Walter Holloway MANSFIELD

• Death Notes
  • The report from the Bromley Journal and the West Kent Herald
    dated 27th of October 1871.
    
    A young man shot by his brother on Friday morning,
    
    Frederick Mansfield, aged 20, son of a salesman in Billingsgate fish market, was charged at the Magistrates Clerks Office, before Colonel Long, with causing the death of his brother, Walter Mansfield, about 15 years of age.   The brothers, it appeared, were in the employ of Mr Johnson, a fishmonger, in High-street, Bromley, and on Thursday evening Mr Johnson left them in charge of the premises, whilst he visited his father’s shop, a few doors lower down the street.  
    
    Shortly after 10 o'clock the same evening, the report of a pistol was heard, and the eldest brother rushed into the street shouting “Murder”, and stating he had shot his brother.   He then ran for a doctor.   Dr Beeby at once attended, and on entering a room at the back of the shop, the youngest brother was discovered lying on the floor, in a large pool of blood, quite dead.   Frederick Mansfield stated that he went into the shop, to take an envelope from the drawer, and there saw a small revolver belonging to his master, which he took out, and went to the door of the back room, and pointing it in play at his brother, who was lying upon the sofa, the revolver instantly went off, and a ball struck deceased in the forehead, and killed him.
    
    Mr Johnson stated that the revolver had been loaded six months, and he had placed it in the drawer till he had time to clean it.   Much excitement was created in the town on hearing of the melancholy affair.   The unhappy young man was remanded.   The Inquest    On Monday evening an inquest was held at the Swan and Mitre Inn, High-street, Bromley, before Mr Cartter, coroner for West Kent, to inquire into the circumstances attending the death of Walter Holloway Mansfield, who was shot by his brother, on Thursday evening, 19 October.   The Jury having been sworn, Mr Tuck was elected as foreman, and on returning from viewing the body, the following evidence was adduced: -   Richard Mansfield, a fishmonger, residing at 67, Greenstreet, Bermondsey, said he had seen the body of the deceased, and recognised it as that of his son Walter, who was 16 years of age last December.   He had been in the employ of Mr Johnson, fishmonger, in High-street Bromley.   He had been there about a fortnight.  
    
    He heard of the death of his son on the morning after it had occurred. He had another son, viz, Frederick Glenville Mansfield, aged 20.   He was also in the employ of Mr Johnson, and had been so for about a month.   Mr Johnson being in want of another assistant, his eldest son recommended the younger one, and in consequence of that the younger one was engaged. The character of the two boys was excellent, and the best of feeling existed between them.   They were sober, steady, and industrious lads.   Peter Pailing, living at Bromley, said he was in the Star and Garter public house, opposite Mr Johnson's shop, on Thursday night, the 19th October, and about half-past 10 o'clock he heard someone calling out “Murder”.   He rushed outside the house, and there saw Frederick Mansfield, who was crying out.   He asked him what he had done, when he said “I’ve just shot my brother”.   He was greatly excited at the time and could scarcely stand.   He said “I want to go for a doctor”.   He (witness) said he would take him to one, and he supported him down the street by holding him up by the collar.   They went to Dr Beebys.  
    
    After telling the doctor of the circumstances, he took Frederick Mansfield back to Mr Johnson’s shop.   The young man was perfectly sober.   He afterwards gave information to the police.   On the way home Mansfield told witness he had shot his brother in the forehead.   George Thomas Johnson, Jr, said he was a fishmonger, and poulterer, living in High-street, Bromley.   On the afternoon of the accident he had been to his father’s shop to work, and returned to his own house about 10 minutes past 10 o'clock in the evening. On arriving there his sister left the shop and went to his father's house, a few doors lower down the street. After settling with Frederick Mansfield about some business for the next morning's London market, he left him and locked the shop door and went into the Swan Inn.   He had been there but a few minutes when he heard a cry of “Murder”.   He ran out and saw one of his shop shutters down, the front door being fastened. He jumped inside the shop, and opened the door of his back parlour.   He there saw the body of the deceased lying on its face on the floor, surrounded by a pool of blood.   The head was lying towards the door.
    
    He at once called for assistance, and the Ostler from the Swan came to him.   He had been absent from his house about six or seven minutes.   When he left home Walter, the deceased, was lying on the sofa in the parlour, talking to his brother.   They were both sober.   Since they had been with him, the two brothers had been on the best of terms, and he had never heard an angry word pass between them.   When he first heard the cry, he thought there was a robbery in his house, and he went to the drawer, where he had placed a loaded revolver, and took it out.   He then went to the shop door and saw Mr Morley.   Just at that time Dr Beeby came up, and he then heard that Frederick Mansfield had shot his brother.   He was not aware of it before.   It was a five barrelled revolver, and had been in his possession about two years and a half.   He had generally kept it in his clothes box upstairs.   It had been loaded about six months in one chamber only.   He loaded it to shoot a retriever dog with, but had shot it with his rifle instead.   The revolver had been loaded ever since.   He brought it downstairs on Monday last with the intention of firing it off and cleaning it.   He had not time to do so, so he placed it in the drawer in his shop, and had afterwards forgotten it altogether.  
    
