The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1879-05-10 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

COVENTRY DISTRICT PETTY  SESSIONS.  COUNTY HALL, COVENTRY, FRIDAY, MAY 2.—Present— J. Rotherham, Esq., and Jas. Darlington, Esq. (chairman). THE BRUTAL ASSAULT WITH A HAMMER AT FbLzinan.L.— William Copson, hawker, Foleshill, we.* again brought up in custody charged with having, on the 21st April, unlawfully and maliciously wounded his wife, Mary Copson.—ln the course of cross.exintination by Mr..Masser, the complainant stated that she did not remember whether there was a horseshoe in the house. She did not see any one knock defendant on the floor. She did scratch defendant's face in two or three places in the struggle. She had had nothing beside three "two pennyworths of whiskey that day, which were taken at different times. They were on very friendly terms all the day. Her son was not in the house at  - .simiemim  the time, and her husband struck her without any provocation. The blow seemed to be struelt with defendant's full strength.—By Mr. Masser: I only struck defendant when he Was en the topeot the on the floc?. —Samuel Copeon, 15, son of defendant, said that on the day in question about four or five o'clock, whet he returned home, he heard Ms mother call ," Murder,'" and running in he saw the defendant holding his mother by the throat and by the notes. They Were etanding up then. Mr. Perkins came and separated them. His mother then went to the drawers to fetch her bonnet, when big father went to the lireplaee and picked up the hammer produced, and struck his mother on the aide of . the head with the hammer. His mother, fell down, and defendant , then stooped down and struck her again in the same place. Witness tried to pull her father away. Mr. Perkins then came in again and took the hammer off hith. If lie (witness) struck the defepdant It was when he was striking his mother. -131 Mr. Masser: I have heard the matter talked over. 'The first blow he struck was a hard one, but the second Was not. I don't reme,n3ber kicking iny father when he came in.—Frederick Perkins, ahoemaker, of Foleshill, said that on thee day in question he Saw defendant and complainant come up the road arm in arm. He had got hold of her arm at the time. About half an hour after they had gone into home he heard a scream of "Murder." When he went no he saw the boy Samuel kick his father on the leg. The defendant had got Mrs. Copson by the nose, and she had hold of him by the side of the cheek. They were both shouting " Murder." Witness did not see a horse shoe used. /30'.1n4yr One on the floor near the door. When he had gone ont and got a distance away a girl named North said " Run, Fred, for Mr. Copson is using the hammer." He ran in and took the hammer off the defendant, who then sat down. Mrs. Copson was on the floor. His (witness's) wife came in then, and he left at once.—Eliza North, called, said that she saw the defendant strike the eemplainant through the window. She spoke to the previous witness, in consequence of which he went in and took the hammer from defendant.—Tbe defendant's solicitor made a short speech in his defence, and the Magistrates, considering that a prima facie case had been made out, committed tne prisoner for trial at the Quarter Sessions.—Mr. Mauer stated that the prisoner would prefer being tried at the Assizes, as, if be waited for the Sessions, he would be in prison twO months before he was tried. The Chairman said the prisoner would not be tried at the assizes, unless the Judge asked for a gaol delivery. It was not desirable to put these cakes into the assize calendar, so he would take his trial at the Quarter Sessions. —Mr. Mason then made an application for bail, saying that it would be a ,serious matter to his client to have to wait in gaol for two roonths.—Mr. Darlington observed that the case was a very serious one, and the prisoner would probably get more than two months if the magistrates dealt with it.—Mr. Masser said that although there might be a prima facie ease against the accused, he objected to the prisoner being considered guilty before he was tried.—The prisoner was then committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions, bail being refused.