The Warrington Examiner. — 1872-08-03 (Warrington, Cheshire, England)

DEATH OF THE FATHER.  Thomas Shallcross, the father of the deceased John Shallcross, died on Sunday from the injuries he received, and on Monday Mr. Churton held an inquest on the body at the Red Bull Inn, Kingsley, before the same jury as in the last case, when the following evidence was given : Edwin Gibson deposed: I reside at Kingsley, and knew the deceased Thomas Shallcross, who was a farmer, aged about 65 years. Last Tuesday night I saw John Shallcross standing on a gate behind Mr. Holland's buildings, and about 300 yards from deceased's house. I afterwards met John Shallcross, who appeared to be very much excited,, and from the language I heard him make use of I am certain he was not in his right mind. He afterwards made his way into his father's house. He fastened the house door, and his father went and fetched an iron bar to break the door open. He did so, and I went with the deceased and found the window broken. I then went into the pantry, which communicated with the cellar by a flight of steps. Deceased went into the cellar and I followed him. As soon as deceased got down to his son he began to coax him, but as soon as he did so he (the son) struck the deceased on the head with something he had in his hand. It was a regular crash. It was too dark to enable me to see what John Shallcross held in his hand. The old man fell like a stone, and I thought he was killed. John Shallcross was then seized, and the deceased, who was insensible, was carried into the parlour. Deceased had a bruise across the head, but the injuries on his face were caused by his falling upon some bricks in the cellar.  John McGregor deposed: I am a surgeon practising at Acton. On Tuesday night last I saw the deceased, TI hfoomulaids hSihmallicursoesnss,ibaltehis w , and dnn oresidencedoubt t übtsuafferKimnggfsrloey. m concussion of the brain. There was a contused wound on the top of the head which had beeu inflicted by a fiat blunt instrument. I remained with him till about five o'clock. I then sent for Dr. Nixon, of Northwich. I continued to attend nearly up to the time of his death. The last time I saw him alive was at about nine o'clock on Saturday night last. He was perfectly unconscious and dying. My opinion is that compression of the brain, caused by a blow, was the cause of death. The Coroner, in summing up the case, observed that the evidence was conclusive as to the cau3e of death. He thought, however, there would be no practical utility m their recording a direct verdict either of wilful murder or manslaughter against the unfortunate young man who was then in his grave, and, who, at the time he attacked the old man, was irresponsible for his conduct. He, therefore, would suggest that the deceased died from injuries inflicted by his sou, and that when they were so inflicted he was not in a sound state of mind. Such a verdict would be less painful to Mrs. Shallcross and her family, and would at the same time accord with the facts in evidence. The Jury returned their verdict according to the Coroner's suggestion. • Mr. Hall was brought before J. H. Hayes, Esq., at Mr. Ashton's office, charged with the manslaughter of John Shallcross, and was, on the applicatien of Mr. W. H. Linaker, remanded until Tuesday, bail being accepted. Mr. Hall appeared on Tuesday, but as no one appeared to prosecute, he was discharged.