X Manchester Evening News Monday 24th February 1902.NORTHENDEN MURDER.INQUEST TODAY.STARTLING EVIDENCE BY THE SURGEON.HOW COTTRILL WAS KILLED.Mr. C. F. Newton, County Coroner, held an inquestat the Church Inn, Northenden, on the bodies ofJohn Gibson Dyson, of Bradley Gate, Northenden,and Frederick Cottrill. It will be recollectedthat on Friday morning Cottrill, who had been abutler in the service of Mr. Dyson, shot hisformer master in bed, and then, after a murderousattach upon the police, at whom he fired a numberof shots from his revolvers, committed suicide.The inquest excited a considerable amount ofinterest in the village. A number of peopleassembled outside the inn, and remained in itsvicinity as long as the proceedings lasted,notwithstanding that rain was descending.VIEWING THE BODIES.The jury met at Bradley Gate, and there viewed thebody of Mr. Dyson. They then adjourned to theChurch Inn, and having been sworn in, were takento see the body of the man Cottrill. Theproceedings were watched on behalf of the policeby Mr. Leah, Deputy Chief Constable of the County,and Superintendent Oldham, and on behalf of therelatives of Mr. Dyson by Mr. Grace, solicitor, ofManchester. Mr. Gibson Dyson and Mr. W. Dyson,brothers of the deceased gentleman, were also inattendance. Shortly after ten o'clock the firstwitness was called. The Coroner at the outset ofthe proceedings mentioned that he had received aletter from the rector. He asked whether thegentleman was present who had brought it. Agentleman stepped forward and said he had broughtthe letter. The Coroner informed him that therector might rest content about the mattermentioned in the letter. There will be nodifficulty at all.REMARKS BY THE CORONER.The Coroner, in opening the proceedings, said hemust ask the jury before commencing the evidencein the case to dismiss from their minds all thatthey may have heard or read with reference to theterrible tragedies which had taken place atNorthenden. The evidence so far as the police hadbeen able to obtain it would be laid before them,and they would be asked to return a verdict solelyupon the evidence which was given there to-day,and not upon anything they might have heard orread. Any observations he might have to make inreference to the death of Mr. Dyson he wouldpostpone until the jury had arrived at theirverdict-except to say that in his case they wouldhave very little difficulty, after hearing theevidence which would be laid before them, inarriving at their verdict. The only thing he mustask them to direct their special attention towould be that of motive.THE CASE OF COTTRILL.Then in the case of Cottrill he had not had anyreport from Dr. Humphries until this morning. Hewould be able to guide them with regard to thecause of death of Cottrill. Until he received thatreport it was his intention to direct the jury tobe very careful in arriving at the cause of death,because the evidence pointed to one cause.SUGGESTED FATAL RESULT OF THE POLICEMEN'S SHOTS.He thought, however, when the doctor gave evidencehe would direct their attention especially toanother cause. It struck him at the time when heread the evidence that it was very probable thatCottrill was shot by one of the two policemen whowere shooting at him. They both had guns and wereshooting at the same time, and it would be verydifficult under any circumstance for a policemanwho was facing a revolver, and who fired inreturn, to say at what portion of the body of hisassailant he aimed at. If anyone had directed apistol at his head, he (the Coroner) would nothave shot at his legs-that was certain. A Juror:Hear, hear. Proceeding, the Coroner said hethought the jury would be able to arrive at aconclusion which was not his first conclusion thatthe man shot himself. Mr. W. Leah, Deputy ChiefConstable of Cheshire, said the police courted thefullest investigation.MRS. COOMBES' EVIDENCE.Mrs Coombes, wife of James Coombes, butler in theemploy of Mr. Dyson, said the deceased gentlemanwas 33 years of age, and was a solicitorpractising in Manchester. Witness and her husbandlived at Bradley Gate, in the house. On Fridaymorning, about 25 minutes past eight witness wascleaning the drawing-room. She heard a noise, andlooking to ascertain the cause she saw a strangeman passing up the stairs. She at once called herhusband's attention to it, and he suggested itmight be the village plumber. Witness and herhusband followed the man up the stairs, and whenthey got to the first landing witness heard twoshots. They sounded as if they were in Mr. Dyson'sroom. Cottrill at that moment came from the roomand pointed a revolver at witness and her husband,having