The Murder of John Coe

Shortly after 6 o'clock, in the evening, the prisoner, who lived at Whiston, entered the Chequers, the deceased and his uncle were still there. While Wood was there, John Coe took half a sovereign out of his pocket to pay for the drinks. There was also a man named Wilkinson, and he would tell the jury that he had a peeled stick with him, such as would be cut out of a hedge, and that he it to John Coe in exchange for an unpeeled one. This peeled stick was later found near the dead body and it would be shown that it got into the hands of the prisoner before the night was out. At 7.15 p.m. the two Coe’s left the Chequers, and were followed by John Wood.

David Coe then left the other two who went to The Belvedere Inn on the road to Rotherham. They then went to The Butchers Arms, kept by Mrs. Oates, and subsequently to the Pack Horse Inn in Rotherham where they met a man named Wright. With him they went to The Mail Coach, and left here at closing time in the company of two women named Saunders and Wilkes.

The whole party adjourned to the house of the farmer and took with them a gallon of beer for which John Coe had paid, as he had done for most of the drink which had been consumed while he had been in the company of the prisoner.

Before 11.30 p.m. Coe and the prisoner left Mrs. Saunders house, the woman Wilkes had noticed that Wood had in his hand a peeled stick. At 11.40, the prisoner and deceased were seen by a cabman named Holmes, who was waiting for a fare outside a club in High Street, Rotherham. The same man later saw them walking in the direction of the stack where Coe's body was found.

The prisoner was next seen the next morning walking in the direction of the Stag Inn, and away from the spot where the body was found. He was met by a man named Wadsworth who noticed he was wearing a watch with a steel curb chain. At the Stag Inn the prisoner told the landlord he had been so drunk the night before, and had slept in a shed belonging to Leedham's, not far from the Stag Inn, but in the opposite direction to that from which the prisoner was seen coming in the morning.

The news of the murder came to the Stag Inn shortly before 11 o'clock, on which the prisoner made an observation to the effect that the murdered man was a relative of a man named Cliff, who had lost one hand. Coe had an uncle named Cliff, who lost a hand, but when the prisoner made the remark, no information had been received at the Stag Inn as to who the murdered man was.

After leaving the Stag, the prisoner met a man named Poynter and told him in conversation that he had plenty of and besides that a watch he could sell and eventually he lent the watch to Poynter. Poynter would prove that the watch the prisoner gave him was a silver Geneva watch with a steel curb chain attached, on which was hung a seal and watch key. Inside the watch, the inner case of which had been forced open with a knife, he founds the word 'Needham, Rotherham'.

Later on in the day, the prisoner told a man named Ellis that he had not heard of the murder and when the details were related by Ellis he said, 'It's Jack Coe. I left him last night in High Street then turned back. Several other statements were made to various persons about the same time by the prisoner more or less inconsistent with each other.

After the 21st the prisoner disappeared, being only seen by a man named Rimmington, who gave him some food on the 23rd. He was eventually apprehended eight or nine miles from Whiston on the 27th, at which time he said, 'I know the job you want me for, but I never had a watch in my life.'

Subsequently when in the lock-up, in answer to a remark made by a fellow prisoner to the effect that the watch would 'do him', the prisoner replied, 'That's all right; if it all turned against me it will only be a month for manslaughter.'

Witnesses were examined in support of the opening statement of Mr. Lockwood, and the case was not concluded.

At York Castle, on the Friday, Before Mr. Justice Stephen:

JOHN HENRY WOOD, alias JOHN HENRY GREAVES, farm labourer, was indicted for the wilful murder of John Coe, also a farm labourer, at Rotherham, on the 19th February.

Mr. LOCKWOOD. Mr. FENWICK, and Mr. ELLIS, were for the prosecution; prisoner was defended by Mr. LAWRENCE GANE.

Mr. LOCKWOOD opened the case to the jury in a speech which occupied upwards of an hour in delivery. He stated that on the 19th of February last a man named Hawksworth was passing along a road near Rotherham, when his attention was drawn to a stack in a field abutting the road. Near the stack was the dead body of a man. He did not touch the body, but sent for a police officer. The latter found that the features were covered with blood, that there was a severe wound over the left temple, and that part of the head was battered in. There was also a small wound between the eyes, both of which were blackened. The body was taken to the Rotherham Workhouse, and was washed. It was afterwards identified as that of John Coe, a young man who lived with his father, Thos. Coe, at the village of Brinsworth, near Rotherham.

