The Express. — 1866-01-17 (London, England)

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY ETENIXG, JANUARY 17, 1866.  MURDER IN PADDINGTON.  LNQUEST.-(THIS DAY.)  This morning Dr. Lankeater, and a local jury, resented an investigation of the circumstances attending the death of Grans Ringwood, who was stabbed in the neck with a knife, while drinking at • beerhouse, by hex husband, George Ringwood, on the night of Tuesday, the 9th instant. The inquest was held at the Hall Arms, Old Ohureh-street, Paddingtinigeeen, and the accused, • respectable looking man, wearing moustache, was present during the inquiry, having been brought from the House of Detention, under the authority of au order from the Home Secretary. Mr. Wilding, solicitor, attended on his behalf, and at his request the evideuce taken at the previous sitting giving an account of the scene at the beershop was read. The deceased and amused had been drinking at the Greyhound in Green-street, Paddiogton, and quarrelled over the accused talking of his work of • sub-contractor. In his exasperation Ringwood stabbed his wife with a table knife, and she died almost immediately afterwards.  Anne Jima, the landlady of the beer•house, was recalled and cross-examines!. She repeated that up to the  occurrence the deceased and &Caused were on good term', joining in • song together, and it wan her opinion that until the blow was struck the sactwed could hare hal no idea of injuring his wife. Taking up the knife was an instantaneous act, done on the spur of the moment.  Louis bilarckt, a lodger in the beer-honse, confirmed the landlady that the deceased bad been very much given to Brick, while the accused wee a sober industrious man. He also witnessed the quarrel, and saw the deceased throw a shwa bottle at her husband before the latter gave the fatal stab. She applied vile epithets to tie accused, and he was dreadfully exasperated when he took up the knife in the heat of his passion. It appeared to the witness that the act of taking up the knife and giving the blow was done in self-defence.  Inspector Steer, of the X division' deposed that he was called into the beerhouse after the deceased was stabbed. The accused said he had inflicted the injury in a moment of passion, and begged him for God's sake to go for a doctor. lie appeared to be greatly distressed at what had occurred, and witness seeing at a glance the real state of the case hurried off for a doctor. At a previous hour the same evening be had seen both the man and the woman. The man was quite sober and appeared greatly elated, as he understood, on account of • favourable contract which he had obtained, but the woman was very much the worse for drink. He had known the accused for some time as a steady, sober, and industrious man. Tao medical gentlemen who, in conjunction, had made • post mortom examination of the deceased, described the nature of the wound in the neck, which, in their opinion, wee of such a nature as to account for immediate death. The liver of the deceased was, however, in an unhealthy state, and presented all the appearances which usually accompany that organ in a person who is addicted to habits of intemperance. Mr. Wilding, the legal adviser of the accused, said he did not think it his duty to produce any evidence at this stage, bat he should like to offer some testimony as to the general character of the deceased and her drunken habits.  George PouWon. 28, New Chureh-street, plumber, spoke to the character of the accused an being always good. Several other witnesses were examined and gave similar evidence, especially as to the sober habits of the accused, and his kindness to his wife and family. Impactor Steers, X division, said that the deceased bad been charged four times with drunkenneu, and asaaulta ow two occasions, her husband bailing her out. The Coroner summed up, and the jury remarked that the accused had acted under great provocation. The jury, after ten minutes deliberation, returned a verdict of " Manslaughter " against the accused, stating their opinion that the blow was struck in a moment of passion, and ender great provocation.