first closed the door after him.The Coroner: One or two revolvers?Witness: I saw one. What did he say?He said, "Go back, or I will shoot you both."I said, "let me have my little boy." Where wasyour little boy?He was coming along the landing, near to Cottrill.What did he say? He said " I won't hurt' your boy,but you go down." And you both went down? Yes.And he followed?No, he stood on the stairs.RAISING THE ALARM.Witness, continuing, said that she and her husbandraised an alarm, and called the coachman andgardener. The gardener, Thomas Hewitt, came intothe house, and Cottrill was then still standing onthe top stairs. Witness went partly up thestaircase, and Cottrill allowed her little boy topass. Hewitt went with her up to the firstlanding. Cottrill stood aside to allow witness'slittle boy to go to her. She heard Cot trill openMr. Dyson's bedroom door and go in again.Immediately afterwards she heard two more shots inthe bedroom. She never saw Cottrill alive again.She took her little boy to the coachman's, andwhen she returned Cottrill was being picked up offthe roadway. Mr. Grace: I think it was only amatter of seconds between your first seeingCottrill and hearing the shots?Witness: That is so.A Juror: May I ask if the witness had ever seenCottrill before?Witness: Yes; I saw him shortly before Christmasat the top of the lane. He asked my little boywhether he lived at Bradley Gate, and whether Mr.Dyson was in.The Coroner: You did not bear him say that; yourlittle boy told you?Yes, that is so. But you saw him yourself?Yes, shortly before Christmas. I cannot say theexact time.A GARDENERS ACCOUNT OF THE AFFAIR.Thomas Hewitt said he was a gardener employed atBradley Gate, and resided at Rose End Cottage,Northenden. At 8 20 on Friday morning he was inthe greenhouse at Bradley Gate. He heard two shotsfired and then two more immediately afterwards.They seemed to come from Mr. Dyson's bedroom. Heheard the second pair of shots just as he wasleaving the greenhouse. He entered the house bythe back door and went upstairs to the firstlanding. He was there confronted by Cottrill, whohad a revolver in each hand, and who was standingat the top of the stairs. Cottrill exclaimed"Stand back, you or I'll shoot you," at the sametime pointing the revolvers at him. Witnessretreated one step, and then Mr. and Mrs Coomb'sran in and up the stairs. Mrs Coombs asked for herchild. Cottrill said she could have the child, butshe must go. He then allowed the child to go toher. Witness and Mr. and Mrs Coombs then wentdownstairs, and he went out at the back door.Witness ran round to the front of the house, andsaw Cottrill leave the house by the front door. Hewalked to the front gate. Witness and AlfredPrice, another gardener who was employed at theplace, left the premises by another gate. Catchingsight of them Cottrill said "Are you there again,"and shot at them twice. He then walked up the roadin the direction of Northenden Station for adistance of 25 or 30 yards.THE ARRIVAL OF THE POLICE.At this juncture Sergeant Foster appeared on thescene, and then Cottrill turned back and enteredby the front gate. Foster approached Cottrill, andwhen he was about six yards away the latter,taking a revolver from his pocket, pulled thetrigger twice, but the weapon did not go off. Therevolver was pointed at the officer, and justbefore he aimed it said "Are you come for a bit,you --- "Cottrill then took another from hispocket it was one of a smaller size-and Fosterbacked towards the gateway.THE SHOT GUNS SENT FOR.Foster ordered witness and Coombs to fetch anyguns that might be in the house. They got two, andone of them was handed to Foster, witness holdingthe other until the arrival of Police ConstableLawson, some five or ten minutes later, when hehanded it to that officer. In the meantimeCottrill had again gone in the direction of theStation for a distance of thirty yards from thehouse. Afterwards Cottrill went to the big gate atthe front of the road, loading the two revolversas he walked along. He held one in each hand as heapproached the gate. When got to the gate SergeantFoster and Constable Lawson stepped into the road,each holding a loaded gun. They called on Cottrillto stand and hold up his hands, and they rantowards him. He made no reply, but dischargedthree shots at the officers before they shot backagain. He shot both revolvers but missed theofficers. He ran backwards, shooting from bothrevolvers as he ran. Sergeant Foster and ConstableLawson each discharged a shot at Cottrill but didnot hit him, and he then turned round and ran.Facing the officers once more he shot at themagain, and they shot at him in