Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1872-10-26 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MURDER IN THE COUNTY OF DURHAM.  On Saturday, an inquest was held at Ferryhill, a few miles from Durham, on the body of a man named Robert Brown, a butcher, who was found dying on the roadside on a Sunday evening, about nine o'clock, about half a mile from a village called Wood ham. Deceased had been at a public-house at Woodham with a man named James Agnew, an iron-worker. They had some drink, and left together about seven o'clock. At nine o'clock, deceased was found. Blood was flowing copiously from a wound in his head. Beyond saying " take me home," the poor fellow did not speak, and died soon after. The medical evidence went to prove that death arose from the very severe wand in the head, which had the appearance of being caused by some heavy instrument, such as a large stick, which Brown had with hith in the public-house, and which has been identified as his, but which was found at a pace at Durham to which it had been taken by Agnew. The medical evidence proved that deceiised died from exhaustion caused by loss of blood Iron, the wound in the head, but stated that his hotly was generally diseased. The jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder against James Agnew. James Agnew, against whom a coroner's jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder," at Ferryhill, on Saturday. was on Monday brought- before the Darlington magistrates. John Newton, a blacksmith of Rushyford, stated that on the 6th of October. he was passing along the road to Rushyford, about half-past nine. It was dark, When he got to Woodham he saw a man laid on his back on the east side of the turnpike road. He spoke to him. and deceased said, 'Take me home to Ferrybill." The deceased was laid on the grass at the side of the road. He noticed that one of his pockets was inside out—it was the right hand pocket. With some others he got a gate and took the man to Rushyford. He- lived for five or ten minutes. There was a great deal of blood on his-shirt breast and about his face.—Thomas Foster, police-constable, of Ferryhill, said deceased, whom he recognised as Robert Brown, was taken to Ferryhill in a cart the same night. He examined the road nrar Rushyford. He observed a pool of blood on the west side of the road, and on the opposite side two pools of blood five or six feet apart.—Mr Walker, of Woodham, innkeeper, said prisoner and Brown came iu soon after six o'clock on the evening of the 6th. Brown got two pots of whisky, and he gave him 64 out. Prisoner then got up and said "Let's be going." Brown did not readily respond to the invitation, but afterwards went. Brewn had a stick, but he could not swear it was the one produced.—Drs Hugh Clark and Robert Smith gave evidence. 'The former stated that the deceased died from exhaustion, probably caused by the wound on the head, which was produced by a blow or fall. Dr Smith stated he believed the cause of death to be exhaustion from exposure to cold, acting on a highly diseased body, probably accelerated by loss of blood. He might have died from a fall withont ieference to any blow. The wound was not in such a position as could have been made by a fall. The wound was from a blow, apparently from some blunt instrument. The Magistrates committed the accused to take his trial for wilful murder at the next Durham Assizes.