Assizes records

[malverntrail]

Anyone here have experience with Assizes records? A great aunt was unfortunately killed by her husband in 1904, "gunshot wounds accidentally caused" according to the coroner, but it went to trial. A press cutting (there was large coverage in local Norwich rag) says "The magistrates committed the prisoner to take his trial at the Assizes on a charge of murder." - 3rd Sept.

This leads to two questions:
- Is there any way of finding the next Assizes session dates other than records at Kew? This would then help find the press coverage for the trial.

- How much info is there in the records at the National Archive (it would series ASSI 31)? I get the impression from their website that it might be little more than the charge and the verdict. Getting to Kew when I lived in SE London took long enough - from Malvern it would take ages!

Needless to say this shocking incident is not family history handed down, but discovered largely by accident, with the help of a second cousin found on Ancestry.co.uk

Any help gratefully received

Cheers, John

[stanmapstone]

There could be a report in "The Times" digital archive.

Stan

[malverntrail]

Thanks Stan, should have thought of that! I can see from a quick search that there is a report on 10th November, so maybe I'll shell out a fiver to see their coverage. Or I might be a cheapskate and tell the cousin in Norfolk, who can  check out the archives again!

[malverntrail]

On the other hand, looks like my local library service subscribes to Times Online, so time for a visit to their computers I guess (bookable online - now I understand why).

[Valda]

Hi


If your local library subscribes then joining the county library service should give you access at home.


Regards

Valda

[malverntrail]

Thanks, I thought that might be the case too, although their website is not as clear as it might be.

I'm signed up for Worcestershire CC library service, and have a card but the online newspaper access doesn't appear to work, consistently refusing my card number. (I've successfully logged in to the Citizens Advice service via it, so my card must be valid. And tried several web browsers - I'm not a novice.)

I don't expect online library help here, but if you do have any hints, great!

[stanmapstone]

He was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to five years penal servitude.

Stan

[malverntrail]

Many thanks for that. He was married again in less than 5 years (closer to 4) so presumably got out early for good behaviour (did they have that system 100 years ago?).

[Valda]

Hi


My library card number is not the number I use to log in on the resources for my county library online resources which has access to The Times as well as '19th newspapers'. I emailed them and asked them for the number to use.


Regards

Valda