Murder of James Terrett by Thomas Wintle 1731 (Inquests)

by ChrisW , Monday, October 06, 2008, 22:17 (5681 days ago) @ ChrisW

Jun 4. FATAL OUTRAGE. On Tuesday last, an inquest was taken at the Dog, at Over, near this city, before John Cooke, Esq. Coroner, on view of the body of JAMES TERRETT, who met with his death under the following circumstances. It appeared, in evidence, that a party of freeholders were starting by coach, on their return home from the election of a Coroner; and that several persons, who were not voters and did not belong to the company, invited themselves on the coach. On their arrival at the Dog at Over, Mr M BENNETT, insisted on the strangers leaving the coach. One of them, named THOMAS WINTLE, objected, when Mr Bennett took hold of him by the coat and he was removed, but without any great violence. Wintle then wanted to pull Bennett off and attempted to take hold of his leg, and the latter, in endeavouring to prevent Wintle laying hold of him, kicked him on the head. Wintle then went to a heap of stones by the roadside, picked up a quantity and threw them at the passengers on the coach; he followed the coach a considerable distance, and continued throwing, tho' repratedly cautioned not to do so. One passenger was struck on the head and seriously hurt; another, the deceased, received a blow on the neck and immediately fell back senseless. A passenger then got off and pursued Wintle for some distace, who pulled out his knife, and swore he would kill him; he was however knocked down with a stick and secured. A surgeon who examined the head of the deceased, was of opinion, his death was occasioned by the blow under the ear which ruptured the left internal jugular vein. After a very patient investigation, the jury returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against Thomas Wintle: the offender, however, has for the present evaded the power of the law, having contrived to effect his escape from the constable of English Bicknor, in whose custody he had been placed to await the result of the inquest.

Record_ID: 16067
Entry Number: 1887
Year: 1831
Month: Jun
Day: 1
Surname: TERRETT
Forenames: James
Place of Residence: English Bicknor
Age at death: 60
Officiating Minister: T Marwood Rector
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: from 1813
Page No: 46
Parish_Chapel: English Bicknor
Soundex: T630