The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-27 00:00:00

Shocking Case of Cruelty to a Wife•

At the Clerkenwell Police-court, yesterday, George
Price, a well-dressed man, of respectable address and ex-
terior, was charged before Mr. Barker, the sitting magis-
trate, with causing the death of Frances Price, his wife, on
the 22d August last, in the parish of St. Mary, Islington.
The prisoner exhibited much nervousness and restless
anxiety during the whole of the protracted investigation.
Mr. ehipperfield appeared to conduct the case for the
prosecution, and, in opening the facts to the magistrate,
stated that he was instructed by the Marquis Townshend
to submit the case, which would be found to be of great
importance. The prisoner was charged with having caused
the death of his wife, not by any immediate act of violence,
but by a long-continued series of acts of cruelty and bru-
tality towards her. The prisoner was by profession a line
engraver, in which ho earned not less than £2 per week.
The deceased lady, his wife, had been the mother of five
children by the prisoner, and in May, 1864, the prisoner,
his wife, and children, were living together at 7, Offord-
road, Barnsbury, in the parish of Islington. It would be
shown that about that time she was attacked with violent
pains, and these continuing, medical advice was sought for,
and Dr. Sewell was called in, who discovered the existence
of a deeply seated abscess. He directed the nurse, a Mrs.
Rice, to continue the application continually of linseed
meal poultices, expressing his fears that if the abscess burst
internally it would produce fistula and Other still worse
effects. The woman would prove that she could not obtain
even ld. from the prisoner to purchase the linseed meal,
and the result was that the abscess did burst internally,
and that both fistula and cancer followed, the poor lady
suffering excruciating torments. The nurse, Mrs. Rice,
had remained with the sufferer six months, and would
describe several acts of violence committed during the
whole of that time by the prisoner on his wife, such as
seizing her by the wrist, trying to drag her out of bed,
pushing her head against the wall, leaving her hair en-
tangled in some nails, and at other times throwing her
back with gloat violence upon the sofa on which in her
sufferings she reclined. But the cruelties dated from the
month of May, 1864, and continued up to the date of
her death. Her mental anguish was increased by the
brutal language used to her by the prisoner, who did
not hesitate to tell her that he wished she was dead,
that he would light candles to show her soul the way
to hell, that he had measured her grave, and that the cer-
tificate of her death was already drawn up and prepared.
Dr. Sewell attended her for nine months, and at last Mr.
Gowland, the eminent surgeon of St. Mark's Hospital,
was called in, and pronounced the case to be one of the
worst of fistula he ever saw. During the whole of this time
it would be proved tho prisoner used language to his wife
which was perfectly horrible. Further than this, in sup-
port of the present charge against the prisoner, it would be
shown that a person labouring under such severe and cruel
disorders required a large amount of generous nourishment
and stimulants to prevent the disease from passing into
the system with increased rapidity,but instead of supplying
those necessary and essential wants, the prisoner expended
his own earnings in drink for himself, and one week all he
gave to the nurse for her and his wife's sustenance was
ls. 11d. It would be proved that the unfortunate deceased
was constantly calling and craving for food, and on one
occasion it would be indisputably established that the pri-
soner took from his pocket a is. piece, and holding it up
jeeringly, asked her if she would not like to have it, and
at the same time refused her any food. Towards the latter
part of her life, a neighbour, Mr. Lynch, and her brother,
were in the practice of leaving money with the nurse to
procure and provide for her wants in the way of food,
wino, and brandy, as ordered by the doctor, but it would
seem that these provisions were consumed by the prisoner,
although they had been provided and prepared for the use
of his suffering wife. He (Mr. Chipperfield) should con-
tend that all these facts tended to strengthen and support
the charge now preferred against the prisoner, but there
still remained unnumbered acts of brutality practised by
the prisoner towards his wife ; for instance, she was
ordered the constant use of the hip bath in the course of
the last winter, and it became necessary that to have re-
course to it in the extremely cold weather she should have
the comfort of a warm fire, but though coals had been sup-
plied by her brother, still the prisoner not only refused to
have the fire lighted but actually raked it out after it had
been lighted by the nurse in attendance upon the patient.
Now, he should contend that, these•facts being proved,
would justify and sustain a charge of manslaughtmanslaughter.Evidence in support of the charge was then given, and
the prisoner was remanded, bail being refused.

A RETREAT AT ALDERSlloT.—Yesterday, at a
field-day of the troops of the Aldershot division,
Lieutenant-General Sir John rennefather carried out the
details of a sham fight and a retreat on an extensive scale
on themaarputtolvsroiltfiovisitors
a v
zto
iml
-
in the presence of several distinguished visitors. The
troops formed up at half-past ten o'clock oa Eelmore-hill,
and marched past immediately
about that hour. They then took ground preparatory to
resisting the attack of a supposed enemy advancing Tr o
Portsmouth, and who had occupied a strop
Sir John'
able for a descent on the camp. The
troops lasted some hours, and was of a very •
as it isilbgeolifevthede
interesting
nature. The weather was magnificent throughout. Some
interest was attached to the proceedings
this will be the last field-day
conduct at Aldershot, his mars, Pennefather will
,uict expiring shortly.

-•\
Cr,gurt ICM UlEHOvular
•

HER MAJESTY.

-4.-
BALMORAL, Sept. 23.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louis of
llesse and Princess Helena, and attended by Lady
Churchill, drove round to Loch Bulig, and came
back by Gairnsheil.
Sir Charles Wood arrived at the Castle in the
evening.

SEPT. 24.

The Queen, with Prince and Princess Louis of
Hesse, Princess Helena, and Princess Louise, at-
tended Divine service in the parish church of Crathie
in the morning.
The Rev. D. M'Leod, of Linlithgow, officiated.
Lady Churchill and Colonel the lion. D. F. de
Ros were in attendanCe.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, with Princess
Hilda of Anhalt and Prince John of Holstein-
Glucksburg, had luncheon with her Majesty.
Sir Charles Wood had the honour of dining with
the Queen and royal family.