The Forest of Dean Examiner : — 1875-01-01 (Blakeney, Gloucestershire, England)

STABBING IN WOL ERHAMPTON. At the Wolverhampton Borough Police Court, on Monday (before Sir. J. Morris and J. Moreton), a puddler s labourer, named William Dirkin, working at the Chillington Iron Company, was charged with catting, and wounding Edward Marlow, who appeared in court with his bead bandaged.—Complainant stated that on Saturday night, at about half-past nine, the prisoner, a man named John Kean, and himself were "having some words together" at the lodging house in Stafford-street, late the Old Crown Inn, kept by Joseph Lees (where they all lodged), when he called the prisoner an" uncultivated beast." Upon this Dirkin struck him a violent blow on the lip with his fist. Prosecutor retaliated, and a fight ensued. They were parted, but after a short interval they again fought, and while he was down prosecutor noticed that the prisoner had a large clasp-knife in his hand, with which Dirkin afterwards stabbed him several times in the face —the worst gash being one close by the left eye. The prisoner was pulled off witness, and the knife was taken from him.—John Kean deposed to seeing the fight, and to holding the prisoner's arms while a man named Goodman got hold of the knife.—Police-inspector Thomas stated that shortly after ten on the night in question he went to the lodging. house, but at that time the prisoner was in the custody I of ,'olice-constables Cumming and Goulden. He saw the prosecutor in the passage with his face covered with blood, and he had him conveyed to the borough police surgeon. He subsequently received the knife produced from the witness Kean. At the police station, when charged, prisoner claimed the knife.—Police-constable Cumming said that about twenty minutes past ten on Saturday night, he saw the prisoner and the complainant struggling at their lodgings. The prisoner Wm on the top of the complainant, and witness pulled him off. At the time the prosecutor was bleeding profusely from the face. Dirkin was arrested, and ori the way to the station, he said, "I'll tight till I die before I'll be bested." The officer told him that he should not fight with his knife, when prisoner mid, "It was only my little pocket knife." On Sunday, when charged with stabbing she complainant, prisoner replied, "Marlow came in; he had been drinking, and when he came in he abused me, because I would not take him some drink upstairs. He and his friend commenced quarrelling. I had my little jack knife in my hand, and I struck him with it." In answer to the Bench, Dirkin now said, "I had my knife hi ray hand, paring my nails. But I did not strike him with my knife first."—Mr. Love, surgeon, deposed to examining the complainant on Saturday night. There were eight incised wounds on the head and face, which might have been inflicted by the knife produced. The most dangerous cut wan one across the left eyelid, exposing the eye. If this wound had been upwards instead of downwards it would have caused death. The prisoner was committed for trial at the ensuing borough sessions.  Hugh Daley w. executed at Durham ou Monday for the murder of Philip Hardy in November la..  lee Te'eerepli Compeey, seut fly Beynell, agem. et • Madeira. When the Oospatrick caught fire on the llth