Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-25 00:00:00

BRUTAL MURDER OF A WIFE.

On Monday, at the sitting of the magistrates at Strat-
ford, Michael Crawley, a labourer, an ill looking old man,
aged 62, was examined on a charge of having murdered
his wife, Mary Crawley, aged 62, by beating in her skull
with a bill-hook. The unhappy couple lived in Well-street,
Stratford. The prisoner was a jobbing labourer, and two
or three days last week was employed haymaking on
Hackney-marshes. He was of drunken habits, and had
before been in custody for ill-treating his wife, who went
about selling small parcels of greengrocery. On Friday
night he came home after expending the wages be had
earned during the day. On the following Saturday morn-
ing, after partaking of breakfast, he demanded Is 6d which
he seems to have known his wife had about her. She re_
fused it, having to purchase her small stock of green.
grocery, he muttered some strong language to her, and a
married daughter, Mrs. Willy, who was living in the saw
house with them, stated that he vowed " he would do "
for her if she did not comply with his wish. The daughter
did not think seriously about his threat, as he had often
threatened her, and left about half-past eight o'clock for
the purpose of buying a few articles. She returned at
half-past nine, and on going up to her mother's bedroom,
found her lying on the floor in a pool of blood. The old
woman's head had been frightfully battered in in several
places, and a portion of the brain protruded. The
daughter immediately gave the alarm, and the neighbours
and police came to her aid. The deceased was found to
be breathing, although quite insensible. The prisoner
was nowhere to be found. He had left the house,
and the neighbours stated that they saw him leave
the place in rather a hurried manner and proceed
towards Temple-mills, a direction different from that
in which he was apprehended. The deceased's dress
showed that she had had a severe struggle, and
her pocket containing the is 6d and some duplicates
was torn out. On search being made for the weapon
which had been used by the prisoner, the daughter
found in a cupboard in the room a heavy iron chopper, the
edges of which were covered with blood, with portions
of hair adhering to it. Dr. Valiance. surgeon, of Strat-
ford. was promptly in attendance, and on examining the
deceased 17 cuts were found about her head and body.
It was thought that the prisoner had at first struck at
her head with the bill-hook part of the chopper, and
having succeeded in rendering her insensible, which
would account for no screams being heard by the
neighbours, he cut at her in his frenzy in all directions.
She was removed to the union, and lived till the following
morning, although unconscious. Early yesterday morning
police-officer 18 K. came up with the prisoner in the
Ilford-road, a short distance beyond Stratford, and
immediately apprehended him. His clothes were wet, and
he stated that he had fallen into a ditch. He was conveyed
to tae West-Ham police-station, and on being informed by
Sergeant Walker, 18 K, of the serious charge against him
and cautioned in the usual terms, he replied, dropping his
head in a careless manner, " It is a bad job ; I have done
it, and I was coming to the station to give myself up."
He further added that he had taken the Is 6d from the
deceased's pocket. and that he had burnt the pawnbrokers
duplicates. Dr. Valiance gave evidence of the wounds
inflicted on the unfortunate woman, and the bill-hook with
which the deed was committed was produced, and was be-
smeared with blood and hair. In answer to the Bench, as
to whether the prisoner wished to say anything to the
charge, he made no reply. The magistrates then remanded
him to Ilford Gaol to await the result of the coroner's in-
quest.