The Sun. — 1856-03-08 (London, England)

THE SNAILESTONE MURDER. John Fevka, aged 45, was indicted for the wilful murder of his nephew, John Acres Fowkes, at Snareston, at midnight, on the 25th of November last. Mr. Mellor, Q.C., Mr. Cockle, and Mr. ivlerewether, conducted the prosecution ; 'Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Bell the defence. William Fowkes, brother of prisoner, deposed that his brother came to him at rake on the night in question, called him ow, said that their nephew, the deceased, had obtained 7001. of their father's money, and he (prisoner) "would bed-1 if he would not stop him that night." Deceased came home with police constable Cooper about haltpalt 11, and they, with the old man, sat down to some beer. The father being asthmatical, went to the window, and opened it to get some fresh air.. The house stands on their farm, away from the village. The old man had scarcely sat down when witness heard a crash at the window, and, turning round, saw a face which, though not positive, he believed, then tad still believed to be his brother's. Helmeted " There's Butcher" (the nick-name of his brother), and, while speaking a gun was discharged, and the deceased fell bleeding on the floor. Witness and the policeman went to the back-door, which was faetened by a pelts being placed aerwis and tied to the handle. The front door was blocked up. Some minutes elapsed before they got out. Police-constable Cooper corroborated this evidence, but did not see the adan.at the .window. . Elizabeth "iowkes, mother of deceased, who .was her illegitiniite son, deposed she slept on, the ground•floor. Hearing a gun discharged, she rushed to the window, and saw a man go by stooping under the window in the direction of a ploughed field. His coat was a dark one, similar to prisoner's. Police Superintendent Platte spoke to arriving at the house shortly after four. He went to the house of prisoner, an odd house, a mile off, and found prisoner up. Prisoner alleged he was going to thatch, and got up because his child had a bad finger. He denied any knowSedge of the murder, and said he was fond of deceased. Found a gun, which was moist and black inside the barrel, as if very recently discharged. Prisoner said his son broke the gun a few days ago. The gun appeared to be broken, but witness found it could be put in order by means of pinchers and screw in less than a minute. Found prisoner's boots, which corresponded with footmarks found along the ploughed field leading from the house of deceased to prisoner's house. The same foot. marks were found near the lumber room, where the pole which fastened the door stood on the previous after' noon. Witness also found gates open between the two houses.  AIL EdinoLd surgeon, deposed deceased died in four days from the gunshot wound. There were bits of brick and grit, as well as shot, in the wound. Two gunsmiths deposeA that the last time the gun was fired it must have been charged with stone, brick, or some hard substance, as the barrel was grazed. Several respectable witnesses were called from the neighbourhood, who spoke to having heard the prisoner previously use threats about deceased, such as " I'll be d—d if I don't shoot the pair of them ;" "I'll finish those devils before many days are over ;" " I'll serve the devil 0u,," &c. Mr. O'Brien made a long and able defence on behalf of the prisoner, after which the judge read over the whole of the evidence, and the jury, after a few minutes' consultation, returned a verdict of guilty. The Judge then passed sentence of death upon prisoner.  The trial 11-1,...d 10 hours.