Dr.Hardwick, who made a post-mortem examination, was of the opinion that when the body was taken to the workhouse life must have been extinct some 9 or 10 hours. Near the body the police constable found a large stake in two pieces, and marked with blood.

At 20 minutes to 8 o'clock on the morning of the 18th February, the day before the body was found, the deceased left home accompanied by his uncle, David Coe, and they went to Wickersley Bar, where Lord Fitzwilliam's hounds were to throw off. They were next heard of at the Chequers Inn, Whiston. When John left home he had a silver Geneva watch, attached to which was a steel curb chain, and a seal made of red stone, enclosed in a half circle of some brass metal. There was also appended a key, used for the purpose of winding-up the watch. The uncle and nephew got to the Chequers Inn about 3 o'clock, and they remained there refreshing themselves until the evening.

In the meantime the prisoner Wood, who lived with his parents in Whiston, came into the inn. Up to that time it did not appear that any friendship had existed between either of the Coe’s and prisoner. Whilst Wood was there he must have seen young Coe change half a sovereign.

There was also in the house at this time a man named Wilkinson, who appeared to have been following the hounds with the Coe’s. Wilkinson had in his possession a thin light stick, which apparently had been cut out of the hedge and freshly peeled. John Coe also had a stick, and he and Wilkinson exchanged. About a quarter past 7 the two Coe’s left the Chequers, and almost immediately the prisoner followed them.

They next heard of the prisoner and the murdered man at another public-house called the Belvidere Inn, Rotherham, which they reached at about 8 o'clock. David Coe was not with them; and Mr. Hill, the landlord, would state that no conversation took place, and that Coe and the prisoner went out together soon afterwards. They went next to the Butcher's Arms Inn, kept by a woman named Oates, where they had something to drink together: then to the Pack Horse Inn, where they met a man named Thomas Wright; and then to the Mail Coach Inn, where they met two women named Saunders and Wilkes. At this last mentioned house something took place between prisoner and one of the women which was of considerable importance. The woman noticing that the prisoner had in his hand a thin, light stick, which apparently had been cut from a hedge and freshly peeled, asked him to give it to her for her little boy, but prisoner refused.

At the Mail Coach they had some beer, which was paid for by young Coe; in fact it would be found that everything was paid for by him, excepting on one occasion. After leaving the Mail Coach they visited another public-house situated in a court in Wellgate, and there they appeared to have stayed until 11 o'clock, closing time, when they adjourned to the house of one of the women mentioned, and had some beer, which they had carried thither. About half past eleven young Coe rose and left the house, and immediately Wood followed.

They were next heard of by a cabman named Holmes, who, whilst waiting with his cab for two gentlemen outside the club in High-street, saw two men come up that thoroughfare towards him at about 11.40 p.m. There was a certain amount of light from the club windows, and Holmes would say that one of those men who carried a light stick in his hand similar to that previously referred to was the prisoner, and that the other, whose body he afterwards saw, was the murdered man. Shortly after this, the gentlemen for whom he was waiting came out of the club, and he drove them down Westgate to West House. He must have passed Wood and Coe on his way thither, for on returning he noticed them again, and again observed that prisoner had in his hand the light stick. That was the last time the two men were seen together. The next time that Coe was seen was on the following morning, when he was found dead near the stack, with the light stick beside him. It was only 200 or 300 yards from that place to West House, where the two were last seen in company.

On the morning of the 19th, about 8 o'clock, a man named Rotherham saw the prisoner walking along the road in the direction of the Stag Inn. That was about 20 minutes before Hawkesworth found the body. On the way to the Stag, a man named Wadsworth, was asked by the prisoner what time it was, and he noticed that prisoner had a watch. The people who saw the prisoner on the day previous would say that they did not observe that he then had one. It would be shown, on the other hand, that very few saw him on the 19th, the day following, without noticing that he had a watch, and that there was attached to it a steel curb chain, with a seal, made of a red kind of stone, enclosed in brass metal, so that it would revolve between two pieces of brass.

