Brawl at King's Head ends in manslaughter (1844)

Post date: Apr 06, 2012 10:5:52 PM

Extract from West Kent Guardian 11th May 1844:

WATERINGBURY.-Death from Fighting.-

On Saturday se'nnight about 11 o'clock, as a party of the railway labourers were drinking at the King's Head with some of the villagers, a quarrel arose between a labourer named George and a "Navvy" named John Brown, and they went out to fight in the street. They were however, prevented by a watchman who also prevented their fighting in an adjoining field, and then followed them to the boundaries of the parish.

They went into a field belonging to Mr. Cutbush, in Teston parish and commenced fighting. After fighting about three-quarters of an hour, Webb, was thrown a heavy fall, and pitched on the left slde of the head on the footpath, and lay senseless. They attempted to bring him up again for another round, but he showed very little appearance of life, and some of his companions said he had a habit of doing so when he he did not want to fight. They then put on his clothes, and left him, except his brother who lay down by by his side and stopped until about five o'clock in the morning. Upon awaking he found the deceased precisely in the same position as on the previous night, and he still continued insensible. His brother then borrowed a donkey cart and took him home. Mr. Gould was immediately sent for, and found deceased labouring under concussion of the brain, with scarcely a pulse apparent. In this state he continued until Sunday evening when he expired.

An inquest held on Tuesday, at the Duke's Head , before J. N. Dudlow, Esq., and a most respectable jury, when the above facts were detailed at great length, the inquisition lasting nearly five hours. Upon a post mortem examination it was ascertained that his death was caused by the fall and the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against John Brown. At their request the coroner severely reprimanded the brother of the deceased and the three seconds for their inhumanity in leaving him. Brown has escaped for the present, but it is rumoured he will shortly be in custody.