The Warrington Examiner. — 1875-09-04 (Warrington, Cheshire, England)

MURDEROUS ATTACK ON A FATHER  AT BAGULEY.  At the Altrincham Police Court, on Thursday, before J. Carlisle, and R. H. Joynson, Esq., Helen Lamb and Edward Lamb, mother and son, were charged with maliciously wounding James Lamb—the husband of the female prisoner, and father of the male—with intent to do him grevious bodily harm, on the 29th ult. The prosecutor, James Lamb, a labourer, living at Baguley, said that on Sunday evening last he had been to Timperley with his wife, and they had been at Davies's beerhonse. They left the beerhouse a little before ten and went home, both being sober. Shortly after they reached home his son, the male prisoner, came in. His wife began to fall out about the next door neighbour, and he told her to hold her noise, whereupon his son struck him on the forehead with the poker, he did not know what for. His wife was there. His arm and foot were injured, but he did not know by whom. A man nameu Samuel Hulme was there. The poker produced was the one with which he was struck. He could not say why his son attacked him as there had been no quarrel between them. His (prosecutor's) head bled a little, and the sleeve of his shirt had blood upon it. his wife did not do anything, and never injured him in any way. There had not been an axe in his house that night. Cross-examined: Prosecutor admitted that he pushed his wife and knocked her down. Samuel Hulme, a market gardener, said that he saw the prosecutor and his wife at Davies's beerhouse. On the way home the female prisoner made use of very bad language, and the prosecutor said that he would not have it. They took half-a-gallon of ale home with them. He went into the house of prosecutor, where Mrs. Lamb made a terrible row. The son came downstairs, whipped up the poker, and he struck his father on the forehead with it. The prosecutor took the poker off his wife before the son came down. Witness then left the house. He saw prosecutor next morning, who said " They have made a nice object of me." The prosecutor's arm and head were covered with blood, and he walked lame. Lamb and his wife fought, Lamb striking the first blow, and the son said he would stop him. By Mr. Harris (Magistrates' Clerk) : Witness did not see a hatchet. Did not know how the prosecutor's foot was injured, and could not say how many times the poker was used. The male prisoner here stated that he did not strike his father with the poker, but his mother did. P.C. Jackson stated that on Tuesday last he saw prosecutor, who showed him one of his feet. The big toe was nearly cut off, and the other toes were injured. His arm and forehead were also injured. The poker was smeared with blood, and there was a great deal of hair upon it. The last witness had told him that a hatchet and poker had been used. On charging the female prisoner, she said she did not care a—, she would do it again. On charging the son, he said "it was not me that struck him, it was my mother, it will be her or mo for it, I'll go with you quietly. As they were coming to the Police Station, toe son said "You see what you have brought us to at last." Mr. Carlisle said that it was clear that the male prisoner had used the poker, a most deadly weapon, and he would be imprisoned for one month with hard labour. Ihe evidence against the female prisoner was not sufficient to convict her, but the Baugh believed she was as bad or worst than her son, and she would be bound over to keep the peace for six months in the sum of £2O.