The Staffordshire and Potteries Examiner. — 1881-05-28 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO MURDER A SWEETHEART AT CROSSHEATH. Henry Lunn, aged about twenty, joiner by trade, residing at Burslem, was placed in dock on a chargA of attempt to murder Elizabeth Walton, sixteen, domestic servant, in service at the Marquis of Granby Inn,Burslem, on the 20th inst. It seems from the evidence of the prosecutrix yesterday morning that the prisoner had kept company with, or sweethearted, her for nearly two years. On the night in question, prosecutrix asked her mistress to let her go out, to buy some things, which she did. Prosecutrix met the prisoner, and walked with him to Hanley, Stoke, then alongside the canal to Basford, on arriving near Crossheath about eleven o'clock p.m., prisoner, who had hitherto said nor done aothing to arouse prosecutrix's suspicion, asked to take liberties with the prosecutrix. Prosecutrix refused. A struggle ensued, and prosecutrix was knocked down. Prisoner failed to effect his purpose, however. Prisoner said he would drown the prosecuter if she would not submit, and proceed to drag her to the side of the canal. He again attempted violence, but the prosecutor resisted, when the prisoner caught hold of her by the shoulders and pushed her into the canal. The water was low, but prisoner dragged prosecutor across the mud and forced her into the water, throwing prosecutor on her back. Prisoner put his hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming or making a noise and trod on her. He kept holding her head under the water. Prosecutor got it up oocasionly, when she did her best to make a noise, once or twice managing to call out, "Oh mother." She could not call out very loudly, her mouth being full of water. Prisoner then pulled prosecutor out of the water, and when on the bank he again attempted to indecently assault her. Prosecutor struggled, and prisoner again threatened and attempted to drown her, dragging her into the water, which was about a foot and a halfdeep, and holding her head under water. Prosecutor got up, and prisoner again threw her down on her back in the water. Prisoner held her in that position for some minutes, prosecutrix being able by a great effort only to lift her head out of the. water sometimes. Prosecutrix made all the noise she could, but nobody appeared to be about. Prisoner ultimately ran away, leaving her in the water to get out as she could. Prosecutrix managed to crawl to the bank side, where she sat for a quarter of an hour to recover herself. She then went to a white house on the opposite side of the canal. She was refused admittance. Prosecutrix proceeded ha the direction of the cotton factory, on the way meeting the watchman of the factory. She made a statement to him, and he found a house for her to go to—a Mrs. Mary Ann Pitman. By the Clerk: I had nothing to drink during the evening, uor stopped anywhere with the prisoner. I should be about 30 or 40 yards from the side of the canal when the prisoner first attacked me. He attacked me so unexpectedly that I had no time to call out. Prisoner never attempted to assault me until I got to the side of the canal. When he attacked me I resisted him to the utmost, and his attempts proved futile. I was looking towards Chesterton when he first laid hold of me. As it had got so late I did not intend going back to the Granby, but to ray home at Chesterton. I left the Granby about half-past eight o'clock p.m. Mary Ann Pitman deposed that about 12 o'clock on the night of the 20th the prosecutrix came to the house, knocked at the door, and asked for admittance, stating that a mail had pushed her into the canal. Witness let her come in. Prosecutrix was wet through, and her face and hair were covered with mud.  At this juncture of the proceedings prisoner applied for an adjournment, as his solicitor had not attended, which, after some consideration, the magistrates granted, the case being adjourned until 10 o'clock this (Tuesday) morning. DRUNKENNESS, &c.—The following persons were fined as stated below for drunkenness and riotousness :—Veninson Pepper (21st)., 2s. 6d., with Bs. costs; George Wheeldon • (21st) 2s. Gd., with Bs. costs; Frederick Cheetham (21st), ss. and costs; David Symonds (21st), ss. and costs; Thomas Keeling (22nd), 2s. 6d., with costs 10s. (14 days in default of payment) ; Ralph Holland (22nd), 10s., costs 6s. 6d.; Jonah Pepper (22nd), 10s., costs 6s. 6d.