From the Kent Herald, 12 January 1826.

Dreadful Catastrophe.

Monday, at 12 o'clock, Mr. Carrter, the Coroner for Kent', and a most respectable Jury, assembled at the sign of the "Eagle and Lamb," Eltham, to inquire into the circumstances which led to the melancholy death of Mr. Edward Topham, who was accidentally shot by his uncle.

Mr. Samuel Whitaker depose, that he had known the deceased for several years; he was brought up by his uncle, Mr. Stephen Topham. On Tuesday last witness was on a visit at the above gentleman's house; the deceased was there. On the following day, witness, the deceased, and his uncle, went into a paddock at a small distance from the house, with their guns, for the purpose of shooting pigeons, which were to be let out of a cage. After some preliminaries, shooting commenced, and several of the birds were shot. The deceased was in the act of opening the cage, when a pigeon escaped, and the uncle discharging his piece before the deceased was out of danger, lodged the contents in his head; the deceased instantly cried out, "Oh, my dear uncle, you have killed me." Witness ran towards the deceased, and prevented him from falling on the ground. The unfortunate uncle appeared horror struck at what he had done, and ran, in a state of distraction, towards the house, to alarm the domestics; in the mean time witness supported the deceased, who was perfectly insensible till the arrival of one of Topham's servants, when they carried the deceased into the house. Surgical assistance arrived in a short time, and everything was done for the deceased, but of no avail, as he expired in about two hours and a half after the calamity occurred. Witness is thoroughly convinced that it was purely accidental.

Coroner:- To your knowledge, were the deceased and his uncle always on good terms?

Witness:- Certainly; they were remarkably parochial to each other.

Jury:- At what distance was the deceased from his uncle when the piece was discharged?

Witness:- About 15 paces.

A servant of Mr. Topham, sen was called, but his evidence only went to confirm that of the last witness as to his master and the deceased being on good terms.

The jury, after consulting about 10 minutes, brought in a verdict of accidental death, with a deodand of £1 on the piece.

The deceased was the son of the late Col. Topham, and a promising young man of 19 years of age.