Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1875-05-08 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE BRANDON TRAGEDY.  On Saturday, the young man' George Herbert Plummer, was again charged at the Durham County Police Court with the wilful murder of his sweetheart, Sarah Foster, on the 26 h April at Branton Colliery. The court-room was filled, and a large crowd remained outside. Among those in the court room were the father and mother of both the prisoner and tne m uriere 1 girl, together with brothers and sisters, and a number of other relatives. On the prisoner being charged, Superintendant_Dunn said he was not prepared to go on with the case that morning, and asked for a remand. Two or three days next week would be tak-n up with the inquest, and he required a little more time. He only intended to call one witness.—Wm. Boyd, surgeon, Durham, sworn, said: On Wednesday afternoon I made n post mortens examination of tie body of a female, pointed out to me RS being that of Sarah Foster, along with Dr Stewart of Brandon. I found a wound extending from her mouth backwards, immediately beneath the jaw towards the spine, having torn all the blood vessels and nerves in that direction. I found another wound over the Ireast bone, between the third and fourth cartilages of the ribs, extending from there through the pericardium of the left auricle of the heart to the spine, which it struck. The cause of death was the wounds, which had been inflicted by pistol shots.—Mr Wm. Brignall, sen., solicitor, who appeared on behalf of the friends of the prisoner, .raid he could not resist the remand. The Chairman (to prisoner): You are remanded on the charge of wilful murder till Friday next, at ten o'clock.—The prisoner's father, Uriah Harding, was then bound over for his wlfe and himself in two £25 sureties to appear next Friday.  • The adjourned inquest upon the body of Sarah Foster, who was shot by George Herbert Plummer at Brandon Collery on Monday afternoon, .the 26th ult., was opened at the Brancepeth Castle on Tuesday, morning, before Mr T. Dean, deputy coroner for Darlington Ward. Mr W. Brignal, Dwhem, watched the proceedings on behalf of the prisoner.—The first witness called was the prisoner's mother, who, in addition to the evidence previously given, stated that there were thr ie pistols in her house belonging to her son, one of which was kept as an ornament above the mantelpiece. These she gave up to the police after having hid them for two days. She further added that since a year last year last Christmas her son had been suffering from illness. and It id not worked for two whole weeks FiDed. He had at one time been a Good Templar, but for the sake of his health he had taken a little wine and spirit. Since his illness he he had been in a low state of mind, and had been under treatment by the surgeon at Sherburn Hospital, Dr Watkin, of Durham, and one at Chester South Moor.—The father of the young woman, Joseph Forster, prove I that .the prisoner Plummer was at his house from Saturday night until Sunday night, and in the course of the latter day arrangements were made for the wedding, which Was fixed for Monday last. He told Mr Forster and his family that he had given the names in at the Durham vgister.office, and had fixed to be married at eight o'clock at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Durham. But this was proved to be Nee. The prisoner was rather reseeved at times, but on the Sunday he was very cheerful—A woman named Ann Humble, who lives a short distance from Mrs Harding's house, stated that she saw Plummer and his victim about a quarter to four o'clock coming down from the top of Queen-street in the direction of the house.—Mary Hetherington, who lives next door to Mrs H ,rding, proved that shortly before four o'clock she heard a shot fired next door, and almost a moment after a second one was fired. :••lie went to the door and saw Mrs Harding at the window. Directly she saw.wituess she held up her hand and seemed to be in a fainting condition.—The medical evidence proved that two shots had been fired, one of them through the b ,c's and the other through the month, and the marks neon the cloth. in corresponded with the wounds upon the body, showing conclusively that the first wound had been hfi cted from behind.—Coroner having briefly summed ifl, the jury returned a verdict of "Wilful murder agatnst George Edward Plummer," who was then committed for trial at the next summer assizes.