John Carey (1861-1886)


On the night of 26 June 1886 as David Jeans, of 14 Treorky Street, and his fiancée Ellen Merchant, of 41 Cathays Terrace, were walking across fields near Weddall Farm, close to Cathays Cemetery and the Rhymney Railway bridge, they were according to Jeans, approached by 5 men, who demanded money. The couple made a dash for it and the assailants threw stones at them. With the robbers hot on their heels, Jeans pulled out a revolver and fired several shots, wounding 3 of the men.

However according to the other party, George Mills ( a farm labourer), James Hawker, John Williams and Thomas Kellow, they stated they had politely told Jeans and his girlfriend that they walking on private land. Jeans then pulled out the gun and started firing at them. Kellow was hit in the thigh and Mills in the hip. John Carey, aged 25 of 47 Ellen Street, Roath, , was shot in the head and a bullet lodged in his brain. Carey was a labourer in the employ of Cardiff Corporation. Trepanning was resorted to in vain. Upon his deathbed he stated that his friends statements were correct. When Carey died on the 4th, Jeans was tried for murder. John Carey was buried at Cathays Cemetery on July 8th.

In the Assizes Ellen collaborated Jeans story, stating that Jeans had fired into the ground. The evidence of the men was very similar, like they had rehearsed it. The crime was therefore reduced to Justifiable homicide, believing Jeans had acted in self-defence, recommending mercy on the account of the provocation received before the shooting. Jeans was sentenced to 12 months in prison.