SUPPOSED SUICIDE NEAR EPSOM.

The Illustrated Police News – 27 November 1880

On Saturday Mr. Neill, the West Surrey Coroner, received information of the death of James William Dean, a gardener, of the Cherry Orchard, Nonsuch Park, Ewell, which occurred on the previous day under the following circumstances :—It seems that about half past seven on Friday morning a labourer named Stevens, was walking along the Kingston-road, Ewell, when he saw the body of the deceased in an adjacent pond. The police were at once communicated with, and the body removed to a neighbouring tavern, where it awaited an inquest, When found the deceased had his watch and other valuables upon him, so there is nothing to give rise to a supposition of foul play.

About two years ago Dean was charged at the Epsom Police-court with attempting to murder his wife by shooting at her with a pistol, His explanation of the affair was that bearing a noise in the house he went downstairs and fired a revolver at the first person be saw, that happening to be his ‘wife. She was badly wounded in the arm, and was obliged to keep to her bed over a fortnight.  It was proved in evidence that Dean had been drinking very heavily, and had ill treated his wife very much. Ultimately, however, the Bench dismissed the graver charge of attempted murder, and bound Dean over to keep the peace for twelve months.