The Blackpool Herald. — 1875-03-12 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

DRUNK WHILST IN CHARGE OF A HORSE. William Orinerod, saddler, of Kirkham, was summoned for being drunk whilst in charge of a horse and conveyance.—P.C. Smith deposed to seeing the defendant in Belle Vue-square, on the 27th ult. He was very drunk, and quite incapable of controlling the horse of which he had charge. He fell out of the trap. —The defendant was fined ss. and costs. -  A Froirr AT A "WAKE, "—Margaret Martin was brought up in custody charged with unlawfully wounding another Irishwoman named Sarah Hammelt.—The complainant, who appeared in court with a bandage on her head, said that on the 27th of February she went to a " wake " at 10, Orderslane, Kirkham, where the prisoner lodged. When she had been in the house a short time the prisoner commenced to quarrel with her. After some words had passed between them the prisoner went into the back kitchen, and returned with a poker, with which she struck her twice on the head. She tried to take the poker from her, and she then struck her three times on the shoulder. The policeman came, and she was taken to Dr. Walker, who exampled her head. The doctor had attended her her since then, and she had been confined to her bed. Her apron was covered with blood from the wounds on her head.—Julia Cafferty, residing at 9, Orders-lane, Kirkham, said she was at a "wake" at Donnelly's, on Saturday, the 27th ult. When she was upstairs she heard the prisoner and complainant quarrelling. On going down stairs she saw them standing near the door leading from the kitchen to the back kitchen, and saw the prisoner strike Hammen with the poker: She ran to tell Mrs. Donnelly, and when she returned she saw them standing near the coal place holding each other by the hair. Sha separated them and then ran off. Margaret N utter, widow, living at 10, Orders-lane, Kirkham, said she lodged at the sanie house as the prisoner. She was present on the night in question when Hammen came into the lodging-house. They  ommenced quarrelling. Martin flung her child down, and Hammell asked if she wanted to fight, and Martin replied that she did not. Martin went into the back kitchen and pulled off her jacket, but on Hammell again asking her if she wanted to fight she said she did not. Hammen said that if she wanted to fight she would "Put her on the bushes for a week, until Scotty pulled her off." The prisoner then went into the back kitchen, and returned with the poker, with which she struck her twice on the head. She (witness) called out that they were going to commit murder, and Julia Cafferty came and separated them.—Margaret Donnelly, the keeper of the lodging-house, said that she heard the bother when she was upstairs, and she went down to order the complainant to leave the house, but she replied that she would please herself.—John Davidson Walker, physician and surgeon, of Kirkham, said the woman Hammell was brought to his house at half-past eleven o'clock on the 27th ult. He examined her head and found two contused wounds, each measuring two and. a half inches in length. One laid bare the skull, but the other was a superficial wound. The complainant lost a deal of blood. An attack of erysipelas followed, and the woman was in a very precarious condition for three days.—P.O. Helm deposed to going to the lodging-house, and finding Hammell covered with blood. He took her to her residence and had the blood washed off, and then accompanied her to Dr. Walker's. He afterwards apprehended the prisoner at the same lodging-house. She made no reply when charged with the offence. —The prisoner was committed to take her trial at the ensuing Quarter Sessions.