The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-09-07 00:00:00

THE STOMIBBIDGE OBSERVER.

gentlemanly by the prisoner. Did not use any
abusive language. Prisoner said, 'lf I had
done it I should have tied her up by the neck."
The chain produced was buckled round her leg.
The rack joins some steps. She was lying close
to the manger. Her clotheetvere not torn at all,
but were over her head. Shoihad vomited and
the liquor appeared like spirituous liquor—like
whiskey. She appeared exhausted, .and as if
she had had some drink. She was not hurt
badly. She was about 3ft. Gin. from the rack.
A person coming from that direction and tailing
down, could not step into the iron.
William Walters deposed: I 11111 a labourer,
and live at Oldswinford. On Friday night I was
near prisoner's premises, at the back. That
would be about nine o'clock. I heard a cry of
" Murder" hooting very badly, for nearly half
an hour. I went to fetch the policeman, and
returned with him, and entered the stable with
him. I saw Mrs. Griffin fastened up. Her foot
was about four feet from the ground. She was
fastened with a strap and chain. The strap was
fastened to the rack, and the chain round the
woman's leg. I was in the stable until she came
out. Did not hear Mrs. Griffin say anything to
prisoner. Was not in the house
Cross-examined: It was about nine o'clock
when I went for the police. I did not go to
search at lir. Westwood's. I was at the back of
the house. The policeman was at the front. I
heard the cries of " Murder for an hour be-
fure. She cried out, " Come into the stable and
through the tallet." I did not like to go into
the house until the police came. The stable
door where the woman was lying was open. The
woman did not appear drunk, but was much ex-
housted. Did not hear the policeman charge

The

prisoner.
Frederick Westwood deposed: I live at The
Laurels, Oldswinford. In consequence of hear-
ing a noise near my father's house, I went out
and saw Police-constable Hyde. From what he
said to me I went into the prisoner's stable, and
found Mrs, Griffin 'with a chain round her leg.
It was fastened. The strap was fastened to the
top of the rack. Did not hear her cry out. My
brother unbuckled it. Her head and shoulders
were on the ground. I assisted in releasing her,
and she was in a very exhausted state. She
said that her husband had tied her up. Prisoner
previously asked her if he had done so. She
said, "Yea." She also said that prisoner threw
two glasses at her the same day. Prisoner's
house was locked up back and front, lie did
not come out. We burst the door open.
Cross-examined: The staple was fastened to
the manger. Her foot could not possibly catch
in it. Prisoner did not seem :drunk, but per-
fectly sober. She walked lame into the house.
I did not hear Mrs, Griffin tell the defendant she
had done it herself. When the policeman was
going to take him she did not want him to do so,
and said he would be sorry in the morning for
having done it. I did not call Griffin a --
blackguard, or a rogue, nor call him any names
at all.
Henry Owen Westwood deposed: I accompa-
nied the last witness and Police-constable Hyde
to the prisoner's stable, and found Mrs. Griffin
fastened to the stable rack. The chain was
round her leg, and the leather strap round the
top part of the hay rack. I unbuckled the strap
whilst she was slightly lifted up by the police-
man. At first she was unable to speak, and was
exhausted. Within a minute she was able to
stand up. I heard prisoner sap to his wife," You
did it yourself." She replied that he did it.
They kept contradicting each other on that
point.
Cross-examined: In my opinion she was per-
fectly sober. I did not see any liquor on the
floor. I unfastened the strap. I had to get on
to the first or second step. Saw the positon of
her body.
Police-constable Hyde recalled: The staple
was in the manger. I drew it out.
This being the case for the prosecution,
Mr. Eleock addressed the Bench for the de-
fence. He said he should lay evidence before
the Bench in this painful charge—for it was a
very painful case against a man in such a res-
pectable position as Mr. Griffin was. He was a
maltster in the town, and had been a member of
the Stourbridge Board of Guardians for fourteen
years. For souse time past defendant's wife had
been in the habit of drinking, and great un.
pleasantness had resulted from it. At the late
Agricultural Show defendant took the seaond
prize for malt. He went home on Friday, and
found his wife in a state of intoxication. Several
words passed between them, and she went out.
On going out at the front door there are some
steps leading to the loft, and it seems that Mrs.
Griffin has been in the habit of going up to the
loft and sleeping there; sometimes for a week.
She went out about eight o'clock, and as she did
not return her husband locked the door, being
under the impression that she was in the hay
loft. He then went and had some refreshments
and went to bed. He should show the Bench
beyond all doubt that it was either a deliberate
act of the defendant's wife, or that she passed
through the hay loft and went to go into the
house; but finding the front door locked she
returned, and in getting from the hay loft she
fell down the steps and her foot caught in the
chain. He thought he should leave no doubt in
the mind of the Bench that it was either done
by an accident, or the defendant's wife delibe-
rately did it herself. He should call before the
Bench Mr. Webb and defendant's man, and he
hoped that after bearing their evidence the
Bench would not send a man in Mr. Griffin's
respectable position to take his trial on so seri-
ous a charge.
James Webb deposed: I am a commission
agent. On Friday last was with the prisoner's
wife from eleven until seven at night, and re-
turned home with the prisoner, and stayed about
ten minutes. When I got into the house I saw
the prisoner's wife. They had some words about
the malt prize, and I left. Did not see her to
wish her " Good night." She was not sober, nor
drunk, but excited. I married the prisoner's
wife's sister. I have known her to be sober for
three months together, then she would have a
break out.
Hugh Bailey deposed: I am in the employ of
prisoner. On Friday night saw Mrs. Griffin
about eight o'clock. She was drunk, and had
had for some time been of very intemperate
habits, and she would sleep in the bay loft. I
have seen her asleep there on several occasions.
Have seen the strap produced in Court. It is
used for tying up horses. The chain-is always
kept with the strap to the manger, and was in
its usual place. Have sometimes seen it thrown
into the manger. The stapleais at sll times
fastened to the post. The last time a horse was
fastened to the strap was the Wednesday previ-
ous.
Thomas Waldron, farmer, of Clent, said he
was in the habit of using prisoner's stable. Lid
so twice last week; the last time on Thursday.
He fastened the strap round the horse's neck, and
the chain was fastened to the manger. He did
not go into the stable after he fastened the
animal up.
Mr. Elcock intimated that he should iike Mrs.
Griffin called.
Major Fletcher : I do not think it will be ne-
cessary to call Mrs. Griffin. It was a very pain-
ful case. Whatever Mrs. Griffin says I shall
commit Mr. Griffin for trial. I think you had
better reserve her evidence.
Mr. Eleock : What I was going to say is this.
It is very painful to see a woman in that state in
the Court, and I will ask you to adjourn the
ease ,for a short time to hear her evidenae. After
hearing her evidence the case may take a differ-
ent aspect altogether.
Major Fletcher: I am very much inclined to
commit the defendant. I should not do my
duty if I did not send the case for trial before
proper tribunal. I shall send it for trial be-
fore a jury.
Mr. Elcock : I will ask you to admit the de-
fendant to bail.
On being charged defendant said, 'All! want
to say is that I have not done it; that I was in
bed and asleep. lam innocent."
He was then committed to take his trial at
the next Worcester Sessions, bail being allowed
in two sureties of .tlOO each, and himself in
£2OO.