Those who could afford it were treated at home and it was primarily a poorhouse with limited medical facilities for the poor and strangers. Those who did receive medical treatment were not always happy with the outcome, as is evidenced by a report in the British Press and Jersey Times of 6 December 1866.
Thomas Roberts, who had been treated for a bad leg by Doctor Charles Le Vesconte Godfray, and eventually had his leg amputated in England after the problem became worse, was determined on revenge when he returned to the island.
Newspaper report
Dastardly attempt to shoot Doctor Godfray
- ”That same day, a Thursday, the doctor had left his work just after 12 pm and set out for his home in New Street. He was walking through Parade Gardens towards York Street, when Roberts (who had been hiding among the trees) stepped out behind him and fired.
- ”Luckily the gun was loaded with duck shot and Doctor Godfray, although thrown to his knees by the impact, managed to struggle to his feet and lunge at his attacker calling for help. The Court report states he said: "You brute, you have shot me!" to which Roberts replied: "You bastard, I'm sorry I didn't kill you!"
Witnesses
There were numerous witnesses. William Smith, a school teacher from Windsor Road, grabbed Roberts and helped hold him until enough people had gathered to carry him to the police station. Roberts was wildly flailing about, both with his walking stick gun and his wooden leg and crying out: "Doctor Godfray tried to murder me when I was in the hospital!"
Followed by a large crowd, Godfray and Smith escorted the man to Centenier Perrot. The victim was taken home and treated by Doctors Le Cronier and Vaudin. He had lost a lot of blood and had wounds on his shoulder and neck. As his clothes were stained red, onlookers feared he would die. Rumours circulated that he had and a crowd gathered outside his home and stayed there until they were told he was out of danger.
The patient
Roberts was about 50 years old and had been a seaman. Out of work he was admitted to the poorhouse. According to all accounts he was not a model inmate. The paper reported that he "continually quarrelled with nearly all whom he came into contact with".
The paper described his condition as an "unsound leg" and stated that Doctor Godfray treated him, but when his circumstances failed to improve, somehow Roberts raised enough money to go to England and in Plymouth his leg was examined and amputated. In July 1866 he returned to Jersey and immediately applied to the hospital authorities for relief as he had been unable to gain work as a labourer.
The trial
Eleven days after his arrest on 17 December, Thomas Roberts appeared before Mr Gibaut, the police magistrate. The offence is listed in the court records as:
"An attempt to take away the life of Doctor Charles Le Vesconte Godfray by firing at him with an cane gun, loaded with number one shot, part of the contents of which had lodged in his left shoulder."
The Centenier and other arresting officers, as well as most of the people who had witnessed the shooting, gave evidence. Doctor Godfray's bloodstained clothing and the gun were produced as exhibits. Doctor Le Cronier reported that there were graze wounds in the victim’s neck and shot in his shoulder that had to be removed. While undressing his patient he found a piece of grapeshot lodged in the doctor's shoe which appeared to have bounced from a bone in his body and dropped down inside his clothing.
Centenier Le Lievre stated that on the day before the shooting, Roberts had gone to the Police Station to complain that he was not getting sufficient poor relief. He complained that the parish had sent him to the hospital and that Doctor Godfray was preventing him from gaining assistance. Once inside the hospital he complained of the lack of food and clothing and left at the first opportunity.
Mr Benest was at the police station the day that Roberts was brought in and searched him. He found a powder flask, a bag of shot, a knife and a wooden plug which had been used for stopping the gun. During this process he swore that he heard the prisoner say: "I would sooner have the hangman's rope around my neck than be starved."
Once the prisoner had been placed in his cell, he was searched again and a second knife was found hidden in the lining of his trousers. He constantly stated that he was sorry he had not "done for" Doctor Godfray.
Gunsmith John Hunt reported that Roberts brought a stick gun to his shop to have it repaired. He had been practising with it and had overloaded it, causing damage to the works. Mr Hunt said that Roberts had a wound on his lip from the unexpectedly heavy recoil. Mr Reed, the publican, had sold the gun to Roberts for 10 shillings a few days before and accompanied him to the shop. Mr Hunt identified the gun and informed the Court that it was the type of piece normally used by a poacher.
The accused was then taken back to prison and brought back before the Police Court on 29 December. There he pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial at the Royal Court in March 1867.
Suicide
This story has a tragic ending as the British Press and Jersey Times of 29 January 1867 reported:
- "The town was somewhat astounded this morning by the news, which spread like wildfire, that Roberts, the would be assassin of Mr C Le Vesconte Godfray had committed suicide. It appears that when the turnkey went to his cell at 7 o'clock this morning, he was found suspended by the neck to a spike nail in the wall."
