Denton & Haughton Weekly News, and Audenshaw, Hooley Hill, and Dukinfield Advertiser. — 1874-10-16 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE BETCH,TON MURDER  THE INQUEST.  The adjourned inquest on the body of lames Beech, a retired farmer of Betchton,who was found murdered in his house on the evening of the 23rd of September, was reamed on Wednesday, before Mr. Coroner Chnrton, at the New Inn, Betchton. Mr. Tomlinson was appointed foreman, and the room was crowded. Superintendent Rowhottom watched the proceedings on behalf of the Policed., Several .witnesses having given evidence precisely similar to that adduced at the magisterial examination before the Sandbach bench of magistrates. Joseph Astbury, a fresh witness, was called. He stated that some time since he gave Mr. and Mrs. Wilson a general invitation to come and take tea with at Wintaley. About four O'clock of the afternoon of the murder they walked over and remained to tea. Afterwards witness and Mr. Wilson attended a property sale at the Broughton Arms, Haslington, and returned:back to his (Mr. Astbury's) house, between eight and nine o'clock. He put his horse in the trap, and about twenty minutes past nine drove Mr. and Mrs Wilson as far as the New Inn a Betchton, where they remained and had something to drink together. They remained there from five to ten minutes, when they left together, and outside bade each other good night. By the Foreman: Mr. Wilson did not leave me except for a few minutes while I was changing my clothes for the evening. By a Juryman, I understood that Mr. Wilson was anxious to secure a cottage at Sandhach, There was plenty of grog" knocking about," but Mr. Wilson only became talkative. There is no truth in the rumour that I left Wintaley with Mrs. Wilson, and that I met Mr. Wilson returning. Mr. Bradford, landlord of the New Inn, at Betchton in ad lition to the evidsnce given at the mrgisterial inve3tigation, said that one evening abont the latter end of the summer Air, Beech came in apparently in mental distress, and said that either he should leave die premises or Mr. Wilson would have to go. Deceased did not vouchsafe any reason for his displeasure. That, to the best of his knowledge, was the only time he had heard Mr. Beech lodge a complaint against Mr. Wilson. By the Foreman: Even supposing Mr. Wilson had gone straight home when Mrs. Wilson came back to borrow the basket, he could not have got there more than a minute or so before his wife. By a Juryman: From the time I left Mr. Wilson at the door and when I saw him again at the house not more than half an hour had elapsed, and to the best of my knowledge he was wearing the same clothes. Mrs. Wilson also gave some additional details.l The Coroner: Then these domestic disagreements did not extend directly between your husband and your father? Witness: Well, when I and my husband would have a few words, my father's sympathy would be on my side, as he generally considered that I was right. The Coroner: Did you ever hear your father express ,d a desire to leave the house and take up his abode else- where.  Witnees : He never so expressed himself to me, nor did I ever anticipate that he would leave Betchton. Quite thecoutrary, in fact, I have pressed him to get nearer the town, but he always showed a reluctance to such a step. The Foreman: Was there not a quarrel in July last between your father and your husband; and did you not run to your neighbours for assiataLce, saying that yo ur husband was murdering your father? Witness: I remember it. My husband had been at the New Inn, and had had a little 4 rink. I might have said that my father would kill my husband, but I really did not anticipate such a thing for a moment. The Foreman: What was the cause of the quarrel? Witness: My husband persisted in coming into the house, and my father said he should not. The Foreman: Did he have a set quarrel with your , father?