The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-11-15 00:00:00

ALLEGED WILFUL WIFE MURDER AT

2vl DXLE.

At the Old Hill Police Conrt, on Wednesday,
before Messrs, W. Bassano, H. T. Hickman, and
J. H. Pearson, William Ingles was charged with tne
wiltul murder of his wife Matilda Ingles, on the 18di
ult.

Mr. W. Waldron, of Brierley Hill, was for the
prosecution, and Mr. Sheldon, of Oldbury, de-
fended.
Mr. Waldron, in opening the case, first' quoted
the law of murder from "Harris, on the Principle of
Criminal Law," and afterwards went on to say that
prisoner had been married 18 years, but lived un-
happily with his wife. On Saturday, the 18th nit,
Mrs. Alillward, a neighbour of the prisoner's had
lost £2, and she alleged that it had been stolen dby
the deceased woman, The allegation seemed to put
prisoner into a temper, for at half-past seven the
same night he was beating his wife, in the house.
At half-past seven the same night deceased was met
by a Mrs. Saunders going home with some groceries
in her arms. Immediately on going into the house
she was followed out by prisoner, who ran her up
the road leading from Dudley to Oldbury, and be
was there seen to have bold of her, whilst she was
crying "Don't Will, don't Will." They afterwards
returned home and subsequently the :deceased was
seen to go towards the canal basin. At the time
prisoner had hold of his wife, and be said—applying
his remarks to her and Mrs. Millward—"you two

watt killing." He (Mr. Waldron) c d
not show that the prisoner was seen near the body
after, but it was shown that he followed her home
and it would be seen from the plan produced that
he would be able to get from his house to the canal
bank in the space of a minute, it being only a dis-
tance of 40t. Less than half-an-hour after prisoner
was seen runo in,* his wife, her dead body was taken
out of the canaCbasin. An inquest was held on the
body, and an open verdict was returned, but the
police undoubtedly thought that some further en-
quiries should be made. The result of these en- ,
quiries was that the Home Secretary ordered the
body of the deceased to be exhumed. The medical
testimony adduced at the post-morten examination
would prove that the woman did not die of drown-
ing, but from fright or shock. If the struggling on
the canal bank, which would be spoken to, in con-
junction with the beating by prisoner, produced
death, then the charge was c, early established, and
prisoner must be put upon his trial. When the
bcdy was taken out of the canal, prisoner made use
of these remarkable words to P.O. Winfield "It is
not my w ife ; its a man. I have not seen my wife
since eiAt o'clock in tho evening." This could
only have been done to conceal something that had
taken place between half•paet seven and half-past
eleven.
__

Edwin Burgess, surveyor, Old Hill, said the
plan before the Court was made by him. It was
according to scale and correct.
James lillward, labourer living at Tividale, next
door to prisoner, raid that. he remembered the 18th
October. He was called into prisoner's house by
prisoner, about seven o'cluck. Prisoner said "I
want to know about that £2 that there is some dis-
pute about." W.thess's wife told prif,omr all about
ti, and prisoner said the two woe.eit were as bad as
each other. He did not mak- use of any bad
lanuke. 'Witness then left mil went into his
own h,use. In about ten minutes afterwards from
something said by his wife lie went rouod to pri-
soner's house and saw prisoner thumping his wife.
She was sitting near the fire-grate end lie was
haui:ncritig her on the head. Whilst he was
harutneringler he was standing. He was hammer-
ing her with his fists. Witness said "Aren't you
ashamed of yourself, hammering her whilst she's got
the child in her arms." He replied -'No, I Hint
asham.d," and then ran to her and began thump-
ing her again. He thumped her five or six times.
Atter that he and prisoner went to Bridges'
public-house and had two pints of beer. They after-
wards went home and they parted and went into
their own houses. Witness went into prisoner's
bou,e again and saw pris,mer, at about half-past
eight or nine o'clock. When he saw prisoner wit-
ness told him his wife had been into his house and
said something to witness's wife but. he did not
know whit it was. Prisoner then said "I believe
you and IllisSU3 are great," and then challenge,'
him to fight. Witness said "No, you are half-and-
half, and I'm sober, What you've got to say, rsay in
the morning. If you're missus has got anything to
say come into our house and we'll explain it." After
that they went into the Blue Ball public•house at
about nine o'clock. They had two pints of ale and
then prisoner left him about half-past tea o'clock.
Witness went home about ten minutes to eleven and
went to sleep on a chair. He could not tell how
long he stayed there. Witness and prisoner had
been neighbours for about 7 months. During that
period he had never seen them fighting, but he had
heard them taking loud.
Cross-examined by Mr. Sheldon: So far as he
knew prisoner was a good husband. Prisoner was
three-parts drunk, and staggered out of the Blue
Ball. Witness was not out of prisoner's company
from seven till half-past 10 o'clock, except about
ten minutes. Witness did not see the deceased after
he saw her in toe house. Prisoner appeared fairly
pacified while he was with witness. Witness
attended the coroner's inquest, and the son of
prisoner was'present.
Re-examined by Mr. Waldron: Ingles knew
how to take care of himself when he left him.
Emily Egcsinson. servant at the Blue Ball, Tivi-
dale, said Se was not called as a witness at the
coroner's inquest. On the 18th ult, at about 11 30.
she was ia the taproom when she heard Mrs
Ingles running by, crying. Witness went to the
door and saw prisoner running after his wife They
were on the other side of the road to her and were
going towdrds Dudley. They went about JO yards
past the house and Mrs. Ingles crossed the road aid
pr:s3iier caught. held of her and said"Oh Will, dont,
Oh Will, dont." When she said that they turned
back and Mrs. Millward met them by a gate. Mrs.

