Lancaster Standard and County Advertiser. — 1902-02-21 (Lancaster, Lancashire, England)

III.FGLID UNLAWFUL WOUNDING.  James McGuire, Woodyard, Church-sti cot vas charged with unlawfully wounding !Osmium Mandlan and Mary Jane Southward. no the 15111 inst.--Chief Constable Ward said tat the offence took place on Saturday midnight. It appeared that about half past eleven that night, the prisoner went t, the hoti,e of 'ars. Southward, who lived next door, and wonted to go in. Mm. Southward declined to let him go in, and he thereuren hit her on the lace, and later struck her over the head with the poker, thereby caueing ouch injuries as to necessitate her being treated at the Infirmary. The wound wax stout two inches long, and if it had not been treated, it would have PrAeblY been very serious.—Mary Jane Southward, wife of Thaw Southward, stated that prieoner lived next door to her. On Saturday oigNt about half part eleven, he tame to her house whilst under the influence of drink and wanted to come in. She refused to let him. and pushed him outside, and he then slapped fir arra., the face. There was another woman named Catherine McNamara in the house at the time. Witness eubsequently went for her niether: and on coming back round the corner oPher hou.e, the pri,oner hit her on the head with a coal rake, thereby knocking her down. If, mother came to help her and the prisoner t J attached her. At the time he had in his  r hand the poker, top bar, and Ante produ Led.— ! Catherine McNamala gave evidence as to having seem the occurrenee.—Walter liaretang, junior house surgeon at the Infirmary, said that on Saturday night he was called to Woodyard to attend to Mrs. Southward. He found her sitting on a chair and suffering from a wound on the top of the head. It was between two and three inches long, and extended down to the bone. It was not a serious wound provided it was attended to promptly.—P.C. Lowther said that he was called to is otalyard • the same night. He found Mr.. Southward on the dour, and the poker produced was also near, and was covered with blood. Other fire-irons I were lying on the bed. He subsequently apprehended prisoner and chirged rim, but he made no reply.—Similar evidence was given in the case of Hosanna flandlan, Little John-street, the mother of Mrs. Southward. She allegeo that she was atruck on the head with the elide produced, and was also kicked on the arms by the prisoner. —Prisoner statet that on the nigh/ mentioned he was in his house with his wife when a neighbour called Mrs. Huntley, came in. Later Mrs. Southward came in and commenhed falling out with Mrs. Huntley. He told her to go home and do her quarrelling there, and as she would not go he pushed her out, she falling on her back as he did so. She then went to Little John-street, and came back with her mother and fire or :...ix other women. The mother had the coal rake produced in her hands, and Mrs. Southward the poker. He was standing outside Mrs. Southward's door, and whilst one ran at him with this rake, the other went for him with ?he poker. They both were striking furiously and he had no chance or escape whatever. He struck both of them with the slide in self defence, and would have been murdered if he had not—(laughter). Both INOMPII were mad drunk—Defendant was committed to the next Quarter Sessions, bail being allowed, one surety of £lO, and two of .g 5.