A CASE OF WILFUL MURDER - GEORGE NICHOLSON SHEFFIELD 1904 

The Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated 2nd March 1904 had the headline FATAL AFFRAY IN SHEFFIELD The Coroner's Inquiry VERDICT OF "WILFUL MURDER" and referred to an incident that occurred the previous Saturday night 27th February 1904 in Westbar Sheffield

The most noticeable element in these proceedings is that Christopher Coffey, the alleged assailant of George Nicholson, was already in custody on a charge of manslaughter. The Deputy Coroner cautioned Coffey prior to him giving evidence. Coffey gave a strong defence of his actions or lack of them that night, but they appear to have had no effect on the deliberations of the jury. After a short interval they returned a verdict of "wilful murder" and Coffey was taken back into custody.

And it was on this charge that Coffey was tried just over two weeks later. The Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated 18th March 1904 reported on Coffey's trial at the West Riding Assizes in Leeds

In the light of the evidence presented by the prosecution at the trial, I have to agree with the Commissioner's summing-up. It would have been unsafe to convict Coffey of the murder or even manslaughter of George Nicholson. In fact Mr. Ellison the Defence Counsel was correct when he referred to the evidence as being "incomplete", "contradictory" "improbable" and "flimsy." The jury certainly thought so for they retired for just twenty minutes before returning a "Not guilty" verdict and Coffey was aquitted and released.

And so in the eyes of the law George's assailant was never apprehended. Reading the newspaper report of the trial there is even uncertainty as to whether or not death was caused by a kick from a boot or from a fall. The post mortem that was conducted by Dr F. J. Birks seems to indicate that George's death may have been a combination of both a kick and a fall but that is just one possibility.

The Moseley Arms West-Bar - the scene of the attack (Photo taken 12th August 2015) - the building is no longer a public house

What is certain is that George was a bystander - he took no part in the brawl. He was referred to as a quiet peaceable man who had just gone out to have a drink on a Saturday night with his son-in-law. A tragedy to say the least

This tragedy is a lot greater when you research George's life.

George was born on 17th April 1856, the son of Thomas Laughton and Sarah Jackson Nicholson (nee Burkinshaw). He was born in one of the Courts in Broad Lane not far from where he met his death 47 years later.

He married a Mary Hannah Bonsall in June 1877 at the Parish Church in Sheffield He was a 21 year old grinder by trade, and May was just 17 years old

They had eight children - seven daughters and one son. The son named after his father died age one. Of the daughters two Elizabeth and Gladys died in their first year but the others survived into adulthood. All were married. Beatrice married a Stephen John Chaffrey who was with George Arthur on the night he was killed and gave evidence at the Coroner's inquest as to their movements that night. Another daughter Doris was only five years old at the time of her father's death.

1 Elizabeth

2. Ada

3. Norah

4. Beatrice

5. Annie

6. George Arthur

7. Gladys

8. Doris

George Arthur Nicholson

Further information about the family is as follows - George is buried in Walkley Cemetery in Grave D19. There is no headstone but the grave is marked by a rough wooden cross. His wife Mary died less than five years later and is buried with George. It is said by the family that Mary went to pieces after the death of George and never recovered her health. The cause of death was given as "softening of the brain" which can mean one of a number of conditions such as hemorrhaging or inflammation of the tissue. 

For her youngest daughter Doris the death of her father had consequences that were to last a lifetime. Her grand-daughter explains

"My grandmother (Doris) went to live with Norah and her husband and Norah’s son from her first marriage. My grandmother would never say what actually happened but she said she had to get out of that house so ended up marrying my grandfather quite young, it was not a happy marriage. Her front teeth had been knocked out by the time she was 21 years old. She was such a lovely kind person and had such an unfortunate life.....It makes me so thankful for the life I have."  

Burials in Walkley Cemetery 

Grave D19 (Plan D4, MI?) 

