The Warwickshire Herald. — 1891-07-09 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

THE BERMONDSEY WIFE MURDER. At the Southwark Police-court, on Monday, Robert Bradshaw, 54, described as a waterside labourei, residing in Smith's-buildings, Bermondsey, was placed in the dock, before Mr. Fenwick, charged on his own confession with the wilful murder of his wife, Emma, by cutting her throat with a razor. On being brought into court, in charge of Sergeant Duncan, the gaoler, and a strong guard of constables, the prisoner stepped into the dock with the air of a man cognisant of the serious nature of the charge preferred against him. P.C. Archer said that on Saturday afternoon he received Information which caused him to go to Long-lane, Bermondsey, where he met the accused. The accused stopped him and said, "I have murdered my old woman. I've done it all right,to please everybody. I'm going to give myself up." Witness then took him back to 24, Smith's-buildings, and in the front room on the first floor witness saw a woman lying on her bark. She was bleeding from several wounds on her face and throat. Another constable arrived, and witness sent him for the doctor, and afterwards took the accused to the station. On the way there he said," I wish I had had a chopper, I would have chopped her head off." The accused repeated that several times. In the room where the deceased was lying witness found a razor close to the body and also a file. The razor had marks of blood upon it. The accused said, "I have done It with a razor and a file." On being charged at the station, the accused said, "Quite right." He appeared to be sober, but was very excited.—ln reply to Mr. Fenwick, the accused said he had no questions to ask the witness.—Dr. Martin deposed that he was called to see the body of the deceased, and he found Ind extinct. He after. wards made a post-mortem. and found that on the right side of the neck there was a wound seven inches in length and one and a-half inches deep, exposing the bone from the angle of the jaw to the middle of the chin. It had cut into the jugular vein, but not the carotid artery. On the left cheek he found four superficial wounds, one of which ex. tended into the neck, crossing two deeper cuts. HE found a cut, three inches long and three-quarters of an inch deep, extending beyond the middle line of the throat, exposing the larynx completely. The cut on the right side of the neck would of itself be sufficient to cause deith.On the back of the left arm he found a jagged wound an inch deep, and there were 14 punctured wounds on the body,two of which had penetrated the stomach.—Mr. Fenwick then remanded the accused for a week.  Mr. William Pine, boatswain of the Alecto, recently paid off on returning home from the West Coast of Africa was tried by Court-martial on board the 'flagship at Devonport on Monday morning for improperly leaving his ship and for conduct unbecoming an officer in drinking to such excess in June last as to produce delirium tremens. He was ordered to be dismissed the service. Princess Hannah Lichtenstein, wife of Prince Alois Lichtenstein, and formerly wife of Herr Monier Haupt, when the latter was Austrian Consul in London,a lady about 32, of rare beauty, has just had the misfortune to lose the sight of both eyes, in consequence of a severe illness. A few months back a similar calamity befell Baron Pino, who was not long ago the Austrian Minister of Commerce. Those two popular journals, the Girl's and the Boy's Ora Paper have published "Summer Numbers," the very best value being given in each case for the price. "Meadowsweet" is the pretty title chosen for the issue for the girls, the companion production contenting itself with a plain annnouncement of what it is. To both:writers of established popularity have largely contributed. Among them we may mention Ruth Lamb, Rev. H. W. Bradley, Dr. Gordon Stables, David Ker, Ascott R. Hope, Somerville Gibney, A. G. Munro, Sir G. Campbell said T. B. Reed.