The Dewsbury Chronicle, and West Riding Advertiser. — 1895-10-02 (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England)

PRISONER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.  There was a renewal of last week's excitement on Monday at Batley, when Patrick Morley (40), a Corporation labourer, was charged on remand at the Police Court with the murder of his wife on the 22nd ult. Since last Monday the accused has been in custody at Wakefield Gaol, and on Monday morning was brought to Batley (by train due at 9.40), in charge of two warders from that institution. Long before that hour a crowd began to assemble in the vicinity of the Town Hall, but only a few people got a glimpse. of the prisoner as he stepped from a cab which drove up to the side door of the Court House in Brunswick Street. Considerable levity was manifested by the women portion of the crowd—hardly befitting an occasion of this sort—and when the front doors of the Town Hall were thrown open there was an ugly rush to get upstairs. The police. however, only admitted a certain number, and consequently the disappointed ones were very numerous.  The prisoner had already been placed in the dock, where he had a lengthy consultation with Mr. Samuel Brearley, the solicitor who had been engaged to defend him, despite the original wish of Morley himself. Afterwards he was removed to an ante-room for a while, until several minor cases were dealt with. Amongst the occupants of the Court were Mr. Tom Morley (prisoner's brother), Mr. Joseph Stratton, of Sheffield, the murdered woman's brother, and other relatives, besides a number of deceased's personal friends from Bradford.  The magistrates on the Bench were Messrs. R. D. Keighley (chairman). W. Bagshaw, W. Critchley, J. J. Fox, J. Blackburn, W. Goodall, and A. Brearley. The police were represented by Superintendent Midgley, Inspector Weightman, and Sergeant Machell. The Town Clerk of Batley (Mr. J. H. Craik) prosecuted on behalf of the Treasury. There was a hushed murmur when the accused was led into the dock, though he hinnelf did not betray the slightest emotion or feeling- of any kind. No change was apparent in Morley's face, the same calmness characterising him as on the first occasion when the charge of murder was made against him, though he appeared considerably flushed. At the Lame time there was every sign that he had undergone a period of reflection and deep thought. Mr. Craik contented himself with making a brief statement on behalf of the prosecution, seeing, he said, that the details would be fully brought out in evidence. The facts, although simple, were exceedingly painful, and would, he thought, be abundantly clear to their worships' minds. Mr. Craik made no reference to events leading up to the time of the murder, but briefly observed that on Sunday, the 22nd inst., prisoner visited the house where his late wife lodged, and asked her to lend him a shilling. She told him of her inability to do so, whereupon he pulled a revolver out of his coat pocket, took deliberate aim, and shot the woman in the head. She fell insensible to the floor, and expired a few minutes afterwards. Having heard the evidence. the Bench would, he believed, be amply justified in coming to the conclusion that the case was one where the prisonor should be sent for trial on the capital charge. _  EvidenCe was then called. _ggs.