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.

The following story dates from 1865.

A SOLDIER shot his wife in the heard in a row in Herefordshire in 1864.

Joseph Morris, who had been a private in the 9th Hussars, was brought up before Kington magistrates in January 1865 on a charge of attempted murder.

The court heard from its first witness, his wife Elizabeth Morris, that she had been staying with her ill mother and father in October the previous year when her husband had asked her to leave as he was not comfortable at her parents' house.

She had refused, and, the next day, Morris had stolen a shilling from his wife's father's pocket and left, with Mrs Morris following him and asking him to give it back.

As she approached him, she saw he was carrying a gun, but on his assurance that he was not going to shoot her, she turned away from him and went to wash her hands in a nearby spring.

"I had not been many minutes in that position before the gun went off and I felt that I was shot in the head," Mrs Morris said.

"I became senseless and when I came to myself the prisoner was standing in the road with the gun in his hand."

OTHER NEWS:

Mrs Morris was helped home by two men who had been nearby, while Morris absconded, returning during the night and telling his wife's sister that he had not intended to shoot her but instead to frighten her.

Morris, who was reported to have said he was sorry for his actions, had returned to the house in Kinsham days later, and was arrested and taken into custody.

The 39-year-old was sent to trial at Hereford Assizes, where he appeared in April 1865, where the jury returned an unusual verdict of guilty of manslaughter with intent to kill.

He was sentenced to 20 years' penal servitude.