The Haslingden Gazette. — 1909-12-11 (Haslingden, Lancashire, England)

THE MURDER THREAT.  Inspector Ashcroft said that at 4-30 on Thursday afternoon the prisoner came to the police station, and having been cautioned, made the following statement:—  " I want to be locked up. lam frightened of any serious bother corning on. I don't feel re. sponsiblc for my actions. When I get my pay tomorrow night I shall get tome drink and go to my wife at Haslingilen. If lam drunk and come error her and don't get satisfaction I shall kill her. Can you send roe to the workhouse out of the way, because I intend to do for her? I thought I would let you know before anything happened."  The Chairman: Was he sober? Inspector Ashcroft: Yes.  -The Chief Coniitatile said prieonor was undoubt. edly sober. He pointed out to Mtn the seriousness of the threats, but he still persisted in making then].  Inspector Ashcroft said that on Friday morning he charged the prisoner with threatening to kill his wife, and he replied, " I only threatened her here."  Asked what he had got to say. prisoner said he had been on the beer a week and wanted to be locked up to get the beer out of biro.  ....... The Chairman: But the officers say you were perfectly sober.  • Prisoner: I did not know what I was doing right. The Chairman (to Inspector Ashcroft): You are perfectly certain he was sober when etude use of these threats at the station?  The Inspector- Oh, yen. The Chief: I have no doubt about it. The Inspector: And I am quite satisfied he meant what he said.  The Chairman: What about striking your wife's sister?  Prisoner: The only drawback to me is the beer. 1 did not mean any harm.  The Chairman dut.tTe-evidence is that you were perfectly sober when you made the statement. Priaoner: I bad to say that to get locked up and out of the road. I knew I could do no harm under lock and key.  Mr. Townson: I buppose you will say you are sober now, so what have you to say about it? Prisoner: I an: very, very sorry, and I hope you will deal leniently with no, and I will try to lead a better life.  In answer to further questions from the Bench. prisoner said he was regularly in work and could always get it when he wanted. He always gave Ids wife his wages, and the pension he received from the Army every quarter. The Chairman, How could you give her all your wages if you get drunk?  Prisoner 7lt is what I saved. He went on to say that one week he gave his wife 30s. Mrs. Hargreaves said that was true, but he wanted it back again.  The Clerk: Are you afraid he will do you some injury?  Hargreaves: Yes, I am.  PriAoner: She ha, not touch need to fee, that, but if she w dlts to live away from' me I ani quite willing,.  In answer to questions from the Reach prisoner said he was a joiner and bad w0r!,,,,i for Mr. Whittaker at the foundry and also at the Laund. at E. J. Riley's, at Außough's, and also at Mr. Duxbury's, of Oswaldtwistle. It was not yet two years sines he left the Army, and was four years an instructor.  The Chief said that 10 years ego prisoner Was fined for drunkenness, but went to prison. Mr. Welch said the magistrate?, looked upon the case in a far more serious light than he appeared to do. They thought also that the Chief Constable did his duty both to the prisoner and the ! public by detaining his. Prisoner said it was through drink, bat they had the evidence of the Chief and Inspector that he was seller. Under the circumstances he would be bound over to keep the peace for six. months, £2O in himself and a surety of £lO, or in default a month's imprisonment. Mr. Welsh went on to say that they were a young couple and he ought to make up his mind to do differently. Prisoner said if he had the money he shonld much prefer to go to prison, and he was very thankful to the Bench for the sentence. Mr. Welch You have heard our decision. You Can plea, yourself what you do.  Mr. George Moorhome, one of the beet-known public men in Parhham, dicd on Monday. lie was a county magistrate, a prominent loader of the Liberal party, and had Nerved for a long period on the Padiham District Council, of which he was obairman for eomo years. Mr. Moorhouse was about 53 years of age.