The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1884-02-16 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

SERIES OF THREATS AND ASSAULTS.—Iienry wharfman, Guy's Cliff Wharf, was charged with having used threats towards Thomas White, 1 coal higgler, of Guy's Cliff Wharf, on the 2nd inst.—Mr. Heap prosecuted, and Mr. J. poddington defended.—Thomas White, coal higgier, Guy's Cliff Wharf, Emscote, said his wife died on Thursday, the 17th January. She had been confined to her bed for a month or five weeks. There was £6O or £7O under the mattress in his wife's bed. On Sunday night previous to her death he had the money in his hand, and wrapped it up in a paper, and replaced it under the mattress. He was with his wife the greater p irt of the time. Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Hancox came down at night t make the bed. Mrs. lialicox and Mrs. JoLes were alone with his wife for about three hours on the night she died. He searched immediately after his wife's death for the money, but it was not there. He made no formal charge against anybody. On the 2nd of February, on the Saturday night, he had just got in with the horse, and while he was removing the bridle, Harry Jones came up to the gate, and said, " Have you found your money." He replied, "No, and never shall, I expect." Jones said, " Ask your sou about the money." lie further said, "Come here, and I'll murder you." The defendant went by witness and made a rush at his son. His wife then came in, and said, " Don't hit him, Harry," and the defendant replied, " No, I won't hit him, but I'll oat him." He kept crying out he would " murder me before the night was out." James Gardner and his son George were present at the time. On Tuesday, the sth inst., lie was going down the lane, when he saw the defendant standing at the iron gate at the top. He came up to him and said, "Well, Jumbo, are you going into your kennel." The defendant afterwards punched him in the ribs with his elbows, and knocked him into the hedge. —ln cross-examination by Mr. Boddington, the complainant said that on the day of the funeral the defendant followed the corpse up the lane tinkettling.—George White, son of the previous witness, and James Gardner, a neighbour, corroborated the evidence of the complainant as to the threats used.—Henry Jones, the defendant, said that he was aroused almost to madness by being continually taunted with having taken the money. He denied using the threats, and said he bore no malice against complainant. The words he used were "I'll make you 'hoot' murder, as you've made ycor wife many a time."— Thomas Hancox, a labourer, employed at Guy's Cliff Wharf, deposed that he was present on Saturday, the 2nd of February, but he did not hear the defendant threaten to murder White.—Catherine Jones, wife ' of the defendant, said that she was present at the time, and the words used by her husband were, " make you ' hoot' murder as you have made your wife do many a time." Her husband mentioned the word murder two or three times. She did not know that the complainant bad been protettted by the police since.—Defendant was bound over to keep the peace for three months, himself in u bond of £lO, and one surety of £10; he was also ordered to pay the costs, lfis. 6J.—On a second charge against fienry Jones, of assaulting Thomas White, on Tuesday, the sth inst., the defendant was fined a guinea ; or, in default, one mouth's imprisonment.—There was also another charge against Catherine Jones, wife of the previous defendant, for having assaulted George White, a son of the complainant in the previous case, at the same time and place.—Mr. Botlding,ton, on behalf of the defendant, admitted that in thia case the wife did lay her hands on the son, and that was sufficient to sustain a charge of assault at law.— Mr. Heap said that, as they admitted the charge, if the wife would promise not to repeat the offence they were willing for the case to be withdrawn. The woman gave the required promise, and the case was dismissed by the Bench on the payment of the costs, B.s. 6d —The money was paid in all the cases. .  01-Ls-l'fir-