The Warwickshire Herald. — 1889-03-07 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

MURDER BY A BROTHER-IN-LAW. On Friday Mr. Langham, the City coroner, opened an inquest at the City mortuary on the body of Daniel Danby, who was fatally shot by Alfred Cornwall, a publicanon the Rose and Crown public-house, Little Britain,E.C.—William Wright identified the deceased as his brother-in-law, who was the landlord of the Rose and Crown. Accused and his wife lived with deceased. Mr. Denby possessed a revolver, as did also Cornwall.—Alfred Daniels, manager of the Rose and Crown, said he last saw deceased alive about 11 o'clock the previous Monday night,when he left them in the bar. He had never known the deceased or Cornwall to quarrel.—Police-constable Joiner said he was on duty in Bartholomew-close when he heard a call of "Police !" He turned round and saw the accused, who said he wanted a policeman. Witness replied that he was a police officer, and Cornwall said, " I have shot my brother-in law at the Rose and Crown." They both went into the house, and on entering the parlour the accused pointed to a man on the couch, and said, "There he is." Witness lifted the man's head,when Cornwall exclaimed, "He's dead enough; I shot him four or five times," and handed a revolver to witness. A poker was lying on the floor with the handle towards deceased. As witness picked it up Cornwall said. "That is the poker he struck me with ; I feel as if I could shoot myself." Cornwall was then taken to the station. In reply to the charge he said, "We have'had several small dispt-tes lately," and then, after some hesitation, he added, "about twopence. He picked up the poker, and I said to him, If you advance one inch I will shoot.' He came quite close to me, and I fired. We then atroggled on the sofa, and I fired as fast as I could pull. We never could agree. I done it and I suppose I shall have to suffer for it." There was a small bruise on Cornwall's left hand.—lnspector Irwood gave evidence as to visiting the scene of tht murder. The bar-parlour did not look as if a struggle had taken place. On the wall right of the couch he found a hole made by a bullet, and on a fixture on the left hand of the couch was a hole and signs of a bullet having travelled along the woodwork.On a round table were two banker's canvas bags—one containing £l4 es. ed. in silver, and the other containing files. Bd. in bronze. Deceased had been shot in two places, one on the left forehone and one on the right thigh.—The inquiry was adjourned.  A mas,i se silver cup has been presented to thi Dean of York by membet.s of the Lower House of Convocation in appreciation of the courtesy and hospitality of the Dean and his family during the period of his Prolocutorship.  It is proposed to form a fire-brick syndicate, and with the object of buying tip the works and the declaration of a common price-list, negotiations have been inaugurated amongst the makers in South Stafforlsh ire, East Worcestershire, Leeds, and elsewhere. The requited capital of the syndicav is set down at e 1,000,000, and Earl Dudley's nams is mentioned as chairman. If the proposals should be carried through, it will be a serious mattes for the iron trade, for it is proposed immediately to increase pi ices .58 per thousand.