Runcorn and Widnes Examiner. — 1875-04-03 (Runcorn, Cheshire, England)

THE FATAL BRAWL AT NORTHWICEL SENTENCE OF PENAL SERVITUDE.  At the Chester A ssizas, on Wedne,day, Mark Ledwards, aged 27 years, labourer, Over, was indicted for tLe mans' ingleer of James Darbyshire, at Sorthwieh, on the sth January. Messrs. W. Floalkes and T. Hilton prosecuted, and Messrs. Sweteuham and Burke Wood defended the prisoner. The deceased was a young man who assisted his father as a pork butcher at Northwieh, and was remarkable for his immense size, he being 6 feet 4 inches in height, and exceedingly muscular. On the night of the sth January, he had been acting as carver at a dinner of the Watermen's Friendly Society, and was afterwards drinking at the Crown Hotel, Northwich. At eleven o'clock, it being closing time, he left the Crown Hotel in company with two young men named Thomas Hitchen and William Hitchen' he being then in drink. Outside the house were JaneDarbyshire, the deceased's sister, and Mrs. Hitchen, the mother of Thomas Hitchen. Mrs. Hitchen and her on walked away towards home, and William Hitchen was about to do the same, when he noticed the deceased stumble on crossing the street. The deceased picked himself up and either pushed against, or was pusned by, the prisoner, who was on the opposite side of the street. Some • words ensued between the deceased and the prisoner; the one telling the other to keep on his own side, and the other remarking that there was no reed of being particular. Wiliiam Hitchen saw the prisoner draw a large whitehandled knife, and called to Thomas Hitchen to come back, as a man was going to stab the deceased. Win. Hitchen obtained a belt from Thomas Hitchen, who was in uniform as a volunteer bandsman' and called upon the prisoner to put up the knife. The prisoner did not accede to the request, and Hitchen struck him on the thighs with the belt. The prisoner flinched, and cried out "Oh, don't kill me," but immediately afterwards sprang towards Hitchen. The deceased " chucked " the prisoner on the chin, keeping him back, and kicked him repeatedly, driving him in front. Hitchen also beat the prisoner forward with his belt. After the prisoner had been driven forward for some distance, he and the deceased closed for a moment, and the prisoner fell, but got up immediately. Hitchen then asked tha deceased if he was hurt, but the deceased only said, "Where is he ?" One of the witnesses, however, heard the deceased say, "I will give it him for using the knife." A flock of sheep came up at the time, and separate 4 the prisoner from the others. The pri,ouer said, "Good night; I have no knife," and went away. Tee deceased's father, who had in the meantime been made acquainted with the disturbance' then came up and asked the deceased what he was doing in such a bother, and proceeded to lead him away. The deceased suddenly let fall his head upon his breast, and immediately afterwards fell down. It was then discovered that he had been stabbed, and he was carried home, but he died before his arrival there. The cause of death was found to be a wound, triangular in shape, and about 5 inches deep, extending upwards from the breast to the pericardium. The prisoner, wko had beau working for a boatman at Over, was seen by his employer early next morning. In answer to his employer, the prisoner said he was not very well, and would go to bed for that day, but would be better able to work next day. He added that there had been a row at Nortlawich, and that he was in it; also that he believed a man was murdered in the disturbance. He was not seen until ab ut a month afterwards, when he was arrested in Burslem. He then said his name was Jones, and that he belonged to Penketh, Lancashire. Police-inspector Dutton, of Crewe, identified him as the son of a labourer at Over, and several witnesses identified him as the man Who had the affray with the deceased. It was new stated that on the evening of the 6th January the prisoner offered a white. handled knife for sale at several public houses in Northwich.—He was found guilty, and sentenced to ten years'penal servitude.