NICHOLSON George Arthur 3 Mar 1904 Greaves St. 47y Sydney T.G. Smith 
NICHOLSON Mary Hannah 19 Feb 1909 119 Mulehouse Rd. 48y C.M.B. Skene 
OATES Ada 22 Oct 1955 Firvale Infirmary 77y M.B. Drummond, Senior Captain 
OATES Frederick Charles 22 Dec 1955 50 Kirkstone Rd. 81y M.B. Drummond, Senior Captain 
ALLEN Doris 17 Aug 1972 87 Carr Road 75y J.Froggat vicar of S.Polycarps 
[name/date of burial/address or place where death occurred/age/minister] 

D180 (Plan D3, MI) 
GRAHAM Sarah Elizabeth 15 Dec 1917 201 Greaves St. 48y Sydney T.G. Smith 
JOHNSON Mary 30 Nov 1925 56 Burton St. 83y F. Reeve 
GRAHAM John 2 Dec 1939 The Royal Infirmary 68y J.T.? Hoskins, Vicar of St. Stephen's 
STANCER Beryl 16 Jan 1954 Lodge Moor Hospital (Greaves St.) 25y Hubert E. George Vicar 
OATES Gladys 31 Dec 1959 201 Greaves St. 58y Hubert E. George Vicar 
OATES Oswald Nicholson 27 Mar 1961 201 Greaves St., Sheffield 63y Hubert E. George Vicar 

MI D180 
Peace / In cherished memory of / BERYL the beloved wife of / JAMES CLIFFORD STANGER / dear mother of DAVID and daughter of OSWALD and GLADYS OATES / who died Jan 11th 1954 aged 25 years / In memories garden we meet every day / 
Also SARAH ELIZABETH / beloved wife of JOHN GRAHAM /who died Decemeber 12th 1917 aged 48 years / 
Also the above named JOHN / who died November 29th 1939 aged 68 years / grandparents of the above 
[pottery plaque] 
The dawn of the morn / for glory / 
The husk of the night / for peace / 
In the garden at eve / says the story / 
God walks and his / smile brings release 
[Kerb 1] 
Also of OSWALD beloved husband of GLADYS OATES / who died March 21st 1961 aged 63 years / A gentleman passed this way / 
[Kerb 2] 
In loving memory of GLADYS dearly loved wife of OSWALD OATES / who died December 28th 1959 aged 58 years / Reunited with her loved ones 

E189 (Plan E1, MI) 
CHAFFEY Alice Gwendoline 11 Jan 1916 88 Popple St. 9m. Arthur E. Duckett 
SHAW Beatrice Emmeline 9 Jul 1928 45 Coleford Rd 22y GW Thompson 
CHAFFEY Beatrice 20 Jan 1969 2 Rollin Drive 86y Stanley A Clark. Vicar 
CHAFFEY Stephen John 16 Jul 1980 40 Portsea Road, Sheffield 71y David Dredge ‘Full’ 

MI E189 
In / Loving / Memory of / STEPHEN JOHN / the beloved husband of / BEATRICE CHAFFEY / who was killed in action in France / Aug 27th 1915 aged 35 years / In the midst of life we are in death / 
Also of ALICE GWENDOLINE / the beloved daughter of the above / who died Jan 7th 1916 aged 9 months / 
In loving memory of a dear mother/ BEATRICE CHAFFEY / who passed into the arms of her / Lord Jesus Christ on the 13th January / 1969 aged 86 years / Ever in our thoughts / 
Also STEPHEN JOHN / beloved son of the above / died 16th July 1980 aged 71 years / Rest in peace 




C374 (plan C5, MI) 
MIDDLETON Arnold 26 May 1899 Archer Place 3m Thomas Smith 
MIDDLETON Maurice 15 May 1903 109 Greaves St. 26y W.L. [initials only] 
HOYLE Annis 26 Nov 1908 Lodge Moor Hosp (119 Mulehouse Lane) 3y Sydney T.G. Smith 
HOYLE Nora 9 Oct 1916 13 Roscoe Rd. 35y (no minister listed) 

MI C374 
In loving memory of / ARNOLD / the beloved son of / MAURICE & NORA MIDDLETON / who died May 23rd 1899 aged 3 months / 
Also of MAURICE the beloved husband of / NORA MIDDLETON / who died May 12th 1903 aged 26 years / Tho’ lost to sight , to memory dear / 

C533 (public grave, 12 burials) 
MIDDLETON Norah 3 Jun 1899 152 Freedom Rd 12m Thomas Smith 
(possible daughter of Maurice and Norah MIDDLETON) 

Grave A563 (Public Grave, 13 burials) 
NICHOLSON Walter 21 May 1896 Ecclesall Union 42y Thomas Smith 
(likely brother of George Arthur) 

Grave A387 (public grave, 9 burials) 
NICHOLSON Thomas ‘Tranton’ 13 May 1886 Ecclesall Union Workhouse 71y Thomas Smith 
(father of George Arthur) 

