Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1872-10-24 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MURDER IN THE COUNTY OF DURHAM. On Saturday, au inquest was held at Ferryhill, a few miles from Durham, on the body of a man natued Robert Brown, a butcher, who was found dying on the roadside on a Sunday evening, shout nine o'clock, about half a mile from a village called Wootlham. 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, mid died soon after. The medical evidence went to prove that, death arose from the very revere wound in the head, which had the appearance of being caused by sonic heavy instrument, such as a large stick, which Brown had with him 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 de. ceased died front exhaustion caused by loss of blood Irom the wound in the head, but stated that his body 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 Wood ham he saw a man laid on his back on the east aide of the turnpike road. He spoke to him, itnd deceased said, "'lake me home to Ferryhill." , l'he deceased was laid on the grass at the side of Ike mill. He noticed that one of his pockets was inside out—it %%US the right hand pocket. With some others he got a gate and took the man to Rushvford. He lived for five or ten minutes. 'lltere was a great deal of blood on his shirt breast and about his face.—Thoinas Foster, police-constable, of Fern hill, said deceased, whom he recognised as Robert Brownovas taken to Ferryhill m a cart the same night. He examined the road near Rusbyford. 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 lt:ltue in soon after six o'clock on the evening of the 6th. Brown got two pots of whisky, and lie gave him Oh out. Prisoner then got up and said "Let's lie going." Brown did not readily respond to the invitation, but afterwards wont. Brown had a stick, but he could not swear it was the one pia duced.—Drs *Hugh Clark and Robert Smith gave evidence. ,The former stated that the deceased , died from exhaustion probably caused be th ! wound on the head, which was produced by a. blow or fall. Dr Smith stated he believed the cause of datith to be exhaustion from exposure to cold, actin., on a highly diseased body, probably :wee'. crated IT loss of blood. He might have died from . a fall wirhont reference ti any blow. The wound was lea in such a risition as could have been made by a fall. The wound was from a blow, apparently from some blunt instrument. The Magistrates commit totl the accused to take hi ttial for wilful murder at the next Durham Assizes.