Milky ard said to prisoner "Leave her -alone." Prisoner
said "Go on and mind your own business. You've
said enough about my wife.'"lhey all three went
round a corner towards their home. Whilst witness
was swilling, the steps she heard a noise. It wasa
very peculiar noise and was like some one being
straneled in the throat. She looked in the direc-
tion of the canal and she watched and saw the
shadow of two persons as though they were fight.
ings. She saw the persons moving about between
two helps of coal t.nd lime on the canal side.
Witness afterwards went on with her work She
could not recognise Vie pople she saw on the canal
side.

Cross examined by Mr. She'dan : She could tell
it was the voice of a woman that made the noise.
The distance between the Blue Ball and the canal
was about 70 or 80 yards. She saw the shadow of
the two persons by the light of some furnaces. She
would not swear whether it was two men or a man
and a woman. She would swear positiv,,ly it was a
woman's voice she heard. She would not swear it
was toe voice of Mrs. Ingles. She did not kaow
Mrs, Ingles well. It was not a scream she heard, it
was like a muffled sound. It was as though some
one wan stopping hr bleatb. She knew it was Mrs.
Ingles before she came out of the house. Mrs.
In,gles was makin,g a crying noise as if she was
frightened. She did not know it was Mrs. Ingles
till she gut out of the house. Witness thought
there was quirrelling and she went outside The
woman ran away and prisoner fetched her back.
She would swear Mrs. Millwaid was below the Blue
Ball and spoke to prisoner and his wife. She saw
the two persons wrestling and polling. each other
about on the side of the canal.

Re-examined by Mr. Waldron : She toll her
mistrePs that she thought Ingles was drowning hiA
wife, about ten alinutt-s after the occurrence. She
was quitc certain that Mrs. lillward came to toe
gates and spoke to p. isoner.
Examined by Mr. Basmno : She could s.e the
canal bank from the Blue Ball. 13.-cause lugles
and his were quarrelling not long before made her
think he was trying to drown her

Annie Saunders, wife of John Saunders, living a
the Mint House. said that on Saturday night, Oct.
ISth nit, she came from 01,-bury market about f
a-• elev,u• As se was wishing some friends gro!
night by prisocer, s house she saw the dOeased
woman with a basket of groceries. Witness spoke
to her and asked her how her child was. Sine said
"The doctor had given very little hopes. Tbi • job
would kill her." Witness said "Oh you mus,. not .
do th,t, you must checr cp." She did not, 1; ow
what she meant without lf. Was money matters.
Witness heard prisoner ask the deceased where she
had been and she replied .‘To Jr. Hadley's, Brown's
Green, for my grocery." The deceased then ran
past witness, but sha had not got her grocery. Pri.
soner ran utter deceased in the direction of the
Bno B 11. Vituess then went home, and in af' a'
OP 'mints after she heard sereims coming from the
etial side. It was just the same as if some one was
quivering with cold. It made witness very ill for a ,
day or two. Site recognised it to be the voice of
Mrs. Ingles. She went home and saw her husband
and in consequence of something site said he uLtec,
in the direction of the caual.