    The Coroner - You had not forgotten it when you thought a robbery had been committed.   Witness said he thought of it then all in the moment.   He had purchased it thinking at the time he was going to America.   The young man did not know the revolver was in the drawer.   When he asked Frederick about taking the revolver, he said he went to the drawer to get an envelope, and on seeing the revolver he took it out, and went into the back room, and it went off.   He also told him he did not know how it came into the drawer afterwards.   He said he was only looking at it when it went off.   Frederick was very excited at the time he told witness.   The revolver had a cap on.   Mr Walter Thomas Beeby, surgeon, residing in Church Road, said about 20 minutes to 11 o'clock, on the evening in question,   Frederick Mansfield came to his residence, and said he had shot his own brother, and wanted him to come at once.   He was very excited. He instantly went up to Mr Johnson’s, and on going into the back room he saw the deceased lying on the floor, as if he had rolled off the sofa.   He was lying on his face, but was not quite dead, although his pulsation stopped shortly afterwards.   He had a bullet wound on the right temple. He afterwards passed a probe into the wound and found it went slightly downwards on the left side, the bullet having lodged there.   There was a great quantity of blood on the floor.   Such a wound was necessarily fatal.   There was a clean aperture where the bullet went in, and a slight mark of powder on the skin.   He heard Frederick Mansfield give a description of how the accident occurred, and the statement was similar to what Mr Johnson had made.
    
    Mr Johnson was recalled, and in answer to the Coroner, said the drawer the revolver was placed in was an open one, but neither of the young men had a right to go there, though he would have trusted them to do so.   Sergeant William Morris, 11P, said on receiving information he proceeded to Mr Johnson's house, and on going into the room at the back of the shop he saw the body of deceased lying on its face on the floor.    He also saw the brother standing there in a very dejected state, and took him into custody.   He informed witness how it took place.   His statement was the same as that which had been given in evidence.   He was taken before the magistrates the next morning, who after hearing the evidence, admitted him to bail on his own recognisance of £20. He was quite sober at the time.   The revolver now produced was given to witness by Mr Johnson.   When he received it, it was warm, as it recently fired.   There was no chamber loaded when he examined it at the station.
    
    Anne Livonia Johnson gave evidence as to the kindly feeling existing between the deceased and his brother, and said just before she left her brother’s shop she had given the two young men their suppers, when they were on the best of terms, and she left her brother with them,   This being the whole of the evidence, the Coroner informed the deceased's brother who was present, that it was not his duty to asking him any questions, but that the evidence given appeared to be perfectly satisfactory as to the manner in which the unfortunate occurrence had taken place.   He was not bound to make any statement to the jury, but if he felt disposed to do so, and he mentioned anything to criminate himself, it would be taken down in writing, and used against him.   Frederick G. Mansfield said he wished to make a voluntary statement.   After alluding to two or three minor matters that occurred that evening, which were of little importance, he said his master, Mr Johnson, went out about 20 minutes past 10 in the evening, and left him and his deceased brother indoors.   He was desirous of answering a letter which he had received from his cousin, at Portsmouth, who was a soldier, and he went to the drawer to get an envelope.   He then saw the revolver lying there.   He took it up, and went into the room to show his brother, who was lying on the sofa, and who raised his head to look at it.   The revolver instantly went off as he was looking.   He saw his brother's head then fall, and he recollected nothing else until he was caught running down the street.   He had no recollection of what he did with the pistol.   His brother was about to take the revolver out of his hand.   It was the first time he had ever handled one.   He did not notice the cap was on. He was about one foot away from his brother when it went off.   He merely took it in to show him. That was all he had to say.
    
    By the coroner - He was on excellent terms with his brother, and they had not an angry word since they had been together.   He had not the slightest knowledge of such an instrument, and did not remember pulling the trigger.   The Coroner then summed up the evidence, and, after dwelling upon the most important points, alluded to the many sad calamities which had frequently taken place through the incautious handling of firearms.   In this instance it appeared to be entirely the result of accident, scarce the slightest blame rested upon the unfortunate brother; the greatest blame, he considered, rested upon Mr Johnson, through having a loaded revolver, capped, in an open drawer accessible to anyone in the house.   It was the most melancholy occurrence, which might have been avoided, had Mr Johnson not foolishly left the loaded revolver where he did, especially as he knew the drawer was not locked.   It was a legitimate action on the part of the young man to go there for an envelope, but it was extremely foolish for anyone to keep a loaded revolver in an open drawer.   The jury without the slightest hesitation brought in a verdict of ‘Accidental death’.   The greatest sympathy with the family of the deceased is felt throughout the neighbourhood.