14 March 1854
On 14 March 1854, Fleming Coward shoots at his brother-in-law, James McNeil with intent to kill and murder him. Apparently blaming James for his misfortunes, having lost all his money in Australia where he emigrated as part of the Gold Rush, Coward storms into brother-in-law’s house on High Street demanding £500. In his evidence, James states that Coward was employed in 1844 as a tide surveyor at Maryport, and where he most likely met James’s sister Sarah who was to become his wife. The plot thickens as Coward, who left for Australia in 1853 without his wife and family, indeed leaving instructions that they were not to follow. A distraught Sarah turns to her brother for advice and shortly afterwards, Sarah and her children sail for Melbourne on the Lord George Bentinck. It is not clear how Fleming and Sarah find each other in Melbourne, but Fleming Coward is furious with this turn of events. Now back in England, Fleming accuses Sarah of having had intimate relations with Captain Joseph Robinson, a Maryport master mariner on the outward voyage.
McNeil testifies that Coward reached into his pocket and took out a pistol whereupon he grabbed the gun and pushed Coward out of the door into the street. They struggled in the middle of the street till Coward managed to wrench the gun free. McNeil ran up Eaglesfield St, round the corner of the Parsonage shouting “murder!” with Coward close behind. McNeil ran up Eaglesfield St towards Brow Top, hoping to meet others, but no one was around. McNeil turned back towards High St. and Coward took up a firing position, they were about 3 yards apart. Coward fired but missed.
Then he coolly put his hand in his pocket and took out a second pistol. McNeil ran down High St, yelling “murder, murder!” with Coward close behind. McNeil turned into Kirkby St, hoping to get shelter in Mrs Dickinson’s Yard, but the door was locked. There was no escape as he turned to face Coward. Coward lifted his hand and quietly took aim hitting McNeil in the breast. Surprisingly McNeil was able to walk unaided to Dr Curtis’s house, where the musket ball was removed from under his armpit.
Several witnesses came forward to give evidence at the trial including Kelsick Wook, who reported that he had met Coward in Whitehaven on 12 March who at the time accused his brother-in-law of behaving like a villain to him, and which is why he had returned so soon from Australia. Kelsick Wood continued that Coward “… had used a coarse expression leading me to infer that his wife had been too intimate with Captain Robinson.” Coward had said “I have no home and no wife; what I suffer is hell upon earth. They have robbed me of all.”
The Judge summed up the case observing that only defence offered was that of insanity. He also remarked that if found guilty Coward’s punishment would be severe, but not more so than the severity of the crime deserved. The Jury almost immediately returned a verdict of Guilty. The Judge then stated “Let the sentence of death be recorded “but then remarked “You will not be executed. You will not be hanged.” The sentence was commuted to that of transportation for life and is returned to Australia.