By Mr. Sheldon : She only heard one scream. It
wt - like a quivering scream. It was not a clear
serea tt. It was not till about 3 o'clock before she
heard Mrs. Ingles was drowned She did not look
in the direction from which the scream came.
William Onions, under sheet roller, said that oi
the 18th mt. he passed the Blue Ball, with a young
woman, about 20 minutes to 12 o'clock. He saw
thu s .IA-eat standin4 at the Blue Ball door. Ho
ma-i going in the direction of Dudley, and when h 6
got past the girl he heard a scream from the di_o3-
t ton of the canal. When they got about 100 yards
they heard three screams again. It sounded like a
a woman's voice. They then Ftssed on again.
Amelia Kale, single woman, Tividalo, said she was
not called before the Coroner. On Saturday. th,i
18,11 ult, wes with last wittless and passed the
bum ilill. Sic eaY the servant sto::4ling on he
step. Sie wa:, looKin4 cowards he time kilos. It
was about ten wit.ll:eS to twelve. When they got
.out tliie yaids from the girl she heard a scream.
It as a wonidn's voice. They went on and heard
the screams again, It was a very funny scream.
13,0. Smith said he was stationed at Brownie

Green, Oldbury, On the 18th ult. he was on duty
at the end of the Bredes, Tividale, at about twelve
o clock, midnight. He knew the canal basin. Ile
heard loud screams which appeared to be a woman s
voice. It came from the direction of the canal, or
where prisoner lived. He was not tallied before the
Coroner.
By Mr. Sheldon: He was about 300 yards from
the canal. The sound was like some one in distress
or being illused. The sound was clear. He ap-
proached the place and listened again, but as he
did not hear it he passed into his own county.
John Saunders, living at the Mint House, Tivi-
dale, said that on the 18th ult. his wife came home
about twelve o'clock. In consequence of what she
said he went on to the canal cank. He could not
see any one about. He went about a boat end a
quarter's length when he saw the blobbering of the
water. It was like a spring, He then crossed the
canal and got onithe other side. He saw some lime
but not any coal. When he was going back for
assistance he met a man named Aston. They went
and got a small boat. He afterwards got!into an-
other boat. Before he pulled the body out, Ingles
came up. He said, " Ballo, Jack, -what's the mat-
ter ?" and he replied, "It strikes me there is some
one in the basin." Prisoner said," I hope you are,
telling an untruth." Witness asked prisoner to.
lend him his jacket and fetch another. and he did.
so .Witness put the jacket on and started dragging.
Plisoner pushed the boat up and down, and assisted
to get the body out. When they found the body
witness could not recognise it. A handkerchief was,
over the face. He left Ingles with the body. It
was between twelve and one when they went for the
police. It was about half an hour before they came
back. Prisoner had gone away then. Whilst P.C.
Winfield was there prisoner came back and Winfield
asked him whether he could recognise the body as
that of his w fe. Prisoner if said, "It's a man."
Winfield said, '• Men don't wear petticoats," and
asked prisoner if he could identify the body as his
wife, Ile looked at the woman's boots and identi-
fied them as his wife's, and then dropped down ex-
hausted, by the lime. He did not hear prisoner say
to Winfield that he had not seen her for a certain
time.
By Mr. Sheldon: He could not distinguish any
one on the other side of the canal. It was very
dark that night. Prisoner had always been kind to
his wife and especially so to his family. He used
every ex( rtion to find the body. He was put about
and astonished when he found it was his wife.
Prisoner did not attempt to go away.
P.C. Winfield, stationed at Tividale, said that on
October 19th, Saunders came to him about 12.40.
From information he went to the canal wharf
opposite the Blue Ball. On arriving there he found
the dead body of a woman lying there. She wits
near to a heap of lime. She lay with her feet near
the water as if she had been recently dragged out.
A. handkerchief was over her face. She had no
bonnet on. In a few minutes prisoner Ingles came
up. The handkerchif was over her face and pinned
round the neck as if it was washed over. He
recognised the body as Mrs. Ingles. Witness said
"Why Ingles, this is your wife," He said "Oh no,
it's a man," He said this three times, He then
walked round the body and looked at the feet and
he then walked off to his house. Witness roilowed
him and looked through the window. if e saw him
and his boy and saw him with his arms round the
boy's neck and they were crying. He went into
the house and said to the boy "Where's your
mother." He said "I don't know, I've not seen her
since she went to Brown's Green market, last
night.' Witness said, "What time was that." He
replied "It was between seven and eight. Prisoner
then said "I hope you'll bring her down here" and
he then put the shutter up in the front place.
Prisoner then went with witness out of the house
and said "I'll go to Tividale and get some of my
relations," Witness then went on to the canal
dock, and prisoner went off. Witness apprehended
prisoner at about 2 o'clock and charged him with
causing the death of his wife Matilda Ingles, by
pushing her into the water atithe canal docks, at the
same time pointing to the place. Be replied "I
havo'nt seen her since eight o'clock, when she went
to Brown's Green Market." He could tee the
dock whtn he pointed from the Blue Ball. P.C.
Mountney was then present.
By Mr, Waldron :—He knew Smith and Smith
told him he heard sounds coming from that direc-
tion, after the inquest. Ingles did not fall but
leaned against something. Prisoner seemed put
about.

