Williams, William

Williams, William             1910 October 28^th         Tidworth

 

Tidworth Garrison has been the scene of a terrible tragedy

 

The full story was told at an inquest held at the garrison on Saturday into the death of William Williams, a private in the Royal Army Medical Corps, who, it is alleged, was beaten to death with a poker by a private in the Royal Munster Fusiliers.

 

It appears that Michael Noonan, a private in the Royal Munster Fusiliers, was in the detention cell at the guardroom, and on Wednesday evening the guard in the cell consisted of Privates Leach, Foley and Flack.

 

Noonan, who was suffering mentally, awakened at half past nine, and leapt from his bed into the midst of the astonished guardsmen, who, taken by surprise, fell easy victims to Noonan’s frenzy.

 

He knocked two of them down, temporarily incapacitating them, while Leach, who closed with him in an atempt to get Noonan back into bed, was also knocked down, Noonan kicking him in the stomach.

 

A Staggering Blow

The sentries cried for assistance, and this attracted Private Rudge, who was in the guardroom with Private Williams. Rudge ran to the cell door and received a blow which sent him hobbling back to the guardroom, where he told Williams of the occurrence.

 

Williams then went to the cell, but had scarcely reached the cell door when he received a staggering blow between the eyes, and a subsequent blow under the jaw.

 

Noonan, by this time thoroughly frenzied, made a dash for the guardroom, where he siezed a heavy poker, and, returning towards the cell, struck out right and left, and attacked Williams, who was already suffering from the previous blows. He struck him across the head with the poker. Williams dropped to the ground insensible, and a terrible struggle then ensued between Private Leach and Noonan for the possession of the poker.

 

Noonan was far the more powerful man, however, and Leach had to make a hasty retreat to save his life. While they were struggling Noonan aimed a heavy blow at Leach, but missed his head, and the poker was broken against the wall.

 

The other guardsmen were now endeavouring to overpower Noonan, and in the struggle the lamp was knocked down and broken, and a life and death contest ensued in the narrow and darkened passage.

 

Noonan succeeded in forcing the men to retreat into the guardroom, and they could hear thuds in the passage as though Noonan was still beating the unconcious Williams.

 

Rushed at them with a Poker

By this time additional assistance was forthcoming, and the door was burst open, but the men were forced back, Noonan rushing upon them with the poker.

 

Then one of them, Lance-Corl Brodrick, picked up a chair, and with a well-directed blow, knocked Noonan down.

 

The others speedily sprang upon him, but he still struggled, and it was as much as six or seven of them could do to secure him.

 

The struggle continued for some time, and at last the soldiers succeeded in getting Noonan into a strait jacket, and placing handcuffs upon him. They also tied him down, and kept him thus all night.

 

Attention was in the meantime directed to the unfortunate Private Williams, who was removed to the hospital, where he died the following day.

  

Terrible Injuries

Lieut Jones, of the RAMC, spoke to having made a post mortem examination of William’s body that morning, and having found the skull fractured in several places. There was also a large cut on the left cheek and one on the top of the head, both penetrating to the bone. The brain had been injured by splinters of bone. The lower jaw was broken, and there were bruises on the shoulder. Death was due to compound fracture of the skull and shock.

 

The jury returned a verdict of “Wilful murder” against Noonan, and added that they considered the guard in such cases as these should in future be more experienced, and be men of more mature age and stamina than the guard appeared to be on this occasion.

 

In directing the jury as to their verdict, the Coroner stated that the state of the mans’ mind at the time of the occurrence was not one which should be considered by them at that inquiry. This would have due prominence when prisoner was tried at the assizes. Noonan was present in custody at the inquiry.

 

Noonan was next committed to full trial at the next Hampshire Assizes. The Salisbury Times of 18^th November 1910 reported that Noonan was found Guilty of Murder but also was insane, and was to be detained at His Majesty’s Pleasure.