Prisoner went to the Stag and called for some refreshment. Whilst having it, he told the landlord that on the previous night he was at Rotherham, that he got so drunk that he could not get back home to Whiston, and that he slept in a shed in the field at the Broom, belonging to Mr. Leatham. About 11 o'clock the landlord heard that the murder had been committed, and he came into the apartment in which the prisoner and a man named Roberts were sitting and told of it. The prisoner made no observation about it whatever, but he took the watch he had got out of his pocket several times and looked at it, and at length he began to tell them how he got it. He said that he bought it from Mr. Needham, and that he was paying for it by instalments. That statement would be proved to be untrue. Shortly afterwards a man named Young came in, and, though no further information had been received in the meantime respecting the murder, the following conversation took place between him and the prisoner. He asked him if he knew of a man named Cliff, with a hook on his arm. Young said, "Do you mean the letter carrier?" Prisoner said he did not, but added, "He is a relative of the man that is dead." That was quite true. John Coe, the murdered man, had a relative names Cliff, who had a hook on his arm, having lost one of his hands, but how did prisoner know that it was John Coe that had been murdered? Apparently he was the only person in the house who did know it. There had been nobody in to tell him. All the information brought to the public-house in the first instance was that a man had been murdered, and yet the prisoner made a statement which showed that he knew the murdered man was John Coe.

The learned counsel, after alluding to some of the statements which the prisoner made to various persons, went on to state that the clothes he was wearing on the night of the murder were submitted to Mr. Allen, public analyst at Sheffield, and that he found upon them blood stains.

Prisoner remained at the Stag until between 2 and 3 o'clock in the afternoon. After he left he met a man named Poynter, a carter, who worked for a Mr. Moody, and was known as Moody's man. They had a conversation together, and the prisoner offered to sell him the watch he had. Poynter would not purchase it, however, and the prisoner offered to lend it to him. He did lend it, detaching it from the steel curb chain. That watch and chain with the seal attached would be shown to have been young Coe's.

The prisoner went to the Three Tuns Inn, in Wellgate, and there, in conversation with a man named Ellis, pretended that he had not heard of the murder. By that time the investigation at the workhouse had taken place, and everybody knew it was John Coe who was dead. Ellis told him this, and he appeared to receive the information with some agitation, and to have put away the drink which he had before him. Subsequently Police-constable Thornton had some conversation with prisoner, and an observation being made about his giving information respecting his having been with young Coe on the night of the murder, prisoner said "You are getting on to me, I know nothing about the - fellow." Old David Coe, the deceased man's uncle, was apprehended on suspicion, and prisoner being again asked to explain where he was with young Coe on the night of the 18th, mentioned the various public-houses they visited, and concluded by saying that when he left the deceased he was in the company of his uncle, and that he saw them go up the hill together about half-past 11 o'clock. Thus he tried to implicate David Coe by making a statement contrary to what he had previously said. That statement he made in the presence of his father and mother, and after he had made it he turned to them and asked them what time it was when he came home on the night in question. They both of them denied that he had come home that night at all, adding that they would not tell a lie for him.

He afterwards made a statement to Police-inspector Gillett, in which he contradicted what he had previously said as to his having left John and David Coe together at half past eleven. According to instructions he received from Gillett, prisoner attended the inquest on the 20th, but failed to appear again at the adjourned inquiry on the following day.

On the 21st Poynter, having heard that a watch had been taken from the murdered man, returned to prisoner that he had received from him. On receiving it, prisoner said "Do you think it (the watch just handed to him) was his, Bob?" Poynter replied that he did not know what to think of it; all he wanted was to get rid of it. The watch had this peculiarity about it, that in order to get the inner case open a knife had to be used, and this had evidently been done frequently. On the 21st the prisoner disappeared, and could not be found. Two days afterwards, however, a man named Rimmington was working in a field at Riston, and prisoner, apparently very hungry, came to him and asked him to examine his clothes to see if there was blood upon them, and whether the police were looking out for him for the murder. Rimmington got him some food, and promised to take him some more if he met him at a certain place that night: but, whether prisoner mistrusted him or not, he did not turn up. The police were then hunting high and low to find him, and on the 27th, whilst Police-sergeant Sykes and Police-constable Partridge were driving along a road, they came upon him near Cotterill Wood Farm.

The Evidence

The following evidence was given:

Joseph Hawkswell, a moulder at Catcliffe, near Rotherham, stated that on the morning of the 19th February he was going to his work past the bottom of Canklow Wood. He knew of a straw stack near the road, and as he was passing it at twenty minutes past 8 o'clock, he noticed a man lying by the side of it. He noticed two other men - Jos. Bentley and John Swallow - coming up the road, and they joined him. They went to the stack and found the body of deceased.

