The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-09-15 00:00:00

FATAL EFFECTS OF PASSION.

I From the Warwirksldre rltronicle.l
CORONER'S INQUEST ON THE BODY OS' A lON SHOT DT

FATHER.

Last week Ryton and its neighbourhood were thrown into a state
of considerable agitation,occaaioned by one of the most tragical
events which has occurred in this county during the recollection of
the oldest inhabitant—that of a father, in a fit of ungovernable
passion, shooting bin own son. The perpetrator of this unnatural
crime in 31r. Eburne, a respectable farmer and miller, of the
village of Ryton, near Coventry, and the victim wan Francis, a son
about twenty years of age, and much esteemed by his neighbouts
and friends,
The melancholy circumstance took place on Thursday night last,
about half-tut nine o'clock, in the house of alr. Eburne; and the
young man lingered in much agony till half-past nine on Saturday
night, when he expired.
On Monday last an inquest was held on the body of the deceased, I
at the Cock public house, at Ryton, before John Woodcock. jun.
Esq. one Of the Coroners for the county of Warwick, and a highly !
respectable Jury. They assembled shout half-past nine in the
morning, and, after being sworn, they repaired to the house of
Mr. Eburne, to view the body of the deceased; they then re-
turned to the public-house, and the Coroner proceeded to take
the depositions of the witnesses. From the statements of a boy
named 'Wright, and a young woman of the name of beard, both
in the service of Mr. Eburne, it appeared that, on the morning of
Thursday last, the deceased, in company with Mr. Thomas Han.
cox, his cousin, went on horseback to W arwick races, and, after
enjoying the sports of the day, they set out together from War-
wick, and reached the village of ilyton about nine o'clock in the I
evening, where they spent a few minutes in company with each 1
other at the Cock (where Hancox resided), after which the de-
ceased mounted his horse, and repaired towards home. Mr.
Ehurne, the father, had been spending the evening at the Cock,
with a few friends, and left there on foot a short time before the
arrival of his son. The deceased, being on horseback, overtook
his father on the road, And passed by him without speaking,
or noticing him in any way whatever, and reached home a few
minutes before him. On knocking at the door he was admitted
by the servant girl, Izzard, who had just gone up stairs to bed.
deceased being asked to come into the house and change his dress,
as his clothes were very wet, he said he would nor, but would go
into the stable, and help the boy, Wright, to clean hit nag. Imme-
diately after the father reached home, and was admitted by the
servant girl, who, at his request, drew hint some beer for his supper,
and then went up stairs to bed. In about a quarter of an hour
after the son's first arrival he and the boy came into the house to-
gether, when the father intercepted the eon in the passage, and or.
dered him to go out of the house. The eon replied that he would
not. A scuttle then ensued between them, and the boy Wright,
being frightened, ran up stairs to bed. The noise, it appears, at.
tracted Mrs. Eburne to the spot, who, it is supposed, becoming
alarmed at the violence and rage of the contending parties, called
the servant girl down to her assistance. On her entering the room
where the father, son, and Mrs. Eburoe were, Abe. weal-up to the
Accessed, and entreated Isimmtgo bed ; he Said it was no business
of hens, and he would not. At tins moment the deceased wasetand-
ing with his back towards. the copper in the kitchen, and his right
side towards a door leading to what is called the 13614 Se—the place
wherethe family dine, &c., and in the diromion towards his father;
the servant was standing within a few inches of the decanted, and
Mrs. Eburne next the servant. No conversation rite heard by .the
:avant tdoetrausdbesatwidee. n., thtfhatihmershamndtsomne atif thin:►tiaiiht"in.„eotaifeexcatt
tslicaartc,cs;uken the words before Mr. Eburne opened the house door,
turned tonods his son, and discharged a gun, when the young man
felt to the ground, exclaiming" Oh!" The moment,
tie smoke
eeloecasim'ad by the powder hadrs
subsided,
M. Eburne
endeavoured to raise :71in up. but deceased said he would rather lie
and die there. The dying Fula Z.:7,7e. sioga wish to have a physician,
the father promptly &snatched a messenger f:•• 44e. In the interim
Mr. E. walked to and fro ;;; the house, still undei:ltc effects pf
passion, saying he would stand in his own defence, and addressing
himself to his son, exclaimed, " you d—d rogue, lie there," &c.
The unfortunate youth stretched out his hand to is father in taken
of forgiveness, when the infatuated man said, " You are a rogue,
and I'll see you d—d first." Every assistance was rendered the
young man, which the afflicted wife and the other branches of the
family could think of, and on the arrival of theourgeon ( Mr. John
Edmonds, of Wolston), he was carried up stairs, the father assist.
ing in the melancholy task. The wound was immediately dressed,
but it was of that dangerous nature as to preclude the least hope of
his recovery, and the result was AS above stated.
According to the testimony of Mr. John Edmonds, surgeon, of
Wolaton, and of Mr. Collins and Dr. Mellor. of Coventry (who'
were both called In to the assistance of the deceased on Thursday
'night, and who, in conjunction with Mr. Edmonds, opened the
body or. Sunday last), the content/ of the gun (large shot) had en.
tered the body on the right side, just between the two lower ribs,
which wete fractured, had passed by. and slightly wounded the
lower edge of the liver, and severely Injured the right kidney, in
which risen& part of the shot was found, but the greatest portion of
the charge bad lodged near the spine, one or two projecting por-
tions of which were injured.
Mr. Edmonds, In his examination, stated thatduting.Thursday
night he questioned the deceased as to the manner in which he
came by the wound, and be replied, " When I came home my fa-
ther quarrelled with me; he struck and kicked me several times,
and I did not know what to do. so that at last 1 struck my ram
several times; but I do not think my father meant to do me any
, injury till excited by passion." And from the statement of Mi.
Collins, surgeon, it appeared that Mr. Eburne's face bone reideat
marks of violence; one of his ears and his nose was tticia/d" his
lace otherwise injured.
Daring the examination of the witness*, a smote was brat*
the Jury that Mr. Eburne (who bad absconded) was Dais at
d,
.and was about voluntarily to surrender himself. At the
ie. of the examination, shoat fouryciLifk, iLbeind spin sidtdd

inter afßieded hint
hint, and of waking
atollte decision of tl

iiteit of tier chug"
Weh he thought-poke
Mot vu adjourned till

rug, the

At

sieiriy
OWN •w
a 'eta
of *he

3611.
ht o'clock they again met ; and after waking for ewe
menuCbiz
low ant( A half. a .receired 111_64 Mr. Ebume,
to surreder himself dote and pea appointed,
*wait no where
moor then toad sir , . Mos tifiltdittely, Nt4
*lid oat the nattre of the liw in easeful -eh* ituatr.
In, after consulting about half an how, gift, selawood
of ..M'llful Murder" spina Ms. Meddle, the Whet
teased.
bar this nudity had been teturareit Mr. Tabun*, who
Meted himself, was brought in In iiveiculito.dl of II can
ltd wee i shortly after taken belia4
the Jury. and the de-
read ogee to MM. He was thtn ommieted oa the
warcanr, and yesterday %porting cooreyed. to Warwick 1
oak his trial at the nest Mores. " •
ie. 'tholes Corral Ramp; an *antra Magistrate of the
ma raga' ciariog the e,aart!ination of dte voltam before
J pada* •peeurresl op 'MptiOay,, pertjght to Mr.
ifs Chasten; OtMenilhirb, iallat VlO4l rts the spate
old. tre-hatt riisehargea analkotilotit a deal&
t! rya in thy.' AM of rateaantr: witintbrAct barrel

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