SHOCKING FULHAM TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 53, 3 March 1900, Page 5 (Supplement)

SHOCKING FULHAM TRAGEDY.

A FATHER'S DEATH,

At the Westminster Coroner's Court, Mr John Troutbeck opened an inquiry on January 15th, with reference to the death of Joe Breclaiell, aged 63, a watchmaker, jeweller ami optician, lately of Fulham. who died. in the St. George's Hospital the previous Sunday- from -the effects of injuries alleged to Havd been inflicted by his son William Henry Brecknell. Mr Oswald Hanson, solicitor, watched the case on behalf of the accused, who tvas brought up from Holloway prison in the custody of two warders,

Miss A/ny Brecknell, a daughter of: the deceased* stated that on the evening o? the 4th Inst., her father and her brothef were in the first front room "having" some words." The door was locked oh the Inside, and as neither would let her iii, she sent her sister for a policeman td burst open the door. Two police officers arrived, witness, having meanwhile beeri waiting at the t6p of the stairs.'When the door had been kicked open she saw her" father sitting on the bed Weeding front the head. Her brother, who had bloods on him, wa.'j standing against the wall. He had no weapon in his hand, but the. police seized and held him until a doctor arrived. Her father said nothing. HaTing had b.is head dressed, he was ihit to bed, and on the 11th inst. he was taken to St. Ceorge's Hospital. On the day 6E the occurrence her father had been drinjeing for a week. Her brother, who had been travelling for her father, came home* at tea time. There had been no quarrel just previously, but on the day before her father had knocked her brother dd.wm. Her brother had not been home since the police took him away. The deceased was. violent to her mother, and her brother, •.vould take her part. Her father usefi ta beat her youngest sister. ' ~

Ellen Brecknell, a younger daughter Gfi the deceased, gave corroborative evidence. She added that a week before this her father had threatened her mother ■with a carving knife, and her brother went to her assistance. He also attacked her mother with a tin opener. . ■ ;

Mrs Catherine Brecknell, mother of ttlS previous witnesses, said her husband Mad often beaten her and the girls without the slightest provocation, and her son had held him back and struck him top. The deceased was very fond of picking up the kitchen poker. This had been going on fo» ten years, but she had not sought protect tiori, because her husband would hava killed her. A fortnight ago he blackened one oi her eyes, and shortly before that he knocked a lamp out of her son's hand, and, on the same night, he set fire to the bed, and beat her son with a poker until the weapon was bent like a bow. Ths young man had rolled the bed clothes round himself. .

Police Sergeant 90 T stated that he T*i9 called to the house by. Ellen Breckrielit, who stated that her father and brother were locked in the first floor front room, and she was afraid something serious had happened. Witness called upon thA men to open the door, but there ?was no response, all being quiet. Amy then said, "He has finished him by now" Witness asked, "Finished whom?" and the young woman replied "Father." Then there were the sounds of blows and a gurgling noise, and witness burst open the door and saw the father and son on the bed. The son hit the deceased on the head with the kitchen pokier (produced), and after separating the men the witness found a pair of tongs on the bed between them. The deceased said,- "He has been trying to strangle me." He was bleeding freely from the head,. Later on the deceased added, "He tried to strangle m« and when he found he could not he iusea the poker."

The inquiry was ad.iourned,