The Express.
London, England, 1857-06-23 00:00:00

MURDER OP d WOMAN BY HER HUSBAND.

Yesterday, before the magiatrates at Stratford, in
Michael Crawley, a labourer, an ill-looking ;inn,
aged r 2, was examined on the charge of hoeing murdered his
wife, Mary Crawley, aged 62, by beating in her skull with a
billhook. The unhappy couple lived in Well-street, Strat-
ford, a locality principally occupied by the low Irish. The
Cl:crwan a jobtring labourer, and on two or three days
eek was employed haymaking on Hackney Menthes.
lie was of drunken habit., and had once been in custody tar
ill-treating his wile, who went about selling email parcels of
ry. On Friday night be (Arne home after expend-
ErMie"Z:tetges be had earned during the day. On the follow-
ing morning (Saturday), after taking his breakfast, he de-
manded It. Od., which he teemed to have learned that his
wile had about her. Sho refused to give it bite, having to
purehase her small Flock of greengrocery. He then mut-
tered some chaplets language ageonat her; and a married
daughter, Mrs. Wills, who war living in the same
house with there, stated that he vowed he would "do
for" hie wife if she did not comply with his wish. The
daughter did not think very seriously about his
threat, So he woe often in the habit of doing en, and left
about half-past ft for the purpose of baying a few articles.
She returned et half-past J, and on going up to her mother's
bedroom she was horror-etricken et findtng her Tomtit lying
on the floor in a pool of blood. Tho old wmutitia hot
had been frightfully battered in in several pineal, and a
portion of the brain protruded through one of the wounds.
She immediately gave the alarm, and the neighbours and
police came to Ler aid. The woman was still breathing,
although quite insensible. The murderer was newhere to
be found; he bad left the hones; and the neighbours
stated Diet they saw him leave the place in rather a bunted
manner, end prorervt towards Temple Mills, in a different
direction to that of the place where he war apprehended.
The deeeseed'a dress showed that she had had a severs
struggle, and bee poi-bet, onitaining the In 6d. and worse
duplicates, wan torn out. On search being made for the
weapon which had been used by the prisoner, the daughter
(ewe! in a cupboard in the roam a heavy iron billhook, or
chopper, the edges of which were covered with blood, with
portion. of the old woman's hair adhering to it. lie.
Valiance, surgeon, of Stretford was promptly in attendance,
and on examtnuag the deceased no lees than 17 cute were
found about her head and body. It was thought that the
prisoner had at first struck at her bead with the " bill-hook"
port of the chopper, and having succeeded in rendering bar
inemiaible, a Lob would acrennt for no PaealiiB being beard
by the neighbour., he ant at her in his frenzy in all direc-
tions. She W. removed to the union, and, notwithstanding
her frightful injuries, she lived till the following morning,
although TOW UnCOI2PCIOrta The mounted polite ecoured
the country in all directions for the ptinoner without meeting
Min. Early yesterday morning, however, police meter
I lit K eame up with him in the Ilford-road, a short distance
beyond Stratford, and immediately apprehended him. Hie
elirthes were wet, and ha stated flat he had folhoi Into
a ditch. lie wait conveyed to the West lion polar-station,
anti on being informed by Serjesnt Walker, IS K, of the
. rations eluoge egainst him, and cautioned him in the usual
terms, he replied dropping his head in an indifferent manner.
• " leis a Lad jot,: I have done it, and I Rao cooling to thi
. station to give myself up." lie further added that ho had
taken the le. GI. to the de easel's pocket, and that he had
burnel the pawnitruker's
Dr. Valiance gave evidence as to the wounds inflicted oc
the unfortunate women, and the billhook was produced.
It was besmeared with blood and hair, and its exhibition
i created touch horror. . .

Being aekol whether ho wi,holl to say anything to the
charge, the prisoner said, " Nothing."
The nocisi ode then romanded him to Ilford Gaul to await
the email of tha coronae' ingueet.