🔪A Murder Most Horrid in Billinghay🔪

THIS NEXT STORY IS ONE OF MURDER.

So many different families in Billinghay were related and mine were no exception. In a recent blog about the shocking suicide of the Butcher John Coles, some members of my family attended his funeral back in 1912.
This same branch of the family have a big part in this next story from Billinghay that occurred on 16 August 1866 over 150 years ago.

This report is from the Louth and North Lincolnshire Advertiser – Saturday 25 August 1866.

HORRID MURDER NEAR BOSTON. At Billinghay, on Thursday, 16th August, a very shocking tragedy occurred. During the morning several men were in the forge of Mr. Benton, blacksmith, when a quarrel was commenced and blows exchanged. One of the brawlers, a well-known character named Joseph Bones, at length became so exasperated that be plunged his knife into the body man named Eyre Petchell, and a sickening sight was immediately presented in the public street, bowels of the wretched man protruding from an extensive wound. Notwithstanding the nature of the injury, the poor fellow survived until the next morning. The particulars will best appear from the evidence of the first witness at the inquest, which was opened on Saturday last, before W. Clegg, Esq, coroner.

Joseph Franklin Benton, deposed: I am a blacksmith. The deceased was at work in my shop on Thursday morning last, from nine until about one o’clock. Joseph Bones came in and began to abuse us, using very bad language. I ordered him out of the shop. He took up a piece of wood to strike Thomas Farnsworth, a young man who was also in the shop, but Farnsworth got Bones down and trailed him out of the shop into the road. Bones got up and went straight across to a blacksmith’s shop on the opposite side of the road. After stopping there a quarter hour more, he came out and began to pick up stones and pelt Farnsworth. Farnsworth ran up to Bones to escape the stones; they both struggled and fell, Farnsworth on the top of Bones. Some young men came up and wanted to take Bones’s part, when the deceased Petchell, left I asked the young men “What business they had to take up ?” The young men ran away. Bones was on the ground crying, “Come on, he dare not meddle with us,” meaning that Petchell dared not interfere. Bones then began again to pick up stones, and Petchell told him to drop the stones, and then he would let him get up. Bones put the stones down, and then put his hand underneath him as if feeling for his pocket. He then stood up immediately with a knife drawn. Farnsworth and Petchell ran away The former ran into Mr Short’s house and shut the door. Petchell ran into Short’s yard, but in minute or two afterwards came out and said would face Bones, who was then standing at the gate with his knife drawn. Petchell went up to Bones, and I saw Bones raise his arm to strike, instantly Petchell reeled round and said, “He’s done me.” His dress in front was covered in blood. He walked into Short’s house and I followed. I saw that his bowels were hanging out. I then went for the doctor. —
After hearing this evidence, the Coroner, having to hold an inquiry at Spilsby, adjourned the inquest till next Tuesday.

On Tuesday last the inquest was resumed the the coroner when Thomas Farnsworth and other witnesses corroborated every particular piece of the evidence given by Benton on Saturday.—Ebenezer Thompson surgeon, deposed to the injury inflicted, found the intestines lying on the body, the bowels were cut through and recovery was impossible.—
William Knowles, police-constable, produced the knife used by the prisoner and deposed that apprehending him he said he had done with the big blade, now they might hang him if they liked.—
The Coroner at some length addressed the jury, explaining the difference, according to law, between murder and manslaughter, at the close of which the court was cleared, and after half-hour’s deliberation the foreman said the jury was unanimously agreed to a verdict of ” Wilful Murder.” They also added that Bones had been subjected to much provocation though not to the extent which would justify them in charging him with the minor offence. The Coroner then made out his warrant for the committal of the prisoner to Lincoln Castle for trial at the Winter Assizes.

The people involved.

Joseph Franklin Benton, the Blacksmith.

Joseph Franklin Benton was born in 1842 in Billinghay, Lincolnshire, his father was William Franklin Benton 1807-1882 and his mother was Rebecca (Wood) 1814-1889. He married Hannah Laythorp 1835-1901, in July 1866 in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, just a few months before the awful murder. They had seven children. Joseph died in 1928.

Eyre Petchell, the victim was working for the Blacksmith.

Eyre Petchell was born in 1823 in Billinghay, Lincolnshire, his father was Luke 1783-1863 and his mother was Elizabeth (Eyre)1780-1873. He married Margaret Slack on 13 April 1847 in his hometown. They had one daughter, Ann in 1848.

Thomas Farnsworth, was working for the Blacksmith on the day, although his trade was a Butcher.

