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 1903.

A RABBIT catcher was charged with wilful murder after a hop picker was shot in Tarrington.

William Grainger, of Stretton Grandison, entered a not guilty plea when he appeared before Hereford Assizes in November 1903 charged with murdering hop picker George Stanley at Tarrington.

The court heard Merthyr Tydfil man Mr Stanley had been hop picking with his family in Herefordshire when the tragedy occured.

The family had gone to the Foley Arms in Tarrington on the evening of September 23, while Grainger, who had spent the day in Hereford before catching the evening train to Stoke Edith also made his way to the Foley Arms.

He had been carrying a gun, which his counsel said he could prove was unloaded, because the innkeeper had inspected it knowing "there were a rough lot of people frequenting the place".

Both men, who were drinking in different parts of the pub, and who were both said to have had a good deal more to drink than they ought to have done, left at around 9.30pm, the court was told.

The Stanley family headed towards Court-y-Farm, where they were working, with Grainger taking the same road.

But, as they walked, Mrs Stanley said her husband had fallen behind, and the next thing she heard was a gun and her husband calling for help.

OTHER NEWS:

Instead of running to his aid, she hid herself and her son in a ditch, and Mr Stanley's body was found a short time later by a Mr Pocknell.

Bloodstains on the road suggested he had managed to make it some 90 yards from where he was shot, while a cap and an empty cartridge were found nearby, but no signs could be found of a struggle.

Grainger, who was reported to have threatened another man on the road, was apprehended that night.

An examination of his gun showed it had been recently fired, while he accepted the cap found at the scene was his.

He said that he had been set upon by several men and that his gun had gone off in the row. He said he did not remember seeing the deceased.

A post-mortem revealed Mr Stanley had been shot in the armpit from close range and had died from blood loss within minutes.

The judge said he did not believe the prisoner had any intention of killing Mr Stanley and that the death had been caused by drunkenness.

Grainger was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to seven years' penal servitude, later reduced to five.