The Commonwealth. — 1867-06-22 (London, England)

ALLEGED WIFE MURDER IN HOLBORN. William Egan, a hawker, living at 19, King's-headcourt, Holborn, was brought up on Friday, at the London Guildhall, before Mr. Alderman Lawrence, charged with causing the death of his wife. Robert Child, 282, said that on the previous night, about eleven o'clock, the prisoner came to him at the Smithfield Police-station, and said that he had had a quarrel with his wife, and they had a scuffle, and he gave her a smack on the face. She took the poker to strike him, and he took it from her and struck her with it on the left side. Whether it hit her on his taking it from her, or whether he hit her with it he could not say, but she was dead. He then stopped the prisoner from saying any more. He took him before Inspector Everett, and afterwards he went with the inspector to the prisoner's residence. In the front room on the first floor they found the prisoner's wife lying dead. She was undressed, lying on her back on a mattress, a rug thrown over her. Her head was propped up on a pillow, her jaws were tied up with a piece of rag, and her legs were tied together. The room did not bear the appearance of a scuffle having taken place there. There was very little furniture in the room, but the poker he produced he found in the fire-place. There was no appearance of blood upon it nor were there any marks visible on the woman.  Mr. Charles Thomas Everett, City inspector of police at Smithfield station, said he went with the last witness to the prisoner's house and saw the body in the presence of Dr. Reed, of Fleet-street. Dr. Reed told him, after examining the body, that he could see no external marks of violence, and he could not tell the cause of death until he had made a post-mortem examination. Witness went back to the station with the officer, and then the prisoner said he was desirous of making a statement. He cautioned the prisoner that what he said would be taken down in evidence and used against him. Nevertheless, he persisted in his desire to make the statement, which was accordingly taken down in writing and signed by the prisoner.  - The following is the statement :—" Smithfield Policestation, June, 13th, 1867.-1, William Egan (aged 63 years), No. 19, King's Head-court, Holborn-hill, says that I was in bed when my wife Catherine Egan came home, a little atter 10 o'clock to-night. My son, William Egan (aged nine years), came to bed to me. I asked him whetl4.er his mother had any sign of drink on her, and he said, Yes.' Then I (William Egan) got up and saw my wife: sitting in a chair, with her head lying on the table. I woke her up, and asked her whether she had any money to send for some errands; for there was no bread for the children. She said, You —, where is your money ; ' I said I had none, and she said she had none. I asked her then whether she had been at work to-day, and she said no, because she was only an odd woman. I then asked her what she had done with the girl's money; she then said she would give me no satisfaction of what she had. I then attempted to get at the pocket of her dress, to see whether she had any money. Then she made an attempt to clow my face; then I caught kohl of her hands, and I gave her a clout on the face with my open hand. She then caught hold of the fire-shovel, and I wrenched that away from her ; then she caught hold of the poker and attempted to strike me with it; then I wrenched the poker away from her, and drawed it back, hitting her on the side under the arm. She was then standing up; immediately afterwards she sat down in a chair, and fainted away. I at once got some water which was in the room and gave to her, and she drank some. I then rubbed her temples with a little vinegar, and laid her on a mattress in the room, and then went for a doctor, but not getting one, I returned home and found my wife dead. I then got my daughter, Eliza Egan (17 years of age), to come with me to Smithfield Police-station, and gave myself up to the police. Signed by