17 JANUARY 1913

A tragic event took place at the Railey Fell Colliery Institute, Ramshaw on 17 January 1913.  Albert Davis, aged 18, accidently shot 17 years old Bartholomew Walker.  Davis pulled out a loaded revolver, which was fired and the bullet hit Walker above the left eye.  He died shortly afterwards.  Davis pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a 14-day prison sentence.  Later in the year, after serving his sentence, it appears that Davis embarked on SS “Mauritania” at Liverpool bound for New York, USA and a new life.

Transcripts of the press reports which appeared in the Teesdale Mercury are provided below:

PLAYING WITH REVOLVER:  THE MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE AGAINST A PUTTER

At the Auckland Petty Sessions yesterday, Mr. T.W. Braithwaite, in the chair, Albert Davis, putter of Ramshaw, Evenwood, was brought up on remand charged with causing the death of Bartholomew W. Walker also a putter.  Mr. W. Wilkinson appeared for the police and Mr. J.E. Brown-Humes defended.

Mr. Wilkinson opened the case and pointed out that on 17th inst. A number of young men were in the Railey Fell Colliery Institute when the accused produced a revolver from his pocket.  The weapon went off and the bullet struck the deceased above the left eye.  Deceased succumbed to his injuries shortly afterwards.

The witnesses called at the Coroner’s inquiry repeated their evidence, the only new witness being John Brunskill.  This witness stated that he was in the Institute when he heard a report.  He subsequently saw a man named Dobson and was told by him what had occurred.  He saw the revolver produced under the billiard table and he picked it up and handed it to Dobson.

For the defence, Mr. Brown-Humes submitted that there was nothing in the evidence which, in the faintest degree pointed to malice or felonious intent on the part of the accused.  His client had undoubtedly been taught a lesson.  The accused should not have been playing with the revolver.  Davis bore no ill feeling against Walker; in fact, they were on perfectly friendly terms.

JUDGE AND RECKLESS USE OF REVOLVER

A plea of guilty was registered by Albert Davis (18) a miner, who was charged at Durham Assizes with the manslaughter of Bartholomew William Walker at Evenwood, near Bishop Auckland, on January 17.

Mr. Mundahl, prosecuting, explained that the prisoner had flourished a revolver in the face of two men.  He was told to put it away but, apparently without any intention on his part, the pistol went off and Walker was shot.

Prisoner was represented by Mr. Mortimer, who said there could be no doubt that in a moral sense, the affair was an accident and an accident which no one deplored more than the prisoner.  At the same time, it was an accident in which there had been a reckless handling of a revolver and moreover, it was not a case in which a man handled a revolver not knowing it to have been loaded.  Accused had himself loaded the weapon shortly before.  Admitting the carelessness and the recklessness however, he did submit that there was no moral blame attached to the prisoner.

His Lordship characterised the prisoner’s conduct as the height of carelessness and recklessness and urged everybody to abstain from the silly practise of brandishing loaded weapons in public places.

He passed sentence of fourteen days’ imprisonment, remarking – “I am not sentencing you to hard labour because I do not look upon you as a criminal in the ordinary sense of the word.  You are being punished because you have displayed gross carelessness which has resulted in the death of another man.”

Bartholomew W. Walker was the son of Simpson and Mary Walker, born at Witton Park, County Durham, about 1896.  He had 3 sisters Elizabeth, Laura and Margaret and by 1911, the family lived at Gordon Lane, Ramshaw.  Simpson Walker was a mason’s labourer and Bartholomew was driver boy at the pit.

Albert Davis was the son of James and Dorothy Davis, born at Hetton, County Durham, about 1895.  He had 2 brothers Thomas and James and 2 sisters Eleanor and Jane.  By 1911, the family lived at Ramshaw.  His father, James was a mechanic and both Thomas and Albert worked as underground drivers at the colliery.

By 1913, Bartholomew and Albert they were both employed as putters.

After serving his sentence, it appears that Albert Davis set off for the USA in search of a new life.  The ship’s log for the Steamship Line Cunard, ship named “Mauritania” which departed Liverpool destined for New York, 20 September 1913 included in its passengers an 18 years old miner, Albert Davis.