
asked him where he was going, and on his telling him
to Mr. Bann itt's sh p he sot he would fetch his rifle
front the house, and walk up the street with him.
When they got to the Langport Arms deceased asked
him if he could stay to pay one gains of billiards, and
he replied that be could spare half-an-hour. They I
played one game, and he left deceased in the bar of
the hotel about half-pest four. He only saw deceased
take one glass of port wine. He did not notice
anything different in his manner, and he did not make
any unusual remark. A. they were c ,ming up the
town together they met Fido the man who had charge
of the rifles, who asked deceased if he should take his
rifle and clean it. Deceased replied that the rifle did
not require cleaning, and that he might want it for
practice again, be believed he said to-morrow, rafter
which he would let him have it to Clean.
Mr. John Frederick Cox, clock and watchmaker,
said he saw deceased bet ween ten and eleven on the
previous morning, and lie told him he was going to
fetch his rifle to go firing. He referred to some
matches as likely to come off, and said he was going
to practice a little fir them. lie saw deceased again
at about hslf-pest three in the afternoon walking up
The Hill with his rifle on his shoulder. He come
across the road to his shop and enquired if he had
Mulched a job he was doing for him. He remained
there about ten minutes, and then went home. That
was the last time be saw him alive. He did not notice
anything peculiar or strange in his manner—he was
just the same as usual.—By the Foreman: He heard
deceased remerk that the title wee a dangerous one,
and that it was difficult to tell whether it was leaded
or not. He said he did not like it at all, salt knocked
him about so. . _

Mr. Gibbs, re-called, said in reply to the Foreman
that he was quite sure he pond out the empty
cartridge after his last shot. He was quite certain that
there was not a or a bullet in the rifle when
they left the »again, had the empty cartridges in
his trap now.
Mr. John Vivian eager, residing at The- hill, said he
saw deceased on the previous afternoon, shout quarter
to 5, in Mr. Cog" shop. Deoewed had his rifle with
him, and he explained it to him. He said it was •
very dangerous rifle, and that once that lifter:icon his
hand was knocked back agsinst his face by the recoil.
He (witness) examined the rifle and opened it three
Mlles ilinlarif. It wag not loaded, neither wae there au
empty oartriige bill. Tb. rifle was quite empty.
By Mr. Lunch : He heard deceased say that some-
times he could not tell whethsr the rifle was loaded or
not. He said the only mesas of knowing whether the
rift was loaded or not woe by the indicator.
Elizabeth CA Enema, domestic servant to Mr.
Warren, said she saw deceased going down the garden
with his rills on his shoulder a little before 11 on the
previous Knoentng. In the afternoon she was alone in
the house, Mr. Warren and Miss Warren being nut.
Just before five she was in her bedroom, and saw from
the window deoeaesd come up the garden carrying his
rifle. He entered the back door, and about two
minutes after be went down the garden with his rifle on
he shoulder. She watched him out of sight in the
direction of the greenhouse. About a minute after-
wards she heard the report of a rm. She wax not
alarmed, aa she summed that the rifle was loaded, and
that deceased had gorse out to firs it off.—By the
Foreman: About ten minutes after she beard the
report the gardener came to the house and told her
what had occurred. She had seen cartridges lying
about the house. There were some in the nutty now.
She had also seen cartridges in the 's bedroom.
When she went upstairs the pantry door wee closed,
but when she came down about five minuted after it
was open.
Frederick Cafe, gardener to Mr. Warren, said be
saw d•Oreeed p wing the Langport Arms at about
quarter to five on the previous afternoon. He was
going down the town and de.sesed was coming up.
Deoessed had his rifle and hi, dog with him. A few
minutes after five, on returning to Mr. Warren's he
found deceased lying on his hack by the eters I ailing
from the stables to the greenhouse. He had his bands
by his side, and the rifle was across hie knees, with the
muzzle pointing from him. As be wee going through
the ilealaire be said, "Well, Mr. Fred, be fell down ?"
to which he made no answer. He was about to lift
PALups when saw that his heed was hurt and
L. He then wan int dm hon th •
servant that 51 -1--with "an accident and
shot himself down there, and asked her if be had better
go for the doctor. She said be bad, and he went for
Mr- Merge., who came directly. The body wail ill
the same position when Mr. Morgan arrived as when
be first saw it. Re had never known deceased to
discharge his rifle near the stables.
, John Morgan, surgeon. said he examined the
G.°8488c6 Tbi right side of the forehead was driven
In. The riiht side a the skull, the membranes of the
brain, and part of the bean itself hafi been carried
away. The brain was freely esposed, and was bleed-
ilroineely. Re sent for more men, and had him
elgri
ea up to his bedroom He struggled slightly,
and talked incobersutly at times, but was quits
unconscious. He gradually sank, and died in three or
four hours from hemorrhage and shock. From the
severe nature of the injury the muzzle must have
been close to his heed when fired.
Tbs Portreeve, having summed up, the jury retired
to consider their verdict, and on re-entering the room
the Foreman said they had agreed to the following
decision :—" That the deceased died from the effect of
• severe wound in the head, catered by a rifle-shot,
but there was no evidence to show by what means
the rifle wet dechergsd,"—LThe Foreman also said:
"We wish to express the hope that you will convey to
the family of the deceased our deepest sympathy for
them in their sad bereavement, and more especially to
such an old and valued officer as the parent of the
deceased,"
Deceased was • solicitor, and bed the poet of Clerk
to the Board of Guardians, H. was l 3 year. of age,
sad unmarried.