The Sun. — 1837-07-06 (London, England)

MURDER IN THE POTTERIES.  On Wednesday last an inquest was held at the Albion  .otel, Shelton, in the Potteries, before Mr. W. Harding  on view of the body of John Kirkham, aged 21, a young ma❑ employed at the fictory of Mr. Keeling, of Hanley, who was murdered by his father, under the following atrocious circumstances : " On Wednesday night last Kirkham. the father, came home intoxicated, began to abuse his wife, and eventual!) 23 turned her out of doors ; after which he went to bed. 1n rA  a little time afterwards, when he was asleep, one of his '' children came down stairs to let the woman into the house,.: and she. lay down on a screen below stairs, intending to lie there till morning. About four o'clock Kirkham happened to come down, intending to go to work, and finding WI. wife below, he asked her for something to take wit II him. She gave him the bottom of the loaf, being ever particle of food that was in the house ; on which he began to abuse her, and the son (John), hearing a noise, immediately went down stairs and took his .-.. mother's part. A struggle then took place between the,,, father and the son ; and a neighbour (Joseph Chorlton),V.' who came in at the request of the mother to make peace, found them on the floor struggling, and the son uppermost. • Chorlton begged them to desist, and live peaceably ; on. which they got up, and the father said, " .Toe, I'll have in-.'4.,. revenge." Immediately after he had said that he snatched up a collier's pick and threw it at his son, who was standing'.. near the door. The pick struck the young man on the back, ' and bounded into the street. The father then repeated the words before mentioned as to having his revenge, and took up a dinner-knife that lay on the table, and, on his son en- .'t;. tering at the door, he struck him on the left side under the fifth rib. The young man reeled, went oat a little dis- 1 tance, and returned almost immediately ; when his inhuman parent repeated the blow, and the knife went in on the same side between the sixth and seventh ribs, and penetrated the ~-.1 heart. The young man called out, " Oh, Lord, lam -;,-) stabbed !" and again went out about seven or eight yards, holding his hand to his side. Chorlton followed him, and caught him as he was in the act of falling to the ground, and - I conveyed him, with the assistance of the father (who voluntarily came out), and some of the neighbours, into the, h-use. Mr. Harding, the surgeon, was sent fur, and arrived immediately. Ha found the wounded man very much debilitated from loss of blood, and perceived that he was in a state of imminent danger from the second wound, it being much more dangerous and extensive than the first. The young man had himself a conviction that he could not long . 1 survive. After the surgeon had dressed his wounds, on being asked by the constable " who had done it ?" he said "My father—l freely forgive him," and shaking hands witlt him added, " God bless you, I hope we shall meet again in ' heaven." The young man lingered till about half-past six, 4i when death relieved him from his sufferings, having survivedr; the injuries inflicted on him about two hours. The lathes"! was conveyed to the lock-up some time before the death oft his son, and when told he was dead, exclaimed, " Oh Lord% I hope it is not true ;. I can't believe you !" and appeareA much agitated. The Jury returned a verdict of " NIT ilful Murder againstq William Kirkham, the father." ti