evening and, shortly after 10 pm Ball had gone into his garden to fetch his dog. Beatrice heard an argument in the garden followed by a gunshot. She ran out into the garden where she saw her husband "in a very distressed state, reeling towards her". Beatrice claimed that Stagg shot again with the bullet passing over her shoulder. Ball died shortly afterwards from the gunshot wounds. Stagg made no attempt to flee and was arrested by the police at the scene. Ball's funeral was held on 19 November, and has been described as "a grand occasion". The funeral cortege set off from the butcher's shop of Beatrice Ball's father, William Richards, in High Street, Aston; seven coaches and several cars made their way through the crowds lining the streets to the packed St. John's Church, Perry Barr where the coffin was carried by Ball's former teammates. There were floral tributes from local football clubs, as well as from Middlesbrough, close to his birthplace. A collection among the crowd at Aston Villa's home match on the Saturday before the funeral raised over a hundred pounds for Ball's widow. Ball was buried in St. John's churchyard in an ornate grave decorated with footballs. The grave bears the inscription: "To T.E. Ball – A token of esteem from his fellow players of Aston Villa F.C." The grave's condition deteriorated over the years but has been restored by Aston Villa supporters. The following poem was written shortly after Ball's murder:Twas on a Sabbath evening in drear November daysTwo friends were heard creating, in Perry Barry's bywaysHigh words just fed the anger, now this young man's life is fled.A shot and then another! And Thomas Ball lies dead. Murder trial At the coroner's inquest into Ball's death, Stagg admitted the killing but claimed it had been an accident. He claimed that he had fired the gun in order to frighten Ball and that Ball was shot as he attempted to grab the gun. The jury rejected this argument, returning a verdict of "wilful murder", and Stagg was committed for trial at Stafford Assizes. The murder trial was heard in February 1924 in front of Mr. Justice Rowlatt. Stagg continued to claim that the killing was an accident and that he first fired the gun when Ball (allegedly "under the influence of drink") started to climb over the gate following an argument. There then followed