Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1858-11-27 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE INQUEST.  The inquest on the gamekeeper Watmore was held on Saturday morning, before William Newton Esq., at the house occupied by Thomas Ureensmith, shepherd to Mr. Gilbert, where the body had been removed on the night of the murder. After the coroner had briefly addressed the jury, several witnesses were examined. The principal witness was Benjamin Vessey, who said : I line at 13amby, am employed by Mr. Gilbert, as a hi:Loam.% I am occasionally night watcher. I knew the deceased \Vatmore ; be lived at Kellitt, in a small tenement belonging to Mr. Gilbert. I was with him on Thursday night, left home about nine o'clock for the purpose of watching, and to catch rabbits. We went to Codaington, to Mr. Gilbert's farm, and thence through Kellitt, by Mr. Thorpe's wood, to the Corporation Field. Watmore set the trays in the Corporation Field that night. When we got there it would be about half-past ten. We bad not proceeded many yards in the field before we heard the report of a gull from the direction of Mr. Birketes house. Shortly afterwards we heard another report in the same directiou, which was followed by three more. When the last ene went off, Watmore shouted ' Mark.' Birkett then asked where the traps were which were marked H. G.,' which belonged to him. At this time we were within about 150 yards from Birkett. Watmore said, We have not any, and I don't know anything about them—we haven't got them.' Mr. Birkett called, You are a d—d liar and a d—d thief.' Watmore called, Bucket head,' a time or two. I called him 'chaffy face,' a time or two. Birkett then said. 'if you will come here I will " rightle" you.' Watmore said, 'We'll go, and he shall have the chance to " rightle" us.' We went to the gate and leaned on it; and Birkett said, 'I want to know where those traps of mine are.' Wattuore leaned on the catch end of the gate, and lon the hang-post end. Birkett said he wanted to know where the traps were, Watmore said he had not got them, and Birkett replied that was all he wanted to know. At this time Birkett would be about a yard and a half from the gate. Birkett pulled his gun up acock then, and said to Watmore. 'You are a d—d thief.' Watmore sold, ' I'll make you prove me one. Birkett put the gun to his right shoulder, and shut him dead. I said to Birkett, You've killed him. He said, • Ben, he was going to strike me with his stick." I said, "He was not, for be had not his stick up." He did not lift his stick. Asked what we were to do, and Biakett sail 1 was to go for assistance, and he would stay with him, it was a very moonlight night, fine and frosty. Tnere was n thing to prevent me seeing distinctly what took place. I left Bilkett with the deceased, and Came to Mr. Gilbert's hall. I did not see Birkett again after that ; bad not seen him for a fortnight before that time. We had been in the Corporation Field about half-au-hour when this took place. I had nothing but a stick with me. Deceased also had a stick with hint.  At the conclusion of the evidence, the jury deliberated for three-quarters of an hour, and returned a unanimous verdict of " Wilful murder against Thomas Brown Birkett." The wretched man was then removed to Newark, where he m ill appear be f.re the county justices on N unday.