Glasgow Courier. — 1861-05-02 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

DEAR.) THE ATTEMPTED MURDER IN BATH STREET.  John Milligan was indicted on a charge of assaulting on the 13th December, 1860, Margaret Nicoll, cook to Mr William Murray, ironinaster, Bath Street, and with a knife stabbing or cutting her on the throat or neck, in consequence of which she was cut and wounded, to the effusion of her blood and injury of her person; and this he did with intent to kill or murder, or to maim, disfigure, or disable the said Margaret Nicoll, or with intent to do her some other grievous bodily harm. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. The Advocate-Depute (Heriot) conducted the prosecution, and Mr Lamond and Mr Lawrie appeared for the prisoner.  Evidence was led at considerable length, from which It appeared that on the morning of the 13th December last the prisoner, who was butler to Mr Murray, and is sixty-three years of age, accused the cook of making faces behind his back, and of laughing and making • fool of him. To these charges she made no reply. The cook, in her evidence, stated that about a quarter of an hour after that he mine to her in the scullery, and asked if he might take a plate, and before she could answer he cut her neck on the left side with a large bread-knife. He then gave her a blow. She did not remember anything after that till she found herself lying on the floor, bleeding from a wound in the neck, afterwards ascertained to be six inches in length. The butler was then standing beside her, with the knife in his hand. He gave her a knock on the left leg, and then walked away. She ran up stairs, and Dr Andrew Buchanan being sent for, came and sewed up the wound. She was taken to the Infirmary the same day, and remained there nine weeks. The cook stated that the butler had often threatened her; none of the other witnesses, however, could say that they had ever heard him do so. After committing the assault, the butler went to his own room and locked himmelf in. He would not open the door, even for the police. When the laundress called on him to open the door, he said— No, not yet; and had it not been for your two children I would have served you in the same way as I have served her" -meaning the cook. The police at last burst open the door, and they found the butler bleeding at the throat, and having a large knife beside him, and a small one in his hand. He threw the large knife towards them, but it stuck on the back of the door. He then commenced dabbing at his throat. The officers said hewivais doing it as if he really were trying to cut his throat. They rushed upon him and seized him; and, while taking him to the Anderston Police Office, he said the cook deserved all she got. Lieutenant M`Lay told him that he was charged with attempting to commit murder; and he said he had done so, and was not sorry for it. Dr Buchanan, in giving his evidence, stated that he thought the butler was scarcely in his right mind when he committed the deed, as he shortly after it said that if it had been the cook's mother he would have given her twice as much—the fact being that he never saw or knew the cook's mother. The prisoner, in his declaration, stated that the cook had been provoking him on the morning in question; that he only wanted to frighten her; and that he thought it was the back of the knife which he had drawn across her neck until he saw the blood come. The people of the house testified that the cook was of a very irritable temper, while to all the butler had been civil and obliging. These two, however, never agreed. He had served in Hamilton Palace and other excellent places, and had • high character as a servant.  The