Darlington & Richmond Herald. — 1874-10-10 (Darlington, Durham, England)

DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO MIIRDF,II A WIPE AT BISHOP AUCKLAND.  A most determined attemet at wife murd-r was mad 3 at B'shoo .A.nekland on Senn- I ty night by a nam .1 Ch'rle Theakst me Prisoner had been in t!e- h ehit of ill-treatine his ,eif.e and a short time :ieo Wes bound over for six !none by the Bishop Aucklaed Beach for threatenieg to murder her, the poor woman at the time stating that she was afraid, for her life, and would not live with him, as she could support herself and child by her own industry. Since that time she has lived with her mother, and earned her living by binding boots. On Saturday night about ten o'olock, prisoner went into the shop of Mrs M`Laren, in Newgate-street, where his wife was employed, and endeavoured to induce her to return and live with him. The woman was, however, firm in her refusal, whereupon be took out a clasp knife and attacked her, inflicting six or seven wounds upon her head, arms, shoulders, and back. The screams of the woman brought in a number of people from the crowded street, and her brutal assailant was hell down until the arrival of P.C. Rispin, who took him into custody. The poor woman lay bleeding for some time before a doctor could be found. At last Dr. Jobsou arrived, and tended the wounds, two of which were dangerous. Theakstone was on Monday brought uo before the Bench of Magistrates at Bishop Auckland, charged with cutting and wounding his wife. Proseentrix, who was able to appear, though in a very weak state, and had to be accommodated with a chair, stated that they had been parted since the 28th of Auguet last, the Flower Show day, when he assaulted her and threatened to murder her, and was afterwards bound over by the magistrates to keep the peaoe for six months. On the night in question she went out with a message and met her husband who wanted her to go with him down Durham Chare. She refused and he followed her to the shop of Mrs Mlearen, in Newgate-street, where she was employed as a machinist, and asked her to come out to speak to him. She told him to say what he had to say, as there was no one there he need be afraid of. He then asked her to go back and live with him. She replied that she would consider ab)rit it, if he wou!cl produce the certificate of his first wife's death, he having taunted her that he had another wife living. Prisoner then went into a shop, drew an open clasp knife from his pocket, and stabbed her on the head, shoulder, and arm, which rendered her insensible.—Mrs Mlearen gave corroborative eviderre, and added that prisoner was pushed aside by a young man, and then threw the knife produced away, which she picked up and gave to the police.—P.C. Crispin stated that he was called by Mrs M'Laren and apprehended the prisoner, whom he charged at the police station with cutting and wounding his wife. Prisoner replied that he hart done it, but she had hi ought it upon herself, and added that the knife produced was not the elle he used—Dr Jobson, J.P., said he was called out of bed between one and two o'clock on Sunday morning to see prosecntrix, said he found teree wounds, one on her head, one on her hack, and one on her left fore arm. They were not extensive in length or width, or very deep, and might have been ieflicted by the knife produced; but as the knife was neither pointed or sharp, considerable force must have been used.—Prisoner, who made no reply in answer to the charge, was eommitted for trial at the ensuing quertee sessions at Durham.