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Kentish Gazette, 25 January, 1870.
Shocking and Fatal Wound with a Knife.
An inquest was held on Saturday afternoon at the "Sun Inn," Bredgar,
before Thomas Hills, Esq., coroner, on view of the body of Emma
Stedman, 17, who died on Wednesday.
John Smith, groom to Mr. Maxted, farmer, Frinsted, stated that on
the 25th of last November he was in his master's kitchen, where
there were also the deceased and two others named Bryant and William
Collins. Collins was now in custody charged with cutting and
wounding the girl. At that moment prisoner was cutting his nails
with a knife. He heard the deceased exclaim, "You have cut me,
Bill." He had never heard them quarrel, and he believed they were on
good terms.
This evidence was corroborated by Edward Bryant.
P.S. Harrington deposed to charging the prisoner on the 30th
November.
Prisoner said, "I do not know how I did it."
On searching prisoner he found the knife (produced) in his pocket.
It was a very sharp one.
Jane Stedman, mother of the deceased, said her daughter was brought
home on the 1st December, her clothes were suffused with blood, and
she suffered severe pain night and day until her death. On the day
after the assault the prisoner Collins came to her and told her of
the wound, he said he was cutting his corns, when the girl went to
the fire for some water, and his knife accidentally run into his
leg; he did not know how it was done. Witness said it was strange
that his knife should run into her leg, but he made no reply to the
observation.
Dr. Fisher, of Sittingbourne, stated that he was called in to see
deceased on the 3rd December. He found a wound half an inch deep in
the groin, which was likely to have been caused by the knife, and
the clothes she was wearing had likewise been cut through,
apparently with the same weapon. Inflammation supervened and caused
her death.
The last witness was the assistant clerk to the Magistrates of the
Bearsted Division, who took the evidence of the girl when she was
examined at her home before J. Whitehead, Esq. The statement of the
dying girl was to the effect that the prisoner was cutting his corns
on the night in question, and was swearing. Fearing that the company
in the house would hear him, she boxed his ears. Whilst she was at
work just afterwards, prisoner cut her with a knife, and blood ran
down her legs. She said, "You have cot me, Bill"; he replied, "I
would not have done it for £5." Once previously the prisoner had cut
her with a knife. At the first she told the constable it was an
accident, but then she thought she would get better. The jury (after
an address by the learned coroner) deliberated for a short time in
private, and returned a verdict of manslaughter against the prisoner
Collins, who was committed for trial at the Assizes.
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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk By Rebecca Tuffin, 24 August 2019.
13 Kent pub gardens to visit this summer bank holiday weekend.
With this bank holiday weekend set to one of hottest yet, many will
be longing for an ice-cold pint in a sunny beer garden.
So we have found some of the best Kent has to offer.
Listed below are 13 of the county's finest spots to meet with friends
and indulge in good food and drink.
The Sun Inn.
The Sun Inn garden.
Easily accessible to both Maidstone and Sittingbourne, The Sun Inn is
situated in the charming village of Bredgar.
The 16th century pub has a vast lawn, complete with picnic benches and
parasols.
The summer menu features a grilled goats cheese and artichoke salad and
a classic Caesar, and a gourmet sorbet selection for afters.
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