Following on from the earlier messages about the above, the following is from The Times report, dated 16 August 1839, on the conclusion of the trial: "The Jury acquitted the prisoner of the charge of murder, and found him Guilty of manslaughter.   The learned JUDGE said he quite agreed in the propriety of the verdict, for although, in the absence of preconceived malice, there was no evidence to support the charge of murder, yet the facts disclosed a considerable degree of malignity on the part of the prisoner. He could not sufficiently deprecate the un-English and unmanly practice of resorting to the use of a knife in sudden quarrel, and it was with deep regret he found that the offence of stabbing was on the increase in this country. It became the bounden duty, therefore, both of judges and magistrates to check so disgraceful a practice as far as the law could do so. The Court, however, felt some difficulty in the present case, chiefly on account of the disparity in the ages of the deceased and the prisoner; but under all circumstances it was felt necessary to pass a severe sentence upon the prisoner, and the sentence was, that he should be transported beyond the seas for the term of his natural life.   The prisoner dropped senseless in the dock, on hearing the sentence." Read in isolation, one could almost think this was a report from a present day trial, apart from the sentence. I do have an interest in this case as I believe George COKER the accused in the case may be a related to my own family, my 2 x Great Grandfather John COOPER, was also known as John COKER and lived in the same village, Harefield, as George COKER, I suspect that George may have been John's nephew but as yet have not been able to prove this. The case at the time was something of a "cause celebre" as their had been another death involving a knife in nearby Hayes shortly before, but in this case the accused, Francis Hastings MEDHURST, came from a wealthy family and whilst he did not get away with it, he received a much lesser sentence, causing some upset not only to the local populace, but also to the coroner Mr WAKLEY, who had a falling out with the local magistrates when the case of George COKER arose. If anyone is interested I have transcripts of all the Times reports for both the COKER and MEDHURST trials and would be happy to supply copies off-list. Regards Colin Harris Yeading, Middlesex