The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-30 00:00:00

THE CHARGE OF WIFE MURDER
AT KILBURN.

Thomas Harris, a market gardener, living in Herries-
street, Kilburn-lane, Queen'o-park, was brought up on
Tuesday at the Hammersnaidi Police-court for final
examination on the charge of causing the death of his
wife, Hannah Harris, by cutting her throat with a
razor. Mr. Sims now appeared to prosecute on behalf
of the Solicitor to the Treasury; Mr. Keith Frith
again defended. Thomas Henry Pullen, a printer,
living at the Third-avenue, Queen's-park, son-in-law
of the prisoner, said deceased was about 44 years of
age. The prisoner formerly lived with his wife and
family at Cheltenham. Last year the deceased left
her husband and came to London, living in Tich-
borne-street, Edgware-road. The prisoner afterwards
joined her and both lived at witness's house in
Queen's-park. During that time the prisoner
did not follow any employment, but his wife went
out to work. In March last the deceased charged
the prisoner with assaulting her, and he was
imprisoned for one month. Mr. Keith Frith objected
to that part of the evidence, but it was allowed by
the magistrate. The witness also said that the de-
ceased removed to Herries-street, and continued going
out to work. The prisoner afterwards went there,
and lived with his wife again. He worked for a fort-
night or three weeks at haymaking.—Cross-examined
When the prisoner came up from Cheltenham he had
about £lOO in the bank. Susannah Maria Robbins,
the wife of a carpenter living at 48, Herries-street,
said the prisoner and his wife occupied the basement
floor and three rooms in her house for about seven
weeks. The prisoner was always at home, and his
wife took in laundry work. On the Bth inst. she
heard high words between the prisoner and his wife.
On the following night the prisoner called witness
down, and spoke of troubles between himself and his
wife. He asked her if she wanted to buy a hand-
some hat and dolman. She said she could not afford
to buy. thorn. Rho wont out with hor hu.band to
market, and saw the deceased in the street. She
returned home about half-past ten o'clock and heard
a scream. She listened over the stairs, but she
could not see anything as it was dark. She heard
a struggle and a door burst open, a person
coming out in a white dress and standing at the foot
of the stairs. She heard the voice of a woman say
"Oh ! " followed by a gurgling sound, and she
thought Mrs. Harris was ill. Her brother brought a
light, and then she saw the deceased standing at the
foot of the stairs. The prisoner was undressed, stand-
ing at the door of the back room. He said, "I have
done it; I meant to do it. I'll die like a man." The
deceased felt her strength going, put out her elbow, and
sank to the foot of the stairs. Witness ran to the door
and a constable was called in. In cross-examination
the witness said it was dark, and she could not see the
expression of the prisoner's face. George William
Skinner, the brother of the last witness, said he went to
the head of the stairs with his sister,and heard the woman
shout " Oh ! " twice. He heard a noise like the pouring
of water, and said, "lie is pouring water over her."
He procured a light and looked over the stairs, and saw
the deceased standing at the bottom in her night-dress.
Blood was flowing from her throat very freely. He
went downstairs, and rushed between them to prevent a
further attack upon the deceased. The prisoner, how-
ever, had nothing in his hand. Witness said, "You
have killed the woman outright." He said, "I meant
to do it. I have done it like a man, and I'll die like
a man." He asked the prisoner what he did it for.
He said she had not given him anything to eat for
two days. He stood at the door until his wife fell at
the foot of the stairs. He then turned round and
walked into the back kitchen. Witness followed and
told him to dress. The prisoner offered him three
sheets of paper, but he declined to take them, and
requested him to keep them until a policeman came.
The prisoner then placed the papers on the top of the
drawers. He did not say what the papers were
about. A constable arrived and the prisoner was
taken into custody. Mr. Steel: Was there any blood
upon him? The Witness: Yes, his hands were
covered with blood, the back of his right hand mostly.
Police-constable Saunders proved finding an open
razor, with fresh blood upon it, lying on the table.
Dr. Roberts, of Queen's-park, said on the night of
the 9th inst.he went to 48, Herries-street, where he
saw the deceased lying at the foot of the basement
stairs in a reclining position on the right side, in her
night dress, which was saturated with blood. There
was a large pool of blood at the bottom of
the stairs. He had her removed to the back
kitchen and placed on the bed. Life was quite ex-
tinct. On the 12th inst. he made a post-mortem
examination of the body, and found two wounds in the
throat, one superficial about three inches in length,
and the other about one inch above it on the same
side four inches in length, extending from the ear to
the chin, dividing all the deep blood vessels down to
the vertebra of the neck, causing death. Sergeant
Shrives, who took the charge, handed in a statement
made by the prisoner to the following effect: "I am
very sorry; I was bound to do one thing or the other.
She has been bringing me to poverty for the last 25
years. She and my eldest son and daughter have
robbed me over .£6OO since July, 1883." Inspector
Marlow, who had charge of the case, produced the
papers which he found upon the drawers, but they
were not read. Mr. Keith Frith said he had a copy
of the papers which were read at the inquest.
Police-constable Galloway said by had charge of the
prisoner in the cells. The prisoner spoke of his
troubles and about America, and said it was done in
a minute, and he thought no more of it than killing
a pig. Mr. Keith Frith said the prisoner denied
having made that statement. At the conclusion of
the evidence the prisoner, who maintained a silent
but attentive position in the dock, acting on the
nitice of his counsel, said he reserved his defence.
Mr, tiheil then committed him for trial.

tuabsand to I