Sheffield Evening Telegraph – Wednesday 10 July 1907
Village Tragedy
Goldthorpe Sensation Inquest.
The Goldthorpe fatal quarrel was investigated today at Goldthorpe by Mr D Wightman (District Coroner).
The evidence showed the deceased, Albert Towler (24), miner, 20, Main Street. Goldthorpe, returned from work with his brother George, with whom he lodged, and on Monday afternoon beer was fetched and drunk.
After dinner George Towler went to sleep on the sofa, and was awakened by sounds of quarrelling between his wife and brother. He saw his brother lying on the floor bleeding, and lifted him to the sofa, where he died ten minutes later. He had been cut under the right armpit by piece of broken dish, which Mary Towler said he had picked up self-defence, and he had fallen to the ground with it.
A verdict that “Deceased died from hemorrhage from falling on the broken edge of a dish” was returned.
Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Thursday 11 July 1907
Verdict of Accidental Death.
A story beer-drinking and a subsequent quarrel ending in the accidental death Albert Towler (24), a single miner, lodging with George Towler, his brother, at 20, Main Street, Goldthorpe, was yesterday investigated the District Coroner, Mr. D. Wightman, at the Institute, Goldthorpe.
George Towler, the brother, said deceased and he worked together at Hickleton Main Colliery, and returned home from the morning shift about 2.30 on Monday afternoon. When they got home two men were there, named Morris and Parkes, but both soon after went away. They just drank a quart beer, paid for Parkes, and afterwards the wife of witness fetched another quart. Witness then went to sleep on the sofa, but believed his wife and brother fetched more beer. About six o’clock he was awakened hearing the other two arguing. He got up from the sofa and found deceased on the floor bleeding. Witness lifted up and put him on sofa, but deceased, who was bleeding profusely, did not speak. Witness twice sent for Dr. Craik, who arrived ten minutes after witness woke up. The doctor attended deceased, who died about half-past six. He made no statement as to how he to got the wound, but witness was told by his wife that deceased lifted up his hand ‘to hit her because she would not fetch more beer. She, in self-defence, hit him with dish which she got off the table. Deceased tumbled down, the dish breaking on the floor beneath him.
Dr. William Craik, Thurnscoe said there was large incised wound under the right arm-pit of the deceased. The man was only partially conscious He died in about ten minutes after the doctor’s arrival. Witness described the results of a post-mortem examination. The main vein of the artery and several of the branches were cut, and one the main nerves was also divided. It was possible for the wound have been caused the broken edge of a plate or dish, the result of a blow.
Towler, recalled, said his brother was only dressed in his pit clothes—shirt and trousers only, the shirt being without sleeves. He had not seen a dagger in the house.
Mary Elizabeth Towler, after being warned by the Coroner, elected to give evidence.
Her story in the main was the same as that told by her husband. With reference to what transpired when he was asleep, she said after they had had dinner she fetched another quart of beer, at deceased’s request. She Refused go for more, whereupon he said he would break her head if she didn’t. He struck at her and she, to prevent him, shoved a dish she was carrying until him, pushing him over. The dish went out of her hand and fell to the ground, with deceased on the top of it.
Replying to Supt. Hicks, witness said she had not a dagger or a knife in the house. She had never shown Mrs. Willoughby anything in the shape of a weapon.
The jury brought a verdict that “deceased died from haemorrhage caused by an incised wound on the arm, caused falling on the broken edge of a dish.”