TERRIBLE INHUMANITY.

Evening Star, Issue 5587, 3 February 1881, Page 4

TERRIBLE INHUMANITY.

At the Bristol and Somerset assizes on November 13, before Mr Justice Denman, Thomas Ames, a bargeman, was indicted for the wilful murder of Albert Edward Miles, aged nine years, at Bath on August 24. Tie prisoner’s barge reaobed Bath on the Kennet and Avon Canal, and was about to be “ locked ” through to the river Avon at a lower level of 20ft, The lock gates towards the river being open, there were only 7ft of water in the lock ; bat, when filled the depth would be 17ft. The deceased and another boy, Frank Hawkins, had got d*wn into the lock, and were fishing from a l«dge when the deceased dipped into the water. His cries brought to the lock two boys named Hillier and Vowles, fourteen years of age. The prisoner, who was standing watching the struggle of Miles, was appealed to, bat he refused help, and, using a vile expression, he said 11 Let the boy get out the b*st way he can.” The sides of the look had a sheer depth of 20ft. Hillier and Vowles, taking off their jackets, plunged in, and bringing Miles to the surface they kept him above water between them, and were swimming to the open gates when the prisoner, reaching the gates before them, deliberately closed the gates, thus shutting off their only mode Of escape. Tho brave boys shouted to him to lower a pole, as they coaid not climb the look side ; but, disregarding their cries, he walked the whole length of the lock side to the upper gates and proceeded to raise the hatch, and thus open the sluice, which would fill the lock. A woman shouted to him “Good God, if you open the sluice you will drown all three.” He only laughed, and, opening the slnices, he allowed the pent-up water of the canal to pour like a torrent into the lock where Hillier and Vowles were still struggling to save the drowning boy. The lock-water was soon like a whirlpool; Miles was dashed out of the grasp of the boys, who themselves had a severe struggle to save their lives. They sank two or three times, but ultimately swam to the farther end of the lock, into comparatively smooth water, and ware there rescued in an exhausted condition ; but Miles was drowned. The jury convicted the prisoner of manslaughter, and His Lordship deferred sentence; but calling the boys Hillier and Vowles before him, he spoke in the highest terms of their heroic conduct, told them that he and the Bar would give them three guineas, and. he would certainly bring their brave conduct before the Royal Humane Society.