Melancholy gun accident at Spens 1867:
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This simple headstone in the graveyard of the Church of the Good
Shepherd to 35 year-old John Yeoman of Spens Farm who died on 6 June 1867
is a poignant reminder of a tragic event.
On 6 June 1867 his uncle's gamekeeper, Thomas Spence from Spens Lodge,
had called on the farm and John had asked if he could borrow his gun to
shoot a rabbit in a neighbouring field. Thomas did not accompany him but
went into the house. A few minutes later he heard a gun but after waiting
some little time he became concerned that John had not returned and went to
look for him. He found him lying on the ground with his head blown to
pieces and the gun underneath his body.
The coroner's enquiry two days later in Wray concluded that it
was a tragic accident. It was surmised that he had been in a crouching
position and that the lock of the gun had caught his clothing as he dragged
it forward to shoot. He had been shot under the chin so that was no way he
could have reached the trigger. There seemed to be no other explanation,
although local tradition is that it could possibly have been a suicide
which, as well as being tragic, would, of course, have been a crime at the
time. |
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