Grave A555 (public grave, 11 burials) 
NICHOLSON Sarah Jackson 8 Oct 1895 233 Toft Wood 78y Thomas Smith 
(mother of George Arthur) 

Grave B16 (Plan B2, MI) 
NICHOLSON Elsie Terrett 10 Jul 1903 44 Melbourne Rd. 22 m. Sydney T.G. Smith 
NICHOLSON John 20 Feb 1909 244 Western Rd. 67y C.M.B. Skene 
NICHOLSON Harriet 17 Dec 1918 214 Western Rd 74y Rev FB Dranter Bapt Minister STGS 
HAIGH Harriet Hannah 5 May 1933 53 Rowndley Rd., Leeds 56y Guy T.S. Cook 
(John NICHOLSON, possible brother of George Arthur) 

B16 MI 
In loving memory / of / JOHN NICHOLSON / who died February 17th 1909 / aged 67 years / Rest after weariness / 
Also of HARRIET / his dearly loved wife / who fell asleep December 12th 1918 / aged 74 years / Father in thy gracious keeping / Leave we now thy servant sleeping / 
[Crossbase left side] 
Also of / CHRISTIANA / died November 2nd / in her 7th year / 
SARAH ANN / died November 4th in her 12th year / 
NELLY / died November 8th in her 10th year / 
LUCY / died November 8th in her 5th year / 1878 / 
The dearly loved children of / JOHN & HARRIET NICHOLSON / who were interred in Ecclesall Churchyard / Asleep in Jesus 
Other Records 


Baptism at St Bartholomew’s, Burgoyne Road 

NICHOLSON Doris 4 Aug 1897 George Arthur Mary Ann Greaves St (Blade Grinder) 


School Admission Records 

Nicholson, Doris (Student, dob 20 Jul 1897). Parent or guardian name(s): Harry Hoyle (Guardian) (~), of 78 Waller Rd. Admitted to Bole Hill School, Bole Hill Rd, Walkley, Sheffield, as of 25 Oct 1909, until 22 Nov 1910, reason for leaving: Allowed. Previously attended Greaves St Co. Remarks: Not attended a school for more than 3 months. 
Nicholson, Doris (Student, dob 20 Jul 1897). Parent or guardian name(s): Mary Hannah Nicholson (Mother) (~), of 48 Compton St. Admitted to Bolehill Junior & Infants Council School, Bole Hill Rd, Walkley, Sheffield, as of 09 Mar 1908, until 10 Nov 1908, reason for leaving: Removed. Previously attended Langsett Rd. 


Marriages at Walkley St Mary 

26 Dec 1902 (after Banns) 

Stephen John CHAFFEY 23 Bach. turner 113 Greaves St. 
father: Samuel CHAFFEY signal man 
Beatrice NICHOLSON 20 Spinst. 117 Greaves St. 
father: George Arthur NICHOLSON grinder 
minister: Sydney TG Smith, Vicar 
witnesses: Herbert BAXTER, Annie NICHOLSON 

28 Aug 1904 (after Banns) 
Henry HOYLE 25 Bach. file cutter 117 Greaves St. 
father: Richard HOYLE dye sinker 
Nora MIDDLETON 23 Widow 48 Compton St. 
father: George Arthur NICHOLSON table blade grinder 
minister: Sydney TG Smith, Vicar 
witnesses: Frederick Charles OATES, Ada OATES 

6 Sep 1904 (after Banns) 
John Wilfred COOKE 28 Bach. grocer 27 Spring Vale Rd. 
father: Edward COOKE (Dec) monumental mason 
Annie NICHOLSON 18 Spinst. 117 Greaves St. 
father: George Arthur NICHOLSON (Dec.) table blade grinder 
minister: Sydney TG Smith, Vicar 
witnesses: Frederick Charles OATES, Ada OATES 

5 Nov 1882 (after Banns) 
Joseph Jackson NICHOLSON 23 Bach. carter Walkley St. 
father: Thomas NICHOLSON blade-maker 
Charlotte BUNTING 22 Spinst. Walkley 
father: James BUNTING blade-maker 
minister: J.J. Dyson 
witnesses: William Henry NICHOLSON, Louisa TEESDALE 


Burials in Crookes Cemetery 

NICHOLSON, Charlotte Bunting (Wife of Joseph, age 71). Died at 1 Sheaf Terrace; Buried on October 24, 1931 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 2664, Section DD of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield. 
NICHOLSON, Joseph Jackson (Retired, age 81). Died at 2 Herries Road; Buried on September 28, 1940 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 2664, Section DD of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield. 
NICHOLSON, Mary Ann (Wife of William, age 75). Died at 233 Toftwood; Buried on July 24, 1915 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 2664, Section DD of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield. 
NICHOLSON, William Henry (Cutler, age 84). Died at 233 Toftwood Cottages; Buried on December 15, 1921 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 2664, Section DD of Crookes Cemetery, Sheffield. 

