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From the Dover Telegraph, 20 June 1840.
MELANCHOLY AND FATAL ACCIDENT.
On Tuesday afternoon a tragical and occurrence too place at Hougham,
which caused an almost unequalled sensation in this locality. About
three o'clock Mr. Ross, cutler, Dover, and Mr. Richard Winder, son of
Mr. Winder, builder, also of Dover, went out rook shooting, when the gun
of the former went off accidentally, and killed the latter on the spot.
The parties were preceding through a wood, close to each other, Winder
taking the lead, and Ross following him carrying his gun loaded, when he
stumbled, and a twig caught the trigger of his piece, which went off,
lodging its contents in Winder's right shoulder and the unfortunate
young man was almost instantly a corpse. Immediately on the occurrence
of the accident Ross ran for assistance, and having met some countrymen
he endeavoured to lead them to the place where his lifeless companion
lay; but such was his consternation that it was upwards of an hour
before they reached the fateful spot. On the body being found it was
conveyed to the Three Horse Shoes public-house, Hougham,. to await a
Coroner's inquest. The deceased was a very fine young man, about five
and twenty, and had been married not more than eight months. Mr. Ross is
also a very respectful tradesmen, somewhat elder than deceased. Ever
since the lamented occurrence Mr. Ross has been in a state of mind
hardly to be described. The fatal event has caused the greatest concern
in this town generally, and, as may well be supposed, the utmost
distress to the bereaved widow and family of the deceased.
INQUEST ON THE BODY.
The inquest was held on Wednesday on the body before T. J. De Lassaux,
Coroner for the County, and a jury consisting of the following persons:-
Messers, R Rutley, R Marsh, jun., R Coleman, E. Smithers, J. Fagg, H.
Hobbs, H. Horton, J. Horton, I. Horton, W. Bromley, D. Tapley, R. Boyce,
and W. Woodcock, R. Coleman, Foreman.
Richard Palmer, labourer, of Hougham, said that he went with Ross,
and after a search of nearly two hours they found the deceased laying
against a tree, on his left side, quite dead. Both guns were laying by
the side of the deceased, but only one was discharged.
John Standen, of Dover, physician, deposed that, on Tuesday afternoon
at Elms Wood, he found deceased quite dead, and ordered the body to be
taken to the Three Horse Shoes where he examined it, and found a
gun-shot wound just under the right shoulder. The whole charge must have
entered the wound, and death must have been almost instantaneous. The
gun must have been very close to deceased.
Mr. Ross, on being called, was cautioned by the Coroner, that, as he
could not be sworn as a witness, he need not say anything unless he
chose, as what he said would be take down and might be used as evidence
against him. Mr. Ross, however, expressed a wish to give all the
information he could. He then said, yesterday afternoon the deceased
called on me and wished me to accompany him to try a gun he was about to
purchase of me. We went to the bottom of Stepping Down, when he went
along the top of the hill, and wished me to go along the bottom, and
meet him at Elm Wood, which I did. He then said there were no more rooks
or jackdaws in the wood, and proposed crossing over to Farthingloe wood.
Before entering the wood, deceased gun was cocked which I told him as
very dangerous, and he put both hammers down. I am quite positive that
neither of the barrels were cocked. We then entered the wood, which was
very thick, and I followed close behind deceased. After we had proceeded
about 20 yards, I stumbled over the root of a tree, and just as I was
rising my gun went off close to me cheek, which was burnt. At the same
moment I heard a dreadful shriek and running to the deceased, who was
just before me, I asked him if he was shot. His only reply was, "Oh! my
back - my back." I saw a wound under the blade bone of the right
shoulder, from which blood was just issuing. I immediately tied my
handkerchief round the wound , and he fell senseless in my arms; and,
thinking he had fainted, I held him against a tree, and ran for
assistance. I found the witness Palmer, and returned with him to search
for the deceased.
The Coroner then observed that from the evidence there was no proof
how the deceased came by his death; but fortunately Mr. Ross had
voluntarily come forward, and, from the blood and distinct statement,
there could be no doubt that it had been caused by a most unfortunate
accident, which every one must deplore, and no one more than the
unfortunate cause of it, on whom, however, he must observe there could
be not attached the slightest blame. In fact, he had cautioned his
unfortunate companion, before entering the wood.
The Jury, without hesitation, returned a verdict of "Accidental
Death" with a nominal deodand of one shilling on the gun.
Deodand is a thing forfeited or given to
God, specifically, in law, an object or instrument which becomes forfeit
because it has caused a person's death. |
