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Thank you Trevor Ralph for sending me a copy of this article
Article from South West Suffolk Echo – 10th November 1894
SHOCKING GUN ACCIDENT AT HEADINGHAM
A KEDINGTON MAN KILLED
A painful sensation was created in Hedingham and the surrounding district on Friday, when it became known that the body of Mr James Cornwell of Pannell’s Ash Farm, Castle Hedingham, has been found. Mr Cornwell, who took Pannell’s Ash Farm not long since, having previously resided at Kedington, near Haverhill, left his home at 3pm on Thursday. Mrs Cornwell went in the direction of another farm held also by him, called Esdy’s Farm Gestingthorpe. He had his gun and was accompanied by his dog. As he did not return in the evening his son Walter, with a labourer named Dysen, went in search of him, and at 7 a.m. on Friday they found the body in a ditch leading from a field called Eleven Acre into Long Crofts. Death had evidently occurred through a gun shot, the features being unrecognisable. The left barrel of the gun had been discharged, and there was a bramble between the triggers. Inspector Harrington was at once summoned, and with Police Constable Snell was quickly on the spot. The circumstances point to an accident, the foot of the deceased appearing to have been caught in a hurdle placed in a ditch.
The Inquest was held on Monday morning before Mr Coroner Harrison and a jury. The following evidence was adduced: - Ellen Cornwell, the widow said that the age of her late husband was 50, and that latterly he had held Pannel’s Ash Farm. She last saw him alive at 2.30 on Thursday, when they went down the path leading from the house together, and parted in the road, she was going towards Castle Headingham and he towards his farm at Gestingthorpe. He had his gun and his dog with him. She saw no more of him alive. George Brewer, Landlord of the Lion Inn, Gestingthorpe said that he saw the deceased on the Thursday afternoon. He (deceased) was than at his house, and was supplied with fourpennyworth of whisky and half an ounce of tobacco. He had his gun and dog with him. He left by himself, and went in the direction of the field called Six Acres – Travers Dyson, horseman, said he was employed at Pannel’s Farm Ash. He did not know on Thursday evening that his master was missing, but on Friday morning when he came to work he found Mrs Cornwell up, and she informed him of the fact. She told him he had gone in the direction of Gestingthorpe to order a machine. Witness then obtained a lamp – this was a quarter to 5 a.m. – and went across the fields to Gestingthorpe. Witness accompanied by the son of the deceased, came to Eady’s farm. When they reached the “eleven acre” field the deceased’s dog came running to meet them, and then returned to the ditch, witness following; he then found the deceased lying in a ditch with his gun lying across him. The gap was in the direction of the house, and was the nearest way the deceased could get home. He informed Mrs Cornwell, and sent for the police. – Walter Cornwell corroborated. In reply to the Coroner, he said his father generally carried a gun. – Police Constable James Sell, stationed at Castle Hedingham, said he found deceased in a ditch on a hurdle as previously shown by Dyson, quite dead and cold. The face was all blown away. The gun laid along the body, and the left hand was discoloured, thus probably showing that the deceased had his hand near the muzzle at the time of the occurrence. The left barrel of the gun was discharged, and the right one was loaded and on “full cock.” From the position in which he was found there could be no doubt that it was an accident. He believed that at the spur of the moment, after feeling himself slipping backwards from the hurdle, he took hold of the gun to bear his weight when ascending the bank. – The Jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death.” The Rev H. A. Lake, on behalf of the jury, expressed sympathy with the family in their bereavement, and the Coroner signified his concurrence with the vote of condolence .
FUNERAL
The remains of Mr James Cornwell were on Tuesday laid to rest in his native village (Kedington). Beyond the immediate members of the family there were very few of the deceased’s relatives present on the lamentable occasion, but a goodly number of former neighbours attended to show their last tokens of respect and sympathy. Mr Cornwell for several years carried on business in Kedington, first at the Head Inn, and afterwards as a grocer and draper in the village street, succeeding his father at the business premises near the Post Office. Being so well known, much sympathy is felt among neighbours and friends with the widow and family in their bereavement.
Contact - Jacky Hockridge - juljacho@aol.com *****************************************************