Widnes Examiner. — 1888-12-29 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

DAUGHTER AT A DRUNKEN PA-TIIERS-ANGER.  - At Widnes Petty Sesgens,..onTriursday, before Mr. H. Wade Deacon, Michael Simeney, a labourer, was again brought up on a.charge of having feloniously, wilfully, and With- malice aforethought, attempted to kill and murder: his daughter Ellen Sweeney. Catherine Lancasterissingle woman of 13 Peel-st, said the prisoner- and' his wife and family came to live at :.her house on the Bth December. On Tuesday the 18th December the prisoner arrived home about half-past ten at night. Mrs. Sweeney, and her daughter Ellen were in the parlottr -at the time. When Mrs. Sweeney heard • her husband at the door, she ran into the kitchen. The prisoner, who was very drunk came into the parleaw, and he asked the child, who was sitting on . the side of the bed that was laid on the floor, where her motherwas. She replied " Stre has just gone out—not.many minutes." " Here you young devil" said the prisoner will take your. life, I will make you tell where she lai"' and at the same, time he struck the girl on thetead with his fist, the blow.', knocking her prostrate on the bed:. He then kicked her on the body with the side of his deg, and lying upon her he seized her throat in -Ilia hands and preased jt until her tongue protruded. The girl: screamed as welt as she could and witness pleaded. to iitisoner to desist but he would not. She .than heard Mrs. Sweeneyask another inmate of the house named Roach to go and "save Ellen before he kills tore' ' and: Roach entering the room dragged the prisoner off 'his. daughter. The girt= t•-em the house in terror,. and fell fainting in the middle of the road. There- were. the marks of the prisoner's hands on her throat and her lips were di.. coloured and much swelter). She-was afterwards taken to the surgery of Dr. Hutehinson, who attended to her injeries.—Ellen Sweeney, .aged' eleven years, also gave evidenee. She showed a diSpesitien to screen her father, but her statements confirmed the testimony of 'the previous witness. She-said she had seen her fatherill. .use her mother on . several' occasions. She usually lived with her grandfather at Wigan, and had' only been with her -father- and mother this titlesince the fifteenth Deoembcr: Shevolunteered the statement that when her father • assaulted her,she was very' ill and weak in consequence of a, kick she had received' on the previous Saturdaynight,when a man kicked' her' by mistake.—Thomas• ROachi described how he released' the girl from the clutches of her-hither, and Dr.-Hutchin. son, testified to the seriousiniuries she had received,he prisoner was coannitted'totake his trial at tiwnest Quarter Sessions.  CHRISTMAS al-DUTTON WORKHOUSE:. The inmates of.:Puttort Workhouse, numbering 203, bad a pleasant,Christmas. The chapeb%dining hall, and hospital, wards had been decorated with evergreens, &ot , The usual Christmas dinner. of roast beef, plum - pudding, and beer or railk wan provided, and bread ati4 cheese and beer ormilk for supper In the.. evening a musical entertainment was given in.tbe dining hall, by the children, and some of the adults. Amongst the presents received were a large -box of oranges from Mr.,S; B: Chadwick, Runcore,; -268Chtistmas letters, tee,and swar for the okl.-felk, and balls for infants, from Mrs' Marsden, Sutton;..ar3 Christmas cards- from Mrs. Wright, Halton ; a box of sweets an:di:tag-of nuts from Mr,- Kydtk Prodsham ; and tobacco, and oranges from the.guardians.