The Sun. — 1851-02-21 (London, England)

WOMAN KILLED BY HER HUSBAND. BATH, WEDNESDAY.—A very melancholy occurrence took piece in this city last evening, which has caused a great deal of excitement. It appears that about eight o'clock a carpenter, named Joseph Clark, living at 5, Lampard's-buildings, returned home from his work at Brislington, near Bristol. A violent quarrel and fight ensued between Clark and his wire. The other lodgers in the house heard blows struck, but unfortunately they did not interfere until Clark was heard calling out to a Mrs. Langley fcr assistance. Mrs. Langley's husband, accompanied by another man, named Wilcox, then ran up stairs, and upon entering Clark's room they found him iu a sitting posture against the wall, supporting his wife, and shaking her, apparently for the purpose of bringing her to a state of consciousness. The room was in great confusion, and the person of the woman presented marks of great violence. Clark, on seeing Langley and Wilcox, immediately exclaimed " I am afraid I have done a bad job!" and when they removed the unfortunate woman from him she gave a convulsive gasp and immediately expired. On the floor was found a stick broken into three pieces, and clotted with blood. Surgical aid was immediately procured, but, of coarse, was of no avail. Clark, who appeared deeply affected by his position, was given at once into the custody of the police, and conveyed to the central station, followed by a large crowd, so speedily had the melancholy occurrence gained currency. This morning the prisoner was brought before the magistrates at the Guildhall, and charged with the wilful murder of his wife. He is a respectable looking man, and, on being placed at the bar, appeared greatly dejected. Mr. M. Harris, solicitor, watched the proceedings on his behalf. The only witness examined was police-constable 35, who deposed:—l was last-night, about a quarter-past 3 o'clock, called to No. 5, Lerahard's-buildings. I went up into the middle room, where I saw a woman in a sitting position on the floor, supported by two men and a woman, washing blood from her face. Mr. Hunt, a surgeon, was also there, and he said the woman was dead. I asked him where the man was that did it, and he pointed towards the prisoner Clark, who was standing by. I charged the prisoner with killing his wife, and he said lam the cause of her death. He said I I first pushed her down (pointing to the foot of the bed, where there was a large pool of blood), I then helped her up, and set her on the ledge of the window. I afterwards beat her with a stick. I asked where is the stick? He pointed to the floor, where I found a stick broken in three or four pieces, on one of which was a quantity of hair wound round it, and blood. I then found a woman's cap thrust into the fire grate. There was no fire in the grate. There was a quantity of hair in the cap. The prisoner said, that was there before I came home, and the hair on the floor was there when I came home. I took the prisoner into custody, and conveyed him to the police station. The prisoner was then remanded for a week. The case is rendered more melancholy by the fact that the prisoner has three children, the eldest only nine years old.