A Warning to Drunkards

When a man killed his brother with an iron scraper following a drunken argument, he was found guilty of manslaugther. Despite his remorse the judge showed no leniency and sentenced him to fifteen years in gaol. 

On 9th September that year two brothers who worked as ship scrapers, John and William Birmingham, argued over money at the court where they both lived in Chadwick Street, Vauxhall. They had both been drinking and William claimed that John owed him a small sum, but he denied all knowledge of it. 

They exchanged blows but 36 year old John then went inside and came back out with an iron scraper. A neighbour wrestled it from him John as he tried to strike William but he went back in and found another one. This time John laid a violent blow just above William's right eye and he fell down immediately. He was rushed to hospital and John was arrested and charge with assault.

The following morning at the police court John was remanded for a week. He said to the bench "I am sorry it was all over half a crown". William's skull had been fractured and he lingered in the Northern Hospital until 17th September when he passed away, aged 26. He was buried in a paupers grave at Ford Cemetery.

John was further remanded pending the inquest, responding with "I'd as soon see myself dead as my brother." Before the coroner Clarke Aspinall, medical evidence was heard that death was directly as a result of he injury inflicted and a verdict of wilful murder was returned. 

When John was brought back to court for  committal hearing, he cried throughout the proceedings. William's widow Sarah refused to testify against John, saying they had always been the best of friends and this was the first time they had ever fought. In committing John to the Assizes, the Stipendiary Magistrate Mr Raffles said "This is a very lamentable affair that would have never occurred but for that cursed drink which brought ruin and misery to thousands."

At the assizes on 21st December prosecutors described it as a painful case. It was accepted that John expressed immediate regret for what happened and that he had accompanied his brother to hospital, making no attempt to escape. The jury found him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. 

In being asked if he had anything to say before sentencing, John cried bitterly and replied that he was very sorry it happened. The judge was having no sympathy however. Describing it as a most aggravated case, Sir George Hayes said he had to send a warning to drunkards and imposed a sentence of fifteen years imprisonment. John was in total shock as he was removed from the dock.

Killing Over a Shilling

In 1868 a man borrowed 4d to make a part payment of a shilling debt he owed to a friend. When challenged over the reason he borrowed the money, he stabbed his friend to death and was gaoled for twelve years after being found guilty of manslaughter. 

At 5.45pm on Tuesday 27th October that year three friends - Edward Donovan, Richard Corbitt and  William Braithwaite, were walking down London Road when a complete stranger brushed against Braithwaite, much to his annoyance. Donovan was amused by this and some words were exchanged between them, but they soon made up and all three went to Corbitt's house in Thurlow Street, off Richmond Row. 

On arrival, Braithwaite asked to borrow 4d from Corbitt. Donovan immediately asked for that money as part payment of a shilling debt he was owed by Braithwaite, who complied. An argument then broke out in the back yard between Corbitt and Braithwaite, who was now quite drunk. This led to Donovan fetching Corbitt's wife to call her husband away. He then went inside to her, but as Braithwaite left the house he stabbed Donovan just below the breast. 

Donovan ran a few yards before falling down. Two police officers who were in Christian Street were summonsed to the scene and they found him in a dying state. The 22 year old was pronounced dead by a doctor who arrived shortly afterwards. On being told that Braithwaite lived in Portland Street, two officers went there and took him into custody. Braithwaite had by then sobered up a little but replied that he knew nothing about any death.

At the inquest Corbitt was in the unenviable position of giving evidence that would incriminate one of his friends in the death of another. He said that they had spent the afternoon drinking and Brathwaite was in a far worse state than Donovan. Describing the incident when a man brushed against Braithwaite, he told the coroner that his friend had shouted after the man and Donovan was amused at this calling him a 'drunken tailor'. Corbitt had told Braithwaite it was wrong to borrow money from him to pay back Donovan, leading to him becoming more agitated. 

Of the fatal blow, Corbitt admitted seeing Braithwaite strike Donovan but did not know he used a weapon. He did recall however that whilst they were out drinking, Brathwaite had used a small knife to cut some cheese. Corbitt's wife Martha gave more damning evidence, saying she had seen Braithwaite open a knife just before Donovan was struck. A youth named John Davies, who was walking past and knew none of the men, said he saw Brathwaite rush at Donovan without provocation. The doctor who carried out the post mortem reported that Donovan's organs were healthy and the blow was made with such violent force that the knife had passed through an eighth inch of bone before cutting the vein.

Braithwaite, a 24 year old tailor, appeared at the Liverpool Assizes on 21st December. The only decision for the jury to make was whether it was a case of murder or manslaughter. Due to the killing having taken place in a moment of passion, he was found guilty of the lesser charge. However Justice Hayes referred to it as a most aggravated case, especially in respect of Braithwaite opening the knife. Commenting that drunkenness was no excuse, he imposed a sentence of twelve years penal servitude. 

Walton Butcher Acquitted

In 1885 a Walton butcher was charged with manslaughter after a customer he had chased out of his shop died. However when the case was tried he was found guilty after the jury concluded that death was as a result of a fall rather than being struck.

On Saturday 18th July that year 64 year old John Williams went to work at 5.15am as a labourer on the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. He then spent the early afternoon drinking in the Prince Leopold pub in Rice Lane. 

Around 3pm John went to but half a pound of steak from butcher Samuel Hockenhull's shop. John complained about the quality of the meat and was ordered out by Hockenhull, but as he was leaving he picked up a large knife and through it towards the counter.

Hockenhull ran out of the shop and caught up with John at the corner with Wellfield Road. Within seconds John was on the floor with blood pouring out of a head wound with Hockenhull trying to raise him back up. John was taken to his lodgings in Salisbury Road and died on the Sunday evening without ever regaining consciousness.

At an inquest Hockenhull's assistant Andrew Hancock described how filthy language had upset ladies who were present. He stated that John said he would go for his boss and then threw the knife. In respect of what happened on the corner with Wellfield Road, he said that Hockenhull grabbed John by the collar and he immediately fell over. A woman who was stood on the other side of the road said  she saw Hockenhull his John, but her friend could only say it was a push and she didn't actually see him fall. 

After an inquest verdict of manslaughter Hockenhull was committed for trial on a coroner's warrant but granted bail. The case was heard before Mr Justice Manisty on 4th August. In addition to conflicting evidence from witnesses as to whether John was pushed or fell, medical reports stated that although the cause of death was a ruptured blood vessel, there was no skull fracture and John had not struck the ground with considerable force. This led to a not guilty verdict and Hockenhull was released from the dock.