The Potteries Examiner : — 1876-03-11 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

SHOCKING TRAGEDY IN RIMING.  HAM.  The Birmingham papers 7e.port a case of supposed murder, the circumstances of which are of a revolting nature, and which is as yet surrounded by alyst,y, which was brought under the notice of the police on Stiuday. About a quarter-past eight o'clock Policeconstable 'Orem was called by is woman to the home of Isaac Elwell, 4 court, 5 house, Pritchett-street. He there found Elwell, who appeared to be in a dying condition, lying on the floor of the kitchen upon an old coat. The place presented a sickening spectacle, having, as the offic, described it, "the appearance of a slaughter-house." The floor was covered for a spate of several yards with blood, among which were a number of small pieces of flesh. Elwell himself was lying in a pool of blood, and his right arm was frightfully muti. lated. From the wrist to the elbow joint there were no fewer than twelve gashes; as if the flesh had been slit in a setni.eircular form with a sharp instrument. The flesh of the inner part of the upper arm was mangled and torn from the shoulder, exposing the bone. On being lifted by the constable an old clasp knife, covered with blood, was found in the place where his wounded arm had lain. The handle was iron and the blade had a sharp edge, and it was no doubt, with this weapon that he was wounded. The furniture of the room was very much disarranged and sprinkled with blood as if a violent struggle had taken place, and there were spots of blood on the pantry door. Elwell, at the time Orunt saw him, was not wearing, a coat. Although sensible, he was almost too feeble to speak, and therefore it was impossible to elicit from him any information as to how he hail sustained such injuries. All he could say was to call for "water." A surgeon had been sent for be. fore the policeman was called, and Mr. Joyce came, and having examined him, said Elwell's case was hopeless, and ordered his removal to the General Hospital. He was accordingly placed upon a handcart, an old door being used as a stretcher, and was thus conveyed to the hospital. It was there aseeetained that the brachial or principal artery of the arm had been torn, and that the poor man was rapidly bleeding to death. In spite of every attention he died in about half an hour after his admission into the institution. Inquiries were subsequently instituted by the police, and resulted in a woman named Mary Ann Boswell, aged 34 years, nail stamper, of the same address as Elwell, being apprehended on suspicion of causing the deceased's death. The prisoner has been cohabiting with the deceased for the last twelve or thirteen years, and has had three children by him. He was married, but had separated from his wife, who has also had a number of children. The prisoner is the same person upon whom an outrage was alleged to have been committed in Shadwell-street so September, MI. Eight youths were committed to the December assizes for the offence, and five of them were convicted, one being sentenced to 15 years' penal servitude, and four others to seven years' penal servitude each.—An inquest was held on Thursday, before Mr. Hawkes, the borough coroner, on the body of Isaac Elwell, who died on Sunday, from severe injuries which had been inflicted upon him. A verdict of "Wilful murder" was returned against some person unknown.