This memorial which is in Tabraxia Cemetery, Malta was badly damaged during the bombing in the 2nd World War,
In memory of Thomas GRAVES. Captain in the Royal Navy who died on the 28th August 1856 aged 54., from the effects of wounds inflicted (extract from wikipedia) by Maltese boatman Giuseppe Meli. Meli was later tried for Graves's murder. He was born in Belfast in 1802, entered the navy in 1816 and promoted to lieutenant on HMS Adventure.
(Extract from MaltaFamily History)
Murder of Capt Thomas Graves
On 23 Sept 1856, Boatman Giuseppe Meli of Cospicua went on trial for the wilful homicide of Capt Thomas Graves RN on 25 Aug 1856.
Meli was accused of stabbing Capt Graves in the City of Valetta with a knife, an incised wound in the abdomen of half an inch in length, situated in the direction of the left side of the navel, about two inches distance from the said navel and directly obliquely, downwards, penetrating the walls of the abdomen, in the same oblique direction and entering the small intestine, in consequence of which wound, which caused inflammation of the peritoneum of the omentum and of the aforementioned intestine. It was alleged that he bore a grudge against the Port Superintendent, who had ordered his boat to be hauled up for 15 days, for having overcharged a passenger.
The planks of the boat had dried while it was hauled up, rendering it unseaworthy. Meli's livelihood was thus ruined. It was alleged that Meli sought revenge against Graves. He pleaded not guilty.
His lawyer convinced the court, that it was not the knife that had killed Capt Graves but the negligent treatment administered to him by the doctors. After being stabbed, Graves was taken to the Dispensary of Dr Giuseppe Sammut where he was also seen by Dr Giuseppe Clinquant, Junior Physician at the Central Civil Hospital. Neither could assess the depth of the wound which was dressed. Graves took to his bed at Floriana where he was seen by Dr Stilon and Surgeon William Simpson 71st Regiment. He died at his residence at Floriana on 28 August.
The jury unanimously found the accused guilty of wilful severe bodily harm on Capt Graves on which death ensued owing to supervening accidental causes, and not to the nature and natural consequences alone of such harm. The Court sentenced Giuseppe Meli to nine years hard labour.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Graves_(1802–1856)