return.COTTRILL SHOOTS HIMSELFWitness added that at this point Cottrill turnedround, put up his right hand, and shot him-self.He fell down, and the police at once went to him,witness following. Cottrill was then alive, butdying.A Juror: Did the police only fire one shot?They fired two shots each.And the first missed him altogether? Yes.How far were they off when they shot the secondtime?About twelve yards, as near as I can say.COTTRILL NOT AIMED AT.Mr. Leah: At the time the man Cottrill took thesecond revolver from his pocket had he fired atthe police? No, sir; there was only SergeantFoster on the the scene then.The first revolver had missed fire, and he tookout a second revolver? Yes. ,Did he present it to the Sergeant? Yes. Hepresented it to the sergeant, and he backed withhis hands up. He did not fire.About how far was he from the sergeant?About six yards when the sergeant stepped from thegate way and said "Hands up "did he say "or wefire". Did he caution him in anyway? He said"Hands up" that is all I heard.Well then, after what you have told the Coroner,Cottrill shot three times before the police fired?Yes. How far was Cottrill away from the police? Idon't think he was above eight or nine yards away.At a distance of eight or nine yards he firedthree times? Yes. And then you say he moved awaybackwards, firing both revolvers all the time?Yes. Were the Sergeant on the side of the roadwayand the Constable on the other? Yes. And then yousay the police fired, but did not hit Cottrill?That is so. Do you know they aimed at Cottrill orwhether they fired high? I am sure they did notshoot at Cottrill at the time. Do you know orcould you tell from the way the guns were levelledwhether the barrels were pointed upwards orstraight at the man? I can honestly say he was notshot at. You can honestly say that neither gun wasaimed at Cottrill? Yes. , After the second shot atthe police you say Cottrill turned round, raisedhis right hand, and shot himself? Yes. Are youquite sure he shot himself with the right hand? Heseemed to have both hands up and revolver in each,but I think he shot himself with the right hand.Are you of opinion that the deceased fired therevolver at himself after the second shot frompolice? I can honestly say he did. Did you seeP.C. Lawson's coat damaged by a revolver shot? No.By the Coroner: Witness said he was twelve yardsaway when Cottrill put the revolver to his faceboth revolvers were very close to his face. ByMr. Leah: At the moment the police fired thesecond time was Cottrill upright or was hestooping down? He stooped down, and I thought hegot hit in stooping down. Do you think the policepointed the guns at him a second time that hestooped to avoid the shots? Yes,PRAISE FOR POLICE.Witness: I should like to say a few words inpraise of the Sergeant. The Coroner: We should alllike to do that, and I think we had better di itall at once afterwards. Witness: If it had notbeen Fosters presence of mind in asking for theguns there would have been a few people killed.Alfred J. Price, who was also employed at BradleyGate, was the next witness. In the main hecorroborated the details given by the lastwitness, and added a few more. It was 8 50according to witness, when he saw Coombs and hiswife come out of the house. They had their littleboy with them. After this Cottrill made hisappearance. The Witness generally corroborated thelast witness's account of Cottrill's movementsfrom that time up to the arrival of SergeantFoster. The latter was only five or six yards fromCottrill when the murderer fired twice but theweapon missed fired. Had it not done so Fosterwould certainly have been shot dead?Proceeding, the witness Price said when theofficers had got the guns Cottrill came towardsthem and fired. Then the officers each fired ashot, but without effect. After this Cottrillfired at the officers five or six times insuccession, first at one and then at the other.They called upon him to throw up his hands and hereplied by several shots. They then discharged ashot each at Cottrill, and that aimed by PoliceConstable Lawson took effect. Cottrill thereuponreeled. In doing so his right hand went to hismouth, but he could not say whether he fired athimself or not. Did you hear any report when hishand went to his mouth? I cannot swear to it.A SCORE OF LIVES ENDANGEREDMr. Leah: How many people's lives were endangeredby Cottrill's reckless firing? I should be withinmark if I said a score were within range of hisfire. Are you of opinion that the only way ofpreventing further danger was by the policedisabling Cottrill? Most certainly. The Coroner: Ithink the jury will have to decide that question.Mr. Leah: I only asked the witness for hisopinion. The Coroner: He can only give evidence;the jury must form the opinion, not the witness.He said these people were in danger, and it isquite evident that the lives of the officers werein danger from the fact that they were continuallybeing shot at. I think that is sufficiently clear?Mr. Leah: Who fired the first shot fired by thepolice? Witness: I think it was the Sergeant. Butwhichever fired first, it was Lawson's shot whichtook effect? Yes. You do not know whether youheard a report of not after Lawson's shot tookeffect? You do not know whether Cottrill fired?No; in the confusion of the moment I could notswear to it. By Mr. Leah: Witness thought from theposition of the guns the first shots aimed by thepolice were aimed at Cottrill's legs. Foster andLawson did their best to effect the arrest withoutfurther bloodshed. In order to do so Foster walkeddeliberately up to the man, who was armed with arevolver.SERGEANT FOSTER'S EVIDENCESergeant Albert Foster was next called frominformation he received from the Coachman AlfredBarrett, about 8 30 on Friday morning he went toBradley Gate. Walking down the road he sawCottrill come out of the front gate of the house.Cottrill stepped on to the footpath, and whenwitness was seven or eight yards away he turnedhis face towards witness and pointed are revolverstraight at him saying, " Have you come for some,you---? The revolver clicked twice, but misfired.Witness put his hand up, and said to Cottrill"What's Up" The man put the revolver into hispocket and produced a smaller weapon from hispocket; also pointing that at witness, who steppedback as he did so Cottrill said " I'll show you."Witness stepped back he did not hear any report.Cottrill walked to the corner of the road, andwitness called for guns to be brought from thehouse, and in the meantime Cottrill examined therevolvers and reloaded one or both of them. Theguns were brought out, and one was handed towitness and another to Constable Lawson who hadappeared by that time. Cottrill advanced from thecorner towards them, and when he got ten or twelveyards away, witness and Lawson stepped into thethe road, having first loaded the guns. Witnesscalled to Cottrill, "Stop hands up, or we shallfire". Cottrill, however, who held a revolver ineach hand began to fire at them from both. When hehad discharged three or four shots at witness andLawson shot over him. He turned and ran a littledistance road, followed by witness and Lawson. Hethen turned and faced them again and fired at themseveral times. Witness fired again and Cottrillstooped as if to dodge the shot. He then wheeledround and put a revolver to his head, Witnesscould not say if Lawson fired at him before he didso. He could not say either whether Cottrilldischarged the revolver at himself. All he knewwas that he fell down holding the revolvers as hefell. His mouth was full of blood and he did notlive above two minutes afterwards. He made nostatement before he died.At this stage the three revolvers which were foundupon the deceased were produced, and were examinedby the jury. All three are first-class weapons andthe first of a large type which is generallysupposed to be used by cowboys, the second thoughsomewhat smaller but also almost as formidable,and the third is of the type (Unreadable). Thethird revolver was in Cottrill's pocket he heldthe other two in his hands. The Sergeant said hefound 69 cartridges inn Cottrill's pockets.IN MR. DYSON'S BEDROOMProceeding, Sergeant Foster said he afterwardswent into Mr. Dyson's bedroom. He found Mr. Dysonin bed, and there was a wound at the back of thehead. He did not stop to examine him as the Doctorwas in the bedroom. Mr Dyson was uncovered to thewaist. His brains were protruding from the woundat the back of the head. Witness produced fourspent cartridges, which were handed to him by anurse who had found them in the bedroom. A fifthwas picked up on the bedroom floor.By Mr. Leah: When he first saw Cottrill attemptedto fire at him. The revolver clicked, but did notgo off. What was your object in firing at him? Tofrighten him and see whether it would make himgive in. When Lawson fired first he fired high asI did. Why did you fire at him a second time?Because he was facing us again and was stillfiring at us. Were you of the opinion that ifCottrill was not disabled he would have donefurther mischief? Yes. Had you any other means ofdisabling him than by aiming at his legs? No.There were a score of people about, and some oftheir lives were in dangerSENSATIONAL SHOOTING.Dr. Edward Angus Humphreys, of Northenden, policesurgeon, said he was called to the