Genealogy Chat

I'm trying to follow up on a story revealed in my GGgrandfather death cert. It stated that William Colins died from a blow to the head .The final sentence in the death cert simply states Manslaughter of Sarah Sadler. The death cert was issued in Islington in1861. Any ideas how I may get further details of this incident Thanks

Hi David, It looks like there is a report of this incident on the times online. Louise

Before Mr Justice Byles Sarah Sadler, 24, married, was indicted for the manslaughter of William John Brook Collins. Mr RW Philips prosecuted. The facts of the case have already been given at some length. The deceased, it would appear, was a man of intemperate habits, and some connexion existed between him and the prisoner, the nature of which was not clearly stated. On the 11th December they were out together drinking, and some quarrel having taken place in the evening, the prisoner struck the deceased on the head, but he made no particular complaint at the time, and died in about a fortnight or three weeks afterwards. The medical testimony was that his death resulted from that blow, but it was elicited that he had been ill-used a short time previously by some men who attempted to rob him. The jury acquitted the prisoner. Times January 31st 1861

Thank you Paul and Louise for that info. The death cert read as if William killed Sarah. As least that matter is cleared. One more interesting fact for the family history.