The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1884-09-27 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

MURDER NEAR ALDERSHOT.  An inquest was held on Monday afternoon in connection with a shocking murder which has been committed at Down Farm, Odiham, near Aldershot. The farm belongs to Sir Henry Mildmay, who has been farming it himself, but is now yielding it up to a tenant named Chrismas, and this being Sir Henry's last harvest he gave on Friday a "harvest home" to all the men. Among those present at the dinner was Mr. Chrismas and his new cowman named Ayles, and some altercation took place between Ayles and Ferguson, Sir Henry's head carter. Ayles possessed himself of a large iron hinge and waylaid Ferguson, striking him a fearful blow, which knocked him down, completely smashir g the poor man's bead. Ayles has been arrested. The jury viewed the body, which presented a shocking sight, having five wounds on the right side of the face and two on the back of the head, the skull being completely broken in.  The widow of the deceased was examined. She said she heard her husband accuse Ayles of hiding the harness, and Ayles said something about too many masters, and he also said, "You shall have it yet." After witness had gone to bed she heard her husband go out, and at 10.25 she was called to see him in the yard, when he was in a dreadful state, and bleeding very much. A lad named James Watts deposed to seeing Ayles pull off his oat to fight Ferguson. Mr. Chrismas said about ten o'clock he went into the yard to get his horse to go home, when he heard groans, and w Ferguson lying in the yard. He was covered with blood. Witness had him washed. He did not think he would live till he was got inside. Police-sergeant Lowe said when he apprehended prisoner he found blood upon his clothes. 'Upon charging him with the murder, Ayles made the following statement: "At the first commencement the governor told me to go out to see to the pony. I went out to see to the pony. The bretching was on. I took it off and put it in the cart and shut the stable door, and afterwards took it into the strawhouse, and when I came back Ferguson was holding the stable door. I asked him if he put the harness on, and he replied Yes, he had.' I told him he only put the bretching on, and he had no business to. He asked me where the harness was, and I said That's all right. My master will see to the harness when he goes away. He is not going away yet.' He came up to me and said he did not care for me, and struck at me. Then I turned round on him and gave him a shove. He slipped upon the stones near the stable door. I went into the farmhouse again. After leaving it I saw Ferguson standing. Ferguson said, 'What are you up to?' I told him I was going to start my master home. He said he was going to take my life. I flew at him and snatched the iron from him, and pitched into him, and can not say how many times I hit him—l was in such a passion. Hearing someone coming, lat once went away. Ferguson kneeled down and asked for fair play. I replied, 'You did not mean to give me fair play." Dr. Pound gave evidenc to the wounds on deceased's body and head. He produced several splinters of bone taken from the brain. The Coroner having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against Henry Ayles.  TE(A)