Thomas Morley, a police-sergeant in the West Riding police force, stated in consequence of information received he went to the stack in question and found the body of deceased. His face was covered in blood, and there was a large wound on his left temple. His forehead was bulged in with a small round hole. He was bleeding from the ears. His body was quite warm. In his possession were two knives, a comb, and other small articles, but no money. He had no watch or chain. About 3ft from the body was a mark on the ground as if a man's head had been pressed upon it. Blood was splashed upon the stack. At the end of the stack was a broken hedge stake, marked with blood. He took possession of the stake, and afterwards took it to an analyst. He also found a small stick jutting out from the stack. The body was removed to the dead-house.

Dr. Hardwick, physician and surgeon at Rotherham, stated that he examined the body of the deceased. He found a wound, extending about an inch and a half, on the frontal bone. Both eyes were blackened, and between them was a small circular wound. Above the left ear was a bruise discolouration. There was extensive fracture of the forehead bone. The effect of the wounds was sufficient to have caused death. The bones of the nose were, to a certain extent, driven into the forehead. In his opinion the wounds were the cause of death. He thought the man might have been dead 9 or 10 hours, but it was difficult to say. Two or three blows with the hedge stake produced would have been sufficient to have caused the wounds he found.

Alfred Henry Allen, public analyst for the West Riding of Yorkshire, stated that he examined the hedge stake on the 21st of February, and found blood upon it. It was the blood of an animal, the female of which suckled its young. It certainly was not the blood of a cow or horse. He was not able to say with certainty whether it was human blood or not. He received from Sergeant Sykes a shirt with blood upon it, and a coat with a spot of blood upon it. He also received a coat, hat, waistcoat, but there was no blood on them.

Ann Coe, mother of the deceased, stated that she remembered her son leaving home alone on the morning of the day in question. On the following day she saw his dead body at the workhouse. Her son had a silver Geneva watch, which was bought at Mr. Needham's, of Rotherham some time ago. He had a steel chain attached to it, and to this was affixed a seal, of stone or glass, fixed in a piece of yellow metal. To get to the works of the watch he had to force the covering open with a knife.

James Coe, father of the deceased, gave corroborative evidence.

Cross-examined by Mr. GANE. - There was a thick crack on the dial of the watch.

Robert Elliot, landlord of the Chequers Inn, Whiston, near Rotherham, stated that on the afternoon of the 18th of February deceased came into his house with David Coe and two other men. This was about 3 o'clock. Prisoner came in whilst they were there between 6 and half past. Deceased ordered some beer, and gave him half a sovereign in payment, saying at the time, "It's half a sov." Prisoner was within hearing at the time. He gave deceased the change. They left the house between 7 and half past. Before leaving, deceased said he was going to Rotherham.

Cross-examined by Mr. GANE. - David and John Coe were in the house from 3 to half past 7. They had 3 or 4 quarts of beer between them. He did not see observe any quarrel; all seemed to be perfectly friendly.

Edwin Wilkinson, moulder, Rawmarsh Road, Rotherham, who was in the Chequers Inn on the 18th, identified the stick produced (the one found in the hedge). He stated that whilst in the Chequers Inn he gave it to the deceased for one which he had. Prisoner was not present when the exchange took place.

David Coe, Labourer, 61, Henry-street, Rotherham, uncle of the deceased, corroborated. He stated that on leaving the house they went towards Rotherham. He left them at Whiston Toll Bar, and went home. It was not true that he was at Oakwood part of that night with the deceased. He had been apprehended on the charge of murder, but was released.

Cross-examined by Mr. GANE. - He slept that night at his aunt's, at Masborough Common. He was not very sober that night. He got to his aunt's before 9 o'clock. Deceased had known prisoner for some time and they were on friendly terms.

Robert Hill, Landlord of the Belvedere Inn, Moorgate, Rotherham, stated that on the night of the 18th February prisoner and another man came to his house about 8 o'clock. They remained there an hour. On the following day he again saw the prisoner, about 7 o'clock in the evening, in his house. A man named Grey was with him. He asked prisoner who the man was who had been with him to the house on the previous night. He replied "It was Jack Coe, the man that's murdered." He also said that they had left David Coe outside. Witness asked him where he went with the deceased after leaving the house. His reply was that they went to the Butcher's Arms and Pack Horse, and then to a house of ill-fame. He left the deceased, he stated, at half past eleven o'clock, at the top of Mansfield-row. He also said he had only heard of the murder about 5 minutes. Some time afterwards witness was on the road leading to Whiston, in company with a policeman, when they met the prisoner. He told them that a certain amount of suspicion was attached to him, and it behoved him to clear himself. Prisoner replied that he didn't care a -.