scene of thetragedy about twenty minutes to nine on Fridaymorning last. He went there, and the firstincident which attracted his attention was abullet passing his ears he entered by the backway. He went into Mr Dyson's bedroom after passingJames Coombes, who was putting a fowling piece (alight gun that fires small shot, used in huntinggame birds) together at the time. Coombes handedthe gun to witness, who took it into Mr. Dyson'sbedroom. He satisfied himself that Mr. Dyson wasdead and threw up the window. Firing was going onpretty briskly at the time on the part of Cottrillas he advanced towards Lawson. Witness called toLawson to "drop him" as he fully expected Lawsonto be killed every minute. It was hammerless gunwhich Lawson held, and witness did not think theofficer understood the mechanism, the catch beingon. There was no mistake about it, said witnessemphatically, that irrespective of sentiment heshould have himself shot to kill. When he shoutedto Lawson he was under the impression that theofficer was afraid to fire. The Coroner: Did younotice that Lawson's gun would not go off? Yes inthe first instance, but by some reason or other hefound the catch I was under the impression thatHewitt went up and did something to the gun whilstit was in his hands. How far were Cottrill andLawson apart just then? About six or seven paces.And Cottrill was still firing? Yes, fully five orsix shots occurred whilst they were at thatdistance. I don't think the first shot of Lawson'stouched him at all. Witness shouted to Lawson "Lethim have the other barrel" and he did so. Cottrillcrouched before Lawson's second shot, and when hereceived it he seemed "to cringe and wither up anddrop" He had a fiendish look on his face. Witnessnever saw a revolver go into Cottrill's mouth.THE MURDERER ALMOST LYNCHED.Proceeding, the witness said he went to Cottrill,who was bleeding profusely and almost at his lastgasp. Seeing he could do nothing for him, witnesstold some people to put on a lorry and take himaway. If Cottrill had only been disabled he wouldhave been lynched. As it was, it took the policeall their time the people from him. One person infact did get hold of something with the object ofattacking him, and had to be restrained.Mr. DYSON'S WOUNDS. Proceeding, the Doctor said that he had examinedMr. Dyson's body and found that one shot enteredby the left side of the head. This was no doubtthe fatal wound. A second wound went through themouth and cut the lip. The third and fourth shotswere fired at Mr. Dyson's back and went throughthe lungs. Witness could not account for the fifthbullet.RIDDLED WITH SHOTDescribing the appearance of Cottrill after death,Dr. Humphreys said he examined the dead body afterit had been removed to the Church Inn. He found nobullet wound either in the roof or the back of themouth. One of his teeth had been struck by abullet and the front part of his head wasliterally riddled with shot, due to his havingstooped down. Several pellets had passed throughhis throat. On the right front side there wasanother wound, as from shot which had entered thelung. Anyone one of the wounds would have beensufficient to cause death. The Coroner: Suppose hehad shot himself, would you not have foundsomething to show it. Yes, you would not only havefound the entrance of the bullet but here wouldhave been singeing.TESTIMONEY OF THE POLICE.So you are clear that there was no shot at a veryshort distance? Yes. I may say that if he had notbeen shot we should probably have all been shot incold blood. I can only add to what has been saidbefore as to the gallantry and bravery of both thepolice officers at the risk of their lives. Had itnot been for their conduct in getting the guns weshould all have been shot, because the man camefully prepared, and there would have been nothingto stop him. Mr. Grace: Mr. Dyson died in hissleep? Witness Yes. And died an absolutelypainless death? There would be the throes ofdeath, but he was on his back when the first shotwas fired. By Mr. Leah: The police were not onlyjustified in firing, but it was absolutelynecessary that they should do so. A shot in thelegs would not have answered the purpose. If theyhad not shot him dead they would have been shot.The enquiry at this stage was adjourned until 230pm.AN OLD THREATWhen the inquiry resumed after luncheon. PoliceSergeant Bladen, stationed at Wincham, said he waspresent at Stockport Police Court on May 2nd 1900,when a charge was brought by Cottrill against aman named Thomas Carlisle for unlawfully wounding.The case was tried and dismissed. Mr. Dyson gaveevidence on the occasion, and after the case wasclosed Cottrill threatened