The Warwickshire Herald. — 1895-06-13 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE ASTON MURDER.  THE CORONER AND THE COUNTY AUTHORITIES.  The adjourned inquest touching the death of Albert James Grimshaw (31), tube drawer, 8, William Henry Street, Nechells, was resumed on Monday at the Victoria Courts before Mr. 0. Pemberton. It will be remembered that the inquest was adjourned owing to the action of the Aston authorities in not producing the prisoner, John Sanders, who stands committed by the Aston magistrates to the Warwick Assizes charged with the wilful murder of the deceased. In consequence of a communication from the Coroner, Admiral Tinkles.. the Governor of Willson Green Gaol, communicated with the Prison Commissioners, who ordered prisoner's attendance. Sanders was now present in the custody of two warders.—John Hughes, a tubedrawer, of 87, Sandy Lane, said that on the evening of Saturday, May 25th, he went with the deceased to the Golden Cross Hotel, Aston Cross. They sat together, and Sanders was next to the deceived. Deceased said to witness, "There is a chap I know over there. ' He got up, and as there was a table in front of them, asked prisoner to let him pass. Sanders said, "What do you want to pass for?" and deceased replied, "What do you want to know for?" Prisoner then got up and pushed deceased as he WU passing him. Grimshaw sat down again, and said something to Sanders, who then took a knife from his pocket, and struck deceased two more blows, and blood ran front his forehead. Deceased was quite sober.—Cross-examined by the prisoner, witness said the deceased did not threaten to put a knife into him.—Albert Dickinson, metal refiner. of St. Andrew's Road. Small Heath. said the deceased as he passed prisoner evidently trod upon his foot. Words ensued and deceased raised his hand—he was not holding a knife--as if to strike prisoner. Prisoner deliberately struck Grimshaw with the knife. Further evidence showed that when arrested and on the way to the police station, Sanders said, "Well, he pulled out a knife to stab me first."—Dr. Green, resident surgeon to the General Howrital, stated that when admitted, deceased was suffering from a stab over the left eyebrow and another below the lobe of the ear. The injuries appeared to be slight, and de. ceased was, therefore, allowed to go home. He attended again and was sulisetmently detained. As the punctured wound over the eyebrow led to an injury to the skull, the operation of trepanning was Performed on Monday night, hut the patient died on the afternoon of the following day from acute meningltis. From a post-mortem examination he found the knife had entered the brain for the distance of an inch. His life could not have been saved.—The jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against Sanders, who was committed to take his trial at the Warwick Assizes. At the close of the inquest the Coroner expressed his satisfaction that in spite of difficulties, he had succeeded in obtaining the presence of the prisoner. He was much indebted to the action of Admiral 'Pinklar. The order from the I'rison Commissioners had been Passed on to the Governor of Warwick Gaol, where Prisoner was awaiting trial under magisterial committal. They were now in such a position that a Prisoner could be brought to the Coroner's Court despite any subordinate interference,  KICKING A CONSTABLE AT HANDSWORTIT On Wednesday. at Smothwick Police Court. Charles Barter (24). Villa Road. Randsworth, was charged with being drunk and disorderly, and with assaulting Police-constable Evans on the 3rd inst. Evans spoke as to prisoner's condition. and added that when he asked prisoner to go home he attaosed him in a brutal manner and injured his legs, his side, and one of his arms. Prisoner was so violent that witness had to obtain a conveyance to remove him to the police station. The Bench ordered prisoner to pay 17s. 6d., or go to prison for 14 days' L hard labour.