Caroline Oats, wife of Samuel Oats, of the Butcher's Arms, Rotherham, stated that on the evening of the 18th February prisoner and another man went to her house about 9 o'clock. They had some beer, and left about half past 9 or a quarter to 10. On the 20th she saw the prisoner again at her house. He said "You see they have soon set me at liberty. I was not the man they wanted. The idea of me robbing a man of his money and watches when I have money and watches of my own."

Thomas Wright, puddler, Rotherham, stated that he was in the Pack Horse Inn about half past 8 on the 18th February. Prisoner and another man - a stranger to him - came in, and ordered something to drink. He left the house with them, and went to the Wheat Sheaf, and then to the Mail Coach. After this they went to a house of ill-fame. During the night the man who was with the prisoner pulled a watch out of his pocket, and said it was 25 minutes to 10 o'clock.

Elizabeth Saunders, Old-hill, Wellgate, Rotherham, stated that on the night of the 18th February she went to the "Mail coach," where she saw prisoner, deceased, and the last witness. Prisoner had the stick produced with him. They afterwards went to her house.

Cross-examined by Mr. GANE. - There was no quarrel at her house.

Annie Wilkes gave corroborative evidence.

William Holmes, cab driver, Rotherham, stated that on the night of the 18th February he was with his cab near the Gentleman's Club in High-street. He was leaning against one of the pillars at the club entrance when two men passed him. From what he heard one of them say his attention was drawn to them. They were both worse for drink, and went up the street. Soon after that he was driving his cab with two gentlemen inside when he saw the men in West-street. One of them had a stick. He had to stop at West House to put down his fare, and he again saw the men there. They were then going in the direction of Canklow Wood. On the 20th February he saw the deceased's body in the workhouse. It was the body of one of the two men who passed him on the night in question. On the 28th of February he saw the prisoner with a number of other men. He identified him as the man who was with the deceased, and as the man who was carrying the stick.

By His LORDSHIP: The reason why he took particular notice of the men was because one of them said, "We'll make the ----- - pay for it."

Robert Rotherham, joiner, Whiston, stated that on the morning of 19th February he saw the prisoner, between 7 and 8 o'clock, going in the direction of the Stag Inn.

Cross-examined by Mr. GANE.- It was not on the 20th of February that he saw the prisoner.

Fredrick Wadsworth, Herringthorpe, stated that he saw the prisoner on the morning of the murder coming in the direction of the Stag Inn. Prisoner spoke to him, and said, "Have you a match?" He replied "No," and prisoner asked him the time. He told him it was 8 o'clock. Prisoner pulled a watch with a steel chain from his pocket, but it had stopped.

Henry Dawes, occupier of the Stag Inn, Herringthorpe, stated that on Thursday morning, February 19th, prisoner called at his house about 8 o'clock, and had some refreshment. He said he had passed the night Leatham's shed, near at hand. A man named Charles Roberts came about 9 o'clock into the same room as the prisoner. The latter wore a small silver watch with a steel chain and seal attached. Witness heard of the murder about 11 o'clock, and told the prisoner of it. A man named Young joined prisoner and Roberts about 12 o'clock, Prisoner left the house about 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

Charles Roberts, quarry master at Brecks, said that he saw the prisoner at the Stag inn on February 19th. Prisoner told him he had been staying in the shed all night. He had a watch with him, which he took from his waistcoat pocket. Several times he put the watch to his ear, and on one occasion opened the glass. Witness saw the watch many times, and asked the prisoner if it went well. Prisoner replied, "It goes well enough. Me and my father and brother Jim went to Mrs. Needham's, to buy a watch each. My father paid for his down, and we paid weekly or monthly."

Charles Young, moulder, Rotherham, who was in the Stag Inn with the witness, gave corroborative evidence.

James Brook, brass finisher. Clifton-lane, Rotherham, said that he went to the Tap-room of the Stag Inn about half past 12 on the 19th February. He had not heard of the murder before he went there. Wood was there, and he (witness) would have left before he did had not prisoner pressed him to stay, saying he had plenty of money and a watch. Prisoner spoke of the watch several times, but he did not show it him.

Robert Poynter, carter for Mr. Moody, Rotherham, supported the opening statement with reference to prisoner having first offered to sell him a watch, with a steel curb chain and red seal attached, and then, when he declined to purchase it, lent him the watch. In order to open the inner case he had to use a knife, and it appeared from the scratches upon the case that that had been done frequently. He afterwards took the watch back to prisoner. When witness handed it back to him, he said, "Did you think it was his watch, Bob?" Witness said he did not know what to think. Prisoner rejoined, "I never seen it;" adding, "You must not say anything about it, but keep it as 'squat' as possible, Bob."