Mr. Dyson. Cottrill wasin Mr. Dyson's service before the trial, but hewas subsequently discharged. Bladen added thatCottrill left Mr. Dyson's house on the day of thetrial. At the request of Mr. Dyson witness sawCottrill off the premises at Bradley Gate.Cottrill asked Mr. Dyson on that occasion to seethat the silver was all right, and that he wasvery sorry for Cottrill, who thereupon remarked tohim "I shall probably see an end of you" Witness:then saw him off the premises.CONSTABLE LAWSON GIVES EVIDENCE.Constable Lawson was then called, and the Coronertold him it was his duty to caution him as hisevidence would be taken down in writing, and if ajury came to the conclusion that he hadfeloniously killed Cottrill such evidence might begiven in evidence against him on his trial. Hetherefore asked the Constable if he was stillwilling to give evidence. Lawson replied that hewas. Giving evidence Lawson said that he got toBradley Gate at 8.50 on Friday morning. He sawSergeant Foster in the yard with several otherpeople. He then went to the yard gate leading intothe road, and saw Cottrill at the end of the road,a distance of about 25 yards away. He wasstanding, and appeared to be loading a revolver. Agun was handed to witness, and Foster had anothergun in his hand. Cottrill in the meantime waswalking down the road towards them on the footpathwith a revolver in his hand. When Cottrill gotwithin about ten yards they both stepped into theroad. As soon as saw them Cottrill started firing.Witness levelled the gun at him and shouted "Stophands up or I will shoot" Cottrill took no notice,but kept coming towards them and firing shots.Witness pulled at the gun, but it would not gooff. Someone then came behind witness and didsomething to the gun, which was a safety. Beforethis witness had pulled the trigger withoutresult. He then fired "wide" at Cottrill, whohowever took no notice, but went on and continuedto fire as he went. Witness and Foster followed.Then Cottrill stopped and faced them with arevolver aiming at each of them. At the same timehe approached them. It appeared as though he hadmade up his mind to "come for it" Witness shouted"Hands up" Again he took no notice, and witnessaimed at his legs, just above the knee, with theintention of disabling him. Cottrill appeared tostoop to dodge the shot. After witness had shotCottrill rose he appeared to reel around and hishands went up towards his face. As Cottrill's backwas to the witness could not tell what he wasdoing, Cottrill then fell backwards. Witness didnot think Cottrill fired at himself after hereceived the charge of gunshot. One bullet firedby Cottrill passed through his jacket and anotherpassed his right ear.COTTRILLS LANDLADY GIVES EVIDENCE.The next witness was Annie Abraham, widow, livingin Welbeck Street, Hulme. She stated that Cottrilland his wife came to lodge at her house last June.They went away to Southport but Cottrill returnedabout two weeks later alone. He told her he hadlost his wife and that he had buried her atSouthport. He owed witness four months lodgings,and latterly had been selling and pawning thingsfor food. Witness gave him a week's notice lastWednesday. On Friday morning he went out betweenfive and six o'clock. She had not heard him sayanything about Mr. Dyson.THE SUMMING UP.The Coroner in summing up said the case was themost painful one he had met with since he wasappointed to his office. Mr. Dyson was a perfectgentleman Cottrill was in low water; could not payhis lodgings and was evidently brooded over hisdismissal. In this frame of mind he went toNorthenden and committed the murder. The Coroneradded that he had never heard of a more dastardlyor wicked act. Cottrill had enough ammunition inhis possession half the people of NorthendenPolice Constable Lawson was justified in bringinghim down and he was protected by the law. If thejury thought Cottrill by Lawson Cottrill's stateof mind need not trouble them.THE VERDICTIn the case of Mr. Dyson, the jury found a verdictof wilful murder against Cottrill. In the case ofCottrill, they found that he was killed by gunshotwounds in the head, throat and chest, with thegunshot wounds being caused by Sergeant Foster andPolice Constable Lawson whilst in the execution oftheir duty, and in defence of themselves and otherpersons. The Coroner said this was a verdict ofjustifiable homicide, which carried no penalty.The jury expressed their deep sympathy with thefamily of Mr. Dyson, and their admiration of thecourage of Sergeant Lawson and Police ConstableLawson. They asked the Deputy Chief Constable ofCheshire to bring their conduct under the noticeof the authorities.