Burials in Burngreave Cemetery 


BONSALL, Elizabeth (Widow, age 74). Died at Ecclesall Union; Buried on May 18, 1904 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 21, Section N3 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: ~ Officiating Minister, G.Osborne. 
BONSALL, George (Roller, age 45). Died at Harvest Lane; Buried on October 31, 1875 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 21, Section N3 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. 
NICHOLSON, Elizabeth (Dau of Geo Arthur Nicholson, age 8 weeks). Died at 68 Parkwood Road; Buried on November 25, 1877 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 21, Section N3 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: Reopened 22682. 
NICHOLSON, Geo A. (son of Geo A. Nicholson, age 6 months). Died at 34 Robert Street; Buried on June 8, 1888 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 21, Section N3 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: 22682/25841. 
NICHOLSON, Gladys (dau of Geo A Nicholson, age 16 days). Died at 28 Fowler St; Buried on June 19, 1889 in Consecrated ground; Grave Number 21, Section N3 of Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield. Parent or Next of Kin if Available: . Remarks: 22612/43371. 

And it was whilst researching and compiling this article that I discovered that George's son in law Stephen Chaffrey already appears on this website as one of the "Walkley War Dead"  


This is a memorial as Stephen is buried along with many others in Talana Farm Cemetery, near Ieper, Belgium.

Name: CHAFFEY, STEPHEN JOHN
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: York and Lancaster Regiment
Unit Text: "D" Coy. 1st/4th Bn.
Age: 35
Date of Death: 27/08/1915 [Killed in Action*]
Service No: 1170
Additional information: Son of Samuel and Emma Chaffey; husband of Beatrice Chaffey, of 65, Minto Rd., Hillsborough, Sheffield. Born at Dewsbury. Served in the South African Campaign.
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. A. 27. Cemetery: TALANA FARM CEMETERY
His family home was at 88 Popple Street.* *Per newspaper clipping submitted by Brian Barker. 

Stephen is remembered on the following memorials

Vickers Roll of Honour Gate 1 Sheffield Forgemasters
St Thomas Roll of Honour Holywell Rd now in St Margarets Jenkin Rd 
Sheffield Council Official Roll of Honour
 

Stephen's Family - 1911 Census

There may also be one final twist to the story. Walkley Cemetery, where George is buried, lies adjacent to St Michaels RC Cemetery, Rivelin. And in section O, there is the grave of George's alleged assailant Christopher Coffey   

COFFEY, ALICE (buried St Patrick's section, age 0yr).
Died at 149 ROCK ST; Buried on January 7, 1965 in Roman Catholic ground;
Grave Number 259, Section O of St Michaels RC Cemetery, Rivelin.

COFFEY, CHRISTOPHER (buried St Patrick's section, age 2yr).
Died at 13 SOLLY ST; Buried on February 18, 1919 in Roman Catholic ground;
Grave Number 259, Section O of St Michaels RC Cemetery, Rivelin.

COFFEY, CHRISTOPHER (buried St Patrick's section, age 57yr).
Died at 19 ROCK ST; Buried on June 1, 1938 in Roman Catholic ground;
Grave Number 259, Section O of St Michaels RC Cemetery, Rivelin.

COFFEY, VINCENT (buried St Patrick's section, age 0yr).
Died at 1 BURNS RD; Buried on December 14, 1977 in Roman Catholic ground;
Grave Number 259, Section O of St Michaels RC Cemetery, Rivelin. 

Sources

Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated 2nd March 1904

Sheffield Daily Telegraph dated 18th March 1904

Sheffield Indexers

Sheffield Soldiers of the Great War

Find A Grave

Commonwealth War Graves Commission 

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank George's great grand-daughter and Hugh Waterhouse (Friends of Walkley Cemetery) for the help and assistance they have given me in putting together this tragic family story

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This page was last updated on 25/08/15 15:57