Superintendent Woollaston, said that he re-arres-
ted prisoner on the 25th ult at Brainford at about
4.30. Ho charged him with the wilful murder of
his wife, by drowning her in the canal basin, at
the Shrubbery, Tividale. He made no reply. When
they got to Brierley Hill in consequence of some-
thing prisoner said, witness asked him if he under-
stood the charge. He replied "No I should like to
know." He then repeated what he charged him
with. At fir,t he replied "I never was nigh the
canal."

James Price, assistant inspector of nuisances
and keeper of a small-pox hospital. Tividale, said
that on the 17th ult. he was going on the road to
Brown's Green. He knew Ingle's house, and he
passed it. It was about seven or eight o'clock. He
heard a great disturbance in the house, ana saw
prisoner and a woman, whom he believed to be
prisoner's wife. He heard prisoner say, "If you
don't get a - summons for that woman for ac-
cusing yoa of stealing that money, I'll kill you."
The woman answered and said, "You've nearly
done it now."
By Mr. Sheldon: He made no mistake in the
night.
Dr. Standish, surgeon, said he exhumed the body
at Rowley Chnrchyard, on the Bth inst, and made a
post-mortem examination in conjunction with Dr.
G. Ashtnead. From that post-mortem examination
he should say death occurred from shock or syn-
cope, i.e. fainting. There was not a trace of
drowning. The whole signs of drowning were
absent on the examination, A blow would pro-
duce t' at shock or a great fright or threat would
do it. _ _

By Mr. Sheldon: If you over exerted yourselef
it wou!,l bring it on. He believed that she fainted
or (lie i before she fell in the water, from a simple
fact th a there was no sign of drowning. The
body wts too decomposed to show any bruises. lie
thought she died before she got in the water. He
was quite certain she never breathed in the wate
Dr. A shmead, surgeon, Brierley Hill, said that
ill conjanotion with Mr. Standish he made a post-
mortem examination. In his opinion death was
caused by syncope caused by some cause or shock,
It would be caused by some violent mental shock,
or by blow or blows. From his examination, there
were no traces of drowning. There were no traces
of blows because the body was too decomposed
By Mr. Sheldon : Running- up a hill wo,ild not '
do it. She may have been frightened. He did
not think she breathed in the ater, He thougrA
breathing ceased before she got in. Mr. Sheldon
address(' 1 the Bench and said that he did not think
there wa3 sufficient evidence to justify prisoner
beiag sent before a jury. Before the coroner was a
witness called that no jury would help acquitting
prisoner. He would call two witnesses and he
should ask that they be bound over to appear at
the trial. Prisoner was then formally charged.

Isabella Millward, a married woman, was —called
and said that on October 18th she saw prisoner
late at night ;at about half-past eleven. She
also saw his wife running from her own house to-
wards the Blue Ball. She saw prisoner ruonino-
her. The woman got into witness's yard and she
pas-ed across the yard. There was a fowl pen in
the yard which deceased would have to pass to get
up a bank to the canal. He followed her out of
the yard. It would be twenty or thirty yards from
the canal. Witness caught hold of his arm. She
went home. She was at the inquest.
seph William Ingles, son of prisoner said that
on the 18:h ult. he was sitting in the house with
his father at about a quarter—past eleven, waiting,
mother. There was a sick child in the house
tle ~aited about a quarter of an hour before his
father went to the door. He heard his father
talking to his mother but he could not tell what
they said. He heard his father follow his mother
out of the gate. He was away about a minute. He
came in the house and picked up the child and
nursed it. They as t there some time and prisoner
told witness to go and see if he could see the
mother anywhere about. He came and said he
could not see her anywhere about. so he came back.
Aft. r another interval of about eighteen minutes
prisoner sent his son to find his mother again. The
next thing they heard a row on the wharf and
prisoner wi.nt cud left witne:s in the house. Ft o:n
the time he heard him speak to his mother till he
went, on the wall, Le never left him for one minute
By Mr. Waldron: His mother was in the house
at half-past ten. He did not know where his
father went.
Prisoner was committed to take his trial at the
Asslz3s, bail being refused.