The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-03-23 00:00:00

ATTEMPTED MURDER AT THE LYE
WASTE.

Early on Tuesday morning last, the inhabit-
ants in the immediate vicinity of the Unitarian
Chapel, Lye Waste, were aroused by hearing
cries of " Murder ! in the High-street. Some
persons went to the spot, and found that a young
wan named David Pritchard, a miner, residing
at the Lye Waste, had been stabbed by Thomas
Knowles (40), a chainro aker. The police shortly
afterwards arrested Knowles. Pritchard was
carried home, and Dr. Bayley was sent for. On
his arrival he discovered that the man was suf-
fering from a severe wound in the abdomen, and
that he had also received a cut on the ribs, two
on the left arm, and one on the head. As the
loor fellow was in a dangerous condition, his
spositious were taken about ten o'clock before
Mr. R. L. Freer, one of the local magistrates.
After being sworn, he said," My name is David
Pritchard, and I live at the Lye Waste, and am
a collier. This morning, about a quarter to two
I was in the road by Nebo Hower's. Joseph
and Win. Hill were with me. I saw the man
Knowles on the top of Joseph Hill. He had a
knife in his hand. Hill was hooting murder.
I said, • Do not go to kill him; I will pull him
from under you.' I said that to Knowles. When
I got Hill from under him, he and the woman
who was with him knocked me down and got on
the top of use. The woman tried to bite and
pinch my arm. The woman said, 'Go on while
I have got !aim, stick it through his b— heart:
He then got off me, and I said, he has got a
knife in his hand, and he has stuck use with it
two or three times. I said to William Hill,
come and let us have it off him; there he it is,
he has got it in his hand. William Hill took
hold of the knife, and Knowles drew it through
his hand and out it. Knowles then :gave the
knife to the woman, whose name is Martha Hart.
have known the prisoner six or seven years.
I had been in his company that night. 1 left
him at Samuel Southall's, the Cock Inn. We
had not quarrelled, and had been very comfort-
able. I lay on the ground, and asked George
Hughes and Joseph Hill to take me home.
They carried me. I wore the satire trousers as
I have on now. I know the woulau well. Han.
nail Cooper was there, and she jumped before
Knowles as he was going to stab use again. she
said he ought to be ashamed of himself. I have
never had any quarrel with the man, but the
woman robbed me and Joseph Hill of 18s. I
had nay shirt on, but it was ripped off before I
was stabbed. When I was stabbed I only had
my trousers on. I had my jacket and waistcoat
on when I went to them, but 1 took those off
myself." In answer to Dr. Bayley, he said, " I
never think of getting over it."
[he affair has caused great excitement in the
neighbourhood, and thousands assembled round
pi.iteliara's licuse and the police station.
Knowles was brought to the Police Station i!t
this town, about twelve o'clock, guarded by a
strong body of police under Superinteurent
Freeman, and followed by a very large took
rhe woman, Martha Hart, was also arrested
and locked up.
At the Stourbridge Police Court, on Wed,,es-
i ay, before Mr. It. L. Freer, Thomas Knowles
• nd Martha Hart were charged with attempting
to murder David Pritchard, at the Lye Waste, on
the 19th inst. Mr. Addison appeared to prose-
cute, aud prisoners were undefended.
William Hill said he was a miner, living at the
Lye Waste. On Tuesday morning last, about a
quarter to two, he heard a disturbance in the
road, and on going out he saw the two prisoners
and Pritchard fighting together on the ground.
Pritchard was under the other two. He called
out to witness, and said, " William, come and
take this knife ; they have stuck me." Witness
tried to take the knife, and caught hold of the
blade, which one of the prisoners drew through
his hand, and cut it very badly. Hart said to
me male prisoner, " Now we have got him, give
it him."
Cross-examined by Knowles: I did not ask you
to fight me, nor did I see Pritchard come to
meat yon.
Cress-examined by Hart: I saw you on the
top of Pritchard's head. I did not see you pick
Knowles up.
Hannah Cooper said she was wife of David
Cooper, and lived at the Waste. On Tuesday
morning she heard a disturbance in the street.
and she saw David Pritchard, Alfred Knowles,
and Martha Hart, On the ground. Pritchard
was undermost. She saw Knowles with a knife
in his hand. Hart said to Knowles "Rip his
b— heart out of him." She was on Pritchard's
bead holding it down. She saw the prisoner
Knowles give Pritchard two " podges" with the
knife. At the first " podge " Pritchard said " He
has got a knife in his hand. After the second
podge " he exclaimed that his entrails were
out.
Cross-examined by the male prisoner: I did
not see the first beginning of it.
Cress-exainined by Hart: I saw you try to
pick up Knowles off the ground. I saw you lay
hold of Pritchard.
Prisoners were then remanded to Worcester
until next Thursday.

poor
der