Fatal Quarrel Between Fat...
The Times, 1824-09-18T00:00:00

(From th;ie nDie Chronicle.) SHERnoRLNE, Sept. 16.-A considerable sensation prevailed in this t'own on Saturday last in consequence of the sudden and ex- traordinary death of Mr. deorge Russell, a respectable maltster, of N2 ilborne Port, who, on his journey home on Saturday evenin)g, ex- pired at Olborne "ll, under circumstances sufficiently suspicious to warrant the detention of his son till the result of the coroner's inquest was known. On Alonday morning at ten o'clock, the Corener, Thomas Fooks, Esq.), and a respectable jury, attended at Oborne Mlill, inspected the bo(ly of the deceased, and then adjourned to the Town-ha1l, Sherborne, where the Coroner, in open court, proceeded to examine witnesses. It appeared from the testimohy of George Foot, his wife, and John 'rett, that they were at Oborne MJill, which is ocecupied by the said George Foot ;that about three quarters af*ter eight o'clock in the evening, they were alarned by the cry of" amurder P" repeat- ed several times they went towards the turnpike-road, whence the cry proceeded, and saw the deceased and his son near a horse anct gigin a scuffle. One of the witnesses saw the son strike his father; and on the miller, George ooct,getting tnear,the dectased calledon lifm and claimed his protection. The son saidhisfather was drunlt ; but tbe fa- ther denied it, and said he would go no t'urther that night, if the m'd- ler would allow him to remain; that fie would go into the house and convince them that he was not intoxicated, and show themn where he was beat, placing his hand on his head hle added, " That villain there!" pointing to his son. Foot and Brett then proceeded to oren the yard-gate, to secure the horse antl gig, when ftarther altercation took place betweer. the deceased and his son, who cut the reins, and woald also have cut the traces, but for the interference of the tithiing- man, John Brett, who took the son into custody by order of the de- ceased. Wlhilst Foot was secur.ng the gig, hie saw ,he deceased sink- ing behlind it; he spoke to him, but received Ro answer; lie removed his neckerchief; the deceased snored, leokect dark in the face, and in a few mninutes sun,k on the grounid, and died in thearms of Foot. On the son being informedl that his father was dead, he appeared frantic, threw hiimself across the body, kissed it, and exclaimed, " Oh my father! my dear father !" John Parsons confirmed thistestimony, and added, that he arrived as the deceased was sinking; his face appearedI very tlark ; his mouth was drawn a little on one side, and spittle was oozing from it. goot and his wife being recalled, confirmed this testimony. Mr. MiUard, a gentlenman whio lives near, came just as the de- ceased sunk on the ground ; he foundtl the action of the heart had ceased. His evidence tended to confirm the above. He added, that the son was obliged to be taken away bv violence from the body, and in addition to the exclamation of " Oh, my father!" he also said, "4 Oh Christ ! what a night!" Wiflians Genge, Isaac Bishop, and - Condon, innkeepers in Sherborne, aud the ostler of Wim. Genge, who took out deceased's gig and horse, and saw him and his son proceed towards home in it, stated that they appeared very frienclly on leaving; that the deceased oomplained to them several tines lately that he was unwell. Dr. Bradley, and Mlessrs. Gray and Simmonds, surgeons. de- posed, that they examined the deceased; the only mark of external violence was on the left eyebrow, and that was so slight as to render it extremely improbable to have caused death. The contents of the cranium were examinedt; the vessels, superficial and deep-seated, rwere extremely full, and the rnedullary moatter contained blood; the lungs and intestines were perfect, except the pleura, or investing mrembrane of the lungs, on the left side, which was diseased, and inI part ossified. There could be no doubt but that the deceased died ofI apoplexy, brought on by violent passion, aided, perhaps, In some slight degree, by the blow, which, aithough trifling in its effect, and not likely to produce injury in the generality of mankind, yet on a subject predisposed to apoplexy, with ati impeded circulation, by the disease in the pleura, it might have been an aiding cause. The CQ0O.Ea, after an investigation which lasted till 12 o'clock at night, recapitulated the evidence, and stated the law to the jury, who consultew about two houlrs, and returned their verdict as fol- lows:-" Thiat the deceased came by his dleatli from apoplexy, in- duced by agitation of mind, arising from the violent and unnatural conrluct of his son." i PA TA L QUARREL BRTWBEV pFTIIER AND SON.