The Sun. — 1842-10-01 (London, England)

CLERKENWELL. On Thursday Richard Bourke was finally examined before Mr. Greenwood, charged with havingattempted to murder his wife with a hatchet. The particulars of the case have already been detailed. Yesterday, en the prisoner being placed at the bar, Mrs. Bourke made her appearance in a very weakly. condition. When the officer presented the New Testament, in order to administer the usual oath, she that it was her duty to look her children and protect them. atfonsrdaYwhat he had done to her from the idst:oehtcettlhoi fnemoerdpgoratfiayshkeoeinnr him eghrei heart and soul, and she did not wish to hurt him. She would not be sworn to give evidence against I hope God will forgive him Mr. GREENWOOD told her that she might forgive a well him,m ya sdedlifir him, but the law would not, for such a violent outrage. If she refused to give her evidence, they must try and get it as well as they could from others. He should certainly send her to prison if she persisted in her refusal to be sworn to give evidence, for the purpose of detaining her, and insuring her attendance at the trial. She then consented to be sworn, to hear her deposition read over as taken at the former examination ; and on its being read by the clerk, Mr. GREENWOOD asked her whether it was all right ? She replied, faintly, "It is all right." Mr. GREENWOOD ordered the clerk to set that down in the deposition. Sarah Sayers, a lodger in the same house, being sworn, said that she was alarmed by the cries of " Murder," and " Police." She saw the prisoner come out of his room. He kicked Mrs. Bourke on the face, and he returned to his room, and shut the door. Mrs. Bourke kept kicking at the door. Witness afterwards saw her with her head cut and bleeding, in the passage. She heard her say it was done with a hatchet. Mr. George Kanney, house-surgeon at the University College Hospital, being sworn, stated that the wife, Mary Bourke, was brought to the hospital at half-past one o'clock in the morning of Friday last, with a severe cut on her head, which penetrated to the bone, which was also injured. The wound was evidently caused by some sharp instrument. There were no symptoms of danger at the time, although dangerous results might ensue. She was not kept a the hospital. She was taken back to her home.  Waddington, the gaoler, stated that the prisoner said he was sorry he did not do for her with the hatchet, whilst he was in his room adjacent to the Court.  Whilst the prisoner was at the bar, he was seen to hand a letter to a woman behind, which was taken from herby liamley-buildings, wool. It was directed to ~Richard Bourke, No. 9, tr., Waddington, and handed to Mr. Greento come from Thomas Mulloney, a priest, from Drom, dated 14th,Fe Bristol, England," and purported 1835, and to be a freedom for marriage in desiring the usual (Irish) way, him to hand it to his worthy pastor. Mr. GnEtzmoon reminded Mrs. .Bourke of the illtreatment she had so frequently received from the prisoner, and that on one occasion, when she was almost The prisoner was now killed under fully committed for trial. and he finedpenalty o enough to pay the fine for him. thesim extremeilar circumstances  .• Luke Vigo Was charged with a cruel assault. It appeared from the evidence, that last night, be, tween ten and eleven o'clock, the prisoner and a young man named Bankes were drinking in a beershop in lligh-street, Islington. The bar-maid gave the prisoner some beer unknown to her master, which Bankes communicated to him. Vigo said nothing at the time, but soon after left the house, and when Bankes was returning home, waylaid him at half-past .!leven o'clock, in High-street. He first knocked him ' down ; the fall rendered Bankes insensible. Vigo then jumped on him, and kicked him on the chest and legs. He was jumping on his body when N 280 came up. The prisoner ran away, but was soon after •ipprehended. The complainant was carried to thp station-house in a state of insensibility. Mr. Sempie, the .police-surgeon, was sent for, who said the complainant had received dangerous internal injuries. Mr. GIISENWOOD said a more brutal assault never came before him. If the complainant died, the prisoner would be tried for wilful murder. The surgeon should have been there to give his evidence. lie would fine him 31., or six weeks' imprisonment znd hard labour.