The Sun. — 1841-07-30 (London, England)

TADDY.) Thomas Pilbeam, aged 32, by trade a gunmaker, was indicted for cutting the throat of Esther Pilbeam, his wife, with intent to murder her. Bartlett Allen Chambers stated that he was a cabinetmaker, and resided at Faversham. Knew the prisoner, who resided very near him. On the Ist instant the prisoner called upon him respecting some furniture which he had bought of him some time previous. Witness accompanied him to the house, when he saw the prosecutrix. The prisoner said, " Now, Esther, here is Mr. Chambers; you may do what you like." She appeared to be in a bad temper. The prisoner added, " Why don't you alter your course, and live comfortably with me ?" She replied, that he might do what he liked, for she would not live with him.  Esther Pilbeam, a young female of genteel appearance, and who gave her evidence with reluctance, stated that she was the wife of the prisoner ; recollected Mr. Chambers accompanying the prisoner home on the Ist inst. She had been been very unwell for some time, and had just laid down on the bed. When Chambers went away her husband went with him, but returned in about twenty minutes, and went upstair to her. (The witness here said she did not wish to answer any more questions ; but was told by the Judge that she must proceed, and tell the truth.) She then got off the bed and went down stairs into the back room, where she sat down ; her husband followed her, but she did not recollect exactly what then took place ; he however appeared to be in a very bad humour. Whilst she was sitting down her husband' stood near her. At that time she did not observe any thing in his hands. She was talking to him about his drinking, and he said something about her not being angry. He then put his arm round her neck, and afterwards threw himself irpon the floor. Was not aware that she had received any injury till she was informed of it by a little girl who had just entered the room. Her (witness's) first impression at the time was, that he intended to strangle her. When her attention was called by the little girl, she found that her throat had been cut. Was quite sure that she received the wound at the time her husband put his arm round her neck. George Crissfield, a butcher, stated that he resided immediately opposite the house of the prisoner ; on the day in question he heard a loud scream, and immediately ran across the read and went into the house, where he found the prosecutrix in one of the rooms holding a handkerchief to her throat ; she said, "My husband has cut niy throat." He examined her throat and found a wound which extended about four inches, and deeper on one side than the other. She then fainted, and he put her upon a chair, and sent for medical assistance. As soon as a surgeon arrived he (witness) went to look after the prisoner, and found him lying on the ground in the hack kitchen, with a clasp knife lying by his side open. Witness spoke to him, when he replied, "I have cut my wife's throat, and have been trying to cut my own, and this is the knife I did it with." (The knife was here produced—it was a penknife with a short blade.) He then examined the prisoner's throat, and found two trifling scratelieS. A constable afterwards came and took the prisoner into custody.  By the Learned