South Yorkshire Times, October 20th 1943
Conisbrough Youth Charged With Murder
Father’s Death from Head Wounds
Pathologist’s Disclosure At Inquest
A young Conisbrough haulage hand, John Pickering (17), was charged at Doncaster on Wednesday with the wilful murder of his father, John Pickering (52), fitter’s mate, of 38, Daylands Avenue, Conisbrough. He was remanded in custody until November 15th. The charge followed an incident on Tuesday night, when the youth walked into Conisbrough Police Station and made statements which resulted in the police visiting his home, where they found the youth’s father apparently beaten to death with an axe. An inquest on tha dead man was opened and adjourned yesterday.
Neighbour Heard Scream
The tragedy caused a sensation at Conisbrough, on Wednesday. The family live in a Council house at Conisbrough and a “South Yorkshire Times” reporter was told by a neighbour that while in bed on Tuesday night she heard a scream and then all went quiet. The accused son is understood to have told the police that he was protecting his mother when the alleged murder took place.
The Inquest
At the inquest yesterday (Thursday) at Conisbrough, there was a jury of nine, with Mr. W. M. Burton as foreman. A police photographer attended with several photographs taken upstairs at the house. Others present included Supt. J. Walker of the Doncaster West Riding Police.
The corner (Mr. W. H. Carlile) said only evidence of identification and medical evidence would be given. In consequence of a statement made by John Pickering the son, a charge, had been preferred against him and the inquest would be adjourned until the conclusion of criminal proceedings.
It would not be wise at this stage to enter into the facts, and these would be left to another court. Evidence of identification was given by the widow, Ann Pickering. She said she had been married to Pickering 24 years, that his real name was John, and that his alias name was Fred. He was a fitter’s mate at Baker and Bessemer’s, Kilnhurst. She last saw him alive at 10.30 p.m. at home on Tuesday. He came in at 10.20 p.m., and they all had supper. She knew he had had a drink and she coaxed him to go to bed but he refused. She took his boots, collar and tie off, and tried to get him to bed because she knew he was rowdy when he had had beer. He would not go to bed, so the family went without him.
Witness said the son went to bed first, and she and her daughter went upstairs at the same time. She was just getting into bed when her husband came upstairs. “I had not had time to go to my daughter’s assistance,” continued witness, who was then asked by the coroner not to give any more details at this stage of what took place. Witness said after the police came she saw her husband lying at the entrance to her daughter’s bedroom. As far as she knew he was then dead.
Evidence Of Wounds
Dr. Peter Lindsay Sutherland, County Pathologist, who conducted a post mortem on Pickering, said there were two wounds at the back of his head, one 1 ½ inches long and the other 1 ¼ inches long behind his ear on the right side. Further forward on the right side of the head there were two smaller wounds, one three quarter inches long with some bruising of the margin and the other about three-quarter inches long. On the right side of the neck there was a small lacerated wound and a linear abrasion about two inches long extending from the wound. The upper eyelid of the left eye was swollen, bluish and bruised. There was an abrasion on the back of the left elbow. These were all the wounds that could be seen externally. One of the wounds to the back of the head was over a fracture of the skull and the fracture extended downwards into the base of the skull.
The doctor said he also found the man had a cancer of the stomach and there were secondary deposits of cancer in the liver.
In reply to a question by the coroner, witness said Pickering would have died very soon in any event.
Witness said the cause of death was a fracture of the base of the skull and cranial hemorrhage.
The coroner: can you form an opinion as to how long he would have lived in the normal way?
Witness: I think months, the cancer was very advanced.
Mr. F. H. Capes (solicitor for the accused boy): Would the condition you described as an advance state of cancer have some effect on the man’s condition and general behaviour?
Witness: No, I don’t think it would affect his behaviour.
Asked by Mr. Capes if he made any examination of the body from the alcoholic point of view, the doctor said he did not, but there was a distinct odour of alcohol.
Adjourning the inquest to a date to be fixed after the Court proceedings, the coroner said he did not think it would be necessary to call together the jury again, but if it was the jury would receive notice.
Brief Court Proceedings
Pickering was charged at Doncaster West Riding Court on Wednesday with the wilful murder of his father some time between 11 and 11.50 p.m. the previous night.
Supt. J. Walker said it was alleged that Pickering went to Conisbrough Police Station and in consequence of what he said, the police visited his home and found the father apparently beaten to death with an axe.
When charged with murder, Pickering who appeared unperturbed while in the dock, replied “That’s what I did.” He was remanded in custody until Monday November 15th.
The dead man was at one time a collier at Denaby Main. He was a solider in the last war and volunteered for service in this. He was discharged from service about two years ago and had since worked as a fitter’s labourer a Messrs. Baker and Bessemer Ltd, Kilnhurst. Pickering was a member of the local branch of the British Legion.
The accused, a tall thin-faced youth was a haulage hand at Denaby. He had a slight accident to his finger on October 18th and the same day of the alleged murder was committed had submitted himself for medical examination for compensation He was to have jointed the R.A.F. next Monday.
Pickering leaves a widow and a daughter besides the accused youth.
The funeral is a Denaby tomorrow (Saturday).