Thomas Farnsworth was born on 2 July 1837 in Timberland, Lincolnshire, the son of Elizabeth (Key) and Edmund Farnsworth. He married Elizabeth Sarah Pask in January 1867 in Sleaford, Lincolnshire. They had three children. He died on 10 May 1889 in Billinghay, Lincolnshire, at the age of 51.

Ebenezer Thompson, the surgeon.

Ebenezer Mark Thompson was born in 1823 in Bardney, Lincolnshire, the son of Elizabeth and Thomas. He had one daughter with his first wife Jane 1820-1865 before she died. He then married Susannah Bailey 1845-1930 and they had seven children together. He died on 5 March 1885 in Lincolnshire at the age of 62, and was buried in Billinghay, Lincolnshire.

Joseph Bones, the Murderer.

Joseph Bones was born in 1822 in Billinghay, Lincolnshire, his father was John 1796-1830 and his mother was Ann (Williamson) 1790-1861. He had two brothers and three sisters.

Info from Lincoln Castle Website: After William the Conqueror’s victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, he faced continuing resistance and ordered the construction of a castle at Lincoln as part of his strategy to control the rebellious north of the kingdom. Courts have been held at Lincoln Castle since it was first built. Back then the sheriff, who was William the Conqueror’s right-hand man in Lincolnshire, presided over the castle’s shire court.

Today the Gothic Revival courthouse, built in 1826 for the Lincolnshire Assizes, is still a working building where criminal trials are heard by Lincoln Crown Court.

Assize Court, Lincoln Castle, Lincoln by Richard Croft

Conclusion, as reported far and wide across the Country in various newspapers, this report is from the London Evening Standard – Thursday 06 December 1866.

The Billinghay Murder.— Yesterday. Lincoln Assizes, Joseph Bones, age 44, labourer, was indicted for the wilful murder of Eyre Petchell. On the l6th of August the prisoner entered a forge at Billinghay and began to abuse the workmen. A scuffle ensued, after which the prisoner took out his knife and opened it. Petchell happened to go sufficiently near, when the prisoner stabbed the deceased in so dreadful a manner that his bowels protruded, and he died soon after. The conduct of the prisoner when called upon to plead was such that his lordship examined the gaoler and surgeon as to his state of mind, and eventually the jury found that he was not in such a state of mind as to be fit to take his trial. Baron Channell said he would, therefore, be kept in custody till her Majesty’s pleasure be known, and that representations would be made in the proper quarter without any delay. The prisoner, whose singular countenance did not betray any sign that he understood what was going on, on that he felt the slightest concern in the proceedings, was then removed from the docks.

The next and similar report is from the Lincolnshire Chronicle – Saturday 08 December 1866
THE BILLINGHAY MURDER. Joseph Bones, charged with the murder of Eyre Petchell, Billinghay, was brought into Court today by the direction of the Judge. The prisoner man of apparently fifty years of age (described in the calendar as 44), of low statute, and of decidedly ugly and very peculiar physiognomy, every feature in his face being awry —the perfect contrariety to ordinary notions of facial regularity, being the more repulsive because it was evidently congenital, and not the result of muscular contraction or distortion: in fact, a ” doughy sort of face, which appeared to have undergone plastic experiments in ugliness. The expression of his face, withal, though far from indicating anything like a good type of intelligence, did not betoken stupidity or insanity, but his stolid behaviour in the dock was that of a man who either did not know or did not feel any personal concern in, what was going on.

The Judge (addressing the prisoner) said: The learned counsel who will prosecute you has applied to me to fix your trial for tomorrow at 10 o’clock. I understand you are not defended, and if you wish any gentleman present to defend you, and will mention the name, I will request him to do so. The Prisoner: Defend me What for The Judge: You are charged with a most heinous offence —the murder of a fellow creature. If you are a poor man, and cannot afford to employ counsel, I will ask someone to watch the case on your behalf. Prisoner: I never done anything; I can defend myself. The Judge: Very well: I have done my duty. Prisoner: I’ve done nothing. The Judge: Then your trial will commence at 10 o’clock tomorrow. Prisoner: What did you say? Mr. Foster (Governor of the Castle): You will be tried here tomorrow, 10 o’clock. Prisoner: Very good, sir, I’m ready to go anywhere. He was then removed. The Court rose shortly before 6 o’clock.

The jury concluded that he was not in such a state of mind as to be fit to take his trial.

Details below of the dates of Joseph Bones’s arrest and court appearance at Lincoln Assizes.

Lincoln Assizes/Midland circuit record below of what happened to Joseph Bones after the court case, it says Aquittal which was not totally correct as although he didn’t stand trial, he was certainly not acquitted. He was sent to Broadmoor, Berkshire.