Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1886-01-23 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE BISHOP AUCKLAND MURDER.  THE VERDICT AND SENTENCE.  At the Durham Assizes on Thursday John Young, was indicted for murdering John Young, the younger, his son, at Etherley, Bishop Auckland, on the 22nd November, 1885. When charged the prisoner in a clear voice pleaded not guilty. Mißidley and Mr Milvain, M.P., were for the prosecution, gala Mr Lockwood, Q.C. M.P., a Mr Meynell for the defence.— Mr kidley, in opening the case, said that whatever result the case came to they (the jury) would have to, listen to some very painful facts. There was no doubt but that the prisoner caused the death of his son, and in the way he would describe to them. Tho prisoner was a butcher at Etherley Done, near Bishop Auckland, and lived there with his wife and his sons. His three eldest sous were Robert, aged 21; John, aged 19; and George, aged 17. On Saturdays the prisoner was in the habit of keeping a stall at Bishop Auckland, and on the day in question John was minding that stall. Robert was also there until about 6.30 p.m., when he left to deliver meat to the customers, and returned home about a quarter to eleven that night. George, the other son, did not go away, and was at home nearly the whole day. Prisoner himself had been at home up to six or seven that night, when he was at the stall at Bishop Auckland. On his way home he called in at a publichouse, and when he arrived home to tea he was well and sober. After tea he went out again, and did not return home till about half-past nine or ten o'clock. Mr Ridley then described the situation of the house. The butcher's shop faced the street, and a stable entered from the shop, and a door leading into the house went from the shoo. There was a yard at the back, and a door-led-into the stable from the yard. Later on that Saturday evening the prisoner said he would take a black mare which had not been in harness three times before, and go to Bishop Auckland and bring John back. The other two sons met prisoner in the stable, and they asked him not to take Major, but the other horse, which Robert had been out on. Prisoner refused to do this, and they came to blows. Prisoner went to the shop and got a knife from there, with which he threatened the two sons. Miss Young went to a neighbour's house, and had a messenger despatched for John. Prisoner entered the house, and bolted all the doors and windows. John returned home, and attempted to get into the shop, but the prisoner kept him back. He went round to the back of the house, and there got in by one of the windows. He I went into the shop and got hold of the prisoner, and a struggle ensued, in which the prisoner stabbed John several three, once in the abdomen. John was taken to the house of a neighbour, where he died the next morning at ten o'clock. Prisoner went to the house where John was, alsd exclaimed, "It was not for Jack ; it was for Robert."— Mr Ridley pointed out that prisoner had been in a lunatic asylum three times, but in this case he had evidently stabbed the wrong man. He was therefore guilty of murder even if he did kill the wrong man. If they found that at the time the prisoner had not control of his reason they should find a verditt of manslaughter. Evidence was then called, which bore out the opening speech of the counsel, two sons of the prisoner being witnesses.— At the close of the case for the prosecution the charge was reduced to one of manslaughter.— Mr Lockwood, QC., pleaded eloquently in the prisoner's defence, and after an absence of twenty minutes the jury found a verdict of guilty of manslaughter, with a recommendation to mercy.—His lordship sentenced prisoner to only eighteen months' hard labour on account of the recommendation to mercy.  KAY'S COMPOUND, a demulcent anodyne pectorant for Wish' and Cold., 90,1 s led, as 9d, 4s, ad.