The Express. — 1853-02-12 (London, England)

BOW-STREET. John Fitsgerald, a carpenter, was brought before Mr. Jardine for final examination, charged with stabbing and wounding his wife with intent to kill her. The prisoner lived with Lis wife and two children at 7, Eagle court, Catharine-street, Strand. Between 12 and 1 o'clock in the morning of the 30th tilt., the neighbours were alarmed by cries of " murder," and the shrieks of children; and the same noises were heard by a mace named Broadsheet, • shoemaker, who lodged in the attic of the tame house, but who (ke said) " was so accustomed to hear the cry of murder in that neighbourhood, at all hours of the nifht, that ho did rot think it worth his while to get out of bed and see what was the matter," until he was informed that • woman had been stabbed. Mary Jenks, a married woman living in the adjoining court (Angel-court) was induced, however, to leave her bed for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of the disturbance, especially as the cries for help appeared to grow wealicr, as if from • woman in a state of exhaustion. On reaching the court 'Wound a woman sitting on the door-step of the house adjoining the one from which the crias had just emanated, and she appeared in a fainting condition. It was discovered that she was bleeding from a wound in her breast, and from another in her neck. Mrs. Jenks asked her who had done it, and ahe replied, in a weak voice, "My husband—my husband." By this time • young surgeon, two or three other persons, and a policeconstable, had reached the spot, end the woman, having been pronounced by the surgeon to be in a sinking state, was removed to King's College Hospital. The constable then proceeded to the room occupied by the prisoner, at 7, Esgle•court, and, knocking outside, requested to he let in. The prisoner opened the door, and -Broadsheet, who had come down stairs, was also admitted; but he said nothing to either of them in answer to the charge. lie ap• peared under the influence of drink. After he bad been taken into custody, the room was entered by the landlady of the house and another woman, who found the prisoner's two children there. The eldest, a little girl about 12, told them that her father had stabbed her mother with the auger on the mantel-piece. They looked, and found the t.fol lying there. It was a long, sharp instrument, and Broadsheet noticed two small pieces of flesh adhering to it. Some spots of blood had also been observed upon the prisoner's fare.  - - On the following merning (Monday), the medical officers of the hospital being of opinion that the woman was in a dying state, her deposition was taken before Mr. Jardine; but, although supposed to be upon her dying bed, she declared that the ii.juries she had sustained were caused accidentally. She stated that she and her husband had gone home late, and not being able to get into their room, as he had lost the key, be tried to pick the leek with a gimlet; but it slipped somehow, and went into her. After the expiration of about tea days, however, she was sufficiently recovered to leave the hospital, and was, consequently, pre-ent at the exemination yesterday. She now gave another version of the story, stating that .he snatched the gimle: oat of her husband's hands, and then fell down stairs ; that ho never laid hands upon her once; and that, after the fall, she went up stairs again, and placed the gimlet upon the mantel-pice. Mr. Jardine reminded her that she had already told a different story, and that if she did not speak the truth, she was liable to be prosecuted fur perjury. The wife (Sarah Fitzgerald) then said .1 may have been light headed at the hospital. Whatever I said then, what I s,y to-day is the truth." The prisoner said nothing to the charge, relying—es appeared front some questions which ho put to his wife— upon her statement for his defence. The witnesses were then bound over to give evidence against the prisoner, upon bis trial ; the deposition of the surgeon, who was unable to attend, to be added at a future day. The prisoner was accordingly committed.  A