The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1893-04-29 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE SHOOTING OF A POLICEMAN  AT MIDDLESBROUG H.  On Tuesday the Coroner's enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of P.C. Henderson, who wan shot by John Henry Gould, on the 14th April, at the Linthorpe Brickponds, whilst endeavouring to arrest the latter as a dangerous lunatic. was resumed by Mr J. T. Belk, at the Middlesbrough Police Court.—Richard Scotson, Relieving Officer for the Linthorpe district, stated that Gould was reported to him as a dangerous lunatic on the 30th or 31st March. Dr. Scanlan visited the man, and stated that he was a lunatic, and ought to be confined. With the intention of placing Gould under restraint, he visited the caravan, where ho resided with his father, in company of George Anderson, Sanitary Inspector, Sergeant Black, P.C. Win. Henderson and Thonias Layburn. Henry Gould, the father of the accused, informed them that his son had a gun, and it was loaded. He was in a half-sitting posture on a boiler, and he threatened to shoot anyone who approached him. Henry Gould again warned them that it was dangerous to approach his son. As a large mastiff was near to where the accused was sitting witness asked Henry Gould to release it, and take it out of the way. Witness saw the father loosen the dog's chain, but ho refastened it. Henderson kept gradually appriaching young Gould, and he got almost within six feet of him. Gould turned to look at his father, and Henderson made a spring, but immediately he did so the gun was discharged. Witness also rushed at Gould, and Layburn coming behind they dragged him through the gap in the hedge. He afterwards found that Henderson was dead. Accused said, "I didn't intend to shoot him, but he was trying to tear the gun out of my hand, and had I not shot him he would have killed me. They cannot hang me for it."—By the Foreman: He did not think it a good opportunity to go and ' take young Gould during the morning when hel was lying in bed, as be was not quiet then, but was shouting out that the machinery was , pulling his head to pieces.—George Anderson, I Sanitary Inspector, corroborated. "Young Gould , fired the rifle at the carry without attempting to raise it to his shoulder. Henderson never . touched tho riflo. —By the Foreman : He , , did not think Gould would have been taken at all if they had not taken ' him when they did. He would have got back into the caravan, and there would have been no getting at him. Gould told them repeatedly that he meant having a life. The father might have knocked the rifle on one side, and by so doing have given them a chance of securing him, but he was afraid his eon would shoot him—Mr Thos. Layburn repeated the evidence given at the Police Court.—By the Foreman: Had the father knocked the rifle on one side young Gould would have been secured. The father was very much afraid of his son, and that was no doubt the reason that he did not touch him.—Sergeant Black said be motioned to the father to throw himself on the rifle, but the old man was afraid of his son, and did not do so.— Drs. Scanlan and Veitch repeated the evidence given when the prisoner Gould was before the Magistrates.—The Coroner said there could be no doubt about it that deceased came by his death through the firing of the rifle by young Gould.— The jury. «incurred, and a verdict that deceased had been murdered by John Henry Gould was returned.—The Foreman of the jury (Mr Gibson) said it was the most Painful enquiry he had ever taken part in. While he did not wish to criticise the methods adopted for the capture of Gould his opinion was that it had been seriously defective. He was pleased to know that a fund for the benefit of the widow and orphans was being liberally subscribed to, and he hoped the jury would give up their fees to it, and that a very substantial sum would be realised. They all felt keenly for the widow, relatives, and family in the great bereavement they had sustained.