Jabez Fowler

Jabez Fowler was shot whilst out in some sand hills at Mablethorpe on 17 March 1911.

His 14-year-old brother was tried but acquitted.

They had gone out to shoot birds on the sand hills at Mablethorpe.

Jabez Fowler's brother later returned home alone whilst Jabez Fowler was found around midnight after a search by his father who found him buried beneath some loose sand.

He was found shot and his brother was charged with his murder.

However, at the inquest in Louth on Tuesday 21 March 1911 a verdict of accidental death was returned.

Jabez Fowler's father said that when he returned home after finding Jabez Fowler's body he said to the 14-year-old son, If you had only told us, you would have saved a great deal of trouble', to which the 14-year-old son replied, 'I could not. I did not know what I was doing'.

Jabez Fowler's brother said that whilst out in the sand hills that Jabez Fowler had been setting blackbirds up for him to shoot and that when he saw a bird jumping up that Jabez Fowler shouted 'shoot' and that he did and then saw Jabez Fowler fall. He said that he then ran to him but found that Jabez Fowler could not speak.

He said that he then returned home and put the gun away and later returned to the sand hills and buried Jabez Fowler's body in the sand. He said that he had been too frightened to say anything to anybody about what had occurred and that he buried his body because he was frightened of it being found.

He said that he and Jabez Fowler had always been on good terms and had had no quarrel.

Jabez Fowler's brother was formally discharged at Alford Police Court on Wednesday 22 March 1911.