Northern Times. — 1857-06-25 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

BRUTAL MURDER OF A WIFE.  On Monday, at the sitting of the magistrates at Stratford, Michael Crawley, a labourer, an ill looking old man, aged 62, was examined on a charge of having murdered his wife, Mary Crawley, aged 62, by beating in her skull with a bill-hook. The unhappy couple lived in Well-street, Stratford. The prisoner was a jobbing labourer, and two or three days last week was employed haymaking on Hackney-marshes. He was of drunken habits, and had before been in custody for ill-treating his wife, who went about selling small parcels of greengrocery. On Friday night he came home after expending the wages be had earned during the day. On the following Saturday morning, after partaking of breakfast, he demanded Is 6d which he seems to have known his wife had about her. She re_ fused it, having to purchase her small stock of green. grocery, he muttered some strong language to her, and a married daughter, Mrs. Willy, who was living in the saw house with them, stated that he vowed " he would do " for her if she did not comply with his wish. The daughter did not think seriously about his threat, as he had often threatened her, and left about half-past eight o'clock for the purpose of buying a few articles. She returned at half-past nine, and on going up to her mother's bedroom, found her lying on the floor in a pool of blood. The old woman's head had been frightfully battered in in several places, and a portion of the brain protruded. The daughter immediately gave the alarm, and the neighbours and police came to her aid. The deceased was found to be breathing, although quite insensible. The prisoner was nowhere to be found. He had left the house, and the neighbours stated that they saw him leave the place in rather a hurried manner and proceed towards Temple-mills, a direction different from that in which he was apprehended. The deceased's dress showed that she had had a severe struggle, and her pocket containing the is 6d and some duplicates was torn out. On search being made for the weapon which had been used by the prisoner, the daughter found in a cupboard in the room a heavy iron chopper, the edges of which were covered with blood, with portions of hair adhering to it. Dr. Valiance. surgeon, of Stratford. was promptly in attendance, and on examining the deceased 17 cuts were found about her head and body. It was thought that the prisoner had at first struck at her head with the bill-hook part of the chopper, and having succeeded in rendering her insensible, which would account for no screams being heard by the neighbours, he cut at her in his frenzy in all directions. She was removed to the union, and lived till the following morning, although unconscious. Early yesterday morning police-officer 18 K. came up with the prisoner in the Ilford-road, a short distance beyond Stratford, and immediately apprehended him. His clothes were wet, and he stated that he had fallen into a ditch. He was conveyed to tae West-Ham police-station, and on being informed by Sergeant Walker, 18 K, of the serious charge against him and cautioned in the usual terms, he replied, dropping his head in a careless manner, " It is a bad job ; I have done it, and I was coming to the station to give myself up." He further added that he had taken the Is 6d from the deceased's pocket. and that he had burnt the pawnbrokers duplicates. Dr. Valiance gave evidence of the wounds inflicted on the unfortunate woman, and the bill-hook with which the deed was committed was produced, and was besmeared with blood and hair. In answer to the Bench, as to whether the prisoner wished to say anything to the charge, he made no reply. The magistrates then remanded him to Ilford Gaol to await the result of the coroner's inquest.