Darlington & Richmond Herald. — 1874-05-16 (Darlington, Durham, England)

TRAGIC AFFAIR NEAR CONSETT.  ONE MAN SHOT DEAD AND ANOTHER  SERIOUSLY INJURED.  The village of Dipton, three-and-a-half miles from Consett, was the scene of a shocking tragedy on Friday night last. It seems that on the 'evening in question a number of miners were drinking at the Plough Inn, Mountsett, when one of the company, a young fellow named Jacob Armstrong, offered to shoot at a mark for a wager of half a gallon of beer. The bet was accepted by one of the men, and shortly afterwards a lad named Relit Harrison, fourteen years of age, was despatched to Armstrong's house in search of a gun. The latter was given to him by the servant, a young woman named Mary Barns. On receiving the weapon he appears to have lifted it to his shoulder and presented the muzzle at the girl, who slammed the door in Harrison's face. A little further up the road three men, moped Andrew Hedley, Jonathan Tweddell, and Robert Ardle, were standing, and in passing them Harrison pointed the gun at them. Fie was told not to do so, but after passing them for a few yards he again raised the weapon to his shoulder. One of the men— Ardle—again warned him, telling him that unless he took the gun away he (Ardle) would " skelp his gob." Hedley and Ardle were at that time facing Harrison, bat the other ,man, Tweddell, had his back towards the gun. Some more words passed between Ardle and the lad, after which a loud report was heard, succeeded immediately by Ardie putting his hands to his breast, staggering backwards a few paces, and eventually falling on his back. Hedley ran down the road with his hands to his breast; but seeing Ardle lying on the ground, he returned. In the meantime, Harrison stood on the road with the gun iu his hands, apparently hcrrified at the scene before him. Several persons who had heard the report of firearms at once went to the assistance' of Ardle and Healey, but the former was then quite dead, death having apparently taken place immediately after falling on the road. The poor fellow appears to have been struck on the left shoulder and breast, the region of the heart and lungs also being completely riddled with the leaden pellets. Hedley was also struck on the left breast, and appears to have had a miraculous escape from instant death. About a dozen pellets struck him, and of this number, three, at least, have entered the flesh and come out again. One seems to have caught the breast bone and glanced aside, otherwise it would have passed into his langs. Tweddell had a most extraordinary escape. He would appear to have had his back to Harrison when the gun went off, and being of short stature the charge passed over his shoulder and struck his companions in the manner already described. Mr Benyon, assistant surgeon to Dr. Benson, of Stanley,was soon in attendance, and dideverytbing in his power for Hedley •, so far, however, only one pellet has been extracted from the body of the sufferer. Harrison was apprehended the same night by Sergt. Moreland, of Dipton, by whom the prisoner was subsequently taken to Consett lock-up. On being charged with causing the death of Ardle, he admitted shooting him, but added that he was not aware that the gun was loaded. On the other hand, however, Armstrong affirms that when he sent the prisoner for the gun he told him that it was charged. The deceased was a screenman at White-le-Head Colliery, and was fifty-nine years of age. On Monday morning, Robert Harrison was brought before the Shotley Bridge magistrates (Messrs A. Town and T. Wilson), charged with the wilful murder of Robert Ardle.—The police applied for a remand, which was granted.