Murder of Philip Cooke 1836 of Crossways (Inquests)

by ChrisW , Monday, October 06, 2008, 22:21 (5674 days ago) @ ChrisW

MURDER IN THE FOREST OF DEAN.

June: The inquest upon the body of PHILIP COOKE, whose unfrotunate death by violence we mentioned in our last, was held on Saturday, at the King's Head, Coleford, before John Cooke, Esq. Coroner, and a very respectable jury. The substance of the depositions was as follows: HENRY YORK, of Crossways, Newland, said that about twelve o'clock on Saturday night, the 21st ult. he was called up by the deceased, who said that two Irishmen had been beating him on the road coming from Monmouth. When witness came down he found the deceased standing near the turnpike house, and in a few minues after, an old man came through the gate, with whom the deceased began fighting. They fought one round, and almost immediately after another man and a woman came through the gate, when the woman asked if they were going to beat the old man, to which they replied, 'no.' The other man then came up with a large stone in his right hand, and said 'stand aside, or I'll divide your head.' He then moved away about six or seven yards, and came back again, when he threw the stone against the head of Philip Cooke, who immediately fell upon the ground as though he had been shot. The witness then attempted to secure the man who had thrown the stone, but the latter held up another stone in a threatening manner, and went away to the lodging house door, where the witness left him, and saw no more of him.

JOHN GARDNER, the toll gate keeper, who was called out on the night in question, deposed to the same effect, and stated that when the second man came up after the fighting was over, he was holding two large stones, one in each hand, with which he threatened to divide their heads. He afterwards flung the stone, and made his escape in the manner described by the last witness.

On this Monday, when before PJ DUCAREL, Esq. the Magistrate, the wife of the man who flung the stone stated that his name was DANIEL FINNIGAN. Mr BATT, surgeon, of Coleford, who was called to attend the deceased, deposed to the nature of the wound, which was a compound fracture of the skull, of which he lingered till the ensuing Thursday morning, when he died. The jury returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against Daniel Finnigan, who has not yet been taken into custody.

Jun 25. His Majesty's Government has offered a reward of 100 l. for the apprehension of DANIEL FINNIGAN alias DAN THE TINKER, who stands charged upon the Coroner's warrant with 'wilful murder,' committed upon the body of PHILIP COOKE, at the Cross Ways, near Coleford, on the night of the 21st of May last.

Record_ID: 60041
Entry Number: 244
Year: 1836
Month: May
Day: 29
Surname: COOKE
Forenames: Philip
Place of Residence: Cross Ways
Age at death: 40
Officiating Minister: R. Davies Off[iciating] Min[iste]r
Event: Burial
Cause of death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P82 IN 1/1
Page No: 32
Parish_Chapel: Christchurch
Soundex: C200