PETERSFIELD.
THE KNIFE AGAIN.—George Deadman, a small farmer, residing in the North Stroud, was taken into custody on Tuesday and lodged in the police-station, charged with cutting and wounding Joseph Deadman, his brother.— The charge has not been gone into in consequence of the injured man not being sufficiently well to attend.—It, however, appears that the two brothers are occupiers of some land adjoining each other, and that on the day named Joseph was proceeding towards his home to his dinner, from a brickfield in which he was working, with his son. At the same time the prisoner was also proceeding to his home from a different direction with cartload of turnips, when they met, and the prisoner observing some calves belonging his brother upon his land, words commenced and blows followed, and the prisoner taking his knife from his pocket struck Joseph in the neck, inflicting a serious cut, but most providentially half an inch above the jugular vein, or death must have been the result.
Chichester Express & West Sussex Journal — Tuesday 20 December 1864
PETERSFIELD.
A FARMER STABBED BY HIS BROTHER.
GEORGE DEADMAN, a small farmer, residing at the North Stroud in the parish of Eastmeon, was brought up at the Magistrates’ Clerk’s Office on Saturday, charged with cutting and wounding his brother, Joseph Deadman, on Tuesday last
The prosecutor (who appeared very weak) deposed—On Tuesday the 13th, about 12 o’clock, I saw the prisoner (my brother) on his own land. I went to him, and asked what he had cut down the fence for. I put up my fist, but did not strike him. He came up to me, and I thought he was going strike me with his fist. I did not see the knife till he struck me. The cut was on the edge of the jawbone; it was a bad cut, and the doctor sewed it up. My son was about ten yards from me; he came up, and we threw him down and took the knife from him; he did not attempt to strike with the knife again; he got up up and went away. About half an hour after I and my wife went to the police-station at Petersfield. and I gave the knife to the superintendent. I had washed the blood off the knife in the ditch. The knife (which was a pocket knife) was produced, and identified.
By prisoner —I was on your premises (belonging Sir W. Jolliffe). I did not strike you at all. I believe my son struck you with a stick afterwards, but I do not know.
George Deadman (son of the prosecutor) deposed—On Tuesday last, the 13th, about 12 o’clock I was in my father’s meadow. My father was in the lane (a private one). My uncle was also in the lane, with a horse and cart. My father asked him what he pulled down the hedge for. He said he did it to let the calves out. My father told him if would put down the knife, he’d tell him, if he’d pull down the hedge or not. He then swung the knife round and struck my father in the face. I saw the blood follow, and ran down his neck. I was about 10 yards off, and ran in to help take the knife away. I took up a stick and struck at him, but do not know if I struck him or not, and we threw him down. We let him get up and he went away.
Frederick John Gray deposed—I am assistant to Messrs. Whicher and Cross. About three o’clock in the afternoon of Tuesday, the 13th inst., the prosecutor came to the surgery, and said he had been stabbed by his brother. Upon examination I found an incised wound cut to the brow, about an inch above the angle of the left jaw. I stitched it, and strapped it up. I saw the wound to-day, and it is doing well, but he was not out of danger. The knife produced would cause such a wound.
Mr. Superintendent Longlands deposed—On Tuesday, the 13th. of this month, I received the knife I now produce, and from information received from prosecutor I took the prisoner into custody, and charged him with cutting his brother with a knife. He said I was obliged to do something; I am sorry I struck with the knife. I knew I had done wrong by cutting him.
After the usual caution from the magistrate, prisoner said—I went there on Tuesday morning last, and began making my own hedge. It cleared up fine, and I left it, and got my horse and cart, and began drawing swedes down. I had left my tools there. and was going back after to clear my ditch out. My brother came along when I was coming out of the field with the last load of swedes. He asked me what I had done that for. I told him was going make a new hedge up there. He said of I meddled with it any more, he’d knock my ——— head off in two minutes. He then came ten yards into my premises, and ran his fist into my face and skinned it. I then made a bit of a blow at him, forgetting I had the knife in my hand, and cut him in the face accidentally. I had the knife trimming swedes in my hand. —The prisoner was committed for trial at the assizes, and asked for bail, which being allowed.
John Dead man (prisoner’s brother) and Thomas Green were bound over as sureties in £lO each, and the several witnesses also, to appear, in the same sum each.