Widnes Examiner. — 1883-02-03 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

DEATH OF MRS. PERCY.. Widne's has acquired an unenviablle notoriety in consequence of the many crimes of violence that take place within its boundaries, and another tragedy, ef a most harrowing description, has to be added to the long list. Mrs. Margaret Percy, after lingering in a state of almost complete unconsciousness for about a month, succumbed to the injuries, which, it is alleged, were inflicted upon her by her husband, on Thursdcy evening, about half-past five. Additional horror is lent to the affair on account of the age to which the chief actor in the tragedy and his victim have attained, William Percy being 72 years of age, and the deceased 68. The facts of the case will, no doubt, be fresh in the minds of our readers, but we may just briefly repeat them. On Saturday, the 7th January, Percy, who is a person of intemperate habits, left his farm, in Gorsey-lane, Widnes, to go to the town. He returned about 11 o'clock the same night in a state of intoxication. Incensed at something. which took place he, in his drunken state, struck his wife a violent blow on or about the head. The suddenness and force cf the blow made the poor woman reel, and she fell into a chair. Margaret Roach, a servant, interfered on her mistress's behalf, but the violent actions and threatening language of Percy alarmed her for her own safety, and she ran hurriedly from the house. As if with a settled purpose to commit some deed, Percy locked and haired the outer doors, both back and front, and then was enacted a scene of horror which human eves did not witness. Percy and his victim were alone, but the servant, Rorch, standing at the door outside heard the sounds of a struggle taking place within, and her mistress's shrill cry for help. • No help was at bpd, and the lonely spot on which the farm stands precluded' the possibility of the servant obtaining any. At length the sounds of contention ceased. Roach crept into the shippon where she slept all night; and the silence of the night, which had been so rudely broken, once more reigned. About eight o'clock on the Sunday morning Roach gained access taithe house. She discovered her mistress lying on the kitchen floor, in a pool of blood, her countenance disfigured and discoloured, and her hair clotted with blood. The furniture and the fire irons were cattered about the room in confusion, everything tending to show that a terrible struggle had taken place. The poor woman was placed on a bed, temporarily erecte,d in the kitchen, and here for a period of 25 days she lay in a state of semiunconsciousness, when on Thursday evening she died. Dr. Cooper, who had attended her throughout, attributed her state to concussion of the brain, but a post-mortern examination of the body was made yesterday by that gentleman and Dr. McLennan, who will relate the results to a coroner's jury to-day (Saturday). Percy was apprehended OA the Sanday following the occurrence on the charge of unlawfully wounding his wife, but it is highly probable that he will be now arraigned on the more grave charge of murder. A great difficulty in the case is the fact that Mrs. Percy was never able to give an account of the brutal treatment which resulted in her death. Percy, who, notwithstanding his age, is a vigorous man, has not exhibited much feeling in regard to the matter, and when brought before the magistrates has assumed an air of indifference. Ten days ago, however, when Inspector Barnett was repeatin, a statement which had been made to him by Percy, the latter seemed stung to the quick, and declared excitedly that the evidence against him was false. The statement which thus excited him was to the effect that he had said that his wife had a bad temper and "many a one would have killed her before this." On Wednesday last, when he was brought before Mr. W. L. Evans and Mr. E. K. Muspratt, and formally remanded, he apparently took no interest in the proceedings, and made no observations. He was to have been taken before the justices last night on a "graver charge" than that of unlawfully wounding, but no magistrate coming forward he was detained in the cells, and will be charged to-day. Afterwards, the inquest will be held, when, no doubt, further light will be thrown upon an occurrence which has had a most terrible ending.