In 1891 Harry Breadmore was a licensed stage-carriage driver, living in St Pancras with his wife Hannah and their first four children. The census of that year lists him as a 'bus driver'
The Times Newspaper of 15 September the same year reported that Harry had appeared before the magistrates at Highgate charged on remand with the manslaughter of Esther Brinson by 'recklessly driving four horses and a brake in the Great North-road, Finchley'.
An inquest had been held on Mrs Brinson when a verdict of 'Accidental Death' was returned, but with a censure on Harry for not pulling up to see the result of the collision. Harry was committed for trial, but bail was accepted.
Five weeks later, on 21 October, Harry Breadmore appeared at the Central Criminal Court and indicted for the manslaughter of Esther Brinson.
The accusation against Harry was that by negligent driving he had caused the death of Esther Brison. 'The question was whether the defendant was guilty of such culpable negligence as that he ought to be convicted of manslaughter.' He had been driving one of a number of brakes 'containing people returning from Barnet Fair. On the way they overtook the deceased and her husband in a gig, which was in the middle of the road. The defendant passed it on the near side, and it seemed to be a question of what was the actual position of the gig at the time the defendant passed it. The defendant came into collision with the gig and turned it over. The deceased was thrown out, and died from the injuries she received. The defendant gave evidence before the coroner, and his account was that the gig ran back into his break.
Witnesses were called who stated that Harry had tried to pass another bake in front of him
Evidence for the defence contended their was no negligence and that the defendant had not tried to overtake the brake in front of him, but the pony in the gig had backed into his brake. He had not been racing.
The jury returned a verdict of 'Not guilty'
Harry was born in Hungerford in 1859, the son of James BREADMORE and Mary Ann STROUD. In the 1901 census he was described as an 'omnibus driver'. He died in 1932 in Barnet.
Andrew Young -
andrew@breadmore.org - © Margaret and Andrew Young
Breadmore One-Name Study - Charged with Manslaughter -
http://www.breadmore.org/