TOPIC:

An affray which ended fatally occurred on Saturday night near Newbridge, in the Western Valley [Monmouthshire], and a man and woman were taken into custody on a charge of being concerned in the death of a man named John Thomas, a collier, 31 years of age.
The names of the accused were Richard Crowther and Mary Ann Williams.
On Monday, Mr. Matthews, deputy coroner, held an inquest at Abercarn, when the first witness called was Mrs Eliza Emily Thomas, the widow, who identified the body, and said her husband was a timberman. She last saw him alive at 2.30 on Saturday. He was a sober man.
Margaret Hannah Davies, landlady of the White Hart Hotel, Pentwynmawr, Pontllanfraith (outside of which house the tragedy took place), said: - On Saturday last, about seven p.m., John Thomas and two other men were in the bar. They remained together until about 8.30. Three other men then went in to them from the taproom. About nine o'clock Richard Crowther and Polly Williams came by the door and asked for two half-pints of beer. I refused them, and I said, "Dick, no, you shan't have anything here. I want you to clear off from here and take Polly Williams with you." He asked a second time, and she refused, and he asked why. Then someone shouted something from the bar about two half-pints, and Crowther went out to the door and got into the bar. Witness followed him to the door, and told him and Polly Williams to clear off. She went back inside the bar after following Crowther to the door. They were still talking in the bar and she caught hold of Crowther and put him out. She also caught hold of Polly Williams, and she went out. Witness stood by the door talking to her, trying to persuade her to go. She then cleared the bar, locked the door, and went inside. She heard no threats, and Thomas, Crowther and Williams were all sober. Ten minutes later witness went out and saw one of the men holding Polly Williams. She could not tell what Crowther was doing, as it was dark, but she saw him on the ground on top of someone. She could not tell who they were, although she heard Crowther say something. She went back in the house, and soon afterwards deceased was brought in unconscious. Dr Thomas, of Newbridge, arrived after ten o'clock. Afterwards Dr Thomas sent for Dr Finnigan. The deceased went out all right about a quarter past nine, and he was brought back about ten minutes to ten.
Neither of the prisoners desired to put any questions.
In summing up, the Coroner said there was no doubt that deceased's death was caused by compression on the brain, owing to a wound inflicted with an instrument. The doctor stated that the knife spoken of might have caused the wound. They had also heard that the woman took part in the case, and they had clear evidence from the witnesses as to the part Crowther took. It was for them to say how the deceased came by his death, and whether it was caused by the blow that had been said to have been struck by Crowther, and what part the woman took in the affair.
The jury returned a verdict to the effect "That the death of John Thomas was caused by a stab inflicted by some sharp instrument, and that it was inflicted by Richard Crowther, aided and abetted by the female prisoner, Mary Ann Williams."
The Deputy-Coroner said that amounted to wilful murder against Crowther, and that the woman aided and abetted.
Both prisoners were then committed to the Assizes on the Coroner's warrant.
Prisoners were charged before the Abercarn Magistrates on Thursday, and remanded in custody to Blackwood Police Court on Friday next.
The County Observer and Monmouthshire Advertiser, Saturday 29th December 1906



As a member of the South Wales Borderers Thomas served in the South African War and received the late Queen and King's medals. On the Queen's there are three clasps: - "South Africa," "Orange Free State," and "Cape Colony"; and on the King's medal there are two clasps - "South Africa, 1901," and "South Africa, 1902."
Thomas was born at Newbridge and is the son of the late William Thomas, Newbridge. He has two brothers and five sisters. Two of the brothers, as well as four of the sisters, reside at Newbridge. Deceased's mother, Mrs. Banfield, married a second time and resides at Greenfield, Newbridge.
The funeral will take place at two o'clock on Wednesday morning at Abercarn Cemetery.
Evening Express, Monday 24th December 1906
I've left out other parts of this report, they can be read at newspapers.library.wales/view/4171086/4171089/66/


"A coroner's jury at Newbridge, Monmouthshire, returned a verdict of "Wilful murder" against Richard Crowther, a pugilist, who is accused of killing a colliery timberman named John Thomas by stabbing him with a knife."
The County Observer and Monmouthshire Advertiser, Saturday 5th January 1907
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On Wednesday, 20th February 1907, at Monmouth Assizes, Richard Crowther, aged 41, and Mary Ann Williams, aged 32, were both found guilty of manslaughter and were sentenced to penal servitude, Crowther for fifteen years, and Williams for twelve months. The report of the trial is here - newspapers.library.wales/view/3443712/3443713/9/
Weekly Mail, Saturday 23rd February 1907