The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-07-06 00:00:00

THE BERMONDSEY WIFE MURDER.

At the Sonthwark pollee court, James David
Rogers, a man charged with murdering his wife by
cutting her throat, was again brought up for ex-
arnination,--The wound in prisoner's throat had healed
up, but he was still exceedingly weak.— The verdict of
wilful murder found by the coroner's j ry having been
handrd into the magistrate, Inspector Watvon
rail
there war: no more evidence to offer except a statement,
made by the deceased, taken at Guy's Hospital, on
Sunoay morrong. the 23rd ultimo, which was then put
in awl read as follows :
Sly name Is Sarah Margaret Rogers. I conscientiously be-
lieve lam dying. I recollect last Monday morning. I was
to bad at daybreak with my y,,,y on my arm On my left side
—the able I 11111 110 w I had been asleep, but Was not
thoronahly a,vake. I heard my hit, bent say something Wit
I don't know what it was, 11,, I WO no tired. I partly rdsed
eelf in toil to pat the ba,.y off my arm, when lily hus-
band's arm came ri I my neck. and I felt a cut
and a violent blow. I knew it was a res .r, as it was so
sharp. I called to my little girl Eliza, Your father has
cut nip throat." ant she railed Mr. Daffy, the tinolord. and
'sir. iglit, the lodger. I struggled filittle with my husband
to protect my baby from hi is, and when the landlord
and lodger were come into tho r mm, n,y hushanil Bahl,
"Don't go out. Nobody will know anything about it." Then I
felt deluged in blood, and I got out of bed into the passage,
and sat on the street-door step. I think the cold stones a' my
feet brought me to and then a policeman came and went
into the house, and said, "Detain the man" I don't know
who fetched Dr. Moore. Ile came tome, and sent for some-
body from the hospital, and I was taken there on a stretcher.
Eliza and my little h.)), Billy were in the room when he struck
me, and the bbmi spurted over them like from a pail. Be-
tween twelve and one .'clock, when I first got into bed, my
husband tried to choke me with his thumb an.l finger.
We had wme words about my frock being dirty when I
went not with him to the Victoria Park. lie said I wee
lazy and might have done it up. It was not dirty. We met
the landlord, Mr Duffy. in the park, and had some ginger beer
with hnn, Myhoshanil was perfectly sober, as he had signed the
pledge some time previous, and we went home comfortably
together. Ile was strange in his manner, hut we had no
quarrel that day. Ile used to tell me, "I thought of some-

body else than he." I told him I did not. I had notholight
of wrong to him. I thought there was fwenethiug the matter
with hie mind. I have thought no for some months. My
brother-iu-law, William, some time ago advised me to go to
a magistrate and have him put away. He had let his shop
and could not get another, and I think that preyad on hLs
mind. Ile used to say I got him out of it. I stabbed him
with a knife about four month. ago became he called me a
bad name. I told him I wioild sooner be locked up before
mc left the Bermondsey New-road. It was with a little
knife, nod I told him I would rather have seven years to get
away from him. It was only a slight rut on the wrist. If
led me a dreadful life. That is all I have got to say."—
I Signed, SARAH MARGARET Ron Ells, her mark.

,
On the conch:Am of the reading if the depositions,
the magistrate gave the prisoner the usual caution,
and asked him if he had anything to say hi answer to
the change. He WWI charged with the wilful mnriler
of his wife.—The Prisoner (who was extremely deaf),
in an excited nianner, said : I want to see my wife.
Let me see my wife, Sir.

The Magistrate said he could not aid him in that
matter. Did he wish to say anything in answer to the
charge ?—nisoner : I have nothing to say. Let me
see my wife, your Worship.
The Magistrate asked him if he had any witnesses
to call? —Prisoner : No. I want to see my wife. Let
me see my wife, Sir.
The Magistrate told him he could not assist him.
As he had no amiwer to make to the charge, nor wit-
nesse:it to call, it was his tidy to commit him to New-
gate for trial for the wilful murder of his wife.
The primmer then left the dock, and was removed in
a cab to the county gaol.