pompylen
12-04-2006, 11:26 AM
We have all read about harsh punishments handed out for petty crimes during the 19c so I was surprised to come across this record of my great granduncle
The story broke in the Dudley Herald during August 1890, this story became known locally as "THE DEEPFIELDS TRAGEDY". The report of 23rd August opens with John being known as a hard working industrious man who places all of his affection on his young wife, bestows upon her every luxury that a man in his position could offer. Martha, John's wife had eloped with a younger man who was a 19-year-old miner, and the son of Mrs Mary Davies.
Every one in the small mining village was of the opinion that Martha had a most loving husband, and that her smart attire was the comment of the neighbourhood, it was also known that John was dissatisfied with his wife's conduct towards Mary Davies’s son James.
On returning home John realised that Martha had left taking their youngest child and items belonging to him worth £15, these items were later recovered from a pawnshop.
Having stayed at home over the weekend he left his other three children in the care of a Mrs Butler while he went to Liverpool to check that the couple hadn't left for America. Returning to Wolverhampton he purchased a revolver for the sum of 12/6d and set off for the Davies home. On his arrival he shouted at Mr & Mrs Davies to tell him the whereabouts of his wife and daughter, waving the gun in his hand he shouted " I will serve them like this", a shot was fired and Mrs Davies lay dead, after seeing what he had done John turned the gun on himself, now there were two bodies laying on meadow lane.
John was not dead so was taken to hospital where he recovered to face a court case.
During December 1890 the judge called for leniency and the jury found John "not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter" with a strong recommendation for mercy where upon the judge discharged him.
What do you think? Fair for those days or should he have gone down ????
The story broke in the Dudley Herald during August 1890, this story became known locally as "THE DEEPFIELDS TRAGEDY". The report of 23rd August opens with John being known as a hard working industrious man who places all of his affection on his young wife, bestows upon her every luxury that a man in his position could offer. Martha, John's wife had eloped with a younger man who was a 19-year-old miner, and the son of Mrs Mary Davies.
Every one in the small mining village was of the opinion that Martha had a most loving husband, and that her smart attire was the comment of the neighbourhood, it was also known that John was dissatisfied with his wife's conduct towards Mary Davies’s son James.
On returning home John realised that Martha had left taking their youngest child and items belonging to him worth £15, these items were later recovered from a pawnshop.
Having stayed at home over the weekend he left his other three children in the care of a Mrs Butler while he went to Liverpool to check that the couple hadn't left for America. Returning to Wolverhampton he purchased a revolver for the sum of 12/6d and set off for the Davies home. On his arrival he shouted at Mr & Mrs Davies to tell him the whereabouts of his wife and daughter, waving the gun in his hand he shouted " I will serve them like this", a shot was fired and Mrs Davies lay dead, after seeing what he had done John turned the gun on himself, now there were two bodies laying on meadow lane.
John was not dead so was taken to hospital where he recovered to face a court case.
During December 1890 the judge called for leniency and the jury found John "not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter" with a strong recommendation for mercy where upon the judge discharged him.
What do you think? Fair for those days or should he have gone down ????