AS part of our weekly Crime Files series, we are taking a look back at the archives to bring you stories from Herefordshire's history.

This story dates from 1925.

THE son-in-law of an eminent doctor was declared insane after shooting his father-in-law at a country house in Sellack in August 1925.

Richard Louis Wreford Brown, who police found in his bed, was arrested after Dr Walter Carless Swayne, of Bristol, was found lying wounded in another bedroom of the house near Ross-on-Wye on August 14.

Former Welsh Guards officer Brown, who was described as a gentleman farmer and sportsman, was committed for trial at the Hereford Assizes, charged with the murder of Dr Swayne on August 26, with two doctors giving evidence that he was insane at the time of the alleged murder and remained insane and unfit to plead.

During the hearing at Harewood End, magistrates heard from Dr Swayne's son, Richard Carless Swayne, that he had been aroused at 1.30am by two revolver shots and screaming from the Wreford Brown's bedroom at Sidonia.

A struggle followed the fatal shots in Dr Swayne's room, with Wreford Brown, who was carrying his service pistol, asking what he had done and whether he had hurt his father-in-law.

Mr Swayne said Wreford Brown had undergone three operations after being gassed in the war and still had a wound that needed constant attention.

The prisoner, whose father had spent a long time in a lunatic asylum, was said to have had constant delusions of a conspiracy in which his wife and others were involved, and believed his food was drugged and his letters being tampered with.

The court heard from Dr Llewellyn Green, of Ross, that Dr Swayne had told him the shot to his abdomen, which would prove fatal, had not been aimed and had been fired from the hip.

Wreford Brown, he said, had told him that there had been an attack on the house, that it had been gassed, and that he had fired in self-defence.

OTHER NEWS:

At his trial at Hereford Assizes on November 5, Wreford Brown was reported to have shouted that a Marconigraph had been put on him and he had been called various titles including the Prince of Wales.

He said he wanted the matter gone into.

He also shouted that he was up on a false charge and that his father-in-law was still alive.

Wreford Brown was found guilty but insane, and detained at his Majesty's pleasure.