WIDDINGTON

The agent for this paper is Mr HOLGATE, to whom all orders may be given.

SHOCKING GUN FATALITY

DEATH AND INQUEST

This picturesque village on the chalk downs to the east of Newport, was on Tuesday morning last thrown into a state of the greatest excitement and consternation by the report that a boy had been shot dead at the Rectory.  This unfortunately proved to be too true.  The immediate cause of the fatality was the unfortunate conjunction of three circumstance well calculated to produce it.  Given a lively youth some caps and an old loaded gun carelessly left about and the issue may be almost certainly predicated.  Little blame can be attached to the boy who had exploded several caps without discharging the contents, and therefore naturally concluded that the gun was unloaded.  At length, however, on pointing the gun at a lad named Farnham, to the dismay of the youth and the horror of the boy’s father, the gun discharged its contents into the head of the lad.  The word “oh” was all that escaped the lips of the unfortunate boy, as he fell.  Miss Frances Court was immediately on the spot and was most assiduous in berendeavours to restore consciousness, whilst her brother, the Rector, was very speedily present.  Although a messenger was at once despatched to Newport for Dr Smith it was but too evident that life was extinct.

THE INQUEST

Was held at the Rectory on Wednesday evening before Mr O.C. Lewis, coroner, and the following jury :-M.G.W Perry (foreman), Messrs S.C Barnard, J. Holgate, J. Thurgood, J.H.Hodge, W. Wright, W. Pettitt, J. Cox, H. Bell, O. Cox, W. Thurgood, and H. Pallett.

The jury having viewed the body, which was lying at the Rectory, the following evidence was adduced :- Joseph Farnham, father of the deceased, said: I live at Widdington, and am gardener at the Rectory, in the employ of the Rev. James W . Court.  The deceased was my son and was 12 years old last June, On Tuesday morning between half-past ten and a quarter to eleven I was in the stables with my son, Master Taylor was there also.  There was an old gun standing in the granary; it had been there for three or four days.  I did not know it was loaded and I have no reason to think that Taylor knew it was loaded.  I feel satisfied he did not know.  Taylor got the gun and coming into the stable commenced playing ----- He put caps on the nipple and snapped them he pointed it as me once. The fifth cap he put and the gun was pointed at me, but it only went “click” my lad was just inside the stable door.  Taylor put six caps on and the last fired the gun, the contents entering the left eye of my boy, who was shot dead instantly.  Nothing had been said about the gun.  If I had had any idea that the gun was loaded I should not have allowed him to have it.

By the Foreman:  I was not aware that Mr Court had previously endeavoured to unload the gun.  He had not said anything to me about it.  I saw the gun with no cap on it when it was in the granary, and I thought it was empty.

The Rev James Walter Court said: The Lancelot Frederick Taylor has been staying with me since December the 12th.  This unfortunate gun was mine.  It is an old single barrelled muzzle loader, and one I had used for bird soaring.  I last put it away about a week ago.  I had loaded it to use as the boy were ratting, but had to occasion to use it.  Before I put it away I attempted to discharge it but I would it would not go off.  I did not draw the charge but put it away in the granary.  I did not leave any cap on, but took them away.  About a quarter to eleven yesterday morning I was in the school across the road, when the servant came and asked me to come at once.  I came and found the deceased in the yard.  He had been shot dead.  Mr Farnham was with him.

The Coroner said the only other witness who could give evidence was the lad who had the gun. He could not press the lad to make a statement, but if he liked to give any explanation to the jury it must be on oath. If he chose to do so the jury could receive it. Possibly he would like to give some account of it.

The lad, Lancelot Frederick Taylor, aged 14, was then called in, and the coroner asked him if he would like to give any explanation to the jury as the sad occurrence took place.

The lad replied in the affirmative, and the coroner informed him he was not compelled to do so but if he chose to do so he (the coroner) would take it.

The lad, who seemed deeply affected, expressing a wish to do so he was sworn, and said: I am on the training ship ‘Worcester,’ which is off Greenhithe. I have been on a visit to J Court. Yesterday morning, about a quarter to **n *clock, I went into the granary and found ***gun t**e. I had no idea it was loaded, I thought Mr Court unloaded it the last **** *** d been *atting **put sum caps (five) **** ****an**n ****** ** the sixth one **** *** ************* oning ********

*** *** *********************(Sorry this is all I can make out if you can do better please try) (GaryD editors notes  17/01/2011)