Widnes Examiner. — 1890-08-09 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THE RAINFORD MURDER.  In the trial at Liverpool Assizes, yesterday week, of John Duckworth Pickavance, and his wife, Mary Jane Pickavance, for the murder of Henry Granger Foster, at Rainford, the following evidence was given in addition to that which appeared in our columns last week :—Dr. James Barr, medical officer of the Kirkdale Prison, said he had daily opportunity of seeing the male prisoner between the 17th and 27th of July. He seemed to him an excitable, irritable, and very passionate Man, but still he could find no evidence of insanity,or delusions, or hallucinations. In every respect he seemed to know the nature and import of the act, and he also seemed to be able to control his actions and to discriminate between right and wrong.—By Mr. M'Keand : It was frequently the case that a man might be temporarily insane. Irrespective of the crime, he thought it would be almost impossible to get two medical men to certify this man as insane. Certainly he would not at the present time sign a certificate of lunacy.—This closed the case for the prosecution.—Mr. M'Keand said he would call his witnesses first and then address the jury.—Elizabeth Preston, wife of John Preston,and sister of the male prisoner, said that when he lived next to her she noticedthat he was strange in his manner in many respects. He was always complaining about his head. He would come into their house sometimes, stand quite still without saying anything, and then go track into his own house. He was strange with them all. He would stare straight at the wall, then go into the house, and picking up some pots would throw them against a wall. Her younger brother had always been very simple. There had been three deaf mutes in the family, and her father had another son who had always been strange, sitting and talking to himself all the night through. The male prisoner was of a religious turn of mind, and went frequently to the Salvation Army.— William Bullock, relieving officer of the Prescot Union, said he had known the prisoner's family all his life, and gave corroborative evidence of the strange behaviour of some of its members. One of the relatives had to be confined in an imbecile ward.—Dr. Egerton Francis Hall, medical officer of the Prescot Union, was called and corroborated the facts as to the confinement of a member of the family in an imbecile ward.—Dr. J. Barlow, physician at Prescot, said the prisoner consulted him as to his condition. He complained of pains in his head and of hearing voices. He came to the conclusion the man was not of sound mind.—John Hobbins, watchmaker, said the male prisoner was a particular friend of his. He was always complaining about his head being numbed, and he told him that he was paying about 4s. 6d. a week for medicine.—Ellen Carroll, a married woman, spoke of the prisoner complaining about his head, and of his having a strange look.—John Preston, brother-in-law to John Pickavance, said he was a sober, well-conducted young man.—Annie Haigh, living near to the prisoners, said she showed him a story in a paper the day before the murder. He said he would write a story and call it" The Holy Stocking," and then asked his wife for the pen and ink with which to write it.—H. Hackett, shoemaker, said he worked with the prisoner at one time, and then he used frequently to complain of pains in his head. He used to have a revolver, and the first time he slept with him he shot it through the window twice.— After the speeches for the defence and a lengthy summing up by the Judge the jury retired at 9.45 p.m. to consider their verdict. Shortly after half-past twelve on Saturday morning the jury returned into court with a verdict of not guilty against the male prisoner, John Pickavance, on account of insanity, and he was ordered Ito be confined during her Majesty's pleasure. Mrs. Pickavance was acquitted. At a quarter to one o'clock Mrs. Pickavance, in company of her sister and an aunt, left the St. George's Hall by the entrance opposite Lime-st. Station. It was raining at the time, and there was a crowd of between eighty and ninety people gathered on the steps. Mrs. Pickavance and her two relatives entered a cab, and gave directions to drive to Huron. When the cab left the hall the crowd cheered and then a number of men ran after the cab, cheering as it moved along Lime-st. to London-rd. A large force of police were present. The male prisoner was shortly afterwards removed to Kirkdale gaol.