The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-04-27 00:00:00

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER AT

THE LYE.

At the Stourbridge Petty Sessions, yesterday, before
M . B. L. Freer and J. Holcroft, Thomas Knowles
(40), and Martha Hart, were brought up on remand
charged with attempting to murder David Pritchard, on
the 19th March. At the time of the occurrence Pritch.
are was so ill that his depositions were taken at the time,
and a full report was given in our columns.
Mr. Addison appeared to prosecute, and Mr. Prescott
defended.
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The depoititione made at the time were read over, end
Pritchard was then crosses/mined and self: I have never
stabbed any one. Had been drinking on the Monday.
Had one pint of ale at one o'clock. Had no more until
eight o'clock. Was perfectly sober. Have been charged
with an indecent assault by Hart. Offered her money to
settle it, but was convicted for • common assault, and
fined 10s. I &filmy the woman as bad as robbed ins of
18s. I know John Taylor. He was in the Cock public.
bone.. Was drinking from eight till twelve at Partridge's,
and from twelve o'clock till a quarter to two o'clock. I
had some ale and rum there. Went out to fight with
Taylor in • field. Did not fight with Knowles. On re-
turning from the fight, and when near Nebo Homer's I
saw Knowles on the top of Hill, who said that Knowles
wae cutting his leg off. Did not see a knife at the
time. It was not more than a minute before I was stab-
bed. I then saw the knife in his hand. Several persons
came running up whilst I was on the ground. I was not
pigeon dying on Monday last, but stood by the wall. Did
not see • knife in Hart's baud, or see her attempt to stab
me. Have threatened the prisoner Hart with violence,
because she would not give up Be. After I was stabbed
Creole° Hughes and Joseph Hill carried me home. The
two prisoners resided in the same house.
Hannah Cooper, of the Lye, said she lived near Nebo
Homer's. On the morning of the 19th March I heard a
disturbance, and went to see what was the matter. They
were on the top of David Pritchard. Knowles was on
prosecutor's feet, and Hart was kneeling by, and had hold
of prosecutor's neck. Saw something like a knife in
Knowies's hand, and he struck twice at Pritchard, who
said, " Oh, soy guts are out." After prosecutor had been
struck the first time, Hart said, "Now, All, do it; have
his heart out." I pulled Hait off prosecutor, and
told her she ought to be ashamed of herself. Hari
picked Knowies off the ground, and they went away to-
gether. Thomas Bashford and William Hill were there.
Hill tried to take the knife out of prisoner's hand, and
while attempting to do so said, 'Oh near Oh, he's cut my
hand." Hill's hand was bleeding
. . . . .

-Croinexaminhd : Had not bee; drinking, but bad two

drops that night.
W. Hill, collier, residing at the Lye, said: I was in bed
when I heard " Murder " hooting. Got up and saw the
prosecutor and prisoners wrestling together. . The priso-
ners were on the top of prosecutor. Did not see any.
thing in Knowles'a hands, but felt something. Pritchard
said, William, come and take hold of his knife, for he
has stuck me." Can't say whose hand the knife was in.
It was dark. The knife was drawn through my hand,
which was cut by it. Hart was across prosecutor's neck,
and Knowles was on his legs. Hart said, "Row. All,
while you have got him cut his -- heart out." I
then went after the police.
Pulicesconstable Rea proved apprehending the prisoner.
Robert Luther Bayley, surgeon said: On the 19tit of
March, about three o'clock, I was called to bee prosecu.
tor. I found him suffering from two wounds in the ab-
domen, and one en the back of the head of a minor kind,
and two scratches on the right arm. The worst wound
of the abdomen was on the left side. It was a clean cut
incised wound, half an inch in length, and about two
inches into the cavity of the abdomen. There were from
two to three inches of the intestines protruding, which
were cut and bleeding. Prosecutor was in a state of col-
lapse, and almost pulseless, suffering from the shock.
The wounds were very dangerous. The wound* would
be produced by a knife. They were clean cut. Have
attended the prosecutor up to the present time. He was
quite unable to attend the Court before.
Cross-examined: The wound in the back of the bead
would not be canard by fighting, without a knife being
Used.

lhb oi tong the case for the prosecution,
Mr. Prescott addressed the Bench for defendants, and
denied that the prisoner Knowles stabbed the prosecutor.
Several witnesses were called for the defence, whose
evidence was to the etfict that they did not see the priso-
ner stab prosecutor.
. . . . .

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Both prisoners were cosnmitted to take their (riot e;
the next Wureester Asssizes.