The Story of George Timperley

THE CULCHETH MURDER
INQUEST AND VERDICT

Liverpool Mercury
15th December 1897

The adjourned inquest into the circumstances attending the death of George Timperley, aged 58, who was found shot dead in his cottage on November 22nd, at Risley Lane, Culcheth, where he lived alone, was held yesterday at the Noggin Inn, Culcheth, before Mr. S. Brighouse.


Mr. Dootson, solicitor, watched the case on behalf of the police.
John Timperley, the elder brother of the deceased, gave evidence of identification, and said he last saw the deceased alive about three months ago. Deceased had no enemies so far as he knew.


Christopher Ball, farmer bailiff, of Woodend Farm, deposed to paying deceased his wages, 16s. 6d., about half-past four on Saturday, November 20th. Deceased did not return to work on Monday.
By Mr. Dootson: Deceased never complained of men saying he was a watcher for poachers.

John Lea, farmer, of Kinknall Farm, Culcheth, said on Sunday afternoon, November 21st, whilst on a visit to Risley Old Hall Farm, he went to the stable and deceased came into the yard about five o'clock. Two of the farm labourers said to deceased, "Are you going to the Green tonight?" Deceased replied, "Not tonight, it is rather too far to carry a load back."


Miss Sankey, Risley Old Hall, said about a quarter past seven on the Sunday, she and Mr. Lea were walking towards Hollins Green. When near Stubb's farm, Rixton, Edward Tracey, Edward Hansbury, John Tracey, and Ned Tracey passed them and said, "Good night" They had come from the direction of the deceased's cottage.
On returning from Hollins Green about half-past nine she remarked that there was no light in deceased's house.
​By Mr. Dootson: The first three men worked at her farm. There was a gun in the house, but the men had no right to go into the house. Her labourers had had no quarrel with deceased.

A map of the area showing some of the buildings mentioned

​Edward Hansbury said he and others had been charged before the magistrates with causing deceased's death, and discharged.
About seven o'clock on the Sunday night he and John and
Edward Tracey were passing deceased's house on their way to the Black Swan, Rixton, when they saw deceased at his hencote with a light.
They then went to the Black Swan, and stopped there
till closing time. He did not hear a gun fired on the Monday night.
 
When the body was discovered, Monks, the finder, came first to him, and they both went for the police. He did not know any person who had done the deed.
John Tracey, another discharged prisoner, corroborated.
 
William Monks, Risley New Hall Farm, deposed to finding deceased in his cottage, where nothing was disturbed.
 
Police-sergeant Barnes said he had known the deceased 13 years, and remembered him and his wife parting. He deposed to the position in which the body was found. He searched the deceased's bedroom, and found £5 in gold and a postoffice bank-book showing £28 savings under a mattress, twopence in copper on the mantelpiece, and ninepence in silver in his trousers pocket.
 
He had heard various rumours as to where the deceased was
on the Saturday night, but could not get to know anything definitely. Thomas Leigh, Dr. Sephton's coachman, had said whilst in drink that he saw deceased shortly after nine o'clock on the Sunday night, but he afterwards denied that he had seen him.
The witness then explained why he arrested three men on suspicion.
 
Deceased was apparently shot on the doorstep, and then dragged further into the house. He fell on his left side, for this side was very much matted with blood.
By Mr. Dootson: Two of the farm labourers wore cord trousers.
 
Dr. Sephton said he made a post-mortem examination, and found the right lung completely demolished. The greater part of the charge was lodged in the spine. The wound certainly could not have been self-inflicted. When the shot was fired the gun must have been almost in a straight line with the man's chest.
The wound had a very slight upward tendency. It was impossible for deceased to have moved after being shot, and death must have been instantaneous.
From experiments made, the shot was certainly fired within two feet.
 
Alfred Taylor, farmer, Moss Farm, Risley, said he lived 600 yards from the deceased's house.
About eleven o'clock he and his wife were in bed when they heard a shot fired, apparently from the deceased's cottage. Both Risley Old and Risley New Hall were nearer to the cottage than deceased's house.
 
The Foreman: Did you not say yesterday in this house that you could put your hand on the deceased's murderer?
Witness: No, you have been told false.
Isaac Warburton, landlord of the Noggin Inn, was here called and said the witness Taylor in his hearing and that of Miss Carter and Herbert Seddon distinctly said, "I could almost put my hand on the man who murdered Timperley."
Taylor said this about four o’clock and was not then in drink.
Taylor, questioned by the Coroner, said he might have said that, but he was larking. He had no true suspicions of the murderer. The
question was repeated to witness as to whether he
had any suspicion, but he gave what was considered an evasive answer.
The Coroner and Superintendent Higginbotham took Taylor into another room and. examined him privately, nothing being disclosed to the press.
 
In answer to the Coroner as to the arrest of the three men John Tracey, Edward Tracey, and Edward Hansbury, Superintendent
Barnes explained that Hansbury stated that he passed
Timperley's house a little before eleven o'clock on the Sunday night, but from inquiries he understood that Hansbury was at Rixton,
two miles away, at five minutes past twelve.

He (Superintendent Barnes) knew of a man having been assaulted two years ago with very little provocation, and he knew that it was
done by one of that gang, although he did not know which did it. Another man, twelve months ago, had his head cut very badly by Ned Tracey.
Timperley remarked to him some time ago that they were a rum lot those Irishmen, and about three weeks before his death Timperley was reported to have said that he was getting on all right, but had had a bother with the Irishmen.
It was decided to go to the place where the men lived, and two pairs of trousers were found belonging to John and Ned Tracey. They were stained as if with blood, and owing to the suspicious circumstances the trousers and the men were taken to Leigh, and the men were remanded to have the trousers examined. The expert reported that the stains were not blood stains, and the men were then discharged. He did not consider the men's account of themselves satisfactory.
His inspector was present when the arrest was made, and was responsible for the arrest, but he (Superintendent Barnes) would have done the same on his responsibility.
 
The Coroner, after further evidence, summed up, saying there were many suspicious circumstances which might perhaps some day come to light, and a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown was returned.

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