Cross-examined: When he lent me the watch he told me I was not to tell his father or mother that he had done so.

Re-examined. - His father was present when I gave him the watch back, and when he told me to keep it "squat."

Francis Ellis. carter, living at Bole Hill, Treeton, said he met the prisoner on the 19th, whilst he was in Wellgate. In conversation prisoner told him he had plenty of money, and that he had spent plenty. They went into the Three Tuns, and prisoner paid for a pint of beer. Whilst they were drinking it, witness asked him if he had heard of the murder. He said no, and asked who had been murdered. Witness told him it was Coe. Prisoner replied, "Surely it is not poor Coe; I was with him up to 11 o'clock on the previous night." He began to tremble, and witness took the pitcher and glass out of his hand.

Mr. FENWICK. - Why did you take them out of his hand?

Because he trembled so.

Mr. GANE. - I believe he cried about it? Yes.

Frederick Grey, labourer, living at Rotherham, deposed that prisoner joined him in the street immediately after he left the Three Tuns with the last witness. Prisoner asked him if he would have a glass of beer. He said not there, and they walked up the street. Whilst they were walking along, prisoner asked him if he had heard of the murder, saying that he had just been told about it by Ellis. They went into the Belvedere Inn, and prisoner paid for something to drink.

Police-constable Wm. Thornton, stationed at Rotherham, said that he entered the inn whilst the prisoner and Grey were there. He asked the prisoner if he was in company with the murdered man at Whiston on the previous night, and said he was. He (witness) observed that the prisoner might be able to give them some important information about the affair - that he would be a good witness in the case. The prisoner replied, "---- you; you are getting on to me. I don't know anything about the --- fellow." Witness afterwards saw him at his father's house, and he then said to witness that he had seen him before and would give him no further information. He became very excited, and his parents said to witness that he had better go out, and he left the house.

Cross-examined. - He gave me a detailed statement at the Belvedere as to where he had been on the previous night with Coe, and in doing so was occupied 20 minutes. It was in the middle of the statement that he swore and said he knew nothing about the fellow. I have not stated before that he swore in the middle of his statement.

Police-constable Bennett, stationed at Whiston, stated that he had a conversation with the prisoner on the evening of the 19th February, about the murder of Coe. Prisoner narrated his movements with Coe on the 18th, concluding by saying that they parted at Bole Hill, at 11.30 p.m. Turning to his father and mother he asked them whether he did not return home that night. They said that he did not, and that they would not lie for him. On the following day prisoner told witness that he never went home that night, but slept in a shed in Mr. Leatham's field.

Police- superintendent Gillett, deposed to prisoner having made a statement to him similar to what he had given to the other officers.

Richard Rimmington stated that whilst at work on February 24th at Guilthwaite, prisoner asked him if he knew whether they were after him for murder. He gave him some food, and agreed to give him some more at a certain place on the following day, but prisoner was not there.

Police-sergeant Sykes stated that when he apprehended the prisoner he said it was "all right," and that he knew what he was wanted for.

John Riggs stated that he had had a conversation with prisoner in a cell in Rotherham lock-up. Witness said the watch would "do" him, and prisoner replied that it was "all right." He also said that if it turned against him it would only be a month or two for manslaughter.

James Goodrich, watchmaker, Rotherham, and his wife gave evidence of the sale of two watches to the Coe’s. The former added that one of them was difficult to open, and when it came back for repair it was scratched.

Mr. LOCKWOOD summed up the case for the prosecution, and The Court adjourned until 24th.

Sentence

At the Yorkshire Spring Assizes on 24th April John Henry Wood was found guilty of the murder and sentenced to death.

He was executed at York on 11th May. Wood's was the third private execution to take place at York, the previous being that of D'arcy of Leeds. Marwood was the executioner. On the Saturday before the execution, Wood was visited by his mother, father, brother and two sisters. It is not known if he confessed to them.

Source Sheffield Iris and Leeds Mercury 1880

The Family

James Coe, the father of the deceased, was born at Brinsworth in 1820, a Farm Labourer, he was married to Ann, who was born in 1828 at New Hill.

In 1881 they were still living at Brinsworth with their 19 year old son Harry, a gardener, daughter, Kate age 14 and Arthur Vokes, a grandson.

David Coe, the uncle, age 48, was living at 53 Henry Street, Rotherham the home of his brother in law William Hill, who was married to his sister Mary (b.1819 Brinsworth)

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