Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1879-06-21 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE WIFE MURDER. IN GOKTOIs. At the County Police Court, Strangeways, on Thursday, before Sir John Iles Mantel! and Mr. E Herford, Hobert Thornely, 52, pawnbroker, who carried on business at 274, Gorton Lane. West Gorton, was brought up on the charge of having murdered his wife. Sarah Ann Thorneley 41, on Sunday afternoon last Mr. Crofton prosecuted and Mr. Richard Cobbett appeared for the prisoner. Mr. Crofton, in stating the case to the Benei, said the prisoner had carried on the business of a pawnbroker in Gorton Lane, where he occupied two houses, one of which was used as a hop and the other as ii dwelling house. On Sunday afternoon, after dinner, the deceased and prisoner were left together in the house, the former lying on the sofa and the latter sitting by the aide of the fire. Nothing for some time occurred to attract anybody's attention. but rather less than an hour afterwards the prisoner went into the house of Mrs Galley, who resided next door, and said he had cut his wife's throat. In consequence a policeman was sent for and the house was visited. The prisoner's wife was found upstairn in the room over the shop dead. Her throat had been:cut by a razor, which the prisoner pointed out to a constable. The prisoner seemed to have changed his trousers after he had committed the deed, as those he was wearing when toe family left the house were subsequently found stained with blood. Mrs. Galley, widow, 270, Gorton Lane, spoke to the prisoner coming into her house about three on Sunday afternoon, and saying, "Mrs. Galley, come and see my wife I have cut her throat." 'there were spots of blood on the prisoner's face at the time. Witness sent for a podcernan, and afterwards accompanied police-constable Lynn to the house. Prisoner wan seated by the fireside ai d the deceased was lying in a bedroom with her throat cut, and quite dead. In answer to the constable's question, the prisoner said that he had committed the deed with a razor which he pointed out. Police-constable Lynn stated that when he went to the house he found the prisoner sitting by the fireside smoking. Witness again related the finding of the body of the deceased upstairs whither he was conducted by the prisoner, the prisoner's admission that he had cut her her throat, and the pointing out of the razor with which the act bad been committed. At the police station the prisoner said, "I cut her throat it's a bad job; I don't know why I did it." On the left side of the prisoner's neck there Wes a cut, aod on the right side several scratches. On return.ng to the house, witness found a pair of trousers which were covered with blood. Mr. Frank Holmes, surgeon, West Gorton, spoke to examing the body of the deceased and to the cause of death. He found two wounds us the left side of the prisoner's neck, and on the left side • several scratches. on making a post-mortem examination of the deceased, he Vivid that the jueular vein end windpipe lied been severed, and that there were several wounds oil her hands, as though a struggle had taken place. This being the case for the prosecution. Mr Cubbett said that upon the fac.s e.icited he -upposed the Beach would send the case to the assize*. Any evidence which he had to call, and which would be forthcoming at the assizes, he thought it was unnecessary to produce now. He might say, however, that some erroneous state. meats had been made as to the cause for the prisoner's committing the deed He should show that the disor are I state the pri.oner's mind had been infer some years. and especially for he last twelve months, ha I led to it. He believed that toe prisoner had not carrie.l on the business himself. as he ha i been totally unfitied to do anything at all. The pawubroking business was eonductel by his wife, who had maintaited herself her husband and her family by it. hie had thought it right to ,nty thus much in order to correct any wromr impressions which might have been created by the statements which had been as to the cause of his committing the deed. In reply to the usual caution, prisoner said, "I have one thing to state. I think these (pointing to his clothes) were the trousers I had on that day." The Stipendiary: Have you anything further to say? Pri.oner: No. The Bench then committed the prisoner for trial at the nest assizes on the charge of wilful murder. The prisoner maintained a quiet demeanour during the taking of the evidence.  A•