The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1862-06-24 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

WITCHCRAFT.—At the Central Criminal Court, on Wednesday, Chalks Talthrook, 27, collar maker, was indict d for feloniously wounding M•ry King, with inteet to murder her. The prosecutrix in this case atm a feeble old woman, and stood in the relation of grandmother to the prisoner. Her evidence went to show that the prisoner hid been a soldier, and for twelvemonths after hie discharge had been in the rgeelid of a pension, but had recently been supported by her and his mother, as lie would not work. On Sunday, the 13th ot April last, after dinner, she was dreseing herself in her room, at 31, Charles-street, Westminster, when she observed the prisoner come in with something like a knife or a ratite in his baud. Ile at once struck her with it across the foiehead several times until she bled profusely, anti he afterwards beat her shout the head aith a stick until the bones of her heed became sore, and lied been so ever since. A surgeon, Dr. NCenn, of Parliament-street, wes sent fee, moil he directed her iminediete removal' to the hospital, where she remained for seven weeks. She hail not .iny quarrel with the prisoner. but he had toll her before this happeeed that she wall not live to see May Day. Prisoner (sullenly): I never need ouch woods. If I had wanted to take her life I should have locked the door. I merely tutended to drarr'some her blood, atel that is the fact if th matter, (Sensation.) If she does not work at devellish arts or witchcraft, I 8111 willing to forfeit my life for here—W.llkm polhae-eonetable, !Toyed that he went to the reeidenee of the proseeutrix, whom he found bleeding prol'unely from the head, avid supporting herself with a chair by the side of her bed. The prisoner was there, mad said, "I have done it, and Ido not wish to run awey.'"fhe witness tilt him not to say anything to , sriminete himself, as the w and might prove fetal. He then now the prisoner drop a razor froin his hand ; lie I sad he had dint ii with that elide stick, which witness eould find under the tattle. Both razor amid stick wi re covered with blond. The prisoner added, "The --oll—(lointing to the prosecutrix) ought to have been dead yeare ago." Witness 'tad the prosecutrix conveyed to the hospittil on a stretcher, and took the risoner in custody to the stationdionse. George Scarth, eoliee-eirgeant, took the charge against the prisoner when he was brought in by the lest witness. On bearing the charge witness need the expression, "Poor old woman on Which the peisoner •tai I. "—her, she ought to have bet n dead years ago. ittei ve liar right ; she has done nie hare) enough. I did at want to kill the old lady outright; I wanted to see her blood, which I have done It is not for what I vital; have to suffer in this world, but in the neat." The prinser, when cent,' upon for his defence, repeated his former stateinnut, as already teiven in evidence, and added that the reason why lie " shed her 1.100,1" was that she should lint lioariess that power over him that she hail dune. Two litindred years ago such a 11/0111811 would have been put to death for witelicreft without arty ceremony. Mr. Boron Braanwell toll the jury that, though a plea of insanity had not being raised in the present case, he would draw their attention to the laws by which that plea was reeuleteti. Haviog done so, his lordship sahl it was for the jury to say, upon the facts proved betore them, weetter, , applying those laws to which lie bad directed their t attention, they were of opinion that the crisoner at the time knew what lie we doing, and whet would be the couseqiienees, as, if so, he wits reepolisible for the act he undoubtedly committed. Tne jury; after conLrring for e few secouils, returned n verdict of guilty of woending, with intent to murder. Mr. , Baren Bramwell expressed his concnrrence in the I verdict, and eenteuced the prisoner to be kept in penal servitude for life.