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The Norfolk Constabulary Trial History Sheet, prepared and signed by Superintendent Fuller, and which is one of a very tiny number of crime documents that have survived from that era, gives the following information:
Name in Full Hector Macdonald Durbidge
For Trial at Norfolk Assizes
Date Committed 10th.March 1920
State Whether taken to prison Taken to Prison 12th. March 1920
If bail allowed No
Offence committed On the 27th. Day of February 1920, at
Burston, did feloniously, wilfully and of his
malice aforethought kill and murder one
George William Durbidge against the peace
of our Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown
and Dignity.
Previous convictions Nil
Aliases Nil
Where born Diss Heywood, Norfolk
Date of birth 7th. June 1900
Address Burston, Norfolk
How long has he lived there? 11 years
What is prisoner’s trade or occupation? Railway Porter
Does he work regularly? Yes
How long in his present situation? 3 years and 3 months
What character does his Employer give him? Exemplary
Wages per week £2. 11. 0. (£2.55)
Previous occupation Farm Labourer
What is his character as regards sobriety? Very Sober
Is he known to have been previously convicted? No
What character does his mother have for
honesty ? Good
sobriety ? Good
industry ? Good
Any further remarks His Father was a violent, drunken brute.
Have his parents, wife, brothers or sisters been
convicted? Numerous convictions against the Father.
List attached (Unfortunately this
list no longer survives)
With what class does he associate? Respectable
What is the probable cause of the commission
of this crime? Cannot say
Full particulars of offence, with date, place and method of commission, in the form of a narrative based on the evidence given before the justices.
On Friday evening the 27th. February 1920 at the Parish of Burston in the County of Norfolk aforesaid did feloniously, wilfully and of his malice aforethought kill and murder one George William Durbidge against the peace of our Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity.
On Friday evening the 27th. February 1920 about 10.30 p.m. the deceased George William Durbidge arrived home in an intoxicated condition. His son, Hector Macdonald Durbidge was indoors, and was prepared for bed. Some altercation arose on the part of the father as to why his son Hector did not assist him in removing a pony from the cart that deceased had been using. The son paid no regard to his Father's remarks and the deceased then became very violent using obscene language and challenging his son to fight him.
Hector fetched his Rifle from the sitting room and went back to the living room, his father presumably saw him and grabbed for a sporting gun which was hanging on a beam from the ceiling.
Hector then fired to prevent his Father getting the gun, the shot proving fatal.
PRISONERS HISTORY - in the form of a narrative - from particulars contained in the Prisoners History Sheet, stating where he was born and when his intelligence or mental powers if other than normal for a person of his station, and specially whether he appears, so far as can be seen by the police, to have any tendency towards insanity.
Age 19 Height 5ft. 11 in. Hair Light Brown Eyes Grey
Complexion Fair Marks Nil. Figure Medium Shape of Face Oval.
Prisoner was born at Diss Heywood on the 7th. June 1900 and has lived in the District all his life. When 13 years of age he left school and obtained employment with Mr. Robert Ford of Burston as a Farm Labourer, remaining there nearly three years. He subsequently obtained employment with the Great Eastern Railway Company as a Porter and was so employed on the 27th. February 1920. He is a steady, sober and industrious young man, his intelligence and mental powers are normal, he appears to have no tendency towards insanity.
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